AmericAn DAiry AssociAtion north eAst spring 2018 • issue 6

Dairy Promotion News

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On-Farm Environmental Education Builds Consumer Confidence in the Dairy Industry

Connecting Dairy Farmers to their CommunitiesConnecting families with the farmers who produce their food builds consumer confidence in dairy foods and dairy farming. That’s why American Dairy Association North East incorporates local dairy farmers into every aspect of its consumer-facing programming.

“The better you take care of the cows, the better they take care of you,” said Pete Wagner of Wagner Farms, in the Price Chopper video promoting local milk. Visit www.AmericanDairy.com to view the video.

This spring, ADA North East conducted three breakfast summits to help school decision-makers understand how school nutrition programs like Breakfast in the Classroom, Breakfast After the Bell and Fuel Up to Play 60 help students succeed in school.

Breakfast programs have proven to increase dairy sales in schools. These programs are a win-win for the students who benefit nutritionally and academically, and for the farmers because more milk is being sold in schools.A dairy farmer attended each event to help attendees make the connection between farm and food, and to further cement the relationships with ADA North East. Local health and school officials also participated in each event.

Breakfast Summits Drive Home the Importance of Milk, Encourage Sales in Schools

American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East) is your dairy farmer-directed organization funded by participating dairy farmer’s

checkoff investment to build demand and sales for milk and dairy foods throughout the local region. ADA North East represents nearly 12,000 dairy farm families in

Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and northern Virginia.Visit AmericanDairy.com to learn more.

Retailers are helping shoppers make the farm-to-table connection by showcasing local farm families on in-store signage. In western Pennsylvania, Shop ‘n Save grocery stores are highlighting the Sturgeon family of Camp-Run Holsteins in Fombell, while three Community Super Markets in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties are featuring the Nehrig family of Homer City.

Another western Pennsylvania retailer, Kuhn’s Quality Foods Markets, is joining Shop ‘n Save and Community Super Markets to participate in the dairy aisle reinvention program by incorporating yogurt dividers and cheese pushers to keep products organized and close to the front of the dairy case. Sales

Retail Stores Feature Local Dairy Families to Boost Milk Sales

Attendees of the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education learned about farming practices that improve soil health, and protect local waterways that flow into the Chesapeake Bay. Eleven conference participants visited Green Acres Farm, home of Hopkins Creamery, owned by Burli Hopkins, in Lewes, Delaware.

Another 20 students studying soil science

at Susquehanna University visited Schrack Farms in Loganton, Pennsylvania. The tour gave

the students exposure to on-farm nutrient management practices and the effects on soil health, helping the young environmentalists understand the conservation practices that dairy farmers have invested in for decades.

The Sturgeon family is featured in the Shop ‘n Save farm-to-table campaign in western Pennsylvania.

Community Super Markets is featuring the Nehrig Dairy Farm on in-store signage.

increase when dairy products are well displayed and easy to reach.

Price Chopper in New York is also promoting local milk to support its “home.grown” campaign, and the retailer’s registered dietitian Ellie Wilson participated in a video featuring Wagner Dairy Farms in Poestenkill. ADA North East helped facilitate

the video shoot and messaging. The three-minute video explains how the store brand, PICS milk, is produced and processed.

“We’re very fortunate that our schools see the importance of a healthy start to kids’ day – and for their continued support of including dairy as a part of the in-school breakfast programs.” – Karen Koerner of East Coy Valley Farm, Pike, N.Y., at the Rochester Breakfast Summit.

“As a dairy farmer, I think it’s important to stay connected with our schools and their decision-makers to keep dairy a priority in schools.” – Barb Hanselman of Del-Rose Farm in Bloomville, N.Y., attended the Westchester Breakfast Summit.

“Continuing to work together is a recipe for success, and on behalf of ADA North East and all dairy farmers, I look forward to watching our children flourish.” - Marie Canon, Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program board member and dairy farmer from West Middlesex, Pa., talked with the group at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

“Seeing an operation such as Schrack Farms reminds me that the shift to an environmentally sustainable future is making significant progress,” said a student participant.

More than 15 students from Hobart and William Smith College toured Lawnhurst Dairy in Stanley, New York, owned by Don Jensen. Highlighted topics included the farm’s environmental best management practices, including its anaerobic digester and separator.

Lawnhurst Dairy owner Don Jensen (right) of Stanley, N.Y., explains how the solids separator works in his anaerobic digester.

Burli Hopkins of Green Acres Farm, Lewes, Del.,

explains his environmental practices to environmental

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American Dairy Association North EastAmerican Dairy Association North East Fuel Up to Play 60:

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National News from Dairy Management Inc.

ADA North East hosted celebrity investigative author Nina Teicholz as a keynote speaker at the 2018 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit.

Teicholz’s book, “The Big Fat Surprise, Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet,” debunks the idea that eliminating fats from the human diet is healthy. Her research shows that more, not less, dietary fat – including saturated fat – can lead to better health, wellness and fitness. She is advocating for change in the 2020 USDA Dietary Guidelines to reflect this evidence-based research.

Pizza Hut™ Increases Cheese Use Thanks to Dairy Checkoff

Yankees Manager Promotes Refueling with Chocolate Milk New York Yankees new manager Aaron Boone recorded a public service announcement (PSA) promoting Refuel with Chocolate Milk on behalf of ADA North East dairy farmers. The PSA will be played at Yankee Stadium before every home game.

Refuel with Chocolate Milk will again be the presenting sponsor of the Yankees’ week-long Summer Baseball Camps, set in 14 towns throughout the Metropolitan area, and highlighted by a trip to Yankee Stadium. An ADA North East nutrition education specialist will talk to campers about the importance of dairy in the diet and refueling with chocolate milk. ADA North East will also will cover tuition costs for 85 children from Bronx families to attend the camp at Heritage Field.

Teens ages 13 to 18 years old that are involved in Fuel Up to Play 60 participated in a general population web-based survey last fall. Results showed that higher teen engagement in the program correlated with positive dairy-related behavior and attitudes including a greater frequency of consumption of milk and yogurt. Other results included more positive attitudes toward dairy farming practices including animal care and

sustainability, and an increased interest in fitness and health issues.

Driving Dairy Discussions Workshops Prepare Farmers to Share their StoryNearly 70 dairy farmers and industry advocates participated in a Driving Dairy Discussions workshops this spring in Syracuse, New York, and Harrisburg and Mercer, Pennsylvania.

Driving Dairy Discussions is an ADA North East program designed to give dairy farmers the tools to speak about their on-farm practices in one-on-one situations.

It was developed on the research premise that

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is a strong supporter of the Refuel with Chocolate Milk campaign.

Nina Teicholz, left, with dairy farmer, Yvette Longenecker.

‘The Big Fat Surprise’ – Why More Fat is Better for Your Health“I appreciated talking with Nina and learning about her research,” said Yvette Longenecker, Williamsburg, Pennsylvania. “As a dairy farmer, it’s good to know there are unbiased people who support the nutritional benefits of our product.”

As part of dairy checkoff ’s strategy to share dairy nutrition research with medical professionals, ADA North East previously hosted Teicholz to address health professionals at the Great Saturated Fat Debate in 2015, and at the New York Academy of Medicine in 2016.

Pizza Hut, one of dairy checkoff ’s foodservice partners, is now adding 25 percent more

cheese on every one of its signature “Pan Pizzas.” This boost impacts

nearly one-third of the pizzas sold by the chain, and is expected to result in an incremental 150 million pounds of milk used each year!

Also, in honor of its 60th anniversary, Pizza Hut is offering a limited-time “Double

Cheesy Crust Pan Pizza” that has more than a pound of cheese

on each pie.

The change is a direct result of dairy checkoff ’s efforts, dating back to our “pizza turnaround” in 2009 to increase pizza sales and cheese utilization. Our partnership with Pizza Hut began in 2013, and there are 6,000 restaurants across the country.

Thanks to dairy scientist Nitin Joshi, a Dairy Management Inc., (DMI) employee working onsite with Pizza Hut’s team in its headquarters in Plano, Texas, who proved the feasibility of the changes. The DMI team continues to work to build the belief with Pizza Hut that more cheese is just one way to make their pizzas even better, while in turn benefiting our dairy farmers with increased milk sales.

According to U.S. Dairy Export Council, U.S. dairy exports set a new record high on a total volume basis this March, with whey protein concentrate and lactose each hitting an all-time high.

Suppliers shipped 204,453 tons of milk

powder, cheese, butterfat, whey and lactose during

the month of March, up 26 percent from March 2017.

U.S. exports were valued at $510 million, eight percent greater than in March 2017,

and the highest total value since

April 2015.

U.S Dairy Exports Set New Volume Record

Study Shows Fuel Up to Play 60 has Positive Impact on Teen Opinions of Dairy

Leslie Webb (center) was named 2018 Delaware State Dairy Princess with Kaylee Dulin (left) named Alternate Princess. At right is outgoing state princess Sydney Montgomery.

Hailey Pipher (center) was named 2018-2019

New York State Dairy Princess with Alexis Payne

(left) and Zoe Skinner (right) named alternates.

ADA North East is proud to fund and support the dairy princess programs throughout our service area.

Betsy Musser (left) and daughter Cassie Rassau (right), dairy farmers from Enon Valley, Pa., attended the Driving Dairy Discussions training in western Pennsylvania.

nearly half of adults would ask a dairy farmer about their farming practices, if given the opportunity.

Betsy Musser, dairy farmer from Enon Valley, Pennsylvania, found the tips helpful about maintaining composure when answering difficult questions. “Since people are less and less knowledgeable about the dairy industry, I need to remember to take the time to listen them and explain why we do what we do,” said Musser.

Jocelyn, Sarah and Paula Snyder of Greenville, Pa., participated in the Driving Dairy Discussions training in western Pennsylvania.