The dairy industry’s three big issues – milk pricing, food safety and immigration – will be front and center during the Dairy Policy Summit on Wednesday, Nov. 9, in Madison, Wisconsin. The first session addressing milk price reform will include Dr. Mark Stephenson facilitating an industry panel. The panel includes: Jaime Castaneda, senior vice president, National Milk Producers Federation; Robin Berg, National Dairy Producers Association and president of the Dairy Pricing Association; and Alan Kozak, Dairy Policy Action Committee. Panelists will share their insight and legislation being proposed and how each proposal could affect the dairy business.

When the builder finishes a new dairy facility and cows enter the new barn, both the producer and the lender have to live with the consequences. Poor facilities lead to poor results, and that can put the cow in harm’s way and the producer at risk of not servicing his/her loan. The Dairyland Initiative, developed by veterinarians Drs. Nigel Cook and Ken Nordlund at the School of Veterinary Medicine, and coordinated by Dr. Becky Brotzman, combines the most relevant research in dairy cattle health, production and behavior with years of field experience in housing design into a web-based information center and building plan assessment program.

Every day is Food Day to America's farmers and ranchers, says Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan. The high-profile agriculture advocate is joining the Animal Agriculture Alliance to announce the launch of www.realfarmersrealfood.com with a call to action for Americans to celebrate the hard work of our nation’s farmers and ranchers.

H.J. Baker & Bro., Inc. released results of a 30-cow University of Georgia trial that showed MetaboLys BY-PASS LYSINE is digestible in the small intestine, but resists degradation by ruminal microorganisms. The result is a 3.13-kilogram (6.9-pound) increase in milk production per day per cow.

Wisconsin is looking for a county or counties to host the Alice in Dairyland finals for 2013. The finals rotate every year to a different county. The event includes a two-day briefing and three-day selection process.

DeLaval and Cornell University announced a new development in their continuing partnership to bring innovative, safe and productive solutions to the dairy industry. The Ivy League School will equip its new teaching dairy barn with DeLaval milking equipment and herd management solutions.

FFA chapters across the country partnered with local suppliers to promote responsible use of animal health products – and 23 chapters earned $26,000 in the process. “Pfizer Animal Health and our partners are longtime supporters of the values and education FFA offers,” says Julian Garcia, group marketing director with Pfizer Animal Health. “This contest allowed us to really get to know individual students and chapters. Not only did these chapters earn funds to help support their activities, but these students made deeper connections to the industry that can help them as they become our future leaders.”