The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to vote on a new Farm Bill later this month, and National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is ramping up its efforts to ensure that the provisions of the Dairy Security Act are included in the Senate legislation under consideration.

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture will be lowering the current Somatic Cell Count (SCC) tolerance of 500,000 to 400,000 effective June 1. The Rule change will be considered a temporary Rule until it is finalized in the 2013 Idaho Legislative Session. The change, the first by any state in the nation, was endorsed by both the Idaho Milk Processors Association and the Board of Directors of the United Dairymen of Idaho.

David Valadao was raised in Hanford, California, where he grew up working on the family dairy, which was started in 1973. Now, Valadao serves as the managing partner of Valadao Dairy. The business consists of two separate dairies, as well as over 1,000 acres of farmland in Kings and western Tulare County, on which David and his brothers grow alfalfa, corn and wheat as feed stock.

Farmers are coming off one of their most profitable years in history and few expect a repeat, according to the latest DTN/The Progressive Farmer Agriculture Confidence Index. DTN surveyed 500 farmers and ranchers across the country between Feb. 27 and March 9. Farmers rate their present situation at a strongly positive value of 140.2; at 108.5, their overall survey value reflects cautious optimism. (A value of 100 is considered neutral with higher values indicating optimism and lower values indicating pessimism.) On the other hand, expectations for the next 12 months were notably pessimistic at 87.4.

As corn and soy feed ingredients have experienced increased price volatility, the cost savings associated with maximizing the use of methionine activity in animals’ diets have increased. Nutrition experts seeking to improve feed efficiency and reduce feed cost routinely turn to HMTBa as their solution. HMTBa is a naturally-occurring methionine precursor that has been found in yeast, plants, chickens and other organisms. The growth in demand for the HMTBa molecule is nearly half of the global methionine market.

McDonald’s named Darigold in its 2012 Best of Sustainable Supply report. The winners are companies that implement innovative and effective ways to address challenges to improve food sources, the environment, communities and employee wellness across the world. Darigold was one of 51 recipients of the global honor, out of 400 entries.

For years, the rising cost of energy and feed, along with tightening credit, have forced droves of dairy farmers in southeastern Georgia to scale back or close shop entirely. From 1997 to 2007, the industry shed an average of 1,820 cows and 47 operations per year, according to USDA statistics. There is a bright spot, however: pasture-based dairies.

Jason Robinson Reynoldsburg, Ohio Manager Jersey Marketing Service

Nicole Bartlett
 Lexington, Kentucky Director of Feed Marketing and Product Development H. J. Baker & Bro., Inc.