The pace of U.S. beef and pork exports increased sharply in March, driven by double-digit increases to leading markets, Mexico, the China/Hong Kong region and South Korea, according to statistics released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Land O’Lakes says it will close its Denmark, Wisconsin, cheese plant, causing nearly 100 people to be out of work. Its semi-soft Italian cheeses aren’t profitable enough for the plant to stay open, the company said in a prepared statement, noting it has plans to expand its Kiel plant that makes cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.

Rock River Laboratory Inc. (RRL) has opened the company’s newest feed analysis laboratory location in Wooster, Ohio. The latest addition to the enterprise provides consultants, nutritionists and industry partners greater convenience, local industry knowledge combined with accurate analysis, technical support, expertise and the dedicated customer service.

The 2014 Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference will be held June 11-12 at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa. The conference will present the latest research on issues concerning the dairy industry including feed efficiency, calves and transition cows.

Minnesota’s “Buy the Farm” law is being tested with a court case between CapX2020 and Cedar Summit Farm near New Prague. As it currently stands, the law requires utilities building high-voltage power lines to buy farms in the way if the landowners demand it.

Readers of a Progressive Cattleman poll say they did not take advantage of signing up for health care using the healthcare.gov website.

Agromatic Inc. has released the Big Foot Forage Packer, which can be used in both bunkers and on silage piles to pack the feed firmly, thoroughly and efficiently.

The board of directors of the Midwest Forage Association (MFA) is distributing more than $20,000 in Midwest Forage Research Program (MFRP) funding to research projects. Now in its eighth year, the MFRP has funded more than $115,000 in forage-related research projects since its inception.

Applications for the Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI) are now available. YDLI is a dairy-focused, three-phase leadership and communication skills development program, sponsored by the Holstein Foundation.