DFANEWS SPLASH

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0DFA QUICK LINKS | 2 | Employees Celebrate Safety Status | 2 | Central Area Field Representative Retires | 3 | The Great Give Back | 4 | Payroll Briefs | 4 | New Hires

The employee portal is an important communications vehicle for DFA that allows employees to find forms, get benefit information, log in to job-related applications, access member and customer data and receive current information about the Cooperative.

While the current portal provides these resources, it has become outdated over the years and cumbersome for employees to use. The software associated with DFA’s Project ONE has provided the capabilities to upgrade the existing portal to make it easier for employees to use, access information and receive timely relevant content. The new employee portal, WeAre.dfamilk.com, will launch Monday, January 17.

When WeAre.dfamilk.com launches, the site will automatically be set as employees’ homepage. Employees will access the portal using the same password they use to log in to their computer, and a short video tutorial will be featured on the homepage to walk them through the new site.

The site features easier navigation and site-wide searching, while continuing to house information vital to DFA employees like human resources and payroll forms and templates that help create consistency across the organization, and links to information about benefits and training on Dairy University.

Employees from various departments throughout DFA worked on this project to evaluate the site so that it is functional and meets the needs of employees.

Watch for more information about WeAre.dfamilk.com in the coming weeks.

New Year Brings New Employee Portal

Thank You for Your Support

In May we asked you to show your support for the Capper-Volstead Act and the cooperatives it enables by adding your signature to a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Attorney General Eric Holder. In the photo above, DFA members Lee Ramsburg (left) and David Crowl (center) visit with U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack after delivering the petition. The petition was signed by nearly 1,000 DFA employees. They also submitted more than 3,000 postcards bearing DFA members’ signatures and a similar message in support of Capper-Volstead.

Field Representative Retires After 21 YearsAfter a successful career and 21 years of service, Central Area Field Representative Bob Kugel is retiring from DFA on December 31. Come mid-January, Kugel and his wife Ruth Ann are moving to San Antonio, Texas, to be closer to their daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren.

“Deciding to retire wasn’t an easy decision, because I’m going to miss the producers I work with,” Kugel says. “I’ve really enjoyed being able to teach them proper ways to clean their equipment and how to take care of their cows. It’s the teaching part of the job I’m going to miss the most.”

Kugel’s efforts as a field representative have not gone unnoticed. In October, the Missouri Fieldmens and Sanitarian’s Association presented Kugel with the Missouri Dairy Fieldman of the Year Award during the association’s annual conference in Jefferson City, Mo. The association, which was formed in the late 1960s, trains those who visit dairy farms with annual milk regulations, current trends and equipment information.

“The award was very humbling and a nice way to round out my years as a field rep,” says Kugel.

Kugel currently visits 150 farms in Northeast Missouri, most of which are Amish members and have unique needs as producers.

“Bob has been a major asset to our Amish members,” says Keith Bohlander, Central Area Manager. “He always goes beyond the call of duty to help these producers out. His service will greatly be missed not only by employees of DFA, but by our members as well.”

Winthrop Plant Celebrates MilestoneOn November 20, employees at DFA’s Winthrop, Minn., plant, celebrated three years with no lost-time accidents. The plant is led by Vance Brown, plant manager, and employs 65 workers. The plant manufactures anhydrous milk fat, fat blends, nonfat dry milk, buttermilk powder and sweet and condensed milk. Employees will celebrate their accomplishments with a banquet in January.

“We’ve gone without a lost-time accident the past three years because our managers are dedicated and our employees have made safety a priority,” says Robin Kiel, safety coordinator at the Winthrop plant. “This is an exciting time as all of our employees have taken ownership to make sure we keep this safety record.”

Top, Art Farris, Scott Stewart, Tim Hampshire, Jim Hopwood and Ed Tilley pose with the Cal/VPP certificate. Below, Ventura employees celebrate with the Cal/VPP flag.

After three years of hard work and dedication, employees at DFA’s Ventura, Calif., plant were honored for their commitment to safety on December 10 with a luncheon and flag-raising ceremony.

The plant earned Star status in California’s Voluntary Protection Program (Cal/VPP) — the highest recognition bestowed by the program, which is administered by the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal-OSHA).

Before receiving certification, the plant employees had to successfully demonstrate comprehensive safety and health management systems while meeting strict safety criteria and completing a three-part evaluation process.

“Everyone at the plant worked extremely hard to achieve this level of recognition, and we are proud to join an elite group of worksites as a Cal/VPP Star,” says Tim Hampshire, plant manager. “It is a remarkable honor and a true testament to the effort we put into creating a work

environment where our employees and our customer can be assured that safety is a top priority.”

The plant is one of 83 sites in California to attain this level of recognition, as well as the first dairy company and the first DFA plant to achieve VPP certification.

Approximately 100 employees work at the Ventura plant, which produces Starbucks® bottled Frappuccino® coffee drinks for the North American Coffee Partnership, a joint venture between PepsiCo and Starbucks Coffee Company.

“This is an outstanding accomplishment, and everyone should be proud of their efforts,” says Art Farris, senior vice president of business development for Global Dairy Products Group. “At DFA we take employee safety very seriously, and our Ventura plant is setting the standard for our other plants to follow.”

DFA Employees Celebrate Elite Safety Status

As employees of DFA we strive to live by our values, one of which is community. The community spirit was alive and well during the holiday season as employees from across the country opened their hearts to help those in need.

Hughson PlantEmployees at DFA’s plant in Hughson, Calif., participated in a food drive for the Hughson Community Service Center. Two barrels of non-perishable food items were collected.

Kansas City and Central Area Through activities such as a soup day, bake sale, jeans days, a chili cook-off, which was won by Don Green, director of safety and loss control and donations, more than $5,000 was raised for Synergy Services, an organization that assists women and children who are victims of abuse. The money collected was used to purchase toys and clothing which were used by Synergy Services in their holiday store. Families in need select items from the store to give as holiday presents.

In addition, employees donated six boxes of household and other personal care items and purchased more than 175 Angel Tree items (toys, clothes, books, etc.). These items were also used in the holiday store. The DFA donation is the largest the group receives during the holiday season.

Northeast Area In lieu of sending holiday cards, the Northeast Area made a donation to Heifer International, an organization dedicated to working with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth.

The office also participated in the Syracuse-based Christmas Bureau collection, sponsored by the Salvation Army. Employees donated food items and purchased toys and clothing for those in need.

Mideast AreaEmployees at our Medina, Ohio, office raised funds through a Christmas tree raffle. For several years,

former Board Member Connie Finton has donated a decorated Christmas tree, with proceeds from the raffle benefitting a DFA member in need.

Southeast AreaIn our Knoxville, Tenn., office, employees filled several barrels with food and household items for the Mission of Hope, an organization that assists people in need in the Appalachian area. In addition the employees raised $5,575 which was divided among many Knoxville-area organizations including: Second Harvest, Knoxville Area Rescue Mission, The Empty Stocking Fund, Angel Tree, Meals on Wheels, The Salvation Army, The East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Love Kitchen and the Weigel’s Milk Fund.

Southwest AreaMembers of the Southwest Area in Clovis, N.M., supplied milk and ice cream for a holiday party for 30 children who currently have a parent deployed from Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, N.M. The children were also given a coupon for one free package of Borden® cheese.

Springfield Plant, Springfield R&D, Tampa Street Offices and Community Financial Credit Union EmployeesEmployees in Springfield, Mo., host fundraising events year-round, including bake sales, book sales, an annual chili cook-off and a themed basket raffle with the proceeds benefitting local first-grade students through a Shoe Box Santa Program. Through this program, proceeds help fill backpacks with gloves, hats and ear warmers. In addition, the students receive a game, toy, coloring books, a $20 gift card to a local grocery store and more.

The employees also collected non-perishable food and household items for Isabel’s House, a crisis nursery where people who find themselves in a crisis situation can take their children for immediate refuge.

Photos of select activities are available in the online version of the News Splash.

The Great Give-Back: Employees Help Those in Need

Kansas City Mayor Presents DFA with Proclamation of Recognition In the spirit of giving, 14 employees from DFA’s Marketing, Legal and Human Resources Departments in Kansas City volunteered at Harvesters Community Food Network, a local food bank, to help local school children combat weekend hunger.

In two and half hours, volunteers packed 1,750 backpacks that provide children in need with nonperishable food items, including shelf-stable milk, juice, spaghetti, soup, crackers, granola bars and more. Each weekend, Harvesters distributes approximately 14,000 backpacks through its BackSnack Program to children age six to 12.

In appreciation of their service, Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Mark Funkhouser also presented the volunteers with a Proclamation of Recognition.

“Starting in 2011, DFA will initiate a plan to engage with Harvesters more frequently, allowing DFA to have an active role in the fight against hunger locally,” says Jackie Klippenstein, vice president of industry and legislative affairs for DFA. “We think milk and other nutritious dairy producers can play an important role in the fight against hunger, and we want to make sure our products end up in the hands of children who need them.”

John Wilson, senior vice president and chief fluid marketing officer for DFA, (left) was presented with a Proclamation of Recognition from Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Mark Funkhouser for DFA’s volunteer efforts.

Welcome New HiresPlease welcome these new employees:

Medical Flex Account Funds Must be Depleted by Year EndDo you have funds left in your medical Flexible Spending Account? If you have not spent all of the funds set aside for 2010, you must use them by December 31 or you will forfeit the funds.

Expenses must be incurred by December 31 and receipts submitted for reimbursement must be made by March 31, 2011. If you have unused funds, you could stock up for the cold and flu season by purchasing over-the-counter medications or order an extra pair of eye glasses.

To find out how much money you have left in your account visit www.flexdirect.adp.com or call 1-800-422-6109.

Payroll Notes The payroll department staff is getting ready for 2011 and offers these notes and reminders:

W-2 Forms2010 W-2 forms will be mailed to your home address on file with payroll (the address that appears on your paycheck) on or before January 31, 2011. You can verify your address by reviewing your payroll check stub or by logging in to the ADP Employee Self Service portal at https://portal.adp.com; click Personal Information, then select Addresses. If you would like to receive a copy of your W-2 form electronically, you can access it through the portal after January 31.

Names on Social Security Cards and W-2 FormsThe name on your Social Security card and your W-2 form must match. If your name has changed during 2010, contact your local human resources representative. To verify how your name appears, log on to the ADP Employee Self Service portal at https://portal.adp.com, then click Personal Information and select General.

401(k) Limits for 2011During 2011, you can contribute a maximum of $16,500 to your 401(k) plan. If you are age 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $5,500. You can change your 401(k) contribution percentage by calling Fidelity at 1-877-749-6726 or by logging onto the Fidelity website at www.401k.com.

Questions? Contact your local payroll or human resources representatives.

Raymond Mclendon • Henderson, Colo.Javier Villafana • Henderson, Colo.Stephen Bradshaw • Winnsboro, TexasSarah Huffsmith • Fort Morgan, Colo.

Jessica Barnard • Kansas City, Mo.Michael Davis • Henderson, Colo.Richard Meier • Henderson, Colo.Sarah Wagler • Erlanger, Ky.

When your end goal is producing the high quality milkconsumers demand, count on Spectramast LC.

Only SPECTRAMAST® LC (ceftiofur hydrochloride) offers the fl exibility of extended therapy and delivers the right spectrum of mastitis control. So beware of mastitis products that haven’t kept upwith the times. They may promise convenience but can’t back it up with strong performance data. No wonder more forward-thinking producers choose SPECTRAMAST over every other brand. Partner with your veterinarian and learn why SPECTRAMAST has become such a critical part of producing thequality milk today’s consumers demand. Quality milk makes a difference.

Important Safety Information: Inappropriate dosage or treatment intervals for SPECTRAMAST LC or failure to adhere to proper milk discard period will result in violative milk residues. SPECTRAMAST LC requires a 72-hour milk discard period and a 2-day pre-slaughter withdrawal period following the last treatment. As with all drugs, SPECTRAMAST LC should not be used in animals found to be hypersensitive to the product.

All brands are the property of Pfi zer Inc., its affi liates and/or its licensors. ©2010 Pfi zer Inc. All rights reserved. SPM10003 Visit www.dairywellnessplan.com

For Intramammary Infusion in Lactating Cows Only

FOR USE IN ANIMALS ONLY — NOT FOR HUMAN USE

CAUTION: Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

INDICATIONS FOR USE SPECTRAMAST® LC (ceftiofur hydrochloride) Sterile Suspension is indicated for the treatment of clinical mastitis in lactating dairy cattle associated with coagulase-negative staphylococci, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and Escherichia coli. Cows with systemic clinical signs caused by mastitis should receive other appropriate therapy under the direction of a licensed veterinarian.

DOSAGE Infuse one (1) syringe into each affected quarter. Repeat this treatment in 24 hours. For extended duration therapy, once daily treatment may be repeated for up to 8 con-secutive days.

CONTRAINDICATIONS As with all drugs, the use of SPECTRAMAST® LCSterile Suspension is contraindicated in animals previously found to be hypersensitive to the drug.

WARNINGS

Penicillins and cephalosporins can cause allergic reactions in sensitized individuals. Topical exposures to such antimicrobials, including ceftiofur, may elicit mild to severe allergic reactions in some individuals. Repeated or prolonged exposure may lead to sensitization. Avoid direct contact of the product with the skin, eyes, mouth and clothing. Sensitization of the skin may be avoided by wearing latex gloves. Persons with a known hypersensitivity to penicillin or cephalosporins should avoid exposure to this product. In case of accidental eye exposure, flush with water for 15 minutes. In case of accidental skin exposure, wash with soap and water. Remove contaminated clothing. If allergic reaction occurs (e.g., skin rash, hives, difficult breathing), seek medical attention. The material safety data sheet contains more detail- ed occupational safety information. To report adverse effects in users, to obtain more information or to obtaina material safety data sheet, call 1-800-366-5288.

RESIDUE WARNINGS1. Milk taken from cows during treatment (a

maximum of eight daily infusions) and for 72 hours after the last treatment must not be used for human consumption.

2. Following label use for up to 8 consecu- tive days, a 2-day pre-slaughter withdrawal period is required.

3. Use of this product in a manner other than indicated under DOSAGE might result in violative residues.

PRECAUTION Following intramammary infusion with antibiotics in lactating cows, milk obtained during treatment and during the milk discard period should be properly discarded and not fed to calves.

ANIMAL SAFETY A pivotal GLP udder irritation study was conductedin 40 cows to assess udder irritation following daily intramammary infusion of an oil-based suspension containing 125 mg of ceftiofur for up to 8 consecutive days. A transient and clinically insignificant rise in SCC to levels <200,000 cell/mL was observed following infusion in normal cows with very low pre-infusion SCC (<10,000 cell/mL). This elevation is not unexpected with oil-based suspensions. The duration of therapy did not affect this elevation. No udder clinical signs of irritation (swelling, pain, or redness), changes in body temperature or in milk production were noted during this study. This pivotal GLP study demonstrated that this formulation is clinically safe and non-irritating to the udder of lactating dairy cows.

STORAGE CONDITIONS Store at Controlled Room Temperature 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F). Protect from light. Store plastets in carton until used.

HOW SUPPLIED SPECTRAMAST® LC Sterile Suspension is available in cartons containing one (1) unbroken package of 12–10 mL PLASTET® Disposable Syringes with 12 individually wrapped 70% isopropyl alcohol pads and in pails containing 12 unbroken packages of 12–10 mL PLASTET® Disposable Syringes with 144 individually wrapped 70% isopropyl alcohol pads.

NADA# 141-238, Approved by FDA

Distributed by:

Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Division of Pfizer Inc. NY, NY 10017

www.spectramast.com or call 1-800-733-5500

Revised May 2006

SPECTRAMAST® LCbrand of ceftiofur hydrochloride sterile suspension

Discard Empty Container: DO NOT REUSE

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

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May the peace and joy of the holiday season be with you throughout the new year.

Happy HolidaysThe 2011 DFA holiday card, at left, features an artist’s rendition of Christmas Eve at Koster Dairy in Comanche, Texas. DFA members Michelle and John Koster milk 850 cows on this 700 acre dairy. The watercolor painting was created from photos that were taken of the farm. It is an original artwork that was painted by Julie Delton, a freelance illustrator who lives in St. Paul, Minn.

The card is the second in a series featuring scenes from DFA member-farms.