Drought can turn ordinary forages into sources of nitrate and prussic acid poisoning in cattle, and producers should keep a close eye on pasture conditions, says Dirk Philipp, assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Brittany Stewart Dodgeville Dairy Specialist Mount Horeb, Wisconsin Vita Plus

The board of directors of the California Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) voted to change the organization’s name to DHIA West (DHIAW). The change happened on July 2. Continued growth, including additional states seeking affiliation with the group, prompted the change.

DuPont Pioneer has launched a new Web-based field management tool, Pioneer Field360 Select software. The new subscription service combines field-by-field data with real-time agronomic and weather information to help growers make informed management decisions, according to the company.

A University of California – Riverside (UCR) researcher has discovered a chemical that allows plants to grow while using less water, according to a report by FSA. Plant biologist Sean Cutler discovered the chemical “quinabactin” that mimics the functions of a plant hormone called “abscisic acid” that makes plants conserve water. The find could mean a break on the pocketbooks of crop growers.

Two groups — Zoetis Inc. and The Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh — are collaborating on research of Salmonella in cattle. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) will contribute 80 percent of funding for the study — close to $1 million — while Zoetis will provide the remaining 20 percent, but also in-kind services via research materials and expertise.

A new research trial using the CowKühlerZ Evaporative Cooling (CEC) system will be conducted this summer at The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, New York.

Getting cows through a drought in good body condition is crucial for both the cowherd and its progeny, according to Scott Lake, Extension livestock specialist for the University of Wyoming. This video news is provided by Certified Angus Beef LLC and the American Angus Association.

Exports of U.S. beef moved 3 percent higher in volume in May, and a healthy 9 percent in value, while pork exports dipped 3 percent in volume and 3.6 percent in value, according to statistics released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).