Identifying and working to resolve bottlenecks is key to a dairy’s reproductive program. The Reproductive Drill-Down Tool, created by Penn State Extension educators, was recently released to address this concern. Rebecca White of the Penn State Extension Dairy Team explains how this tool works and what it can do for dairy producers. Q: What is the web address? www.das.psu.edu/research-extension/dairy/pa-tool/identifying-bottlenecks-to-higher-dairy/

SALINA, Kan. (AP) -- Salina-area advocates for agriculture are making an extra effort to teach young students about farming and ranching, saying that too many of today's youngsters don't know enough about how their food is produced.

The Federal Trade Commission says it is taking another look at guidelines designed to limit the marketing of unhealthy foods to kids after Congress delayed the effort. The voluntary guidelines proposed by the government earlier this year set maximum levels of fat, sugars and sodium and ask food companies not to market foods that go beyond those levels to children ages 2 through 17. That could limit colorful cartoon characters on cereal packages, television ads and product websites.

Rain makes grain, and forages too, according to Ohio State University Extension beef expert Stan Smith. The old saying about precipitation and crop production applies especially to stockpiled forages in a year when frequent rains precluded forage producers from harvesting hay at its peak quality.

Dairy producers will learn how to protect what they’ve worked for and how to provide a pathway for the success of the next generation during a series of three upcoming World Class webinars offered by Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin. Dates for the webinars are Jan. 9, Feb. 6 and March 5. All three of the webinars will be on a Monday, start at noon CST and last for 60 minutes.

Designing and managing dairy feed and water systems will be the topic of the next session of the Technology Tuesdays webinar series offered by the Penn State Extension Dairy Team. The webinar will be held Jan. 10 from 8:30 to 10 a.m., Eastern time, free of charge.

Midwest Dairy Association’s Minnesota Division District annual meetings begin Jan. 5, in conjunction with county American Dairy Association (ADA) meetings. The meetings are designed to bring dairy producers up to date on activities and results from their dairy promotion checkoff program. At each meeting, a district producer director for the Minnesota Division of Midwest Dairy will provide a report and answer questions.

Ten young people were honored Nov. 5 for their accomplishments in the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest. The contest recognizes outstanding achievement by junior Jersey breeders in four areas: work with Registered Jerseys, related dairy activities, relative progress and future goals. They were selected from 17 outstanding youth nominated by state Jersey associations, based on their cumulative record through Dec. 31, 2010.

Rick Roden of West Bend, Wisconsin, has been appointed to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. His two-year term will begin at the AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Feb. 17-20.