Applications are now being accepted for two college scholarships provided by the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program. The scholarships are offered to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in the dairy science program at Delaware Valley College or the food-marketing program at Saint Joseph’s University.

The Holstein Foundation staff is preparing for the kick-off of Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI) class nine, which meets for phase one Feb. 25-28 in Phoenix, Arizona.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) thanked the House of Representatives for passing legislation on Feb. 13, by a vote of 272-142, to permanently extend the ability of family farmers and small businesses to write off capital purchases immediately, instead of over time. The bill now faces an uncertain future in the Senate, and a possible veto at the White House.

Mark HolmenRegional Beef SpecialistAccelerated GeneticsLanesboro, Minnesota

Twenty Kansas State University students applied for Henry C. Gardiner Scholarships, which are awarded to undergraduates with an emphasis in animal science. The field of 20 was narrowed to seven candidates, who interviewed for the $5,000 awards to continue their field of study.

According to Progressive Cattleman’s online readers, Sam Elliott is the man. There is no arguing about this. The numbers are quite definite.

It isn’t just supply and demand that spiked cattle prices to record levels in 2014. There happened to be some additional good luck involved.

The National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) estimates pre-weaning mortality of calves to be 10.8 percent, with diarrhea as the leading cause of death. Scours or diarrhea can be the result of any number of causes, including infectious agents like bacteria, viruses or parasites.

A visit with 2015 National BQA Cow Calf Award winners Ira and Kim Brackett, from Brackett Ranches L.P., of Castleford, Idaho. Video courtesy of National BQA.