California Ag Network

Category: Dairy Industry

  • Dairy Farmers Descend on Senate to Demand Agriculture Labor Reform

    Dairy farmers from National Milk Producers Federation member cooperatives and state dairy associations are visiting U.S. Senate offices today and tomorrow as part of a fly-in calling for an agricultural labor bill that could be reconciled with a plan the House approved last year, providing the stable, secure labor force U.S. dairy producers need.

     

    U.S. dairy producers face labor shortages that are more intense than those felt in agriculture as a whole because they cannot use the H-2A farmworker program, which only provides for seasonal labor rather than the year-round workers dairy needs. With domestic workers in short supply and foreign labor difficult to employ under current policies, dairy farmers are urging lawmakers to find real solutions.

     

    “The situation is dire,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF, the biggest U.S. dairy-farmer organization. “Dairy farmers face labor shortages while they are forced to navigate the deeply uncertain and volatile realities undergirding agriculture labor in the U.S. Meanwhile, uncertainty on the farm harms individuals and rural communities that rely on those farms to generate jobs.”

     

    The House of Representatives in December passed bipartisan legislation allowing for year-round visas in dairy as part of the first ag-labor bill to pass that chamber since 1986. NMPF supported the bill, noting that, although imperfect, its passage was a necessary step in moving toward a legislative solution addressing the ag labor crisis, with further work to be done in the Senate to improve upon the House measure.

     

    The fly-in is taking place after the conclusion of NMPF’s March Board of Directors meeting held in Arlington, Virginia. During the board meeting, NMPF officially expanded its membership with the addition of Cayuga Marketing, LLC based in Auburn, NY, adding an important upstate New York voice to NMPF’s work on behalf of all dairy producers. NMPF also endorsed dairy-sector sustainability efforts during its meeting, lauding industrywide plans to reduce carbon emissions to net zero.

  • California Dairy Districts Seek Ambassadors to Serve as 2020 Dairy Princesses

    Each year, a special group of young women are selected to represent the state’s dairy farm families who contribute to making California number one for milk production in the U.S. These Dairy Princess ambassadors and alternates are selected during events at Districts throughout the state, where they showcase speaking skills, knowledge of dairy and plans to represent the industry during the one-year term. The 2020 contests kick off in April and will run through June.

    California Dairy Princesses serve as industry advocates in their home district and throughout California, supporting the reputation of milk and dairy products through appearances at industry and agricultural functions, with school groups and in media interviews. Dairy Princesses and alternates participate in a mandatory orientation/training where they receive professional development coaching.

    The California Dairy Princess Program has been in effect since 1958. Currently eight districts hold local contests, which cover 48 counties in the state of California. The California Dairy Princess contest is supported by California dairy producers through the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB).  More information and application forms can be accessed HERE.  Additional questions can be directed to Tiffany Nielsen, California Dairy Princess Director at dairyprincess@cmab.net or (559) 280.9859.

    Dairy Princess Program – 2020 Application Deadlines and Contest Dates

    District                        Application Deadline               Contest Date                   Location

    District 1                      Friday, March 20                        Friday, May 8                  Fortuna

    District 3                      Monday, February 24                 Saturday, April 11            Petaluma

    District 4                      Friday, May 1                             TBD                                  TBD

    District 5                      Thursday, April 16                     Wednesday, June 3           Manteca

    District 6                      Friday, May 8                             Thursday, June 18            Turlock

    District 7                      Monday, April 20                       Saturday, June 6               Hanford

    District 8                      Thursday, March 5                     Thursday, April 16           Fresno

    District 9                      Thursday, April 23                     Friday, June 19                 Tulare

     

    California is the nation’s leading milk producer. It also produces more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt. Dairy products made with Real California Milk can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies that the products are made with milk produced on California’smore than 1200 family dairy farms.

    About Real California Milk/the California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairyfarm families and is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. With a mission to increase demand for products made with Real California Milk, the CMAB is celebrating 50 years of promoting California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagramand Pinterest.

     

  • Dairy Girl Network to Host Two Events in CA Early 2020

    The Dairy Girl Network (DGN), an organization supporting all women in dairy by enhancing lives and creating opportunities, announces two events taking place in California in January and February 2020.

    DGN will be hosting a new event in California during the California Holstein Association’s state convention. The DGN Sharing Wisdom and Connect event will be held at The Penny in San Luis Obispo, California, on Friday, January 24, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event will be open to dairywomen involved in all aspects of the dairy industry attending the Holstein meeting or just from California for a day of education and networking. Buses will leave the Embassy Suites at 8:45 a.m. and will handle transportation to and from the event. If traveling in for the day or want to drive separate, parking is available at The Penny.
     
    The DGN event will be held in beautiful downtown SLO at The Penny and include training seminars, lunch and wine tasting. The speakers will include Celeste Setrinni, a cattle rancher and owner of a design and communications business and Erin Nutcher, partner in Hidden Valley Dairy, who will share about her agriculture advocacy experiences and tips. Also speaking will be Paul Swearingen, Core-Leaders Network Founder who will cover conflict resolution and lead an activation and communication exercise. Welcoming the group and enjoying in the day will be Carrie Mess, a DGN Board Member and blogger at DairyCarrie.
     
    Event ticket price is $50.00 and includes transportation, lunch, wine tasting and a DGN special gift. All registrations are due January 8th. There is a student discount available. Visit DairyGirlNetwork.com for registration and further details.
     
    The second event in California will be held at World Ag Expo, Tulare, California, International Agri-Center. The Connect Event during World Ag Expo will be a coffee break open house which will be available at booth DS 105/106 on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. A short program will be held at 10:30 a.m. Join other dairywomen for a quick recharge to talk about your lives involving dairy farming. The event is for all women involved with any part of dairy – whether as a calf feeder, dairy owner, marketing or sales consultant servicing dairy farms or cheese producers, veterinarian, researchers, etc. If there is a dairy cow involved in what you do, you’re invited. The DGN Connect event price for World Ag Expo is $10.00. Attendees will enjoy coffee, snacks and receive a special DGN gift.
     
    For the second consecutive year at World Ag Expo, a Family Lounge will also be provided by Dairy Girl Network at booth DS 105/106. The Family Lounge provides a much-needed quiet space for families and new mothers. Amenities in the Lounge include a comfortable chair for  nursing/pumping, a diaper changing station with supplies, and a place to rest and recharge. This quiet space is perfect for families or nursing mothers to escape the hustle-and-bustle of World Ag Expo.
     
    Registration for both events are now open. Those interested can visit DairyGirlNetwork.com to learn more and to register. DGN asks that those who plan to attend pre-register for each event.

    The Dairy Girl Network connects all women of the dairy industry, encouraging ideas and camaraderie in an effort to achieve personal and professional development. Designed as a welcoming network of passionate women involved in dairy, relationships will grow through shared experience, support and inspiration. 

  • First California Farm Awarded Top Animal Welfare, Grassfed & Non-GMO Certifications

    The flock of sheep at Tablas Creek Vineyard are now Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW), Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW, demonstrating transparency and sustainability. Tablas Creek Vineyard is the first farming business in California to achieve all three certifications for their sheep.

     

    One of a portfolio of leading farm certifications offered by A Greener World, the Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW label lets consumers know animals are raised outdoors on pasture or range in accordance with the highest animal welfare standards in the U.S. and Canada, using sustainable agriculture methods on an independent farm. Consumer Reports acknowledges Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW as the only “highly meaningful” label for farm animal welfare, outdoor access and sustainability.

     

    Tablas Creek Vineyard’s flock of sheep are also Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW. Certified Grassfed by AGW is an optional, additional accreditation for Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW farmers and ranchers raising cattle, sheep, goats or bison according to AGW standards and a 100 percent grassfed feeding protocol. Certified Non-GMO by AGW is the only certification and logo in the U.S. and Canada that guarantees a food product is produced without the use of genetically modified feed, supplements or ingredients, and comes from animals managed according to the Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW leading welfare and environmental standards on an independent farm.

    The team at Tablas Creek Vineyard chose to certify with AGW because they felt the programs best mirrored their exemplary animal husbandry practices and commitment to sustainability.

     

    Nathan Stuart, Shepherd at Tablas Creek Vineyard says,

     

    “The flock of sheep at Tablas Creek Vineyard play a key role in building healthy soil.  We are proud to hold multiple certifications from A Greener World, demonstrating not only our high-welfare, sustainable management practices but our commitment to farming in ways that benefit the climate.”

     

    AGW Director of Communications and Outreach Emily Moose says,

     

    “In a marketplace crowded with misinformation and greenwashing, trusted third-party certifications like Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW, Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW deliver real transparency for farmers and consumers. We’re proud to work with businesses like Tablas Creek Vineyard to promote their high-quality products and sustainable farming practices.”

     

    For more information about AGW-certified products from Tablas Creek Vineyard, visit tablascreek.com along with the vineyard’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts or contact 805-237-1231 and info@tablascreek.com.

  • Dairy Farmers Continue Collaborative Efforts To Address Community Drinking Water

    The California dairy community has long been dedicated to improving groundwater protection, and this commitment will only grow in the new year. By participating in the Central Valley Salinity Coalition, and working closely with regional and state officials, dairy farmers have been part of an incredible 13-year stakeholder effort, which recently resulted in the adoption of a new long-term plan. Dairy farmers remain engaged as implementation begins, starting with the most important goal, ensuring safe drinking water for all.

     

    In October, the State Water Resources Control Board approved the ambitious Central Valley-wide Salt and Nitrate Management Plan. The plan allows for water permit holders—including dairy farmers, other farmers, food processors, and other industries—to form nitrate management zones. Each zone will be required to develop plans for providing safe drinking water to residents in need, and ultimately, implement measures to reduce nitrate impacts to groundwater.

     

     

     

    “Dairy Cares has been participating in a stakeholder process known as CV-SALTS for a number of years, with the goal of reforming the regulatory system to better address water quality challenges while providing drinking water to those who need and protecting the ability of agriculture, including dairies, to survive and thrive in the valley,” said J.P. Cativiela, Regulatory Affairs Director for Dairy Cares.

    “That effort recently achieved a significant milestone with the adoption of Salt and Nitrate Management Plan. The year 2020 will be very important as we lay the foundation for management zones. Dairy farmers must remain at the table as local management zones are formed and begin to adopt local drinking water solutions.”

     

     

    Dairy farmers and dairy industry representatives have already been participating in two pilot management zones, which have been exploring a number of unique avenues for delivering temporary safe drinking water supplies to local residents in need. The goal for each zone is to decide upon a solution, or set of solutions, and raise funds to cover the cost of implementing those solutions. Since early 2019, organizers in the pilot zones have been working on creating blueprints for other zones to follow.

     

     

     

    “I think it’s very important for us as dairy farmers to continue to participate in this effort. We care about our community. It’s where we live and raise our own families, we want to make sure we’re finding solutions that serve everyone well into the future.” said Ray Prock Jr. a dairy farmer, who has been participating in the pilot taking place in the Turlock area.

    “It’s been a challenging task, but we need to be at the table, to be part of the solution, and ensure a fair and well-managed process to benefit our communities.”

     

     

    Ray says he hopes the lessons they’ve learned in his area will be helpful to others. The progress made at pilot management zones will soon be replicated across the Central Valley. Water users in the four other Priority 1 areas will need to organize their own management zones and create a drinking water plan. Dairy farmers will continue to participate in local efforts, ensuring safe drinking water for all and working toward greater groundwater protection.

     

     

     

    Dairy farmers are committed to being a part of the solution and ensuring safe drinking water.

     

     

  • Dairy Defined: In Search of “Big Dairy”

    “Big Dairy.” One of the strangest terms attached to the industry. As seen in fear-mongering headlines, Big Dairy is used to de-personalize individual dairy farmers and imply some large, faceless force foisting an agenda on unsuspecting consumers. So, who exactly is it? Maybe by figuring out what Big Dairy is – or isn’t – some light could be shed on what’s real, and what’s contrived, in debates about dairy and its presence in the marketplace.

     

    Perhaps Big Dairy means dairy farms themselves. Consolidation has been a fact of life for all of agriculture for generations, and family farms indeed are getting bigger. Even so, according to the latest USDA Census of Agriculture, nearly three-quarters of U.S. dairy farms have fewer than 100 cows on them. Of course, most production comes from the largest farms, but even the biggest ones – the 189 U.S. dairies with more than 5,000 cows as of 2017 – are too numerous and geographically dispersed to create a monolithic giant. And more than 95 percent of all dairy farms, regardless of size, are family-run farms. That’s far from faceless.

     

     

    That rules out farmers. But what about dairy corporations? The dairy industry boasts some impressive-sized businesses. Land O’Lakes is ranked #212 on the Fortune 500, and Dairy Farmers of America would make the list too, if it were publicly traded. That might be Big Dairy, except – DFA and Land O’Lakes are farmer-owned cooperatives. If that’s what people mean when they talk about “Big Dairy,” then­­­ Big Dairy contains an awful lot of small and medium-sized family farms. And these cooperatives are tiny compared to, say, Big Healthcare, (four entries among Fortune’s top 10 companies) Big Oil (four of them in Fortune’s top 25), or Big Tech (six in the top 50).

     

    But maybe it’s not about raw size. Maybe Big Dairy is a myth invented by those who want to make family dairy farmers seem “big” to advance some contrasting image of their competitors – who want to be seen as plucky, usually plant-based, upstarts taking on Big Dairy with highly touted “innovation.”

     

    Let’s explore this. Take, for example, Perfect Day, allegedly just a humble innovator with nothing to offer but a thousand $20-a-pint tubs of imitation ice cream … and startup funding from Temasek – a venture-capital arm of the government of Singapore — and Archer-Daniels-Midland, an agri-business behemoth with $64 billion in annual sales that ranks #49 on the Fortune 500. Other plant- and cell-based alternatives are financed by Jeff Bezos (worth roughly $115 billion, the world’s richest man at the end of 2019) and Bill Gates (net worth over $100 billion) – not exactly little guys, to say the least. In fact, if you added up the gross receipts of all 40,000 dairy farmers in the United States last year (an estimated $39.9 billion), you’d only be worth about two-fifths as much as Jeff Bezos. So-called “Big Dairy” will never compete with that.

     

     

    To be sure: Dairy is a significant U.S. industry. According to research commissioned by the “Got Jobs?” campaign commissioned by dairy groups, including NMPF, the sector as a whole is responsible for nearly 3 million U.S. jobs and has an overall economic impact of more than $620 billion, including indirect effects. Dairy directly employs nearly 1 million Americans, with an impact of more than $206 billion. In agriculture and in the U.S. economy, we aren’t David to someone else’s Goliath. Whatever success we have is because we work hard and work together.

     

    But dairy isn’t Goliath either, and wannabe Davids shouldn’t get a pass peddling false narratives. Dairy is family farmers, cooperatives and companies, of all sizes and types, who believe deeply in the health and nutrition of their products and stand up for it against its opponents — who usually aren’t anywhere near the underdogs they pretend to be. Creating nutritious products, day in and day out, is a big task. But it’s a challenge met collectively by a diverse set of people from farm to fork, who work together to feed the U.S. and the world.

     

    Dairy issues matter. They warrant a robust discussion. Putting the term “Big Dairy” to rest would make it a more honest one.

  • USDA Extends Deadlines for Dairy Margin Coverage, Market Facilitation Programs

    Due to the prolonged and extensive impacts of weather events this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today extended the deadline to December 20 for producers to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for the 2020 calendar year. The deadline had been December 13.  USDA announced is also continuing to accept applications for the Market Facilitation Program through December 20.

    “2019 has challenged the country’s ag sector – prevented or late planting followed by a delayed harvest has been further complicated by wet and cold weather,” said Bill Northey, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. “Because some of our producers are still in the field, time to conduct business at the local USDA office is at a premium.  We hope this deadline extension will allow producers the opportunity to participate in these important programs.”

    Authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), the program offers reasonably priced protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.

    The Market Facilitation Program is part of a relief strategy to support American agricultural producers while the Administration continues to work on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals to open more markets to help American farmers compete globally. MFP payments are aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations.

     For more information, visit the DMC webpage, the MFP webpage or your local USDA service center. To locate your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/service-locator.

  • Rominger Brothers Farms Receives CA Leopold Conservation Award

    Rick Rominger (left) and Bruce Rominger (right) – Photo by Paolo Vescia

    Rominger Brothers Farms of Winters has been selected as the recipient of the 2019 California Leopold Conservation Award®. Sand County Foundation created the Leopold Conservation Award to inspire American landowners by recognizing exceptional farmers, ranchers and foresters. The prestigious award, named in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, is given in 20 states.

    The award is presented annually by Sand County Foundation, Sustainable Conservation and the California Farm Bureau Federation. Rominger Brothers Farms, Inc. of Yolo County received $10,000 and a crystal award at the California Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in Monterey today.

    The farm and rangeland owned and managed by Bruce and Rick Rominger represents a community they love, respect, share with others and protect in perpetuity. They grow diversified crops – including wine grapes, processing tomatoes, rice and hay – in ways that protect the environment, using a full toolbox of stewardship practices and partnerships. This includes planting miles of hedgerows to benefit important pollinators like bees, restoring over 5,000 feet of stream corridors to connect riparian areas and wetlands to aid a variety of species, and managing irrigation water on their rice fields to boost declining shorebird populations.

    Photo Credit: Paolo Vescia

    The Romingers have long been recognized leaders for their adaptability and innovation while overcoming regulatory challenges that, together with their conservation goals, enhance their business. Community service and outreach round out the leadership character of Rominger Brothers Farms.

    “It’s an honor to even be considered for the Leopold Conservation Award, and an even greater honor to win it, especially considering all the accomplished past winners,” said Bruce Rominger. “We are humbled to be part of that list of distinguished recipients. We love what we’re doing and believe what we’re doing improves our part of California in meaningful ways for the future. To have the Leopold Conservation Award associated with our farm is a tremendous privilege.”

    “California’s environment and communities are facing some big challenges – with the effects of climate change in particular on full display with yet another round of megafires across the state this year,” said Ashley Boren, Executive Director of Sustainable Conservation, which has co-sponsored the award since its launch in California in 2006. “The Rominger brothers have spent three decades evolving their farm into a model of sustainability and climate resiliency. Their extraordinary list of accomplishments includes pioneering the use of water-wise drip irrigation, planting miles of hedgerows to benefit important pollinators, and restoring and reconnecting streams and wetland habitats – all of which helps their farm and the multitude of species that call it home endure in a changing climate.”

    “We are honored to join Sand County Foundation and Sustainable Conservation to recognize the extraordinary efforts of California farmers and ranchers who go above and beyond in managing and enhancing our natural resources,” said Jamie Johansson, California Farm Bureau Federation President. “The Leopold Conservation Award recognizes innovative and replicable strategies that our farmers or ranchers utilize to manage their land and natural resources.”

    Verwey Farms (Philip & Shelly Verwey, Frank & Kathy Cardoza, and Brent & Camberia Verwey) – Photo by Paolo Vescia

    Among the many outstanding landowners nominated for this year’s award were two finalists.  Philip Verwey Dairy, Hanford (Kings County) is a first-generation dairy whose philosophy for every management decision is: take care of the people, take care of the animals and take care of the environment on and around the farm. Their commitment to innovation and continuous improvement is evident with their 10-acre covered lagoon manure digester that generates renewable electricity that powers the farm, on-farm wells and their local community. This enables generating clean, renewable energy for two electric-powered feed mixing stations that significantly reduces the use of diesel fuel and harmful air emissions. A five-acre solar array currently being built will help the farm attain its future goal of becoming carbon-neutral.

    Rosie and Ward Burroughs and family at farm in Denair CA – Photo by Paolo Vescia

    Burroughs Family Farms in Denair (Stanislaus County) is this year’s other finalist. Rose Marie and Ward Burroughs along with their family are co-owners of five diversified, sustainable farms that produce organic almonds, beef, chicken and eggs, dairy, olives, hay and more. Exceeding organic standards, the family continually refines and enhances their systems to reduce water use and improve soil fertility. This system prioritizes biodiversity, and seeks to replenish groundwater aquifers, as well as enhance watershed and ecosystem health, while supporting their growing and diverse family enterprises.

    The 2018 recipient was Lundberg Family Farms, an organic rice and quinoa farm in Butte and Humboldt counties. The Leopold Conservation Award is made possible thanks to generous contributions from Farm Credit, The Harvey L. & Maud S. Sorenson Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, McDonald’s and California Leopold Conservation Award alumni. For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.

    Photo credit: California Farm Bureau Federation

  • Early Bird Registration Announced for California Dairy Sustainability Summit

    Early bird registration is now open for the California Dairy Sustainability Summit taking place March 25-26, 2020, at Cal Expo in Sacramento. The Summit, co- hosted by Dairy Cares, California Milk Advisory Board, Dairy Council of California, California Dairy Quality Assurance Program, and the California Dairy Research Foundation, will bring together hundreds of California dairy farmers, state officials, technology providers and other key stakeholders to promote dairy sustainability and develop new business opportunities.

    The two-day event showcases California’s world-leading achievements in planet-smart dairy farm practices and the role dairy plays in both the states’ and global food systems. Through keynote presentations, panel discussion, breakout sessions, and a packed expo hall, attendees will gain insight into technologies, practices and policies that will improve operational efficiency, boost sustainability, further improve environmental performance and create new economic opportunities for dairy farmers.

    “California’s dairy families are proud to provide consumers with nutritious and affordable foods, while continually reducing our environmental footprint,” said Charles “Chuck” Ahlem, a dairy farmer and board member for three of the hosting organizations. “We look forward to another opportunity to bring hundreds of dairy farmers together to share best practices, discuss challenges and develop proactive solutions.”

    The California dairy sector is the nation’s largest and supports about 180,000 California jobs. California dairy families are on track to achieve a world-leading goal for reducing dairy methane emissions, while working to boost additional areas of environmental performance. Ninety-nine percent of California dairy farms are owned and operated by local families, all working to ensure their operations remain sustainable, both environmentally and economically.

    The Summit is dedicated to promoting widespread development, investment and adoption of technologies and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve water conservation and protection, enhance air quality, and address rising labor and energy costs, all while optimizing cow health and comfort. The inaugural summit brought together more than 650 attendees, including 200 dairy farmers, solution providers, and California regulators and stakeholders. Cohosts and event partners look forward to expanding the event’s impact in 2020.

    “I was impressed with the number of farmers who attended last year. It shows that we are looking ahead and trying to make the most out of the decisions we are making so our farms remain sustainable,

    both environmentally and financially. We are working together, and we have a positive story to share. The California Dairy Sustainability Summit allows us to do that,” said Simon Vander Woude, a dairy farmer and chairman of California Dairies, Inc.

    Confirmed speakers for the Summit include:

    • –  Ermias Kebreab, PhD, Professor and Sesnon Endowed Chair in Sustainable Animal Agriculture, University of California, Davis

    • –  Rick Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Dairy Farmers of America

    • –  Ashley Rosales, Program Director of Nutrition Sciences, Dairy Council of California

    • –  Phil Lempert, Founder and CEO, The Lempert Report, Retail Dietitians Business Alliance

    • –  Brad Anderson, Chief Operating Officer and Incoming President and CEO, California Dairies, Inc.

    • –  Gregory Miller, PhD, Global Chief Science Officer, National Dairy Council

    • –  Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

    • –  Frank Mitloehner, PhD, Professor and Air Quality Specialist, University of California, Davis

    • –  Susan Eggman, Assemblymember, California State Assembly

      The California Dairy Sustainability Summit would not be possible without the support of its sponsors. Confirmed sponsors include Aequion, California Bioenergy, Hilmar Cheese Company, Laird Manufacturing, Luhdorff & Scalmanini Consulting Engineers, DeLaval, Farm Credit, Modesto Dairy Solutions, California State Water Resources Control Board, Maas Energy Works, Save Our Planet, US Farm Systems and California Dairy Magazine.

      The California Dairy Sustainability Summit, taking place March 25-26, 2020, at Cal Expo in Sacramento, is co-hosted by Dairy Cares, California Milk Advisory Board, Dairy Council of California, California Dairy Quality Assurance Program, and California Dairy Research Foundation. Event partners include the California Dairy Campaign, California Dairies, Inc., Dairy Farmers of America – Western Area, Dairy Institute of California, Hilmar Cheese Company, Land O’ Lakes, Milk Producers Council, Producer’s Dairy, Joseph Gallo Farms, California Farm Bureau Federation, and Western States Dairy Producers Association. Learn more at CADairySummit.com.

    • Dairy Cares (DairyCares.com) is a statewide coalition with a mission to ensure the long-term sustainability of California’s dairy farm families through strong environmental stewardship and responsible animal care. Members include California’s farmer-owned milk cooperatives, privately- owned milk processors, and trade associations.

    • For twenty years, the award-winning California Dairy Quality Assurance Program (CDQAP) (CDRF.org/cdqap) has worked as a partnership between the dairy industry, academia, and others to provide science-based education and third-party certifications, promoting the health of consumers, the environment, and the health and welfare of dairy animals.

    • The California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF) (CDRF.org) is an independent non-profit organization that leads and delivers research and science-based programs towards a more innovative and sustainable California industry.

    • Funded by California’s dairy farm families and local milk processors, Dairy Council of California (HealthyEating.org) empowers stakeholders, including educators, health professionals and communities, to elevate the health of children and families through the pursuit of lifelong healthy eating habits.

    • The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) (RealCaliforniaMilk.com), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s more than 1,300 dairy families. With a mission to increase demand for products made with Real California Milk, the CMAB promotes California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world. 

  • Bears Nutrition Awards $250,000 to Inaugural Real California Milk Accelerator Winner

    Tracy, Calif. – November 8, 2019 – Bears Nutrition and its innovative, milk-based nutritional shakes for children was named the grand prize winner today of the Real California Milk Accelerator dairy startup competition. The competition, sponsored by the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) and powered by leading innovation consultancy VentureFuel, Inc., will provide Bears Nutrition with $250,000 in resources and funding to bring their fortified milk beverages to market.

    As presented by co-founders David Sheu and Kevin Yeung, Bears Nutrition focuses on helping active kids grow. The winning product is a daily milk-based beverage fortified with protein, vitamins, minerals, and omega 3’s designed specifically for children aged three and older. It was created when Yeung’s son, Bear, stopped growing when his hockey performance started to take off. When a clinical nutritionist prescribed milk, and “lots of it”, with some added nutrients, Bears Nutrition’s shakes were born. The products currently have limited distribution in Europe and China but the founders look forward to expanding throughout the U.S. with Real California Milk at the core.

    “Our mission at Bears is to help kids reach their full growth potential and we believe milk is a cornerstone to achieve that mission,” said David Sheu, CEO and co-Founder of Bears Nutrition. “With the help of the CMAB, we look forward to making milk a staple in kids’ routines again.”

    The Milk Accelerator competition was designed to inspire innovation and investment in fluid milk products, packaging and capacity within California by connecting manufacturers, producers, investors, ideas and entrepreneurs for high quality, sustainable dairy beverages. Alongside eight other finalists, Bears Nutrition was judged on taste, nutritional value, packaging innovation, sustainability, and the ability to scale by a live panel of judges from the dairy, consumer packaged goods, and investor communities including business, industry and academic influencers. Bears Nutrition was one of nine finalists that each received up to $25,000 of support to develop protocepts while receiving elite mentorship from marketing, packaging, and distribution experts.

    “The innovation we’ve seen from these nine incredible finalists has shown that we’ve barely tapped the natural goodness of dairy milk and what can be done to create products relevant to consumers today,” said John Talbot, CEO of the CMAB. “Not only are we excited to provide consumers with a healthy, great-tasting new beverage option by helping to bring Bears Nutrition shakes to market, but we also look forward to seeing what the other finalists are able to achieve with the support they’ve received through this program.”

    “This collaboration between VentureFuel and the CMAB is a great demonstration of the heights that are possible when influential organizations in major industries collaborate with startups; we can accelerate growth and jump-start innovation in new ways that can not only influence consumer perception, but help redefine an industry,” said Fred Schoenberg, CEO and Founder of VentureFuel.

    More than 1,200 family dairy farms produce the milk found in fluid milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream and other dairy products identified by the Real California Milk seal – which will soon include Bears Nutrition beverages. California is the number one producer of fluid milk, butter and ice cream in the U.S. and the second largest producer of cheese and yogurt.

    Additional information on the winner and competition finalists is available at: https://www.venturefuel.net/milk-accelerator.

    About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families and is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. With a mission to increase demand for products made with Real California Milk, the CMAB is celebrating 50 years in 2019 promoting California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

    About VentureFuel, Inc.

    VentureFuel helps established companies around the world unlock growth by partnering with emerging startups and breakthrough technologies. Our innovation programs solve specific challenges, deliver tangible results and discover first-to-market opportunities from the Museum of Ice Cream to the latest pioneering technologies. We are 100 percent independent, sourcing from our global network of the best investors, scouts, founders and academics. Learn more at: www.venturefuel.net.