U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow says farmers interested in participating in a federal program to reduce pollution in Saginaw Bay have until July 22 to enroll. The Michigan Democrat said Tuesday that Saginaw Bay is one of three watersheds in the U.S. included in the preservation and conservation effort. It's part of President Barack Obama's America's Great Outdoors initiative and has $550,000 in funding.

Nestle SA, the world's biggest food and drink company, took a big step into the Chinese market Monday with the announcement that it is to buy a majority stake in candy maker Hsu Fu Chi for 2.1 billion Singapore dollars ($1.7 billion; $1.4 billion Swiss francs). The Swiss manufacturer of Nescafe coffee, KitKat bars and Dreyer's ice cream, said it will acquire 60 percent of shares in Singapore-listed Hsu Fu Chi, which had sales of about $800 million last year.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has taken the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to task for its handling of the Missouri River in a letter questioning its decision not to release more water from dams earlier in the spring to prevent prolonged flooding this summer. The river is near historic flood levels along the more than 800 miles it stretches from the Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota to its confluence with the Mississippi River. More than 560,000 acres in seven states have flooded, including nearly 447,000 acres of farmland, Vilsack spokesman Justin DeJong said. The flooding followed unexpected spring rains and the melting of a deep snowpack in the Rocky Mountains.

Pfizer Inc. said June 8 it may sell its animal health and nutrition business in the next two years so it can focus on expanding its low-cost pharmaceuticals unit.

Pfizer Inc. said Thursday it may sell its animal health and nutrition business in the next two years so it can focus on expanding its low-cost pharmaceuticals unit. Pfizer, which has faced pressure to eliminate some business units and return more cash to shareholders, said the moves will allow investors to get more value for the businesses. The company will also consider transactions including spinoffs and may pursue different strategies for each business.

As alfalfa growers hit the fields, now is an important time to be on the lookout for potato leafhoppers (PLH). This is the pest most affecting alfalfa production in the central United States, causing devastating effects to alfalfa leaves and stunting plant growth.

The Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) invites producers, veterinarians, nutritionists, academia and industry professionals to the 2011 annual DCRC meeting on Nov. 10-11 at the Hilton Kansas City Airport in Kansas City, Missouri. This year’s meeting will offer something for all attendees, including new research, application of current reproductive programs and a look at emerging technologies.

The Cornell Dairy Executive Program is now accepting applications for its latest class, to begin in December 2011. This unique educational opportunity, organized by the PRO-DAIRY Program at Cornell University, is designed to provide progressive dairy executives and agriservice personnel the opportunity to increase their leadership and management skills that are necessary to run a successful business. Timely topics in dairy business management are presented by a team of national experts from within and outside of the field of agriculture. Participants attending the program can expect to develop one- and five-year strategic business plans through a comprehensive self-evaluation of their business, while building a network of dairy executives and business relationships.