At the end of each year, we always enjoy looking back on the most-read articles (based on number of page views). Here is a review of the top 10 online articles from Progressive Forage Grower during 2012. What were your favorites?

Arizona dairyman Paul Rovey was elected chairman of the checkoff-funded U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) at the association’s membership meeting in October. Rovey had been serving as interim chairman, filling the seat made vacant by previous chairman Les Hardesty’s retirement from the industry. He is the fourth elected chairman in the organization’s history, following Elwood Kirkpatrick (1995-2004), Tom Camerlo (2004-2009) and Hardesty (2009-2012).

While Idaho’s energy costs are lower than the national average, dairy producers could gain substantial savings and efficiencies by knowing exactly how energy (electricity, propane, diesel and natural gas) is being used in their operations, how it affects the utility bills, and what steps can be taken to cut costs and save energy. The Industry Relations Committee of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association (IDA) board of directors is leading an awareness effort in partnership with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, USDA – Natural Resources and Conservation Services, EnSave, and others in the state to help dairy producers to increase energy efficiency.

The board of directors of California Dairies, Inc. (CDI), the largest dairy processing cooperative in California, has announced the acquisition of certain assets of Security Milk Producers Association (SMPA), a California milk marketing cooperative, and the addition of SMPA members to the CDI membership effective Jan. 1, 2013. The SMPA and CDI board of directors determined that the member-owners of both cooperatives would be better served by promoting efficiencies gained by combining their memberships.

The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) calls on ninth- to 12th-grade students to submit an original, 450-word essay or a two-minute video essay about the importance of agriculture. This year's theme is "American Agriculture: Nourishing Opportunities" and the deadline is Feb. 1. The ACA asks teachers and parents to encourage student participation.

Killington, a large ski resort in Vermont, will use 300,000 kilowatt hours of electricity made from manure generated on 13 farms this year to run its K-1 Express Gondola, a spokeswoman for the resort told Reuters. The manure-generated electricity is distributed through a renewable energy program at Green Mountain Power.

Three consecutive years of smaller U.S. corn harvests are driving inventories of the world’s most-consumed grain to a 39-year low and spurring Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to predict that prices will rise near record highs. Global stockpiles will drop 11 percent to 117.61 million metric tons by Oct. 1, or 13.6 percent of what will be used for food, ethanol and livestock feed, the lowest ratio since 1974, the USDA said in a recent report.

U.S. net farm income is forecast to decline almost $4 billion from its all-time high in 2011. And net cash income is expected to decline almost $2 billion, according to the USDA’s 2012 Farm Income Forecast. The value of agricultural sector production is expected to increase with gains anticipated for crops, livestock, and especially revenues from services and forestry sales. Larger gains are predicted for oil crops and other farm income.

A bill to eliminate Cold War-era restrictions on U.S. trade with Russia moved another step forward last week when it was passed by the Senate. The House had already passed the bill. It will now go to President Obama for consideration. Political experts predict that he will approve it. Click here to read dairy industry groups' take on the bill.