The U.S. Department of Agriculture today reminded dairy producers to sign up for the extended Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program. The sign up period runs from now through May 17, 2006.

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (the Act), amended the MILC program established by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (the 2002 Farm Bill), which authorized the original MILC program through Sept. 30, 2005.

Source: USDA/ FSA, March 17, 2006
Source URL: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/FullStory.asp?StoryID=2274

USDA investigators searching for a second calf from the Alabama crossbred cow that became the nation’s latest case of mad cow disease believe it is in their crosshairs.

Late last week investigators said they had a strong lead on where they hoped to find the calf.

Source: Reuters, March 17, 2006
Source URL: http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2006-03-
17T225500Z_01_N17230477_RTRUKOC_0_US-MADCOW-USA.xml&archived=False

A Michigan milk producer is ready and willing to do whatever he can to help protect the environment near his farm. Timothy den Dulk, owner of the 3,600-head den Dulk Dairy Farms in Ravenna Township, has volunteered to participate in the government-led effort after high levels of E. coli bacteria were found in two streams.

Samples taken by the state Department of Environmental Quality near den Dulk’s Hartford Dairy for a state water pollution study showed high concentrations of E. coli, although it’s uncertain if the bacteria came from the farm.

Source: MLive/ Chronicle News Service/ Jeff Alexander and Rod Smith, March 16, 2006
Source URL: http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news
-8/1142525711203490.xml&coll=8

Milk production growth appears out of control. For the month of February, milk production in 23 major states was up 5.9 percent. February is typically not a bellwether month for predicting growth rates since it has the lowest number of days for any month in the year. But it continues very strong growth rates in milk production growth. Cow numbers have continued a steady rate of growth month after month, and milk per cow is up over a year ago.

Source: Penn State University/ Ken Bailey, March 17, 2006
Source URL: http://dairyoutlook.aers.psu.edu/Weekly/2006/WeeklyDairyMarketOutlook031706.htm

Despite the outbreak of avian influenza and several other diseases in 2005, China's oilseed demand remained strong and normal growth is projected in the year ahead. Post forecasts MY06/07 soybean imports at 28.5 MMT and the preliminary estimate for MY05/06 to finish at 26.8 MMT. China's domestic production of all oilseeds in MY05/06, including soybeans, rapeseed, cottonseed, and peanuts, are estimated at 56.2 MMT, down by 1.5 MMT over the year before, mainly because of small crops for rapeseed and cottonseed. The total domestic oilseeds for MY06/07 is forecast at 56.7 MMT, slightly higher than the year before. Large multinational crushers accelerated their mergers and acquisitions of small to medium sized local crushers. The large crushers in the coastal regions will continue to rely on imported soybeans.

Source: USDA/ FAS/ James Butterworth and Wu Xinping, March 9, 2006
Source URL: http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200603/146187104.pdf

Oceania's milk production season continues to wind down. In New Zealand, some recovery on first half losses is being reported, although overall milk production in the country continues to trail last year. In Australia, milk production for the first six months of the season (July - December) was up 0.3% on a cumulative basis. This increase is declining from higher levels in earlier months. Hot summer temperatures in December and January could take second half production trends down more rapidly than producers and handlers desire.

Source: USDA, March 16, 2006

Cold, winter weather conditions continue to prevail throughout much of Europe. Milk producers and handlers state that these conditions are quite unusual for this time of the season. Usually by now, some signs of spring are being reported, but these are few and far between this year. Milk producers indicate that winter feed stocks are sufficient to maintain positive production growth as the new season gets under way. It is still too early to speculate if weather conditions are hindering or limiting production growth. This is still a time of the year when producers need to be aware of their milk marketings as the milk quota year end nears. For many producers, milk volumes are lighter than recent years, thus more producers will not need to adjust their marketings due to overproduction.

Source: USDA, March 16, 2006

Choline is important for assembly of very low density lipoproteins to export triglyceride from liver; however, studies to assess the effect of rumen-protected choline (RPC) supplementation on blood lipid metabolites in periparturient dairy cows have not been conducted.

Cows were in moderate body condition score (mean = 3.3) at the start of the study and did not lose excessive condition by 3 wk postpartum (mean body condition score loss = 0.5); therefore, cows might not have been at great risk for hepatic lipid accumulation. Additionally, calculated Met balance was negative postpartum; supplemental RPC might not have spared enough Met to produce a physiological benefit.

Source: Lipid metabolite profiles and milk production for Holstein and Jersey cows fed rumen-protected choline during the periparturient period. Journal of Dairy Science 89 (1): 188-200, 2006. Guretzky, N.A.J.; Carlson, D.B.; Garrett, J.E.; Drackley, J.K.

Treatments designed to synchronize luteolysis, preovulatory follicular development, and ovulation, and resynchronize estrus after a first AI have improved responses to synchronization treatments.

Synchronization of estrus and ovulation can be enhanced by administration of EB or GnRH during proestrus, but dose, timing and stage of follicular development at the time of treatment can affect outcomes.

Source: Manipulation and control of the estrous cycle in pasture-based dairy cows. Theriogenology 65 (1): 45-64, 2006. Cavalieri, J.; Hepworth, G.; Fitzpatrick, L.A.; Shephard, R.W.; et al.

Below is a summary listing of Career notices and awards in the industry. Detailed information about each listing is available by clicking the “Click to read more” link. If you have an announcement you would like us to include here, please send it to Patt Ligman, pattligman@metafarms.com or Metafarms, 2980 Commers Drive, Suite 400, Eagan, MN 55121. The next CareerTrak is scheduled for April 3, 2006.

Job Listings This Week:
None this week

Awards & Accolades:
1. Food Safety Honors Butts, Zink

Faces In New Places:
1. USDA’s Miller Retires