NYS
Dairy Equipment Certification Program
Proficiency
Testing
"Super"
Milk Program
The “Super”
Milk Program was started in 1990 by the Empire State Milk
Quality Council (ESMQC) to recognize those dairy farmers who
go above and beyond the high quality standards maintained
in New York herds.To become a “Super” Milk award
recipient, producers must meet certain criteria. These include
a bulk tank somatic cell count of 250,000 or less in at least
ten out of twelve official monthly samples. Milk inspectors
must nominate producers by March 1st. To obtain these criteria
producers follow recommended milking procedures, have well
maintained and sanitary equipment and keep their cows clean
and dry.
The “Super” Milk
program continues to receive wide recognition from the industry
and is important to dairy producers. Collaborations are ongoing
with other groups on the Cornell campus and throughout the
SUNY system.
For the 2004 calendar year,
1144 farms received the “Super” Milk Award. Forty
six farms qualified for the “Super” Milk Award
every year for the fifteen years the program has been in existence.
Fifteen-year winners received plaques with the farm name and
were honored at the Empire Farm Days.
QMPS works in partnership
with The Empire State Milk Quality Council, which is made
up of volunteers from all sectors of the dairy industry. Members
work to promote the improved quality of dairy products through
education and recognition programs. The “Super”
Milk program is made possible by contributions from the dairy
industry.
Bulk Milk Testing
Through a grant from the New York State legislature, we have
further developed our Bulk Milk testing capabilities in the
past year.
In an effort to better serve
NYS dairy producers, QMPS is considering expansion of offerings
to include tests and procedures to determine different types
of microorganisms present in raw bulk tank milk. Rather than
duplicate existing services, QMPS will utilize it’s
unique expertise and infrastructure to provide information
such as differential bacteria counts and laboratory pasteurized
and coliform counts at their Regional Laboratories across
the State. More importantly, QMPS will also provide interpretation
of the results to the producers, and their consultants. This
information will allow our farmers to ship the highest quality
raw milk and to maintain their position in the competitive,
and constantly changing global dairy market. Depending on
allocations from the State, testing could begin on a limited
basis during 2002 and hopefully expand across the State by
the end of the year.
Collaborations
|
|
|
The
New York State Cattle Health Assurance Program (NYSCHAP)
is an integrated disease prevention program that utilizes
a team of advisors to develop a farm-specific herd health
plan. The objectives of this integrated herd plan are
to 1) increase the herd’s health, productivity,
and profitability. 2) Assure food safety, public health,
and consumer confidence in dairy products. 3) Promote
environmental stewardship. |
|
 |
Pro-Dairy:
Education programs for the dairy
producer involving mastitis control and prevention and
transition cow management. |
|
 |
Dairy
One: Currently a pilot
program designed to help farmers identify high somatic
cell count cows with subclinical mastitis and to have
them sampled by their Dairy One tester and brought into
QMPS via the Dairy One truck routes. Milk samples are
cultured at QMPS and then results can be sent back to
the producer via their DHIA cowfile. |
|
Cornell
Cooperative Extension
Cornell
University Department of Food Science
