November milk production was up 2.2%
Milk production in the 23 major states during November totaled 14.7 billion pounds, up 2.2% from November 2010, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, of the United States Dept. of Agriculture. October's revised production of 15.2 billion pounds was up 2.5% October 2010. The October revision represented an increase of 1 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major states averaged 1,738 pounds for November, 16 pounds above November 2010.
The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.48 million head, 108,000 head more than November 2010, but unchanged from October 2011.
All reports are available electronically on the NASS website.

Dairy Queen operators raise $5 million for children's hospital
The Dairy Queen system raised more than $5 million to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals during the 6th Annual DQ Miracle Treat Day. Participating Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill restaurants throughout North America donated one dollar or more from every Blizzard Treat sold to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada.
Since 1984, the Dairy Queen system has raised more than $90 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
The Dairy Queen system is one of the top ten contributors to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and will host the 7th Annual DQ Miracle Treat Day on July 26, 2012. For more information about Miracle Treat Day, visit MiracleTreatDay.com. For more information about the Dairy Queen system, visit DairyQueen.com.

Dairy foods figure big in Kiwi Christmas celebrations
Fifteen percent of all Fonterra Brands New Zealand’s annual cream sales happen during the festive season, the company reports. Fonterra Brands New Zealand General Manager Retail Sales and Export Baden Ngan Kee (photo) says the Anchor cream plant is working faster than Santa’s elves to ensure demand is met.
“Kiwis love cream and Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without it. Over the last three weeks we’ve sold enough cream to cover more than 100,000 pavlovas and fill more than six million brandy snaps. We expect that over the next four days we’ll sell almost four times this amount.
“More than half of all our December sales are due to the last minute Christmas rush. Kiwis hit the supermarkets in the four days leading up to Christmas to stock up on all the essentials and cream is at the top of every Christmas menu.”
“And it’s not just cream,” says Ngan Kee. “A whole range of dairy favorites take centre stage at this time of year. We sell almost a quarter of our annual custard sales over this period and around 10 per cent of our specialty cheeses as well.

Chobani breaks ground on Idaho yogurt plant
Chobani (Agro Farma) broke ground on a new domestic manufacturing plant in Twin Falls, Idaho on Dec. 19. Chobani's state-of-the-art, high capacity production facility will be built upon 200 acres and span 940,000 square feet.
Production at the new plant is anticipated to start in the second half of 2012. Four hundred new jobs will be created to support Chobani's expansion in Idaho. As a result, the company is planning to include an onsite 45,000 square foot employee facility featuring an open office plan, natural light, wellness area, cafeteria, lounge areas, training facilities, daycare center and conference rooms.
www.chobani.com.

AMPI members receive $10 million
The dairy farmer-owners of Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) will share $10 million in equity payments this year. The cash will be paid to individuals based on the amount of milk they marketed through AMPI. In November, $6.5 million of members’ capital retain investment was distributed. This month’s payment of $3.5 million is a result of previously allocated earnings. The payments to members also included AMPI’s early equity revolvement option. Members who are age 65 and retired from dairying can receive their cooperative equity through an accelerated, five-year distribution.

Farewell To Joe O'Donnell
Joe O’Donnell today announced his retirement from the California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF) effective Dec. 31. After more than 21 years of driving collaborations among the dairy industry, national and international associations and academia, Dr. O’Donnell has decided to take time on new challenges and opportunities. Under his management, CDRF developed and matured successful programs in milk genomics, nutrition, dairy product research and outreach, food safety and dairy quality assurance that have positioned the California dairy industry to deliver competitive products into the ever-changing food market. The CDRF Board appointed Dr. Gonca Pasin as Interim Executive Director.

Instantwhip Topping Recalled from Foodservice Distributors
Ohio Processors Inc., London, Ohio announced a voluntarily recall on Dec. 18 on its Instantwhip B/C Topping because the product contains an undeclared milk ingredient (sodium caseinate). No illnesses or allergic reactions involving this product has been reported to date. People who do not have milk allergies or milk sensitivities can eat this product without concern.
Instantwhip B/C Topping is not packaged for retail distribution and the affected products were sold to Instantwhip foodservice distributors in Ohio, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Michigan. The company notified all of its distributors and customers who received the products in question by telephone and in writing regarding the recall.

That's it for this week and this year. Jim Carper's Dairy Case will return in 2012. Have a Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year.