The Ft. Worth Stock Show is a mecca for a lot of purebred breeders. Many, many thousands have made the trip over the years, often overcoming daunting obstacles. But Galen’s journey from Illinois takes the cake! He and his cow-partner, Dave, loaded their prize Hereford bull in Galen’s gooseneck stock trailer (G1), being pulled with Dave’s new Dodge V-10 diesel (D1).

Beef producers can learn ways to improve the quality, consistency, and value of their product at the upcoming Idaho Beef Summit, sponsored by the Idaho Beef Council.

Here are some of the new products or updates to previous products that have been announced as of November 29, 2011. Return to this section of the Progressive Dairyman website periodically to find out what new products will be impacting the dairy industry.

Indiana's first new restrictions in years on factory-style livestock farms that generate large amounts of manure have disappointed activists, who say state officials spurned most of their suggestions for beefing up the rules. The new regulations for about 2,000 of Indiana's largest livestock farms were approved earlier this month by a state panel. They take effect next July. State officials contend the updated rules, which replace restrictions approved six years ago, will provide significant new protections for groundwater and surface water.

The Virginia Farm Bureau is discussing plans to lobby the 2012 General Assembly for a constitutional amendment to limit the government's ability to take private land. Both chambers of the Virginia legislature approved a constitutional amendment in the 2011 session to make changes to the state's eminent domain law. If approved in the 2012 session, it would be on the ballot for voters' consideration.

Estimates ranging from 650,000 head to nearly 1,000,000 head of cattle have left the drought-stricken states of New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. A lack of hay, high transportation costs, low water and a steady cow market, until recently, were all factors in herd reductions or liquidation.

The California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) has joined with Land O’Lakes Inc. and Producers Dairy Foods Inc. to distribute 12,000 one-half gallon cartons of milk to food banks located in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, where an estimated 500,000 children and adults live in poverty. According to Sue Sigler, CAFB executive director, “Because the demand for food assistance remains so high, food banks have to count their pennies and as a result do not often have a steady supply of milk. We are deeply grateful for this donation from Land O’Lakes and Producers Dairy Foods, that will help us to provide a nutritious and well-rounded diet to people in need.”

A new video,“U.S. Dairy Farmers Care,” tells the story of dairy farmers and their commitment to their animals, the environment, local communities and consumers. Merck Animal Health, a company committed to the success of dairy farmers, created the three-minute, animated video to help dairy farmers share their positive stories with non-agricultural audiences. “This video pays tribute to the more than 55,000 dairy farm families dedicated to providing our country and the world with high-quality, nutritious milk and dairy foods,” said Rick Cozzitorto, dairy marketing manager for Merck Animal Health. “And, they do so while caring for their animals, reducing the environmental footprint of dairy production and contributing to our local economies.”