A new tool could help unravel the mystery behind detecting prion diseases, including mad cow disease.

Researchers at McLaughlin Research Institute in Montana infected brain stem cell cultures from fetal mouse brains with prions, and discovered the infection could be detected within weeks. Injecting mice with prions and waiting for infection to develop takes much longer, sometimes months or even years.

Source: Great Falls Tribune/ Paula Wilmot, March 16, 2006
Source URL: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060316/NEWS01/603160301&SearchID=73238736291132

The Central Valley of California is the site of some of the nation’s top milk production, and now it’s also the location of a racial discrimination trial that could cost a dairy company millions of dollars.

California Dairies has plants in six California towns, including Fresno and Visalia. Eleven African American employees from the Fresno plant allege they are being discriminated against because of their skin color.

Source: ABC30, March 16, 2006
Source URL: http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=local&id=4000470

Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative has agreed to purchase Giant Food’s dairy processing plant in Landover, Md., effective March 25. The cooperative will provide Giant Food stores with fresh milk. When the deal is finalized, the organization’s combined fluid milk processing business will have more than $270 million in total sales and nearly 800 employees.

The Giant Landover plant currently processes about 21 million pounds of milk per month, caters to 191 grocery stores and employs 97 people. The cooperative has been the plant’s sole raw milk supplier for 30 years.

Source: Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, March 16, 2006
Source URL: http://www.vafb.com/news/2006/mar/031606_2.htm

Milk production in the 23 major States during February totaled 13.0 billion pounds, up 5.9 percent from February 2005. January production, at 14.0 billion pounds, was up 5.5 percent from January 2005.

Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,588 pounds for February, 66 pounds above February 2005.

Source: USDA/ NASS, March 17, 2006
Source URL: http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/mkpr0306.txt

On an annual basis, milk production is forecast to be slightly less than 3 percent over that of 2005. Dairy product use is expected to absorb most of the production increase, but commercial stocks likely will be above last year. The all milk price will average $12.75 to 13.35 per cwt, about $2 per cwt below 2005.

Source: USDA/ ERS, March 17, 2006
Source URL: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/erssor/livestock/ldp-mbb/2006/ldpm141t.pdf

FLUID MILK:  Milk production is increasing in most areas of the country. The most significant gains continue to be seen in the southern regions where temperatures have been the warmest. Parts of Arizona got their first significant rainfall since last October, which actually impaired milk output for a time due to wet feedlots. Milk production in the northern portions of the country is increasing at a more seasonal pace. Fluid milk supplies are excessive in most parts of the country and more surplus milk is being shipped greater distances to find processing room. Some plants' capacities are being tested, which is earlier than expected by many contacts. Bottled milk sales are steady to slower as some schools were closed due to storms and many colleges are now on spring break. The fluid cream market remains weak, but some improvement in spot demand was noted this week and multiples did improve for sellers. Production of sour cream and cream cheese has improved for Passover and Easter needs. Ice cream production "ticked up" slightly.

Source: USDA, March 17, 2006

Cheddar Cheese prices received for US 40 pound Blocks averaged $1.15 per pound for the week ending March 11. The price per pound decreased 3.2 cents from the previous week. The price for US 500 pound Barrels adjusted to 38 percent moisture averaged $1.13 per pound, down 1.7 cents from the previous week.

Butter prices received for 25 kilogram and 68 pound boxes meeting USDA Grade AA standards averaged $1.17 per pound for the week ending March 11. The U.S. price per pound decreased 0.9 cent from the previous week.

Source: USDA/ NASS, March 17, 2006
Source URL: http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/dppr1106.txt

For the week, grain and soybean bids were lower with the most declines seen on wheat. The pressure noticed in the wheat pits were due to rain in the forecast for the southern and central plains this coming weekend. Weekly export sales were reported at 377,300 tonnes as compared to trade estimates 300,000-550,000. The USDA Supply/Demand report last Friday was slightly negative with ending stocks for the 2005-2006 season coming in at 542 million bushels as compare to trade estimates of 543 million bushels and 542 million bushels last month. Global ending stocks were reported at 142.62 million tonnes and 141.96 million tonnes last month.

Source: USDA/ AMS, March 17, 2006
Source URL: http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/SJ_GR851.txt

The combination of increased packer inventories and decreased demand from grinders sent lean boneless beef sharply lower. Grinders continue to purchase product on an as needed basis. Packers lowered prices in order to keep inventories at manageable levels as cow harvest levels remain moderate. Import boneless beef prices were weak to lower on a light test. Import product was under pressure this week due to the weak domestic boneless beef market. There was little market activity as of Wednesday's report.
  
Lean boneless beef 92-94% 10.00 to 15.00 lower; 90% 4.50 to 11.75 lower; 85% 12.00 to 15.00 lower; 81% not established; 75% unevenly steady; 73% not established; 65% 1.75 to 3.00 lower. 100% lean inside rounds and eye of round higher; outside rounds, flats/eyes weak and S.P.B. steady and striploins steady to firm.

The Cutter cow carcass gross cut out value for Thursday, March 16, 2006 was estimated at 105.56 per cwt, dn 6.54 from last Friday.

Source: USDA/ AMS, March 17, 2006
Source URL: http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/NW_LS850.txt

Milk from forage (MF) is an estimation of the milk produced solely from forage intake. It is calculated by subtracting milk production theoretically allowed by concentrates from total milk production, assuming that maintenance requirements are covered by the forage portion of the diet.

Results emphasize the advantage of using concentrates of higher degradability in the rumen to improve MF and milk production when feeding silage with high rumen-degradable protein.

Source: Milk from forage as affected by carbohydrate source and degradability with alfalfa silage-based diets. Journal of Dairy Science 89 (1): 283-293, 2006. Charbonneau, E.; Chouinard, P.Y.; Allard, G.; Lapierre, H.; et al.