Dairy Farmer Delight

Providing a nutritious diet for our dairy cows is an everyday job

down on the dairy farm. The diet can include a variety of ingredients but

it is a balanced diet that is formulated by our dairy nutritionist. 

Our cows' diet currently includes silage, hay, vitamins and minerals, and ground 

corn. Each ingredient provides a nutrient that the cow needs to produce milk

and maintain body functions. 

I was reminded of the importance of good nutrition this week by my

family doctor during my "Welcome to Medicare" yearly physical.

As we reviewed the lab work, the discussion turned to the need for

a bone density test, a review of calcium and vitamin D requirements

 and how to increase the calcium in my diet.

It was music to my ears, when I was encouraged to increase the

dairy in my diet! Was my doctor trying to make this dairy farmer's day?

Instead of taking a calcium pill, could I increase the dairy in my diet?

Wow--could I increase the dairy in my diet? You bet!

A dairy farmer's delight!

There may come a time when I need that calcium pill and I

 will be happy to take it, but I'd much rather improve my 

dietary habits than to take a calcium pill!

After all, milk contains nutrients, including calcium, potassium,

 protein and phosphorus; plus, it's fortified with vitamins A and D.

When I left the clinic, my thoughts turned to the decades of nutrition research  

 and the ongoing educational efforts of the National Dairy Council.

  As a dairy farmer, a nurse and now a member of the Medicare age group,

I'm thankful and grateful for the nutritional information and education shared

 by the National Dairy Council with physicians and other health

 professionals  that are caring for all ages.

 

 

Dairy Pride

My dairy farm family takes great pride in working everyday to produce high-quality,nutritious milk. 

Dairy products are an important part of a healthy diet for children and adults but it has been found that most Americans are not meeting  the recommended intake for the dairy food group.

I would love for milk to be your first choice but I know that is not realistic.

 However, I do want you to have the correct information in making healthy

 choices for you and your family.

It's a fact, all milk labeled products you find in the dairy case are not created equal in nutritional benefits.

 

   Marketing of any product can create myths and misconceptions but it is 

hard to deny the truth of dairy nutrition science and research.

                             Dairy farmers are supporting the Dairy Pride Act "to protect the
                      integrity of dairy products by enforcing existing labeling requirements."

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Our cows enjoy a balanced nutritious diet every day. 

It's one of the most important ways we take care of our dairy cows 

everyday and in return, they provide us with nutritious milk.

This was one of the messages I shared during this past week 

with a small group of children making their first visit to a dairy farm.

Touring the feed barn and watching the cows eat is one 

of my favorite stops on the tour.

I consider it a privilege  to be able to share with children and adults 

 how we care for our dairy cattle  everyday

 during  a farm tour.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to provide 

the perfect show and tell for all ages!

                                             
                               

                                         
                                               

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

It was in no one's plan to spend any time visiting family in the 

hospital during June Dairy Month but I was thankful to see that dairy

 was in the hospital with us.  After suffering a stroke, my uncle received this

 thickened dairy product to aid in his impaired swallowing and still

 provide the nutrition he needs for recovery.

I 

No matter where we are, I'm thankful for those spotted cows

down on the dairy farm.

                                                                   

Dairy 3 for Me

June Dairy Month is the perfect time to get serious about making sure 

that your daily diet includes the recommended three daily  servings 

of dairy to ensure a well balanced diet.

By taking the Dairy 3 for Me Pledge you are committing to getting the three 

servings of dairy daily and promising to enjoy your

 favorite dairy products like milk,cheese and yogurt every day.

Consider these Midwest Dairy tips for including  dairy in your diet:

                             -Substitute syrup on pancakes and waffles with flavored yogurt

                             -Top sandwiches and salads with your favorite cheese

                             -Prepare oatmeal and other cooked cereals with milk instead of water

                             -Make milk your mealtime beverage

                             -Use plain Greek yogurt in place of sour cream or mayonnaise

                             -Recover from a tough workout with a tall glass of chocolate milk

Contestants and judges from the Arkansas Farm Bureau Dairy Foods 

Contest took the Dairy 3 for Me Pledge last week.

Will you take the pledge?

Dairy Q & A

                                                                 Question:

                              Why do we drink cow's milk?

                                               Answer:

                  Because we can. Milk has been an important
             source of human nutrition for thousands of years.                                 According to Dr. Greg Miller, " milk drinking is
                    not just a practice of Western culture, but a
              shared part of human existence around the world,"

               It not only tastes great but provides nine  essential
           nutrients including calcium, vitamin D and potassium.

             Milk provides dairy foods that are nutrient rich,
                  affordable, readily available and versatile. 

Savor the Flavor

                           What flavors will you savor during National Nutrition Month?

National Nutrition Month strives to make us more aware

 of the importance of making informed food choices and developing 

sound eating and physical activity habits.

I'm planning to start  celebrating National Nutrition Month savoring the flavors of Mango-Curry Chicken Salad!  

It's a recipe developed by Chef Kevin Millonzi, Executive Chef/Owner of Restaurant PROV and Atomic Catering Providence for the National Dairy Council.

Mango-Curry Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups (1/2 inch pieces) grilled skinless,boneless chicken breasts

1/4 cup plain, nonfat yogurt

1 teaspoon curry

1/4 cup cubed mango

1 cup dried sweetened cranberries

1/4 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

1/3 cup Mozzarella, cut into small cubes

Directions:

Grill chicken breasts, cut into small pieces and set aside. In a medium bowl, blend yogurt and curry with a whisk and stir in chicken,mango,cranberries,walnuts and Mozzarella. Mix well and serve on lettuce leaves if desired.

Dairy Nutrition Proud

Last week Ryan and I attended  a national nutrition conference

  in Little Rock sponsored by the National Dairy Council

 and the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, one of  six national human

 nutrition centers in the United States.

The Arkansas Children's Nutrition  Center is a partnership between

 the Arkansas Children's Hospital, USDA-Agricultural

 Research Service and the University of Arkansas Medical Center with a mission to 

conduct cutting-edge research to understand how maternal-child nutrition

 and physical activity optimize health and development.

Ryan and I  were invited   to give our dairy farmer perspective

 on our role in dairy nutrition and health and wellness  from down on the dairy farm.

It's an honor and  always fun to be invited to share our passion for dairy!

Best of all, we listened to these two Arkansas  students describe

 the impact of the  dairy farmer funded  Fuel Up to Play 60 program.

You couldn't help but be dairy proud!

Not only are dairy farmers improving the nutrition of students, 

we are providing lifelong skills in leadership and health and wellness.

And to top it off, we enjoyed beautiful and nutritious dairy products!

Dairy Farmers Fuel Up

Last week we provided a dairy farm tour for students from Helen Tyson Middle School.

These weren't just any students--these were Fuel Up to Play 60 students!

Sharing our farm with Fuel Up to Play 60 students made the day  even more

 special because as dairy farmers we are very proud  to be founding partners

 of this in-school health and wellness program that encourages

 physical activity and good nutrition among youth.

Through the Fuel Up to Play 60 program,  we're helping students

 create and implement activities that reward them for making healthy 

choices and create positive  change in their school.

There's nothing more inspiring to a dairy farmer than to 

share his passion with a young person that wants to know

 how milk gets into his glass,

what cows love to eat,

how calves are raised,

and

                                                   how Domino's  pizza shows up at the farm!
                                                             
                                                                         


                                                                           

Kick Off Fall With All-Star Breakfast

Last month at the Arkansas Women Bloggers Conference,  I received a gift box filled with a variety of rice products from  Riceland Foods. All that rice in my pantry has given me the perfect reason to enjoy and celebrate  National Rice Month and the fact that Arkansas is the number one producer of rice in the United States!

 You can find a wealth of information about rice production, how to use the different rice varieties and a great collection of rice recipes at Riceland.com.  

One of our favorite ways to eat rice is with milk and sugar either for breakfast or as a sweet treat.  Milk and rice make a great nutrition team. All-Star Breakfast Rice  is perfect for fall's  kick-off during National Rice Month!


All-Star Breakfast Rice

Ingredients:

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
2/3 cup milk
1 cup cooked rice
Fresh blueberries,raspberries or strawberries*

*Or use sliced peaches or bananas if desired

Directions:

Combine rice,milk,brown sugar and cinnamon in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until thick and creamy, about 10 minutes. Spoon into serving bowl; let cool 3 minutes. Top with fresh fruit.

Serves: 1

                                    Thank-you  Arkansas Rice Farmers!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

With March being National Nutrition Month, it's only right that registered dietitians

 have their own day (March 11)  during the month!

Happy Registered Dietitian Day!

This group of dietitians visited our farm last year to find out how we produce safe,high-quality milk. 

Registered dietitians work in a variety of settings to provide nutritional information.

I'm thankful for the interest and educational training  registered dietitians have in helping clients of all ages in making nutritional choices that improve lifestyles ,boost health and especially for their efforts to reduce childhood obesity.

Dairy Fuels Greatness

 National School Breakfast Week (March 2-6) is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the importance of good nutrition and physical activity each day with emphasis on starting the day with breakfast.

Breakfast at school  changes lives according to the No Kid Hungry organization. The annual 'Hunger in Our Schools' report identified that 76 percent of educators say that their students come to school hungry and one out of five American kids struggle with hunger.

It's been shown that  on average, students that  eat school breakfast :

• Achieve 17.5% higher scores on standardized math tests
• Attend 1.5 more days of school per year
• Improve chances of leading healthy lives
• Avoid food insecurity in adulthood due to achievement of higher academic performance

Dairy farmers are helping schools improve and expand their breakfast programs  through  Fuel Up to Play 60, a program founded by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League in collaboration with USDA, that empowers students to take charge in making small,everyday changes at school  that support lifelong health habits and reverse the problem of childhood obesity. Fuel Up to Play 60 is playing a key role in helping schools improve and expand their breakfast program such as the Grab and Go Breakfast, Breakfast in the Classroom and Second Chance Breakfast.

                                        I'm proud to be a supporting partner of this formula!

                                                                                   

                                 

Dairy Q&A

Question:

Do you add hormones to the milk?

Answer:

No.

Bovine somatotropin (bst) is a naturally occurring protein hormone produced by a cow's pituitary gland. It regulates metabolic activities, helping young cattle grow and adult cows produce milk.

A small amount of bst is present in all milk, including organic products. 

There is a supplemental hormone called rbst (recombinant bovine somatotropin) that can be administered to the cow  by a farmer who is trying to increase the milk production to help ensure a plentiful supply of milk. Studies show that milk from cows treated with the supplemental hormone rBST is the same wholesome product that we have enjoyed for generations. This has been affirmed and reaffirmed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other leading health organizations.

The decision to not use a supplemental hormone on our cows is a decision due to consumer demand and is not related to any health or safety issue. 

You can rest assured,milk is wholesome,safe and nutritious.

Milk Truth Jeopardy

We probably won't see a category of Milk Truths on the TV game Jeopardy but it is important for good nutrition and good health  to understand the truth about dairy foods that play a critical role in the diets of adults and children by providing nine essential nutrients,including calcium,magnesium,potassium and phosphorus, in addition to 48 percent of the daily value of protein.

Here's 5 Truths about Milk:

• Milk is a nutrient powerhouse--and it's not just for kids. 
• Milk contains a lot that's good, without the "bad" that some people think.   The dairy case has something for everyone--including low-fat and fat-free varieties, as well as lactose-free products. Families can choose from a variety of milk,cheese, and yogurt products to meet their taste and nutritional goals.
• Milk is simple-- especially compared to non-dairy milks that can have more than 10 ingredients.
• Milk provides high-quality protein (almond and other non-dairy milks may have just 1 gram of protein).
• Milk is a real,wholesome and local product from family farms across the nation.

You can find more Milk Truths at MilkTruth, DairyMakesSense and DairyGood and as a dairy farmer, I'm available to tell the truth about how we (my dairy farm family) work everyday  to produce high-quality milk.

Dairy Q&A

                                                                      Question:

                                                                  What is whey?

                                            

Answer:

Whey is one of two major proteins found in cow's milk. Whey protein is produced during the process of making cheese, which begins when special enzymes are added to milk causing it to separate. The curd are used to make cheese, leaving behind whey protein in the liquid portion. This liquid whey is then pasteurized and dried into a powder for various uses.

National Dairy Council

Kraft opened a cheese plant in Bentonville,Arkansas in the 1940's. At that time, the whey from cheese production was taken to local farmers and fed to dairy and beef cattle.

Thanks to dairy research and development of food products, whey protein can be found in powders,drink mixes, energy bars,yogurt, and other foods.Whey protein powder is very convenient and can be added to smoothies,oatmeal,soups,sauces,dips,baked goods, or other common foods.

Dairy Makes Sense

Dairy Treats With Essential Nutrients

It's easy to get tricked into thinking that a lot of drinks we find in the dairy case at the grocery store  are as nutritious or economical as real dairy milk. For 25 cents per 8 ounces, milk treats you to nine essential nutrients. You're being tricked if you think the nutrition of alternative drinks offers you  and your family the same nutritional benefits.

According to Midwest Dairy, milk alternatives use fortification to mimic the nutrient profile of cow's milk.

Here's how some of the most common dairy alternatives stack up:

• Soy beverages--made from soybeans and are a good source of protein, but the soy protein is a lower quality protein than the whey protein found in dairy products.
• Rice-based beverages-- are generally processed from brown rice and are fortified with nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. Rice beverages contain only one gram of protein compared to eight grams in cow's milk.
• Nut-based beverages-- can be ground from any nut, the most popular is almond. Almond beverages supply only one gram of protein per serving and lack many of the natural benefits found in almonds.

It's okay to get tricked on Halloween,

 but don't let it happen when you're making nutritional decisions!

Dairy Farmers Nourish the Nation

What's not to love about living on an Arkansas dairy farm!

That  was my thought as I drove past this  mama cow with her   new  baby calf.

Like dairy farmers in all 50 states,  we  are working seven days a week to produce nutritious,affordable milk by caring for our cows and the land while using fewer resources. 

Dairy farmers are working to nourish the nation and  help fight hunger in America by  partnering  with Feeding America, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the National Dairy Council to get milk to hungry families.

You can help to nourish the nation  by donating to The Great American Milk Drive.

A Dessert for Moovelous Mondays

                          We don't have marvelous Mondays on the dairy farm--they are mooo-velous!

                           Creamy Vanilla Rice Pudding is a perfect dessert  choice whether you're
           celebrating a regular Monday, a moo-velous Monday or the fact that it's   National Rice Month !
                            It just happens to be one of the great recipes shared at DairyMakesSense.



Creamy Vanilla Rice Pudding

Ingredients;
3/4 cup white rice,uncooked
2 1/2 cups low-fat milk,divided
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
1 (3.4 ounce) package Jell-O vanilla flavored instant pudding mix
Cinnamon,optional

Preparation:
In a medium saucepan, add 1 1/2 cups water and rice; bring to a boil. Stir once and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is cooked. Add 2 cups of milk ,egg yolk and pudding. cook on low heat, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired. Serve warm.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Hunger is real in America--in  fact, 1 in 6 Americans face hunger. I felt privileged to learn about   The Ozarks Food Harvest which is  the Feed America food bank for Southwest Missouri.  This organization is located in Springfield, Missouri and serves 200 hunger relief organizations across 28 Ozark counties.

 

It's a beautiful facility made possible by generous donations from the O'Reilly family and many other community businesses and organizations.

 

 

We toured all of the warehouse facility--including the refrigerator and freezer sections.

Dairy farmers always want to see where the milk is stored!

 

 

It takes a lot of dedication from employees and volunteers to get the food where it is needed.

 

I particularly enjoyed learning about the

efforts made to educate about nutrition and how to cook the food that is being donated.

 

I'm thankful for food banks across America and for the Great American Milk Drive that is working to get milk donated to food banks.

Dairy Farmer's Rain Dance

 

We've waited all winter for this spring wheat crop to start growing and now with a few warm spring days you can  see it changing almost daily. It's our kind of excitement!

 

 

Field crops need nutrients to grow so  Casey spread a measured amount of commercial fertilizer over several fields today. With moisture and more growing days, this wheat will be chopped or baled for our dairy cows to enjoy as part of their balanced diet that provides high-quality milk.

 

 Just so you know,

the dairy farmer's rain dance is done with a tractor and a fertilizer spreader!