DuPont, the University of Missouri (UM) and the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) have announced a new collaboration to pool soil mapping resources, predictive technologies and expertise to help growers more sustainably improve crop yields through better nitrogen application management and other field input planning.

A food safety group wants the USDA to explain why it approved genetically engineered alfalfa despite its misgivings about environmental safety.  

The House recently approved the Water Rights Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Scott Tipton, R- Colorado, which would prevent federal agencies form requiring privately-held water rights to be turned over to the government.

The Mills Companies of Earlville, Iowa, says it has purchased Stronghold in Clarion, which manufactures cattle handling equipment such as chutes, tubs and alleyways.  

The Dairy Comfort Cookbook is being created by Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) and will debut in June 2015 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the National Dairy Council.

Chilton, Wisconsin-based Milk Products (MP) says it has reorganized, resulting in the following recent promotions and changes in responsibilities:

Farm banks significantly increased agricultural lending by 9 percent in 2013 and held $87.8 billion in farm loans at the end of the year, according to the American Bankers Association’s (ABA) annualFarm Bank Performance Report.

Former White House Chef Walter Scheib was a dark horse entry in the Professional Dairy Producers Foundation (PDPF) pie-eating finals held recently during the Professional Dairy Producers Business Conference in Madison, Wisconsin.

Genetics, farm audits, government regulations, milk quotas, greenhouse gases, branding to the millennial consumer, employee training ... these topics and more about the farm will be explored during the "Three Pillars of Modern Farming: Genetics, Management and Nutrition" session at the “What If” 30th annual Alltech International Symposium, May 18-21 in Lexington, Kentucky.