The home of the dairy cows on the University of Wisconsin – Madison campus is getting a long-awaited update. In May, the university will undertake a $3 million remodeling of the Dairy Cattle Center on Linden Drive. The remodeled facilities will enable better animal care – with better cooling and ventilation and bigger, more comfortable stalls – and enhanced learning opportunities than are possible in the existing 56-year-old setup, says Kent Weigel, chair of the dairy science department. Facilities will be shared by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the School of Veterinary Medicine, which recently combined their herds.

The U.S. Agriculture Department announced recently it will close nearly 260 offices nationwide, a move that won praise for cutting costs but raised concerns about the possible effect on food safety. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the goal was to save $150 million a year in the agency's $145 billion budget. About $90 million had already been saved by reducing travel and supplies, and the closures were expected to save another $60 million, he said.

Aurora County doesn't have insurance to pay a possible $5 million claim by a dairy farming family that contends county zoning regulations forced them out of business, a jury concluded. Lawyers for the South Dakota Public Assurance Alliance had argued the company, which provides insurance to local governments, should not have to pay compensation in the case.

A new study shows farmers and ranchers in Idaho are continuing to play a bigger role in boosting the state's economy. A report released by University of Idaho researchers shows farm cash receipts for 2011 are projected at $7.4 billion, which is a 29 percent increase compared with 2010, when farm cash receipts increased by 12 percent compared to 2009.

A coalition of agricultural commodity groups and farmers from Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware have partnered to launch Mid-Atlantic Farmers Feed US. “The Mid-Atlantic Farmers Feed US program is a tremendous opportunity to introduce the region’s consumers to the hard-working men and women who raise healthy, nutritious and affordable food,” said Charlie Arnot, CEO of the Center for Food Integrity. “We need to show that even though our systems have changed and our use of technology has increased, the farmer’s commitment to do what’s right has never been stronger.”

Tillamook, a farmer-owned dairy co-op, announces the release of their light yogurt line naturally sweetened with Truvia sweetener. To make the best tasting, highest quality light yogurt Tillamook took two years perfecting the recipe made with no artificial growth hormones, no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, no artificial sweeteners and no high fructose corn syrup. The 10-flavor line is ready for national distribution and has been authorized by major grocery retailers in the Pacific Northwest.

Dairy producers attending the 10th annual Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference (GLRDC) Feb. 9-11 at the Soaring Eagle Resort, Casino and Conference Center in Mount Pleasant should come prepared to find out the latest information available on managing the challenges of dairy farming. From achieving the biggest bang for your buck when making facility improvements to increasing service rates and determining how developing mentoring and training programs can benefit the bottom line on your dairy operation, this conference is the place to be. The first day of the conference will feature Matt McKnight, senior vice president for market access, regulatory and industry affairs, U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). He will talk about capitalizing on the growing global demand for dairy products. The proportion of the U.S. milk supply sold overseas is nearly double what it was a decade ago and the outlook remains strong. McKnight will share the latest efforts by the USDEC to assist suppliers in building the volume and value of U.S. dairy exports to help meet this growing demand.

Southern dairy producers can join those from across the region at a January conference in Atlanta addressing some of the major issues currently facing the industry. Stephanie Hill Ward, assistant professor in animal and dairy science at Mississippi State University, is chairing the Southern Dairy Conference planning committee. She said the objective of the Jan. 24-25 conference is to offer informative and thought provoking presentations on all facets of the dairy industry. Click here to download a brochure. “The conference will address production, processing and manufacturing. Topics include policy and legislation, milk prices, animal well-being, risk management, farm ownership and the next generation of dairy farmers,” Ward said.

With the national energy inflation rate at 10 percent and business costs continuing to climb, the New Year is a good time to maximize farm energy efficiency and minimize monthly utility bills. The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy – established by dairy producers in 2008 to foster industrywide innovation and efficiencies – urges dairy producers interested in cutting on-farm energy costs to contact their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office. Funding is available right now to help producers address on-farm energy use and increase efficiency. The Innovation Center and U.S. Department of Agriculture NRCS are focused on helping dairy producers learn about those opportunities.