World Dairy Expo brings the best cows and genetics to Madison, Wisconsin, each year. Throughout the week, five breed sales were held in the Estrumate Sale Pavilion and one on the colored shavings in the Coliseum.

Calf raising tips, tricks and critical steps that can make a big difference on your dairy will be shared at two upcoming one-day Calf Care Workshops: Wednesday, Oct. 19, Marshfield, and Thursday, Oct. 20, Arlington. Developed by dairy producers for dairy producers, the workshops are for calf managers and caregivers who want to take their calf-raising capabilities to the next level. The hands-on workshops will focus on raising healthy, content calves. Calf raiser Minnie Ward will kick off the workshop with “Get Calf Savvy – Latest Research and Information,” and focus on three important calf care areas: automated calf feeders, colostrums and ventilation.

Holstein Association USA is currently seeking applicants for a new communications & youth programs summer internship. The internship will be based out of the Association’s headquarters in scenic Brattleboro, Vermont, and provide valuable hands-on experience, networking opportunities and personal development to help students prepare for future careers in the dairy industry. Intern responsibilities will involve assisting with various communications projects and youth programs, including preparations for the National Holstein Convention. Specific tasks will include writing press releases, developing video presentations, preparing information for distribution to the media, photography, videography, feature story writing, working with the Holstein Foundation’s Dairy Jeopardy and Dairy Bowl programs, and a member relations project. The internship will include opportunities for some travel, including attending the 2012 National Holstein Convention in Springfield, Missouri.

Click here to download a pdf of the latest Export Watch update, provided by Cooperatives Working Together. PD

Click here to download a pdf of the latest Industry Watch List, provided by Dairy Management, Inc. PD

The National Milk Producers Federation’s Board of Directors voted Sept. 21 in favor of a revised approach to reforming federal dairy policy, with the key change of allowing farmers an individual choice between receiving the financial protection of a government safety net or opting out of such protection. Scroll down or to jump below to see results and comments on this poll. And click here to read about the new poll question, "Do you support the Dairy Policy Act of 2011?" As originally proposed back in 2010, NMPF’s Foundation for the Future (FFTF) program contained a government-subsidized safety net, the Dairy Producer Margin Protection Program, to protect against periods of low milk prices, high feed costs or a combination of the two.

Poll to be reset, count new votes on revised plan In the last two issues of Progressive Dairyman, we’ve been asking for your opinions of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Foundation for the Future (FFTF) dairy policy reform plan. We appreciate each and every one of you who answered our yes or no question of “Are you in favor of the FFTF dairy policy plan?” and those of you who also took the time to send us your written opinion. We believe that it is because of comments from dairy producers, shared with us, your co-ops, other dairy organizations or directly with NMPF, that we must make an unprecedented change in the course of this PD Poll.

Lance Fox New London, Wisconsin Senior Veterinarian, U.S. Dairy Veterinary Operations Pfizer Animal Health