Speak Up for Dairy - November 2016

Speak up for Dairy eNewsletter

Wisconsin Dairy Industry Spokesperson Network Connection

November 2016

Connecting Consumers with Their Food

"Farm-to-table" is a common phrase used to connect people to where their food comes from. Consumers have an increasing interest in who makes their food, how it was raised and its origin. When asked about your farming practices, take a few minutes to talk with them about how the dairy community is committed to continuous improvement to sustainable animal agriculture practices that go into making the wholesome milk and dairy foods available in local stores and restaurants.

Milk Cows for the Meat Market

With low milk prices over the last year and a half, dairy farmers have been faced with challenging decisions on the farm. Culling cows is an option that provides income for farmers while supplying meat to consumers. When consumers ask about the option of selling dairy cows into the meat market, use these messages to help explain your decision.

Meat from cows that are no longer productive for milking is a valuable source of safe and nutritious food.
Culling cows – or removing some cows from the dairy herd – is a common practice that allows a dairy farm to bring new, more productive cows into the herd, thus ensuring a steady supply of milk.
All dairy cows sent to market are inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) veterinarians and are subject to the same federal food safety regulations as other cattle.

Social Media 101: Boosting Facebook Posts

A boosted Facebook post is a post from your business page that can appear higher up on your audience's News Feeds for a fee. The fee depends on how many people you want the post to reach. When you boost a Facebook post, there's a better chance that your audience will see it, promoting your Facebook farm or dairy promotion page to a wider audience. Below are some best practices to follow when you decide to boost a Facebook post.

Identify your audience. Are you trying to reach people in a certain area? Maybe a certain age range? Identifying the audience allows you to target who sees your post.
Create your message. When you are paying to boost your post, having a strong message with a complementing image and a call to action gets you the most impact for your fee.
Plan your timeline. If you are targeting the audience that likes your Facebook page and their friends, review your Facebook insights to see when your audience is online and post then.

Dairy Link of the Month: Cheese Cupid

Science shows cheese can make wine taste better. Help deplete the surplus of cheese by pairing it with wine from one of Wisconsin's over 80 wineries. Cheese Cupid allows you to select a wine, beer or liquor and pairs it with the perfect cheese to compliment your beverage. You can also choose your cheese and Cheese Cupid will find your drink.

Find Your Perfect Pairing

If you have questions about this newsletter, would like more information, or have topic ideas, please contact Brenda Murphy, bmurphy@wmmb.org , 608-836-8820.

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