Bayer HealthCare LLC has received the necessary regulatory approvals to complete the acquisition of the U.S.-based animal health business of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Bayer will pay up to 145 million USD following the achievement of successful manufacturing and sales targets. The transaction includes a manufacturing site in St. Joseph, Missouri, and nearly 300 employees.

In the coming year, the 2013 National Beef Ambassador Team will come face to face with thousands of consumers and students across the nation. They will have the opportunity to educate consumers of all ages through the internet, consumer promotions and in classrooms. The National Beef Ambassador Program works with youth in states across the country. These Beef Ambassadors educate consumers in their respective areas about beef and beef production.  Additionally, five of these young adults are chosen to represent the National Beef Ambassador Team and educate consumers on a national level through a competition.

The general manager of the largest dairy in Alaska said the facility would close Dec. 29, laying off 15 to 18 employees. Palmer-based Matanuska Creamery has failed to make payments on about $880,000 in state loans, according to the state. The Board of Agriculture and Conservation voted in December to deny a request that would have allowed the business to avoid a $50,000 payment.

Curiosity has put men on the moon, sequenced the human genome, seen physicists complete a decades-long search for the Higgs boson and now it has led us to precision nutrition, epigenetics and a nutritional revolution. Are we staying curious? During this year’s 28th annual North American Lecture Tour, Alltech will be challenging attendees to "stay curious." The 23-stop tour, taking place from Feb.12- March 1, will encourage attendees to stretch beyond conventional practices and explore how the latest technological developments can move the agriculture industry forward.

Despite getting some big storms last month, much of the U.S. is still desperate for relief from the nation's longest dry spell in decades. And experts say it will take an absurd amount of snow to ease the woes of farmers and ranchers.

Organic Pastures, the nation’s largest raw milk dairy, has launched a lawsuit against the FDA for allegedly turning its back on the dairy’s request for the agency to change its current law banning sales of raw milk across state lines. The Fresno-based dairy submitted its request to the agency back in December 2008.

Now that the House of Representatives has passed the Senate’s fiscal cliff package extending existing farm programs into 2013, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) said it will continue its push in the 113th Congress for a five-year farm bill that includes the Dairy Security Act.