Celebrating its 10th year, the North American Manure Expo will focus on “Professional Manure Management” with a wide variety of presentations to occur throughout the day. The expo combines three attractions – technology demonstrations, educational events and trade show – into a one-day national event. Beginning in 2001, the University of Wisconsin was approached by several custom manure applicators from around the region requesting a show that provides a side-by-side comparison of agitation and application equipment to help determine which best meets individual needs. From this request, the first show was born in August of 2001 near Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin.

Tammy Anderson-Wise has been named chief executive officer of Dairy Council of California (Dairy Council of CA) by the organization’s producer-distributor board of directors. Anderson-Wise was formerly director of program services for Dairy Council of CA, managing its school programs. She has been with the organization 15 years. She replaces Peggy Biltz, who is retiring after spending 27 years with Dairy Council of CA, 22 as chief executive officer.

The University of California Davis, under contract with the State Water Board, conducted an independent investigation of nitrate contamination of drinking water in the Tulare Lake Basin and the Salinas Valley. The report examines sources of nitrate contamination, impacts and costs, as well as outlining potential funding and policy options. Dairy farms of the Tulare Lake Basin and the manure nitrogen they produce are prominently mentioned in the report. Agriculture is listed as responsible for 96 percent of the nitrate accumulation with dairy being about one-third of that, so we need to not only pay attention to the ensuing discussion, but to be active participants. Denial is not an option.

Hazel-Bush Flap Flower has claimed the title of Holstein Association USA’s 2011 Star of the Breed, given annually to one Holstein cow that not only excels in the showring but is also an exceptional milk producer. Flower was bred by Hazel Bush Farms, Inc., of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, and is owned by 22-year-old Beth Nelson of Blair, Wisconsin.

Organizers have spent the past several months planning the first annual Gunnison Valley Dairy Days. They are inviting the public to "come have an 'udderly' amazing time in small town Gunnison, Utah." Dairy Days will take place May 31 through June 2 on the Gunnison Valley High School football fields. Events include an antique tractor show, petting zoo, cow milking games, softball and archery tournament, concert, dance and fireworks. Youth are invited to participate in a dairy cattle judging contest. A dairy ambassador – Miss Gunnison Valley Dairy Days – will be crowned and receive a $650 scholarship.

Twenty-six teams from universities across North America will vie for prizes and global recognition for their design innovations in American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers' (ASABE) 15th Annual International ¼-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition. The competition will be held May 31 – June 3 at the Expo Gardens in Peoria, Illinois. The event is free and open to the public.

The teams have spent the 2011-2012 academic year designing and building utility or recreational pulling tractors that they will present and demonstrate at the competition.

The Farm Progress Hay Expo, the nation's largest two-day hay event, will take place June 20 and 21 at the Central Iowa Expo site near Boone, Iowa. (The Central Iowa Expo facility is where the Farm Progress Show is held in Iowa, as well.)

Indiana's forage crop is thriving after an extremely mild winter. A new Purdue University website offers growers and livestock producers a place to buy and sell it.

Forage Finder can help growers sell – and buyers take advantage of – what has the potential to be a high-yielding crop. The site is free to use.

As spring planting goes into high gear in the U.S., farmers are going high-tech in order to use less fertilizer, save money and protect the environment, reports Voice of America. Satellite-based GPS navigation systems are becoming standard on modern farm equipment, helping farmers get the most from their fields.