Responding to growing consumer preferences for natural and wholesome food production, Cargill today announced it has signed a binding agreement to acquire Diamond V, a global provider of innovative natural solutions and technologies that improve animal health, animal performance and food safety.

Stockpiled forages and winter annuals can reduce the need for and cost of hay and other supplemental feed for beef cattle producers in regions with adequate annual rainfall, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Digest Highlights: NAFTA’s dairy issues grow more contentious. USDA providing dairy feed aid to Puerto Rico. Wisconsin dairy group and natural resources agency reach settlement. Find a summary of these stories and updates on previous Progressive Dairyman news stories here.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) officers have endorsed a proposal to change how federal milk marketing order (FMMO) Class I base prices are calculated. The proposal will be reviewed and voted on by the full NMPF board on Oct. 30, meeting in Anaheim, California, in conjunction with the joint annual meeting of NMPF, the National Dairy Board and the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA).

Lower dairy product prices resulted in lower revenue for most dairy cooperatives in 2016, according to an annual report from the National Cooperative Bank. With the revenue decline, fewer dairy co-ops were listed among the nation's 100 largest cooperatives.

September 2017 U.S. milk production grew 1.1 percent compared to the same month a year earlier, the smallest year-over-year increase since May 2016. Declining cow numbers and a meager increase in milk output per cow slowed the overall growth rate, according to the USDA’s latest Milk Production report.

It’s annoying when you can’t get your way. It’s also frustrating when you have to change the way you’ve always done things.

Nitrates in forages can sometimes be a problem for cattle, says Rachel Endecott, extension beef cattle specialist, Montana State University. All plants contain nitrates, but they utilize it during normal metabolism and growth.

At nearly 100ºF, it was a relief to be greeted with air conditioning as I walked through the automatic doors. Grabbing a shopping cart and strolling through the aisles, I noticed something peculiar given the grueling heat in my Idaho home: garlands, mistletoe, snow globes and Santa knickknacks.

The Bureau of Land Management has announced its intention to reopen the multi-state pact on sage grouse protection. The agency’s move on Oct. 5 follows an announcement last summer from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke that the deal may be overhauled to include more multi-use interests.