It’s a great evening in the Hyatt as the Futures Sale kicked off in high excitement!

Lot 22
Buyers choice from Cranehill Shottle Laurel b. 3/14/09 and Cranehill Shottle Lauren b. 4/16/09
Free trucking anywhere in the U.S.
Dam: Miss Durham Lauren (EX-91)
2nd dam: Comestar Lauseen Skychief (2E-93)
3rd dam: Comestar Lausian Astre (VG-85)
Maternal sister to Stormatic
back to Laurie Sheik

Consigned by Cranehill Genetics, Hilmar, CA
$7000

Lot 48
First choice from Goldwyn or Shottle – due 9/09 and 4/09
Dam: Greenlea Rub Marlene-Red (EX-94)
3x All-American and 4th gen. EX & All-American
2nd dam: Bar-Lee Marker Mandy-Red (3E-94)

Consigned by John Kisst, Ripon, CA
$6300

Lot 1 – “Fasten Your Seatbelts)
First choice MAS from Ms Atlees Gold Abigail (VG-89)
GTPI +2085 525NM$ 3.5PL
Maternal sisters to Abigail – Roy Autumn (VG-89) 2x All-American; La-Foster Astrnmical Anna (EX-90) and La-Foster Gibson Allure (EX-90)
2nd dam: Md-Delight Durham Atlee (EX-92 DOM)
3rd dam: Md-Delight Strm Amberlee (VG-88 DOM)
4th dam: Ms Kingstead Chief Adeen (2E-94 DOM)

Consigned by Todd Whittier, West Sutton, MA
$66,000
Frank & Diane Borba, Chris & Leo Durrer, CA, Frank & Carol Borba and Wayne & Beth Glaeser

Contender: Dennis Wolff, PA

Lot 47
First choice Jasper x Cranberry-Mdws D Abigail-ET (EX-92)
100% blood sister to Atlee
2nd dam: Md-Delight Storm Allison (2E-91 DOM)

Consigned by Me-Do-Crest, Orfordville, WI
$7500

Lot 46
First choice Jasper (two born 3/09) x BVK Outside Diana (EX-91)
maternal sister to Amlaird Lee Alice (EX-92), Amlaird Lee Amber (EX-91) and KY-Blue GW Debbie, Junior Champion of the ‘09 Midwest Spring National

Consigned by Katie Gibson, KY
$5000

Lot 17
First choice Lightning x Ms Kingstead Chief Adeen (2E-94 DOM)
Dam of 11 EX and 16 VG offspring
2nd dam: C Aitkenbrae Starbuck Ada (2E-94 DOM)

Consigned by Butler & Kingstead, MD
$6200

Lot 2
First Choice Jeeves x Regancrest Breya-ET (VG-88)
Breya sold for $80,000 in the ‘08 Regancrest Sale
#2 PTAT Cow of the Breed 4/09
Her 3 sons with genomics:
Bolton Brendal GTPI +2165 +4.15T; Mac Bradell GTPI +2122 +4.79T; Mac Bragen GTPI +2267 +4.63T
2nd dam: Regancrest-PR Barbie (EX-92 GMD DOM)

Consigned by Regancrest Farm and Todd & Brad Groves, IA
$32,500
Lesperron, QC

Lot 3
First choice Shottle from 4 pregs due 12/15/09
Dam: Regancrest G Brocade-ET (VG-87) *TL
GTPI +2257 +1167M +61F +46P +5.3PL +4.94T
+633NM$
#1 CTPI Goldwyn in the breed 4/09
#1 genomic tested Goldwyn for Type
#4 PTAT Cow of the Breed 4/09
Maternal sisters: Breya (VG-88); Brasilia (VG-88); Barbi (VG-85); and Barbara (VG-88)

Consigned by Rick & Tom Simon, IA
$21,000

Lot 4
First choice Durham from Windy-Knoll-View Promis (2E-95 GMD DOM)
9 EX dtrs and 12 sons in AI
4 dtrs nominated All-American
Five pregs. due 9/5/09 at Trans Ova
Full sisters to choice: Pammy (EX-92 93-MS); Pam (EX-92, 95-MS); Pamela (EX-91, 93-MS); Pledge (2E-95)

Consigned by James & Nina Burdette, PA
$23,000

Lot 5
First choice Shottle x Ms Candy Apple-Red
PTPI +1705 +3.19T
Full sister to Ms Talent Applicious-Red, sold for $190,000 as the sale topper at the ‘08 Parade of Perfection
2 pregs made in March or 5 pregs made in late May or early June
2nd dam: KHW Regiment Apple-Red (EX-92)
One million dollar sale topper at the ‘08 Global Glamour
Unanimous All-American Jr. 2-Year-Old ‘06

Consigned by Ms Candy Apple Red-ET Syndicate, CA
$40,000

Lot 6
First choice Million (due 10/09) or Jeeves (due 11/09) x Nova-TMJ Golden Echo-ETS (VG-88)
PTPI of the Millions is +2093
Dam is one of 5 VG full sisters
2nd dam: UFM-Dubs Eroy (VG-87)
CTPI +2123 +1449M +119F +45P +3.93T
#1 CTPI Roy daughter 4/09
Consigner will pay for genomics testing over $20,000

Consigned by: Nova & Friends Syndicate, WI
$20,500

Lot 7
First choice Million from 4 pregs due 9/09
Dam: UFM-Dubs Eowyn (VG-87)
GTPI +2118 +1304M +104F +41P +4.68T
#5 PTAT Cow in the Breed 4/09
#2 PTAT Goldwyn in the Breed 4/09
2nd dam: Dubs Eroy

Consigned by Stephen Van Tassell, NY
$11,000

Lot 8
First choice Alexander or second choice Sanchez x Velvet-View-KJ Sunburst (EX-93 94-MS)
Dam of #1, #3, #6, #7 CTPI cows in CA
Maternal sister to Socrates (EX-93 GTPI +1945) and Structure (EX-91 GTPI +1577)
2nd dam: Sher-Est Prelude Sweet (EX-92 GMD DOM)

Consigned by the Cabernet Syndicate, CA
$7000

Lot 9
First choice Sanchez x Cabernet Goldwyn Sunny (VG-85) CTPI +2097 +1852M +79F +64P +3.78T
2nd dam: Velvet-View-KJ Sunburst (2E-92 DOM)
CTPI +1921 +2360M +84F +61P +3.25T

Consigned by Cabernet Syndicate, CA
$6000

First choice of seven heifer Laurin x Budjon-JK Linjet Eileen (2E-96 DOM)
5 EX and 4 VG dtrs
5-06 2 365 44,703 3.7 1647 3.3 1467
2nd dam: Elegance (3E-96 GMD DOM)

Consigned by Elegance Futures, WI
$20,500

Lot 11
First choice Goldwyn (from 3 heifers due 9/15/09) from Tri-Day Ashlyn (2E-96 GMD DOM)
Won it all at Madison – Won it all at the Royal
All-American & All-Canadian
Full sister to Tri-Day Adeen (EX-93)
4x All-American
Mat. sister to choice: EO Siemers Ashlyns Angel (EX-92 94-MS)
Unanimous All-American Winter Yearling ‘05

Consigned by Kingsmill Farm LLC, NC
$12,200

Lot 12
First Choice Debonair or Big Apple-Red x KY-Blue Ruben Marla-Red (EX-92)
All-American Red & White; HM All-American Black & White
Due back for the 2009 shows!
2nd dam: Bar-Lee Storm Maggie (EX-93) *RC
Maternal sister to Greenlea Rub Marlene-Red (EX-94)
5 more VG and EX dams

Consigned by Richard Green, DE
$12,500
Robert & Kathy Yeoman, OK

Lot 13 from 3 Alexander pregs or 2 Mac heifers x Rabur Outside Pandora (3E-91 GMD DOM)
GTPI +1681 +1037M +39F +39P +3.5PL
10 sons in AI
19 VG dtrs
2nd dam: Rabur Rudolph Pair-Tw (3E-91 GMD DOM)
3rd dam: Rabur Inspired Parallel-ET (2E-92 GMD DOM)
Great Productive Life family!

Consigned by R. Paul Buhr, WI
$6000

Lot 14
First choice Man-O-Man or Million x Regancrest Gold Milly-ET (VG-87) CTPI +2071 +1957M +80F +52P +574NM$ 37,000M
2nd dam: Regancrest Melanie (VG-86 DOM) 36,000M
3rd dam: Four-of-a-Kind BWM Missy-ET (VG-88 GMD DOM) 42,000M

Consigned by Heatherstone Ventures, WI
$10,000

Lot 15
First choice from 4 pregs by Jeeves x Crescentmead Essay 9337 (VG-86)
CTPI +2171 +2716M +104F +75P +3.3PL
2nd dam: Crescentmead Manfred Essay (EX-91 GMD DOM)
8 more VG and EX dams to Northcroft Ella Elevation (4E-97 GMD DOM)

Consigned by Siemers Holsteins Farms, WI
$8700

Lot 16
First choice Michael from 5 pregs due 11/09 or 2/10
Dam: Ladys-Manor Demi Glaze (VG-88)
CTPI +2231 PTA +2118M +104F +73P +676NM$ +4.23T
2nd dam: Ladys-Manor Demi Doodle (VG-87) CTPI +1972

Consigned by My Ladys Manor, MD
$8400

Lot 18
First choice from 5 Lawn Boys x Ms Lava-Red (EX-91 GMD DOM)
3-08 2x 365 43,208 3.5 1493 3.0 1313
#1 Milk & Protein Red Cow in the Breed 4/09
Two of the heifers are polled
Maternal sisters to choice – VG-86 CTPI +1827; VG-85 CTPI +1911; VG-85 CTPI +1813
2nd dam: Miss Celcius Lorena (3E-92 GMD DOM) *RC

Consigned by Don, Randy & Richard Hamm, WI
$8000
Dennis Wolff, PA

Lot 19 First choice Debonair from five red heifers born 4/09 through 5/09
13 EX dams starting from Astrahoe RM Rosa Rae-Lyn-ET (EX-90) *RC with 4-11 3 365 59,244 4.2 2500 3.0 1772
Next dam: Pinehurst Royal Rosa-ET (2E-91)
3-10 3 365 41,400 3.3 1358 3.0 1223
3rd dam: Pinehurst Roulade (2E-92)

Consigned by Castleberg Bros., WI
$8100

Lot 20 – First choice Goldwyn female from 3 Goldwyn heifers born 2/09
Dam: Plushanski Amel Patty-ET (3E-93 DOM)
CTPI +1864 +2651M +59F +67P +4.5PL
Dam of Ensenada Taboo Planet
Nom. Global Cow of the Year ‘08
2nd dam: Dividing-Ridge Peg-ET (VG-86 GMD DOM)

Consigned by Joshua & David Bishop, PA
$7300

Lot 21
First choice of 11 pregs by Shottle from Narfa Sweet Rhyme Gal (EX-91)
1st 4-year-old, Res. Senior & Res. Grand Champion at Midwest Spring Show ‘09
2nd dam: Narfa Sweetheart Gal (VG-86 1*)

Consigned by Dan Weness, MN
$6100

Lot 23
First Choice of 9 pregs due 12/09 by Gen-I-Beq Shotgun-ET PA LPI +3112
Dam: Cache-Valley W Dezi Dur-ET (2E-93)
2nd Dam: West-Wind-Acres Lead Dezi (3E-95)
One of the best cow families ever in the West!

Consigned by Harris Dairyland
$7500

Lot 24
First Choice of 5 Durham pregnancies due 9/1/09
Dam: Willows-Edge Lee Velcro (EX-93)
All-American Junior 3-Year-Old 2007
Next four dams EX – tons of show winners from this family

Consigned by Henk & Bonnie Van Dyk
$6300

Lot 25
First Choice of four Goldwyn female pregancies due 9/15/09
Dam: Fieldstone Silver Solace-ET (3E-94)
Next ten dams VG or EX!

Consigned by Fieldstone Farm
$8100

Lot 26
First Choice of five Million implants (two implanted on 6/8/09; three to be implanted on 7/6/09) or MAS
Dam: Ralma 14-Carat Gold-ET (VG-87) CTPI +2052 +611NM$
2nd Dam: Ralma Christmas Cookie-ET (VG-89)
“Think of the millions of dollars sold from this family!”

Consigned by Markwell Holsteins LLC
$8000

Lot 27
First Choice of:
One Goldwyn born 4/9/09
One Goldwyn born 6/17/09
One Shottle born 4/16/09
Three Stormatics born 4/25/09, 5/2/09, 5/03/09
Dam: Jenny-Lou Marshall O618-ET (VG-88 GMD)
Full sister to Toystory & Lou! Maternal brother to choice is Jenny-Lou Shottle Trump #3 GTPI young sire

Consigned by Mystic Valley Dairy LLC
$7700

Lot 28
First Choice of 6 Patience Showline Contender pregs due 9/09
Dam: Pappys S Storm Ginger-ETS (EX-90 *RC)
Reserve Grand Champion, MI Spring Show 2009
11 VG & EX dams back into the Gay family from Skagvale!

Consigned by Tom & Renee McCauley
$4700

Lot 29
First Choice of:
Two Durhams born 5/10/09, 5/23/09
Two Stormatics born 6/5/09, 6/7/09
Two Shottles born 6/8/09, 6/11/09
Dam: Milk&Honey Encore Raizel-ET (EX-90)
Next six dam EX Roxys!
James maternal sister to the choice VG-89 1st lactation!

Consigned by Darin Johnson
$6000

Lot 30
First Choice of three D-Fortunes born in March, 2009
Dam: Gloryland Lena Rae-ET (EX-90)
Maternal sister to Liberty Rae (EX-92) – sold for $410,000 in 2008 Cowtown Sale
Next seven dams EX from the Roxys!

Consigned by Long Haven Farms, Inc.
$3900

Lot 31
First Choice of three Shottle heifers born December, 2008 – one is already tested as a red carrier
Dam: Scientific Rubirae Socks-ET (2E-93 DOM *RC)
Maternal sister to Scientific Debutante (EX-92)
Next six dams EX Roxys

Consigned by Galestone Holsteins
$6300

Lot 32
First Choice of two female pregnancies due 12/09 and 1/10
Dam: Ragnar Stormatic Camilla-ET (EX-90)
Five VG & EX maternal sisters to dam
2nd dam: Ragnar Linjet Callie (3E-93 GMD DOM)

Consigned by Mark & Angie Ulness
$4500

Lot 33
First Choice of six Advent heifers due 7/4/09 or 7 Lawn Boy heifers due 9/30/09
Dam: Opsal Wilstar R Duchess-ET (VG-88 EX-MS *RC)
Two EX & two VG sisters to choice – two nom All-American R&W
A potential red from the Dellias!

Consigned by Troy Opsal
$4200

Lot 34
First Choice of four Alexander pregs due 1/1/10
Dam: Da-So-Burn Goldwyn Brass-ET (VG-86) CTPI +2046
Same maternal family as the Barbies!

Consigned by De-Su Holsteins LLC
$3200

Lot 35
First Choice of one Alexander heifer due 9/11/09 or three Sanchez heifers due 10/30/09
Dam: Markwell Durham Felice (EX-92 *TV)
Next six dams VG or EX from the Ravens!

Consigned by Larson Acres, Inc.
$10,000

Lot 36
First Choice of three Jeeves pregs due 9/1/09 or five Mac pregs due 12/1/09
Dam: Markwell Goldwyn Medina-ET (VG-87)
Sons going to AI
Next seven dams VG or EX from the Ravens!

Consigned by Markwell Holsteins LLC
$6900

Lot 37
First Choice of four heifers born between March 28 & April 4, 2009 and eight pregs due 6/5/09
Dam: Markwell Goldwyn Mitzi-ET (VG-88) GTPI +1869
Full sister to dam VG-87 GTPI +1949
Next seven dams VG or EX from the Ravens!

Consigned by James Wilson
$5500

Lot 38
First Choice of two Shottle heifers born May, 2009; two heifers born June, 2009 or eight Alexander pregs due 2/10
Dam: Seagull-Bay Oman Mirror-ET (VG-86) CTPI +2151 #23 NM$ cow of the breed
Next seven dams VG or EX from the Minnows!

Consigned by Gary & Bruce Roylance
$8500

Lot 39
First Choice of two Man-O-Man pregs or three Jeeves pregs transferred in May, 2009
Dam: Stripes Finley Senora (EX-92 DOM)
The Saturday family!

Consigned by Steve Holte
$5000

Lot 40
First Choice of four Jeeves heifers born 3/31/09, 5/16/09, 5/17/09, 6/1/09
Dam: Golden-Oaks Marsh Sable (VG-88 EX-MS)
Next six dams VG or EX from the Dellias via Debbie-Jo!

Consigned by Golden Oaks Farms
$5300

Lot 41
First Choice of five Million heifers due November & December, 2009
Dam: Ms Air-Osa PS Cali 10064-ET (VG-87) CTPI +1982
Back to the EX-92 GMD DOM Tippy Starlite Al Alli cow!

Consigned by Hank & Carolyn Van Exel & Joey Airosa
$4400

Lot 42
First Choice of five Debonair-Red pregs due 12/09
Dam: Kingsmill RP Daquori-Red (VG-85)
305 ME 30,350M
2nd Dam: Red-Vision Dis Della-Red-ET (EX-91)
All-American R&W Sr 2-Year-Old 2005

Consigned by Melvin Medeiros
$4200

Lot 43
First Choice of six Shottle pregs due 3/1/10
Dam: Tollenaars Ruero Athena-ET (3E-93)
2nd dam: Tollenaars Aerostar 643 (2E-93 GMD DOM) over 250,000M lifetime

Consigned by Mike Hay
$3600

Lot 44
First Choice of two Shottle heifers born 4/9/09 and one Shottle born 4/10/09
Dam: Winterfield IE Rosemary (VG-86)
Next nine dams VG or EX!

Consigned by Wade Yardley
$2000

Lot 45
First Choice Sanchez from two pregs due 12/09 and eight pregs due 1/10
Dam: Lazy-A Durham Loviet-ET (VG-85 VG-MS)
Next six dams VG or EX from the Laurie Sheiks!

Consigned by Adam & Lacy Van Exel
$4200

The 2009 California Futures Sale averaged $10,350 on 48 lots. The gross total of both Convention sales came just a hair short of $1 milllion dolllars. The sale was managed by Rick & Paula Bovre of the Great Northern and Chris & Jen Hill of MD-Hillbrook and was hosted by the California Holstein Association. Gilbert Teixeira and Ryan Matheron were sale co-chairs. Norman Nabholz read pedigrees and Chris Hill auctioneered both sales and were assisted by a crack team of ringmen!

Juniors brought out their competitive edge today as they competed for the national title in Dairy Quiz Bowl. In several extremely close head to head rounds, four teams rose to the top for a chance to compete in the final round tomorrow. Come support our juniors tomorrow at 8am in the Gardenia Room at the Sheraton Hotel!

Senior Finals: California vs. Iowa

Junior Finals: Washington vs. New York

For pictures of this event, visit the link below!

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Exels Holsteins & Wine Tasting
A delightful driving tour began at Exel’s dairy #1, the group then went to the farms feed facility were feed is stored and prepared for delivery to the two dairies that the Van Exel’s operate. Tour goers disembarked the bus at Exel’s Dairy #2 and were greeted by the Van Exel Family with refreshments and a line-up of Exels elite Holstein females. After departing Exels, the group headed to Van Ruiten Winery, owned by a former dairy family. The Van Ruiten family greeted the buses and hosted everyone to taste their wines in their barrel room. The bus departed the winery and headed over the Sacramento Delta to their final destination at the National Convention Sale.

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Junior Fun at Raging Waters!

Junior and senior Holstein members gathered at Raging Waters for a fun family day in the sun. As the temperature climbed over 110 degrees, participants were thankful for a plentiful supply of sunscreen and access to exciting water attractions. Lunch was provided at the park, and you can guarantee that not many juniors waited the full 45 minutes to get back to the water!

For pictures of this event, follow the link below!

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This video was prepared before the convention to welcome you to California! For those of you who missed the convention, here’s a preview of what you’re missing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2cUoRYf5_U

Thirty-two golfers took part in the Convention golf tournament Sunday morning at the Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course south of Sacramento. Playing a modified scramble or “shamble” each 4-person team picked the best tee shot and then each team member played his or her own ball for the rest of the hole, resulting in somewhat higher scores than recent years.
The winning team at four under par was composed of Jason Silva, Paul Pires, Mike Nancett and Frank Borba. Long drive winners were Barb Stevens for the ladies and Frank Robinson for the men. Paul Pires and Chris Sawyer, co-chair, won the closest to the pin on the two contested holes.

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On the 15th Floor of the Hyatt Regency, overlooking the majestic California State Capitol, convention goers were treated to a spread of delicious California farmstead cheese and fine California wine. The assortment of farmstead cheese was provided by, the award winning, Fiscalini Farms and Cheese Company of Modesto, Calif. The evening was filled with great conversation and was a time for both old and new friends to catch up and kick off the convention.

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The Pre-Convention tour that made its way south to Modesto, Riverdale and Tulare was a delight! Attendees were hosted by sister-in-laws, Lauren and Carolina Evangelo. Most tour participants hailed from states east of the Mississippi. International guests from El Salvador were a treat to have along. Fine California hospitality was extended to pre-convention tour goers by Lorita Holstiens, RuAnn and Maddox Dairies, Airoso Dairy, Fern Oak Farms and Exels Holsteins. An exclusive Land O’ Lakes butter and powder plant tour were a highlight on Friday afternoon. A little gambling at Chuckchansci Casino and breathtaking views of Yosemite National Park rounded out the tour. A fabulous time was had by all!

Lorita Holsteins – Modesto, Calif. – Thursday, June 25th
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RuAnn and Maddox Dairies Tour and Luncheon – Riverdale, Calif. – Thursday, June 25th
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Chuckchansci Gold Resort & Casino – Coarsegold, Calif. – Thursday, June 25th

Yosemite National Park – Friday, June 26th
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Land O’ Lakes Butter & Powder Processing Plant Tour – Tulare, Calif. – Friday, June 26th
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Airoso Dairy Tour & Dinner Hosted by the Airoso Family – Tulare, Calif. – Friday, June 26th

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Fern Oak Farms – Tulare, Calif. – Saturday, June 27th
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Exels Holsteins Tour and Luncheon – Lodi, Calif. – Saturday, June 27th
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The Pre-Convention tour that traveled north to the Petaluma area has had a great time already! Tour participants hail from Alabama to Canada, Vermont to Wisconsin…and the laughter has been plentiful! Jana McClelland was officially voted the best pre-convention tour guide, keeping the group organized, on time and supplied with ample food and drinks for the two-day tour, along with some Seinfeld entertainment as well. Tour stops included McClelland Dairy, J Wineries, Saralee’s Vineyard/Richard’s Grove, Ocean-View Dairy and a fabulous San Francisco city tour, complete with a visit to Alcatraz. McClelland Dairy was our first tour stop. A split herd with 500 organic cows and 300 conventional, those on the tour were treated to a somewhat rare site in California — pasture cows! Located just 19 miles from the Pacific Ocean, George McClelland explained that the area is almost too close to the ocean to grow grapes, so it’s an ideal setting for dairy, and they have several pastures for cows on either side of the driveway. New to the McClelland “enterprise” is McClelland Organic Butter, a project Jana is spearheading. Ocean-View Farms had a complete self-guided tour, with the boxstall barn full of famous Excellent cows, as well as an outside lot with the same. A stop to J Wineries was truly enjoyable, as the staff spent time allowing the group to pair wine and food together, as well as giving a tour of the processing room and wooden barrel storage area. After the winery, the group went to the grapes! That is, they went to see where the grapes are grown for J Wineries…at Saralee’s Vineyard. Saralee’s vineyard produces 18 different wines and 20 different table grape varieties.

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After lunch, President Maddox began the session with announcement and recognition of the 40-year members of the association, as well as the new Star of the Breed, Stuewes BF Giddy-ET, an EX-94 Charles daughter with a record of 3-03 365 42,270 5.6 2369 3.3 1407. She is owned by Flower-Brook Registered Holsteins, the Stuewe family, of Hamburg, MN.

Dr. Robert Cropp, Professor Emeritus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was introduced as the afternoon’s guest speaker. Dr. Cropp will be leading a discussion on the milk pricing stabilization program.

Notes from Dr. Cropp’s presentation:
“Financial stress on dairy farmers today is the greatest I’ve ever seen. How did it get this way? Things will change, but we have to have a change in dairy policy. We had a few years of record high prices through the end of last year. The market has not responded to any improvement, hopefully in July we can see some. But, it’s a slow market to respond. The cheese market was higher in April than it is today. Block cheese is $1.12 and Barrel cheese is $1.09 with no support. It’s hard to forecast where prices are, but with our current policy we have a great deal of volatility. That won’t change until we have a change in policy. Product price determines milk price and as of right now, everything is markedly down from last year. Every part of the country is hurting, with low prices and high feed costs.

Since the 1990s, the major factor for lower milk prices was relatively more milk production. Production is not growing and yet the market is not responding. Milk per cow is down in many major dairy states – CA, ID, PA, but growing in TX, MI, MN and WN. Production in most states is either down or not growing. Wholesale & retail prices are slowly coming down with should help sales, so we should see a demand response.

Butter last year +12.6% and Jan-Mar 2009 it was -6.6%
Fluid milk is up -.2% last year, this year +1.8%
All products -2.5% over last year
Organic milk was growing 23% last year, but this year, sales are taking quite a hit.

The big impact is the export market. In 2008, 10.8% of total milk supply was exported and it was only 4.5% in 1997. What is causing this? A little is due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar; the EU re-instated export subsidies; weakening of a world economy; credit issues; world prices too low for commercial exports; increase supply on world market from Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil & the EU.

USDA estimates exports for 2009 will be down 57% on a fat basis and 25% on a skim-milk basis.

But the good news is this market will recover. I will guarantee 100% that milk prices will improve as the year progresses. Low milk prices & high feed prices will encourage dairy cow slaughter and dairy exiting. 7th ground of CWT – 102,898 cows late May to end of July. There will be an 8th round. With further reduced use of rBST, production per cow will only go up .6%. For the year, production will be down from 2008 by -.5%.

The economy is still sluggish, but we will see some recovery. July – September the price of cheese will be 1.35 to 1.50. From October to December it will increase to 1.55 to 1.65. Dry whey and butter will also increase. I predict milk prices will be 14.20 to 15.15. for Class III prices by December. Prices by the end of 2010 will be 16-17.00. We’ll have a greater probability of $20 milk by 2011. But, without pricing stability, we will see $11 milk again.

So, what are the objectives of a milk pricing stabilization program?
-reduce volatility of market – for producers, processors & end user of milk & dairy products
-prevent severely depressed producer milk prices

We need to complement, and not replace, existing programs. We need to provide a long-run dairy program for 7 years with a 5 year review. And we need to provide flexibility so that producers can expand and new people can get into the industry.

New program suggestions:
Upon implementation, each producer will be assigned an initial base of raw milk marketings from 4/08 through 3/09. Any producer that can verify they had existing planned expansion before the implementation of the program, they could have their base adjusted.

New producers wanting to get into the business will have to earn a base. Their base will begin with their first full month’s of milk marketings and for the next 12 months. Bases are a moving base, whereby at the beginning of the next 12 month period, a base will be the recent past 12 months.

Bases cannot be sold, but they can be transferred to someone who takes over the facility. Producers can combine bases into one dairy facility, provided that each producer involved is engaged in that operation.

USDA would implement the program, with a board consisting of dairy producers, consumer representation, a fluid milk bottler and a dairy economist and dairy product firm representative. The Secretary of Agriculture would work closely with this board to forecast the next 12 months – both domestic and export markets – to determine a market need for the next 12 months. “Allowable milk marketings”

Producers who make less than their base do not lose that designation. Producers who maintain their marketing and exceed their allowable milk marketings, will be assessed a market access fee – a $2 to $3/CWT on all milk marketed after exceeding their limit.

Costs for the program will not be more than 2 cents/CWT.”

Question & Answer period:
Jonathan Lamb (NY)
Big question is about imports. Although MPCs aren’t the reason for our low milk prices right now, what will it take to change the classification of those MPCs into a milk product?
-Gordie Cook – We do have competition for MPCs, and we do need to make sure they are assessed under the tariff system properly, which they currently are not. We are in full agreement that this needs to be addressed.
- John Meyer – As an industry, we have to figure what level we want to produce and what percentage is going to be sold to the international market. What we’ve been doing is producing as much as we can and then just hoping we can market it in an international place.

How did you derive the $2-$3 value in over-base production because that sounds like a more realistic number than what I had originally heard. But we have to know for sure what it’s going to be because it’s definitely an influential number.
-Gordie Cook – We thought it was a fair price so that it doesn’t inhibit new people from coming into the industry. We also want to find something realistic that has every chance to be passed by legislation. We’re trying to treat all herds the same – regardless of size and location.

Unidentified member
I don’t think $2-$3 assessment isn’t near enough. I don’t see how that’s going to cut production – it’s not enough to discourage production. If base is going to adjust every year to reflect increased production, how is that going to lower the national supply?
-Gordie Cook – This committee is going to come up with a number that’s needed, but it’s possible we’ll come up with a negative number for production, based on domestic usage and projected exports and government usage. If the number is smaller, we’re going to have to take some away from the base per producer. We do not want to be the reason for anyone to be in a “race for base.” We didn’t want to create a lot of controversy and we didn’t want to over-complicate the program. We still hope there will be a natural increase in the demand for milk, and even with the large number of cows going out on the buyout, but with projected females (partly from sexed semen) entering the population above and beyond the normal female growth rate of our herd, that’s not going to be a huge difference.
-Dr. Cropp – The market will re-adjust and prices will go up naturally. We just want to make a long-term policy to smooth out the extreme volatility of pricing.

Dennis Areias (CA)
We’re talking about a supply management plan, but we’re not talking about a way to combat high feed costs, such as using corn as ethanol.
-Gordie Cook – The plan will determine an amount of milk that will reflect a positive pay price for producers that factors all of that in.

How long will this take to implement?
-Gordie Cook – This group present represents all of our membership across the country. This group needs to go home, spread the word, and this can happen fast. It’s important that when we leave here, we can move forward with a unified voice and direction.

Time ran out for the many further questions that hopefully will be covered in this afternoon’s regional caucus meetings to meet the candidates.

There will be a legislative committee report presented in tomorrow morning’s meeting.

For notes from this morning’s session, be sure to page down through the blog and read about that, along with seeing pictures from earlier in the convention!
Coming up – coverage from tonight’s 2009 California Futures Sale, as well as Dairy Bowl finals and the Junior and Senior Banquets.

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Click on the link above to view snapshots from this year’s convention. Typed below are captions in the order that the pictures appear in the album. Enjoy!

A beautiful young Goldwyn at McClellands

George McClelland

Popular Tour Guide and the face behind McClelland’s Organic Butter, Jana McClelland

Happy Pasture Cows at McClelland Dairy

The Buttkes of North Carolina

J Wineries – make sure to try the Pinot Noir!

Bob & Ginger Knutsen (MD), joined by Lois Skeen (VA) and Judy & Charlie Iager (MD).

Lunch was spectacular in Richard’s Grove!

Mike, Bobbi & Jodi Jones of Indiana. Jodi not only was the bus favorite, but the recipient of the “best smile on the bus” award!

David and Lenore Ruppert of Illinois pose in front of the beautiful landscape at Richard’s Grove.

What a rear udder! Ocean View Lorenzo Della (EX-91) with 3-04 2 365 32,830 3.9 1291 3.9 948. Della is a 9th gen. VG or EX from the Brigeen Hanover Debra (3E-91 GMD DOM) family.

A view from the Twin Peaks! Jason Myers, Nina Burdette & Donna Myers

Brian and Marg Leach of Ontario in front of the Golden Gate. Brian is a former Holstein Canada President.

The group in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. Cables used to make the bridge are 80,000 miles in length and can circle the equator three times!

A bus favorite, the always entertaining sea lions of Pier 39

Alabama seems a long way away….and there’s no sea lions there!

A view of beautiful San Francisco

Alcatraz! The legendary tourist spot that closed its doors to prisoners on March 21, 1963, was never filled to capacity. The average number of of inmates at any given time was approximately 260. Many corrections officers and their families lived right on the island in a number of apartments in Building 64.