New GM appointed

In addition to the above funding and incentive schemes, there is also a Department of Energy (DOE) grant application pending to further enable development.

As part of the DOE proposal, Alltech’s rural community biorefinery will be the first in the United States to utilize cellulose, such as switch grass, corn cobs and corn stover, at levels up to 30 percent of its raw material for conversion to ethanol and other value-added products. The facility, estimated to cost approximately $40 million, will be located in Springfield, Kentucky and is expected to employ 93 people when operating at full capacity.

In addition to ethanol production, the biorefinery will have an impact on Kentucky’s production agriculture by housing dairy and beef cattle to be branded under the Kentucky Proud label. Such actions could be a significant step toward addressing Kentucky’s $250 million milk deficit and this concept has already drawn interest from the Netherlands, Ireland, South Africa and China.

The facility will also have the capability to produce algae, a plant that can theoretically produce 5,000 gallons of biofuel per acre per year, whereas corn can produce 400 gallons per acre.

housing dairy and beef cattle to be branded under the Kentucky Proud label. Such actions could be a significant step toward addressing Kentucky’s $250 million milk deficit and this concept has already drawn interest from the Netherlands, Ireland, South Africa and China.

The facility will also have the capability to produce algae, a plant that needs little besides sunlight and carbon dioxide. According to National Geographic, algae can theoretically produce 5,000 gallons of biofuel per acre per year, whereas corn can produce 400 gallons per acre.  Additionally, algae can absorb up to 450 tons of carbon dioxide per acre when grown commercially.

The biorefinery also presents an opportunity to forge partnerships with regional universities, giving students and faculty the opportunity to be actively involved with the state’s emerging energy economy through research and development. As part of the project’s research component, Alltech will coordinate R&D activities with the University of Kentucky and the University of Cincinnati.  

—From Alltech news release



DFA introduces $1,500 scholarship program for students pursuing careers in the dairy industry
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) has established a scholarship program for college students who are pursuing careers in the dairy industry, and will award $1,500 scholarships in March 2008.

Applicants must also be enrolled in a two- or four-year accredited college, university or trade school. High school seniors planning to enroll, as well as post-graduates, also are eligible to apply.

Applications are due January 15, 2008. Applications may be submitted online at www.dfamilk.com.

— From DFA News Release



KMG develops a new product to reduce pests on dairies
Entomologist Elmer H. Ahrens recently concluded a five-month comprehensive competitive cattle ear tag field trial involving nine ear tag products.

During a 40-year career, including stints with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services and the Agricultural Research Services, Ahrens has studied and tested numerous chemical compounds to control insects, especially horn flies that cost the cattle industry $700 million a year in reduced weight gain, slower growing rates, higher feed outlays and a myriad of health problems.

In this latest trial in southwest Texas, Ahrens tagged nine herds, the largest being 40 head and the smallest 26. He used eight different tags with either pyrethroid or organophosphate compounds or combinations of both and one new compound – endosulfan, first introduced by KMG Animal Health under the brand, AVENGER™ last spring.

After 17 weeks Avenger was still controlling flies at a rate of 96%.

The results showcase the importance of developing new classes of chemistry to fight flies because even with pyrethroids and organophosphates, cattle producers are experiencing increased horn fly resistance.

—From KMG news release



Accelerated Genetics provides summer internships
Accelerated Genetics is offering three types of internships to college students for the summer of 2008. The internships are in sales and services, public relations and advertising as well as marketing services.

The sales and marketing services interns will learn about reproductive services and conduct market penetration studies. The public relations internship is based out of headquarters in Baraboo, Wisconsin and will focus on audio, visual, written and web communications.

Visit www.agteamdirect.com/careers.aspx, to learn more about the requirements and application deadlines for these internships.

—From Accelerated Genetics news release



Vita Plus sponsors Dairy Nutrition and Management Fellowship scholarship fund
This unique opportunity offers a progressive-minded student interested in a career in dairy nutrition and management consulting an advanced degree path with structured on-farm, office, research, field, feed facility and production experience. The fellowship is funded and directed by Vita Plus.

This opportunity is for B.S. graduates that expect to finish a M.S. Degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Dairy Science. The fellowship would start during the fall 2008 semester and would finish fall 2009.

Fellowship training includes a comprehensive overview of the management of today’s dairy operations, feed production and the role nutritionists can play on those operations. Training modules will include experience on a large dairy operation, an on-farm research project, production facility experience and training with field and technical staff.

Applicants should submit transcripts and resume. Include two letters of reference and a cover letter addressing your qualifications, your interest in a career as a nutritionist and why you are excited about tomorrow’s dairy industry and production agriculture.

For more information, go online to www.vitaplus.com.

—From Vita Plus news release



Viscotec announces agricultural plastics recycling plant
Taiwan-based Viscotec-U.S., Inc. has announced the lease of an 80,000-square-foot plant in Tulare, CA in order to recycle agricultural plastics beginning in January 2008.

Senior Strategist for Viscotec, Gary Schulz, says the plant will initially employ 30 residents but hopes to expand to a second and possibly a third line within the first 24 months of operation, increasing possible employment to 50.

“This operation in Tulare will be our flagship plant in North America and we look forward to offering an environmentally-friendly solution to the current practice of sending agricultural plastic waste to landfills,” said Andreas Tornblom, spokesman for Viscotec.

—From Viscotec news release



Dairy producers can develop own business plan at this workshop
Having a strategic business plan is vital to the long-term success of a business. Dairy producers can develop a business plan for their operation at a six-week workshop presented by Penn State Dairy Alliance at sites across Pennsylvania.

The Penn State Business Planning Workshop will lead producers, step-by-step, through the development of their own business plan. At the conclusion of the workshop, producers will have an individualized, strategic business plan that will help them create long-term sustainability through improved profitability.

“The program gave me a good, solid understanding of where my business is now and how I can better make decisions for the future,” explained Tim Kurtz, owner of Kurtland Farm, Elverson, Pennsylvania, who attended the training last year. “This is helping me get to the next level.”

Producers will go through a workbook that guides them through the strategic planning process. As they complete each section they will hand it in to a staff member, who will enter the data into a computer program. At the end of the course, each producer will have a complete business plan, customized to his or her dairy, that includes a current evaluation of the operation and maps future goals and objectives, as well as the tactics to achieve them, and long-term financial projections.

The six-week program will be held January 23, January 30, February 13, February 20, February 27, and March 5, 2008 at Penn State Harrisburg campus in Middletown, Pennsylvania, and via videoconference from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Producers outside of Pennsylvania may also attend. Visit https://estore.psu.edu/dairyalliance

—From Penn State Dairy Alliance news release



Evonik-Degussa establishes scholarship for feed milling students at NC State
The Degussa Feed Milling Scholarship Endowment, established recently in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University, will create a new undergraduate scholarship in feed milling.

Evonik-Degussa Corporation, which is the only producer of all four commercially available amino acids (Biolys®, DL-Methionine, L-Threonine, and L-Tryptophan), established the endowment “in recognition of the importance of high-quality university training in the area of feed milling, and in the opportunities made available through the establishment of the feed mill facility at NC State,” according to the endowment agreement.

—From Evonik-Degussa news release



UC dairy water quality publication receives award from national ag organization
A University of California publication for the dairy industry has received an Award of Excellence from the American Society of Agronomy.

“We are thrilled with the award for this publication, which outlines management practices that protect surface and groundwater quality,” said Pettygrove, UC Cooperative Extension soils specialist at UC Davis. California Dairies: Protecting Water Quality was selected for the award by the agronomy society’s Extension Education section.

Milk is now California’s No. 1 agricultural commodity with a farmgate value of more than $5 billion annually, according to Pettygrove.

“The state has fewer dairy farms than it did 20 years ago, but the average herd size has increased,” he said.

—From UC – Davis news release  PD