Ag Briefs: Baldwin calls for immediate action to contain bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle

CHICAGO, IL

Colombia restricts US beef due to bird flu in dairy cows

Colombia has restricted the import of beef and beef products coming from U.S. states where dairy cows have tested positive for avian influenza as of April 15, according the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

It is the first country to officially limit trade in beef due to bird flu in cows, in a sign of a broadening economic impact of the virus that has restricted poultry trade globally, Reuters reported. Colombia imports a small amount of beef from the U.S. annually, according to government data and market analysts.

RIVER FALLS, WI

Second Jerome family member honored

Following in the footsteps of his father, Wallace H. Jerome, Lawrence F. Jerome, the pair are the second father/son to be named the Wisconsin Distinguished Agriculturalist by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Jerome was the owner of Jerland Farms until his passing earlier this year, the university reported.

Jerome was most noted for his work with Holstein cattle, Arabian horses and German Shepherd dogs, but over his career he also maintained herds of Shorthorn and Main Anjou beef cattle, Brown Swiss dairy cattle and Belgian horses. Jerome had numerous class champions and at least one Supreme Champion at World Dairy Expo.

WASHINGTON DC

Baldwin calls for immediate action to contain bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on the USDA to take immediate action to contain the ongoing avian flu outbreak in dairy cattle. In a letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack, Senator Baldwin called on USDA to quickly deploy additional resources to contain the spread of disease, including public education sessions, working with farmers to improve biosecurity, and providing ongoing disease exposure trends and education materials to protect Wisconsin dairy farmers, producers, and consumers.

“Wisconsin’s dairy industry supports thousands of good paying jobs, drives our rural economies, and provides nutritious products around the world, and it is critical to our state that we get the response to this virus right,” Baldwin said in a news release. “The federal government has to step up to help our dairy farmers and producers weather and combat this outbreak, stop the spread of this virus, and ensure consumers know what is being done to keep them safe.”

Currently, there are no known cases in Wisconsin.

MADISON, WI

Asia Pacific region and the Middle East could boost cheese sales

Markets in the Asia Pacific region and the Middle East could provide unique growth opportunities for U.S. cheesemakers, according to research just released by the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), a partnership between Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR).

Following this initial research, DBIA reported that staff identified 24 products from the Asian market containing various types of cheeses for further analysis including cream-filled snack products, cheese sticks, freeze-dried products, and items combining cheese and fish.

GREEN BAY, WI

DBA presents Tranel with top Legislative Session Award

The Dairy Business Association announced its 2023-24 legislative awards, honoring more than two dozen lawmakers for their commitment to the state’s nearly $50 billion dairy industry.

Representative Travis Tranel, R-Cuba City, received DBA’s 2023-24 Legislative Champion Award, the association’s highest honor, for leading the effort to create the state’s Agriculture Roads Improvement Program. Tranel, a dairy farmer, serves as chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee where he has effectively guided numerous dairy initiatives through the legislative process. DBA also awarded Legislative Excellence awards to more than two dozen lawmakers.

DES MOINES, IA

Body found is that of missing Iowa trucker

The body of a northwest Iowa trucker who went missing four months ago while hauling a semiload of piglets has been found. Authorities said David Schultz's body was discovered on April 24 Wednesday after he went missing for more than four months, the DesMoines Register reported.

Schultz, 53, left his house in Wall Lake around on Nov. 20 to pick up a load of pigs from a hog confinement around Eagle Grove, according to KCCI. His truck was discovered abandoned on a rural highway near Sac City in northwest Iowa. DCI reported there were no signs of trauma, serious injury or suspicion of foul play. Further tests are pending, according to a news release by DCI.

BOONE, IA

Daisy to get millions in incentives for planned plant

Daisy Brand, a national dairy, will get more than $67 million in state and local incentives to build a manufacturing facility in Boone.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority voted Friday to approve an $18.2 million package for the Daisy plant. With $49 million in other aid already approved, the total public investment comes to $67.2 million, the DesMoines Register reported.

Daisy, which will manufacture sour cream, cottage cheese and other milk-based products at the new plant, will need the output of an estimated 43,000 dairy cows to meet its daily production requirement.

MADISON, WI

Evers, WEDC announce incentives to assist Kikkoman’s $800M investment in rural Wisconsin

On April 23, Gov. Tony Evers announced that the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) approved awarding up to $15.5 million in performance-based tax credits to assist Kikkoman Foods Inc. in expanding its operations in Wisconsin. The company plans to invest at least $800 million in expanding its brewing plant in Walworth and building a new facility in Jefferson, which is expected to will create 83 new high-paying jobs over 12 years.