Feeling pain again at the gasoline pump? Don't blame it on corn and the cost of ethanol.

Lawmakers working on the next Farm Bill need to find an effective way to provide aid to farmers affected by natural disasters, increase funding for agricultural research and continue important conservation programs, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. The former Iowa governor spoke to about 100 workers who make farm equipment at a John Deere plant in Ankeny, telling them programs funded through the massive spending bill also must be streamlined and simpler to understand.

The U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards program continues to gain support, as the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy announced that the newly launched awards program will be judged by a panel of experts from academic institutions, USDA, EPA, World Wildlife Fund, media and dairy industry leaders.

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), representing California’s 1620 dairy families, announced the Real Seal Appeal! sweepstakes and promotion where Southern California elementary schools can win up to $2 million in cash, books and other prizes for collecting Real California Milk seals. Families in participating elementary school districts from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties can get “moo-tivated” to help their teachers and schools win simply by collecting Real California Milk seals from the dairy products they already buy and turning them in to their teachers to enter.

Temple Grandin will have a scholarship established in her name at Colorado State University. CSU said the scholarship will be called the Temple Grandin Scholarship in Animal Behavior and Welfare. She's a professor of animal sciences at CSU.

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe and First Lady Ginger Beebe pledged their support to the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, an in-school health and wellness program that encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve 60 minutes of physical activity every day. The Governor and First Lady joined students from Weiner High School in Weiner, Arkansas, dairy farmers and members of Midwest Dairy Council to sign the symbolic pledge.

U.S. dairy producers have benefited from the U.S. being the gold standard in global genetic progress. This position is the result of research efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Research Service (ARS), coupled with a massive database developed through the selfless cooperation from members of the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB). CDCB members include National Dairy Herd Information Association, National Association of Animal Breeders and Purebred Dairy Cattle Association.