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With a goal of comparing tons of forage chopped per hour and tons of forage chopped per gallon of fuel, two rival self-propelled forage choppers roared into a Central Valley dairy forage field on a cool, windy day in May.
Senior, California Polytechnic State University
Intern with the California Milk Advisory Board
Based in Modesto, California
Background
Q. In what area are you pursuing a degree?
I'm majoring in dairy science with a minor in agricultural business.
Q. What is your agricultural background?
My family has been involved in agriculture in Sonoma County for four generations. My interest and passion for the dairy industry began in my childhood as a 4-H member when I bought my first dairy replacement heifer.
Senior, Michigan State University Strategic Communications intern with Dairy Management Inc. Based in Rosemont, Illinois
Background Q. In what area are you pursuing a degree? I'm majoring in animal science.
Q. What is your agricultural background? I live in a rural area in the “Thumb” of Michigan. My father is an owner of a small family dairy farm; I have been apart of it ever since I could walk. I also show cattle and lambs. I am the current Michigan Dairy Ambassador. My life completely revolves around animal agriculture, and I love it!
Senior, Cornell University
Public Policy intern with the American Farm Bureau Federation
Based in Washington, D.C.
Background
Q. In what area are you purusing a degree?
I am majoring in applied economics and management as well as animal science.
Q. What is your agricultural background?
I was born and raised on my family's fourth generation dairy farm, Indian Acres in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, and have enjoyed showing Guernsey and Holstein cattle all my life.
Senior, University of Kentucky
Marketing intern with Alltech
Based in Nicholasville, Kentucky
Background
Q. In what area are you pursuing a degree?
I'm studying agriculture economics, with a minor in business as well as a minor in community leadership development.
Q. What is your agricultural background?
I was born and raised on a dairy farm in Bowling Green, Kentucky, that my grandfather started in the 1940s. We own a herd of registered Jerseys and are currently milking close to 50. Growing up, I fed baby calves and also milked every day, twice a day. In the year 2003, my family opened an agritourism operation on our farm called Chaney’s Dairy Barn where we sell our own milk and ice cream.
Exactly two years after first breaking ground on a $62 million expansion, The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) hosted an Open House on June 30 to showcase its newly renovated and expanded processing facility. The dairy manufacturing plant operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, taking in approximately 3.5 to 5 million pounds of milk each day. Sales from the Ovid plant were nearly $140 million in 2009.
As the global dairy industry continues to raise the bar on milk quality, Pfizer Animal Health recognizes a need for easy access to resources to help producers improve their milk quality decision-making. As a result, the company has launched a new online resource – www.milkqualityfocus.com/ – offering technical and actionable information on mastitis management and milk quality.
Every year as a way of encouraging continued involvement in the dairy industry, Dairy MAX, the local dairy council, provides scholarships to regional students who have dairy background, studying an agricultural-related field and have outstanding scholastic achievements, leadership abilities and community involvement. This year Dairy MAX is proud to award two $2,500 scholarships to Dianne DeVos, Plainview, Texas, and Justin Squire, Hagerman, New Mexico.
Following in the wake of a $10,100 average for the first four consignments into the ring, the 53rd National Heifer Sale on June 26 averaged $4,547.40 on 44 lots, setting a new record average for the sale series.
On July 6, a Union County Grand Jury cleared Gary Conklin, co-owner of Conklin Dairy Cattle Sales LLC in Plain City, Ohio, and others, of allegations of animal abuse brought about by the Mercy for Animals YouTube video release on May 26.
Released of all charges, Conklin talked freely with Progressive Dairyman Editor Karen Lee, answering the questions that follow.
