The 50-year-old herbicide atrazine, renowned for controlling weeds, is instrumental to conservation as well, according to a new study. University of Wisconsin-Madison economist Paul D. Mitchell, Ph.D., found the use of atrazine helps farmers reduce aggregate soil erosion by up to 85 million tons per year – enough to fill more than 3 million dump trucks. Mitchell will present the findings of his paper, "Estimating soil erosion and fuel use changes and their monetary values with AGSIM: A case study for triazine herbicides," at the Wisconsin Crop Management Conference in Madison, Wisconsin.

Dairy producers attending the 10th annual Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference (GLRDC) Feb. 9-11 at the Soaring Eagle Resort, Casino and Conference Center in Mount Pleasant should come prepared to find out the latest information available on managing the challenges of dairy farming. From achieving the biggest bang for your buck when making facility improvements to increasing service rates and determining how developing mentoring and training programs can benefit the bottom line on your dairy operation, this conference is the place to be. The first day of the conference will feature Matt McKnight, senior vice president for market access, regulatory and industry affairs, U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). He will talk about capitalizing on the growing global demand for dairy products. The proportion of the U.S. milk supply sold overseas is nearly double what it was a decade ago and the outlook remains strong. McKnight will share the latest efforts by the USDEC to assist suppliers in building the volume and value of U.S. dairy exports to help meet this growing demand.

Southern dairy producers can join those from across the region at a January conference in Atlanta addressing some of the major issues currently facing the industry. Stephanie Hill Ward, assistant professor in animal and dairy science at Mississippi State University, is chairing the Southern Dairy Conference planning committee. She said the objective of the Jan. 24-25 conference is to offer informative and thought provoking presentations on all facets of the dairy industry. Click here to download a brochure. “The conference will address production, processing and manufacturing. Topics include policy and legislation, milk prices, animal well-being, risk management, farm ownership and the next generation of dairy farmers,” Ward said.

With the national energy inflation rate at 10 percent and business costs continuing to climb, the New Year is a good time to maximize farm energy efficiency and minimize monthly utility bills. The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy – established by dairy producers in 2008 to foster industrywide innovation and efficiencies – urges dairy producers interested in cutting on-farm energy costs to contact their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office. Funding is available right now to help producers address on-farm energy use and increase efficiency. The Innovation Center and U.S. Department of Agriculture NRCS are focused on helping dairy producers learn about those opportunities.

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach will offer a nationally renowned farm business course for northeast Iowa women in February. Annie’s Project empowers farm women to be better business partners through peer networks. The program includes critical decision making and information topics on production, marketing, financial, legal and human resources risk management.

In a development celebrated by the organic plaintiffs, Judge Naomi Buchwald announced yesterday that oral arguments on Monsanto's motion to dismiss the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) et al v. Monsanto will be heard in federal district court January 31, 2012 in Manhattan.

Judge Buchwald's decision will establish if organic farmers are to see their day in court.

Indiana livestock producers looking to improve their pastures and forages will have opportunities to learn from experts in the field at the Northern and Southern Indiana Grazing Conferences in February.

The Southern Indiana Grazing Conference is February 1 at the Simon J. Graber Building, 9164 E. 875 N., Odon. The Northern Indiana Grazing Conference, sponsored in-part by Purdue Extension, takes place February 3-4 at the Michiana Event Center, 7605 N. Indiana 9, Howe.

"There continues to be interest in utilizing improved grazing management systems in Indiana," said Keith Johnson, Purdue Extension forage specialist and speaker at the Northern Indiana Grazing Conference.

The Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association (N.A.M.A.) will launch an online alfalfa evaluation tool at the upcoming Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference, to be held at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney, Nebraska, February 7 and 8. “The evaluation tool allows users to calculate a sound value of their alfalfa based on a nutrient comparable basis or a market comparable basis,” said Kyle Lechtenberg of Spencer, Nebraska, a member of the N.A.M.A. board who is helping to develop the tool. “The goal is to have a specific value for buyers and sellers to use as a starting point when marketing alfalfa, instead of simply asking neighbors or coming up with a ballpark guess.”

The Food and Drug Administration announced Jan. 4 it will prohibit certain uses of the antibiotic cephalosporin in food-producing cattle, swine and poultry. The order banned “extralabel” or unapproved use of the antibiotic based on the label instructions.