Technology Revolutionizes America's Dairy Farms.

Business Editors

ROSEMONT, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 2001

Dairy Management:

Dairy Farmers, Including Olympian Rulon Gardner, Celebrate June

Dairy Month and the Values, Hard Work of the American Dairy Farmer

Technology has revolutionized, redefined, and improved our personal lives, our schools, our businesses...and even America's dairy farms.

That's right. That cell phone, personal digital assistant, computer, and information superhighway that many big business executives depend on every day -- plus some additional cutting-edge technologies -- also have modernized and streamlined business for America's dairy farmers. This June Dairy Month, farmers and consumers nationwide will be celebrating the contributions technology has delivered to the farm.

"Technology helps today's dairy farmers be more efficient and deliberate in their care for the land and animals, the delivery of wholesome milk, and their dedication to the community," said Olympic gold medallist Rulon Gardner, who grew up on a dairy farm.

Goodbye Power Plants, Hello Dairy Cows

In a time of anticipated energy crunches nationwide, as recently seen in California, farmers have identified a new source of farm-fresh power -- manure. The conversion of cow manure into electricity is allowing some dairy farmers to take care of the environment by recycling and producing power.

Dennis Haubenschild, a dairy farmer from Princeton, MN, creates electricity from his 850 cows by pumping manure into several collection tanks beneath two barns and then into a tank called the "digester." Here, the manure is heated to break the substance down into a fuel called "biogas." The biogas is routed to an engine generator, which converts it to energy used both on and off the farm.

"This recycling effort allowed us to save 35 tons of coal and 1,200 gallons of propane in January alone, which equals about $2,000," Haubenschild said. "Plus, we were able to sell about two-thirds of the energy to a local utility, which earned us $4,380. It's completely satisfying to boost the financial level of the farm while doing something positive for the environment."

Computerized Cow Care

Technology has revolutionized the way farmers care for their cows as well, from the electronic collars and ear tags that track cow eating patterns, to personal digital assistants that enable farmers to monitor their cows' health at the touch of a button.

Sutton Rucks, manager of Dry Lake Dairy Inc. farm in Okeechobee County, FL, has been taking advantage of technology in order to provide individualized care to each of the farm's 1,900 cows. Technology, such as his handheld computer, allows Rucks to keep track of each cow's health records, milk production, and calf birth dates.

"Thanks to computers, we have immediate access to each cow's accurate records and are able to address health issues early, which helps us keep our cows healthier and happier," Rucks said.

From Farm to Table, Technology Ensures Safe Milk Products

Technology enables dairy farmers to deliver safe, high-quality milk through each step of the process it takes to bring the milk from the cow to the consumer. Personal computers, specialized facilities and equipment, and refrigerated tanks and trucks, all have helped dairy farmers and dairy processors work more efficiently and cost-effectively while producing one of the safest, highest-quality food products available.

"Technology and a commitment to quality have helped make milk and dairy products extremely safe and high in quality," said David Kyle, a dairy farmer in Elkhorn, WI. "The dedication to handling milk properly, from farm to table, is what makes it possible for us to consistently offer a safe, wholesome product for the community and our families."

The Heroes Behind the Heroes

When most people think of American heroes, they think of champions such as Rulon Gardner, who stunned the world when he became the first wrestler in 13 years to defeat Russia's Alexander "the Great" Karelin and win the gold medal in Sydney.

But for Gardner, his heroes are the people who work the earth, tend their animals, and produce safe, wholesome food for consumers. They're dairy farmers -- a group Gardner knows about firsthand from his upbringing on a dairy farm in Afton, WY.

Gardner acquired the work ethic and dedication that made him an Olympic gold medallist from the dairy farm. He appreciates his past on the farm, as well as the work his brother Roland continues on the farm, using technology to transform the family farm into a more modern dairy operation.

"Farmers give 100 percent every day to make sure we have enough food on our tables," Gardner said. "Too many people take for granted where that glass of milk they're drinking came from. It takes the dairy farmer's commitment to the land, the animals, and the production of quality milk -- plus a commitment to improvement through technology -- to bring that milk from the farm to the table."

Dairy Management Inc.(TM)(DMI) is the nonprofit domestic and international planning and management organization responsible for increasing demand for U.S.-produced dairy products on behalf of America's dairy farmers. DMI manages the American Dairy Association(R), National Dairy Council(R), and U.S. Dairy Export Council(R). For more information, visit www.dairyinfo.com.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), headquartered in Arlington, Va., develops and carries out policies that advance the well-being of U.S. dairy producers and the cooperatives they collectively own. The members of NMPF's 28 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of 50,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. For more on NMPF's activities, visit www.nmpf.org.