Click here to download a pdf of the latest checkoff watch, provided by Cattlemen's Beef Board and My Beef Checkoff Program. PD

On Dec. 1, 2011, the U.S. Department of Labor closed a public comment period on its proposed updates to child labor regulations aimed at safety concerns in agriculture-related jobs. Since then, the Keep Families Farming website has been established to support the legislative effort on Capitol Hill, where this issue will almost certainly be voted on this summer. In the pages that follow are comments received and posted on their website.

The Dairy Practices Council is excited to announce the distribution of five guidelines: REVISED Guideline 58, Guidelines for Sizing Dairy Farm Water Heater Systems. This is the third edition of this popular and handy reference. It has been updated to show the latest technology applicable to dairy farm hot water needs to clean pipeline milker systems.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids (FS4JK). The organization has promoted farm safety to more than 6 million people through local programs and education since 1987. Over the past 25 years, FS4JK has established a network of more than 120 chapters across the U.S. and Canada that offer farm safety presentations on a local level. In that time, 35,600 volunteers donated 280,000 hours of their time to help promote safety on the farm.

World Dairy Expo promises even more for dairy producers to experience in 2012. A new major sponsor has stepped up to the plate for naming of the newly expanded indoor exhibit space. The New Holland Trade Center will feature a mix of new and returning exhibitors from across the dairy industry. Dairy enthusiasts attending the event will have the opportunity to view the very latest cutting-edge equipment, research and services that might be incorporated into their operations.

PepsiCo and a leading German dairy company announced they will open their first U.S. yogurt-producing facility at a business park in Batavia, New York. The joint venture, called "Project Wave," is the latest announcement in what has become a burgeoning yogurt industry in New York.

Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW) is celebrating its 20th year in 2012, including its 20th Business Conference. Progressive Dairyman interviewed with Shelly Mayer (right), dairy producer and PDPW executive director, to talk about how the organization has evolved and what it means to be a “professional dairy producer” today.

Heat stress not only affects people; it’s hard on cattle too, said a dairy industry expert. The Dairy Heat Stress Road Show, a multi-institutional effort, will hit the road this spring to help producers cope with the problem. Dr. Todd Bilby, associate professor and Texas AgriLife Extension Service dairy specialist at Stephenville, said heat stress on dairies not only affects cow comfort, but also lowers milk production and fertility, which costs the dairy industry millions of dollars annually.

In a news release, Canadian Dairy Network (CDN) Chairman Grant Roy and Holstein Canada President Paul MacLeod (pictured on the right) announced that following in-depth discussion and with the total support of their board members, their organizations will discontinue the current amalgamation plans. Progressive Dairyman Editor Karen Lee spoke with each of them to learn more about the situation and discover what the future holds for each organization.