U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minnesota, made the following statement after releasing a dairy reform discussion draft that would offer protection, create stability and inspire growth in the dairy sector. The draft language is based on reform proposals put forward by the dairy industry. “I released this discussion draft now because we need to act before the next farm bill. If we have another dairy crisis like we had in 2009, we could lose half our dairies. The discussion draft allows us to keep the ball moving while continuing to have a dialogue with the dairy industry.

Parents seeking healthier restaurant meals for their kids can start to look beyond chicken nuggets and macaroni-and-cheese. At least 19 restaurant chains – including Burger King, Chili's, IHOP and Friendly's – said Wednesday that they will include healthier options on their children's menus. At least 15,000 restaurant locations will focus on increasing servings of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy. The items will have less fats, sugars and sodium.

Officials announced plans Thursday for a $105 million loan guarantee to help develop the nation's first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant near Emmetsburg. When completed, the plant will produce up to 25 million gallons of ethanol per year. Unlike existing ethanol plants, which produce the fuel from corn, the new facility will use stalks, corncobs and leaves to produce ethanol.

Two senators from ethanol-producing states proposed to immediately end a tax credit for the corn-based fuel and agreeing to support shifting some of that money to debt reduction. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, and John Thune, R-South Dakota, along with ethanol opponent Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, have proposed diverting $1.3 billion of the money remaining for the tax break this year to pay for debt reduction. And $668 million will be used for incentives for the ethanol and biofuels industries.

The U.N. says global investments in renewable energy jumped 32 percent to $211 billion last year, boosted by wind farm development in China and rooftop solar panels in Europe. A report by the U.N. Environment Program shows that solar, wind, biomass and other forms of green energy are gaining momentum, despite the lack of progress in international climate talks aimed at slowing emissions of heat-trapping gases from fossil fuels.

Kids who grow up on traditional farms are 30 percent to 50 percent less likely than other children to develop asthma, a new study shows. But it's not the fresh country air. It's the germs.

Are you ready to get started on the 2011 Photo Contest? Accelerated Genetics has two new themes for you to try your photography skills on. "Calves" and "In Their Environment." Gift cards awarded for top entries in both categories!

National Dairy Herd Information Association (NDHIA) is offering $750 scholarships to full-time incoming and continuing students at technical and two-year and four-year colleges/universities. To be eligible for a National DHIA scholarship, the applicant must be a family member or employee of a herd on DHI test, a family member of a DHI employee, or an employee of a DHI affiliate. The DHI affiliate for the herd or affiliate employee must be a member of National DHIA. (Arizona DHIA, Dairy Lab Services, Dairy One Cooperative Inc., DHI Cooperative Inc., Idaho DHIA, Indiana State Dairy Association, Lancaster DHIA, Minnesota DHIA, NorthStar Cooperative DHI Services, Puerto Rico DHIA, Rocky Mountain DHIA, San Joaquin DHIA, Tennessee DHIA, Texas DHIA, United Federation of DHIAs, Vermont DHIA and Washington State DHIA are National DHIA members.)

National Dairy Shrine (NDS) is pleased to announce the winners of the Graduate Dairy Production, Progressive Dairy Producer, Pioneer, Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder, and Guest of Honor awards for this year. These awards were designed to honor dairy industry leaders that have or will contribute to strengthening and enlivening the dairy industry.