On a weekly basis, I utilize Nebraska feeder cattle auction price data, the current futures market for both live cattle and feeder cattle and the present cost of gain based on current feed prices to project returns to backgrounding various weights of feeder steers and to finishing various weights of feeder steers.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued a final exemption clarifying that dairy farms don’t have to treat milk the same as petroleum products under the Spill, Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulation. NMPF has been working with Congress and the EPA for two years to win the exemption for dairy farmers, so that their bulk milk storage equipment doesn’t get regulated under the SPCC rules, since milk storage is already regulated as part of the current Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO).

As you prepare for the hay and forage harvesting season, there are many simple activities that you can do to reduce production costs according to Scott Sanford, University of Wisconsin-Extension senior outreach specialist.

Potato leafhoppers have the potential to hurt alfalfa every year. This is generally a second-cutting and third-cutting pest and has been more common recently. These small (one-eighth-inch long), bright green, wedge-shaped insects may cause severe damage to alfalfa by injecting a toxin into the plant as they feed. This feeding results in a distinctive yellow or purple triangle shape at the tip of the leaf.

Click here to download a pdf of the latest "Checkoff Watch" information, provided by Dairy Managment Inc. This update provides information about the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and a recent summit held by Milk Promotion Services of Indiana. PD

Now that Neogen has completed its Picture It & Pitch It! program, the rest is up to you.Neogen’s Picture It & Pitch It! program ran through March 31, and offered rebates for the purchase of one of Neogen’s calf pullers – Dr. Frank’s, Calf-Eze or Ratchet Style Puller. The program offered an additional cash prize to the person who submitted the photo that depicts the most creative method used to discard an old puller – as determined by a vote of you, the people.

The Animal Agriculture Alliance announced the results of its second College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship competition. The nationwide program was developed in partnership with the American National CattleWomen, Inc. to help college students utilize social media tools to share agriculture's story.

Now that Neogen has completed its Picture It & Pitch It! program, the rest is up to you. Neogen’s Picture It & Pitch It! program ran through March 31, and offered rebates for the purchase of one of Neogen’s calf pullers – Dr. Frank’s, Calf-Eze or Ratchet Style Puller. The program offered an additional cash prize to the person who submitted the photo that depicts the most creative method used to discard an old puller – as determined by a vote of you, the people.

The Animal Agriculture Alliance announced the results of its second College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship competition. The nationwide program was developed in partnership with the American National CattleWomen, Inc. to help college students utilize social media tools to share agriculture's story. Students with an interest in agriculture were invited to join the CAO network in September 2010. Over the past seven months, 600 college students from more than 50 universities have participated in the competition. Members have earned points by posting blogs, photos and videos related to agriculture and by participating in “Aggie Homework” agriculture advocacy challenges via Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail.

Calibrate, a proprietary industry leading technology in dairy nutrition from Forage Genetics International, has added Dairyland Laboratories, Inc. to the network of labs running Calibrate rapid NIR starch tests. The addition of three Dairyland locations allows Calibrate technology to expand service reach and continue providing dairy producers and their nutritionists’ insights and recommendations to achieve a higher standard for nutrition consistency. All Dairyland laboratories are now equipped to conduct the rapid NIR test for rumen starch digestibility including the Arcadia and Stratford, Wisconsin, and St. Cloud, Minnesota, locations.