The California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) has joined with Land O’Lakes Inc. and Producers Dairy Foods Inc. to distribute 12,000 one-half gallon cartons of milk to food banks located in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, where an estimated 500,000 children and adults live in poverty. According to Sue Sigler, CAFB executive director, “Because the demand for food assistance remains so high, food banks have to count their pennies and as a result do not often have a steady supply of milk. We are deeply grateful for this donation from Land O’Lakes and Producers Dairy Foods, that will help us to provide a nutritious and well-rounded diet to people in need.”

Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.’s (DFA) Fort Morgan, Colorado, plant has been named a Safe Quality Food (SQF) Manufacturer of the Year as part of the organization’s 2011 Quality Achievement Awards. The award was presented at the SQF International Conference held recently in St. Louis, Missouri. Dave Davis, quality assurance manager; Maria Nunez, quality assurance lead; Art Soto, dryer operator; and Ricardo Valles, maintenance mechanic, attended the conference to accept the award.

Growers of high quality forage will be rewarded with cash prizes in the 2012 World Ag Expo Forage Challenge, presented by Mycogen Seeds. The competition challenges farmers and ranchers in 11 western states to enter their best alfalfa hay, standard corn silage or brown midrib (BMR) corn silage to honor those who produce the highest-quality forages in the West. The deadline to enter is Dec. 15.

An array of leading dairy marketing executives convened by the dairy checkoff showed unity in reporting impressive checkoff-led dairy sales results to nearly 1,000 producer and industry representatives at the 2011 National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB)/National Milk Producers Federation/United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA) Joint Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. The dairy checkoff is driving more dairy sales than ever by working through the power of partnerships, said Tom Gallagher, chief executive officer of Dairy Management Inc., speaking at the joint annual meeting.

The National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) Board of Directors elected several new officers at the organization’s 2011 annual meeting in San Diego, California. Randy Mooney, from Rogersville, Missouri, representing Dairy Farmers of America, was re-elected as the organization’s chairman, a position he has held since 2008. Ken Nobis, from St. John, Michigan, representing Michigan Milk Producers Association, was elected first vice chairman. Nobis had been serving as NMPF treasurer.

The National Dairy Council and The Quaker Oats Company, a division of PepsiCo, announced a partnership that will leverage the strengths of both organizations to develop effective programs in schools and other channels to increase children’s access to breakfast, nutritious snacks and physical activity. The National Dairy Council, under the leadership of America’s dairy farmers, and Quaker have long been dedicated to creating healthier lifestyles for children and families.

The Wisconsin Holstein Association will award 16 outstanding members up to $12,000 in scholarships at the annual Junior Holstein Convention in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Dec. 28-30. Scholarships are awarded to members studying in agriculture or related fields as well as recognizing the Distinguished Junior Members representing Wisconsin at the national contest.

As part of its annual Green Fever sales program, John Deere announces major incentives on its entire line of compact tractors, utility tractors, and pull-type hay tools purchased from now through Jan. 31. In addition, the Green Fever promotion also will offer special pre-season incentives on select turf products purchased from now through Feb. 29.

Becoming a veterinarian hasn't been this exciting since Alf Wight came home to the Yorkshire Dales after World War II. Under the pseudonym James Herriot, Wight chronicled the medical revolution of antibiotics and steroids developed during that war, and the stunning changes they brought to the practice of animal medicine. Today's Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine professors and students – many of them inspired by the famous Herriot stories – are themselves leaping forward, working on new technologies and treatments to heal sick animals, and humans.