Maryland Dairy
KAREN BUTLER
Maryland Correspondent
FREDERICK, Md. The
inaugural meeting of the
Maryland Dairy Industry
Association drew a crowd of
almost 200 dairy farmers and
industry representatives to the
Holiday Inn FSK here. The
day’s agenda included a busi
ness meeting with election of
officers, a lineup of speakers,
and a panel.discussion. After an
evening banquet there was a
talk by an inspirational speaker.
Exhibits were displayed in the
conference room.
MDIA was formed on year
ago to provide an organized
voice for the Maryland dairy
industry. The group’s mission is
to enhance state dairy farmers’
livelihood so the dairy industry
is a viable part of the Maryland
economy.
From 1980 to 1995 the num
ber of Maryland dairy farms
with milk permits dropped from
about 1800 to about 875, accord
ing to the industry association.
Total annual milk production
declined from 1.52 to 1.34 billion
pounds during that same time
period. MDIA seeks to stabilize
the industry and assist in
retaining the infrastructure that
serves it by promoting prof
itability for dairy producers
through legislative channels
with a unified voice, and by pro
viding a forum for the inter
change of ideas and technology.
The business meeting was held in the morning and
directors were elected and officers appointed. New
directors were elected as follows: District I, Garrett
and Allegany Counties; Ed Crossland: District 11,
Washington County: Boyd Cook, Will Godwin, and
Janet Stiles; District 111, Frederick County: Wayne
Burdette, Denny Crum, Nola “Cookie” Ramsburg, and
Harold Lenhart; District IV, carroll County; Sue
Myers, Myron Wilhide; District V, Baltimore, Harford,
Cecil, Howard, and Montgomery Counties: William
Kilby, Darryl Walker; District VI, Eastern Shore and
Southern Maryland; Jeff Moore.
Myron Willhide, who served as interim president
for the association during the past year, was elected
president. Other officers will be Harold Lenhart, vice
president; Nola “Cookie” Ramsburg, secretary; and
Will Godwin, treasurer.
This year MDIA will focus its energy on a legisla
tive effort supporting the Southern Dairy Compact,
said Myron Wilhide. Pat McMillan, assistant to the
secretary at the Maryland Department of Agriculture
and Legislative Liaison for the MDA, suggested the
compact was, “another policy option for Maryland
dairyman to consider.” Joining the Northeast Dairy
Compact is not currently an option for Maryland,
according to McMillan, because “Pennsylvania and
New York elected not to join, essentially closing the
door for Maryland”., (In order to join the compact a
state must be contiguous to a member state).
The Southern compact would create an interstate
pricing system for the region stretching from Texas to
Maryland. The Ag Commission would have the author
ity to set class I milk prices in the area. McMillan
stressed it is very difficult for a single state on its own
to have an effective program. By joining with other
states, the advantage would be that the compact could
regulate milk that comes into the area, said McMillan.
“East state must pass legislation to join the com
pact, and then must go to congress to pass that com
pact. Congressional approval is needed because the
compact would supersede interstate commerce,”
explained McMillan. He stressed there were no provi
sions in the compact to regulate retail or wholesale
milk prices. He also pointed out that the compact
would work within the existing Federal framework,
saying the compact builds on the Federal milk mar
keting order system, it doesn’t replace it.
Dr. John Adams, director of milk safety and animal
health for the National Milk Producers Federation in
Arlington, Virginia gave an overview of the national
outlook and legislative and regulatory update for the
industry.
Doctor Adams informed the group that Secretary of
Agriculture Dan Glickman announced on Monday the
Department of Agriculture will attempt to stay and
appeal the November 3 ruling by U.S. district judge
David Doty of Minneapolis that enjoins the secretary
from enforcing existing class I differentials in cer-
tain Federal milk marketing
order areas. If a stay is granted,
USDA could continue to enforce
class I differential in all Federal
milk orders during the appeals
process.
Adams said, “We are in tran
sition from a period where we
had increased government con
trol to a period where we have
less. We are rapidly moving
toward a globalized market.” He
said that retaining the order
system, with the USDA pursu
ing the milk marketing order
reforms from the *96 Farm Bijl
are a part of the solution to the
current dairy situation.
Other facets of the solution
he proposed included cutting
costs and liabilities and enhanc
ing quality and consistency on
the farm, expanding exports by
cutting world subsidies, aggres
sively pursuing the World TYade
Organization complaint against
Canada, and utilizing the DEIP,
and being prepared for emergen
cies. He said a greater amount of
trade equals a greater risk in
importing animals, and also in
exporting them. This would
increase the likelihood of an ani
mal health or disease emer
gency. He advocated supporting
development of a National
Animal Health Emergency plan
to deal with some of the poten
tial scenarios. “The USDA is
Industry Organized Voice
Newly elected MDIA dlrectore are, seated from the left, Boyd Cook, Dletriet II: Sue
IX’ J,net S*N®*« District II; Nola ‘Cookie’ Ramsburg, District III; and
Myron WllhMe, District IV. Standing, from the left, are Denny Crum, District III; Bill Kil
by. District V; Wayne Burdette, District III; Will Godwin, District II; Harold Lenhart, Dis
trict III; and Darryl Walker, District V. Not included in the photograph are directors Ed
Crossland, District I, and Jeff Moore, District VI.
regionalizing the world under
GATT for risk so we’re not look
ing at the world country by
country, but by the ability to
export on a region by region
basis,” he said.
Dr. Brian Perkins from Dairy
Management Services, Inc. in
Vermont talked to the group on
building design and remodeling.
“I spend 90-95% of my consult-
Fulltime" has top herd
WORKING OVERTIME.
Five years ago, Jacob Tanis believed
"corn silage is corn silage," recalls
Russ Judy, his Young's nutritionist. Then
Tanis of Centre Hall, PA, tried Cargill
FQ silage hybrids and increased milk
production by 6,000 pounds per cow
over a four-year period. Now he's taken
another step to higher-quality feed with
Full Time” forage from Cargill.
Thanks to feeding high-quality silage
and other good management practices,
the Tanis herd last year was the state's
top milk-producing herd, with a herd
average of 31,393 pounds, according
to DHIA data and was rated the
highest for type in its size range by the
Pennsylvania Holstein Association.’
When Judy suggested that Tanis try
new Cargill Full Time forage, he was
receptive. He was sold on Cargill
hybrids and he trusted Judy's judgment.
Tanis gives Judy a lot of credit for his
success with Full Time forage. "Russ
does a good job of helping me Feed
my herd," Tonis says.
His confidence proved well-founded
in 1996. Tonis saw a milk production
increase of 6 pounds per cow per day
with 96 cows on test with Full Time
forage. There also was a noticeable
improvement in the body condition
Maybe it's time you took a closer look. Cows that consume
Full Time forage in a high-forage diet produced as much as or mo r
corrected milk than cows on normal corn silage in a high-grain di<
Ed Nimtz, Cargill forage product manager. "We believe dairymen
Jake Tonis will demonstrate to the industry that Full Time can. increa;
income per acre by increasing the amount of milk you get per poi
feed. Full Time forage, when properly managed, has the potential i
5 to 1 return on investment. Even a one-pound increase in milk prc
will cover the increased investment for Full Time forage," Nimtz say
t >
Full Time" 1 clocks 7.2-lb.
increase in MSU study.
The big difference between
FullTime"' forage and
conventional corn hybrids
is their relative level of
digestible fiber. Digestible
fiber is a primary factor
influencing milk production.
Full Time forage contains
nearly 40 percent less
indigestible lignin. Cows fed
diets containing this new
forage product consumed
more dry matter and pro
duced more milk. In two
university studies, 2 cows fed
Full Time forage consumed
up to 8 percent more dry
matter and produced up to
72 more pounds of milk
per day. And body condition
scores were maintained
or improved.
Lancarter FemHng, Saturday, November 29, 1907-A3Q
ing time on farms dealing with
cow comfort,” he said. “On 99 out
of 100 farms, nutrition isn’t the
answer; cow comfort, cow envi
ronment, and cow handling are
what really makes the milk,” he
stressed.
Dr. Bill Prolop, DVM from
Attica Veterinary Associates in
New York talked on working in a
team attitude. He said herd
expansion should be preceded by
profitability, not be used as a
means of achieving profitability.
He said expansion should
involve an “advisory team of
players* with specialties in dif
fering aspects of faming. “By
working together, the strength
of the group is amplified,”
according to Dr. Prokop.
of the cows, Tonis soys.
Tonis planted 10 acres of Full Time
forage in 1996, 20 acres in 1997
and intends to plant 30 to 35 acres
next year.
This year, Full Time forage yielded as
well as - or better than - other silage
corn despite extremely dry weather,
Tanis says. He estimates production at
15 to 20 tons per acre.
"Full Time forage can give top returns
with best management practices,
and obviously Mr. Tanis gave it close
attention," comments Dan Froehlich,
Cargill agronomic services manager
Dr. Froehlich recommends that
dairymen plant Full Time forage after
soils have thoroughly warmed up.
"You should expect late-season growth
spurts with Full Time, so be sure there's
plenty of nitrogen available, perhaps
by side-dressing. And be sure to plan
harvesting based strictly on percent
moisture content - 66 to 70 percent
for bunker silos," he advises.
"I'm extremely pleased with Full Time
forage. I've never fed silage that I
could get os much milk out of," Tonis
soys. "I would recommend it to any
producer who wants to produce milk
cost-effectively."
Jacob Tanis,
left, used to
believe silage
was just silage
according to
Russ Judy,
right, Yeung's
nutritionist.