The members of Cooperatives Working Together reiterated their support for a multi-year program to help boost U.S. dairy exports, and thus help improve the economics of dairy farmers, with the stipulation that the program must be supported by 70% of the nation’s milk supply. At a meeting in Virginia, the farmer-run committee overseeing CWT voted to renew the program for two years, starting in January 2012 and running through December 2013 – once a 70% level participation level can be reached. Current membership pledges amount to 68% of the milk supply.

The byproduct of industry: One thing that has made America great through the years is our abundance of natural resources. Many of these raw materials are buried deep underground. So there are logistical issues with bringing the resources to the surface and then transporting them through the refining processes. One solution to moving material is the development of conveyor systems. The main component of these conveyors is the long, long pieces of rubber that the material rides on. Of course, we know this as conveyor belting. There are miles and miles of this rubber belting throughout our country. And just like with any wear part, it eventually has to get replaced.

Consistently saturated soils from heavy spring rainfall have taken their toll on some of Indiana's forage crops – especially alfalfa grown on soils that are less than moderately well drained. Alfalfa samples that Purdue Extension forage specialist Keith Johnson has seen have suffered from too much moisture. "Alfalfa is the most prone to problems," Johnson said. "The plants are yellowing or showing a pea green color, which means soils have been too water-saturated for nitrogen fixation to occur."

Click here to download the latest update from Dairy Management, Inc. This pdf features information regarding the recent milk radiation issue. PD

Vets Plus, Inc. (VPI) announced a name change and a new VPI logo at www.vets-plus.com. The acquisition of BOMAC New Zealand by Bayer (Germany) in 2010 initiated the transition of the 22-year-old animal health manufacturer back to its original name of Vets Plus, Inc., fresh with a new logo. This logo emphasizes Vets Plus, Inc., as a global leader in animal health not only with text, but also with graphics by maintaining the signature upside-down triangle with “Vets Plus” at the top, and an image of a globe at the point.

The New York State Cattle Health Assurance Program (NYSCHAP) animal welfare review program for dairy producers is the second of its kind to be granted certified program status by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization, Inc. (PAACO). Earning the PAACO-certified distinction signifies that the New York dairy program has met or exceeded all of PAACO’s minimum standards from start to finish as a rigorous, comprehensive audit program and instrument.

Temple Grandin will be the keynote speaker at the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, sponsored by Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Aug. 1-3 in College Station, Texas.

A two-year study by a Texas AgriLife Research team in Amarillo has helped bring a new product to market that could allow the cattle feeding industry to realize efficiencies in mills and more weight on cattle, according to Jim MacDonald.