DAIReXNET, the national web resource for the dairy community, now has a presence on Facebook. The group hopes to use the social networking website to cultivate a dialogue with viewers, and use feedback and commentary from that forum to improve what they offer on www.extension.org.

American Farmers for the Advancement and Conservation of Technology (AFACT) has joined the Alliance to Feed the Future to help tell the story of modern farming from the heart of the family farmer. AFACT is comprised of farm families from across the country that seek to help all participants in the food chain to understand the benefits of technology used to produce affordable food with minimal impact on the environment. Misperceptions about how food is produced on modern farms are common, and AFACT farmers want consumers to have access to fact-based information that provides peace of mind about how today’s food is produced.

Holstein Association USA’s Star of the Breed award recognizes a cow that would be many Registered Holstein breeders’ “dream;” a cow that can compete with the best both in the showring and with her milk production. The 2010 Star of the Breed is Scarlet-Summer RB Gwendelyn, bred and owned by Scarlet Summer Holsteins of Muncy, Pennsylvania. Scarlet Summer Holsteins is comprised of Jarrod and Marsha Burleigh, and their two children, Alex, 7, and Madison, 4. Both graduates of Delaware Valley College, Jarrod is a nutritionist with ADM, and Marsha works at the farm full-time.

Genex Cooperative, Inc.’s 1HO07235 Jenny-Lou Mrshl TOYSTORY-ET *TV is now the world’s most prolific bull. He has assumed the honorary title of world leader for semen produced and sold surpassing the official record of 1.767 million units held by the Dutch sire Sunny Boy.

Novus International, Inc. on Tuesday cut the ribbon commemorating the opening of its newly expanded Novus Arkansas facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Novus Arkansas site was developed in the Little Rock Riverport Industrial Park in 2006 to manufacture MHA feed supplement, a dry, granular powder that provides an effective and environmentally friendly source of methionine, an essential amino acid in premixes and farm feed mills. MHA provides benefits to laying hens and other livestock and companion animals.

Penn State Dairy Alliance – the industry’s source for educational programming based on unbiased Penn State dairy research – is getting a new name, announced Dr. Terry Etherton, head of Penn State’s Department of Dairy and Animal Science. Penn State Dairy Alliance will now be known as the Penn State Extension Dairy Team, a name that reflects the growth of the unit to include Penn State Extension educators. “The Dairy Alliance name is changing, but the program’s reputation for excellence in educational programming will remain unchanged,” Etherton explained.

BouMatic, a global dairy equipment manufacturer, launched BouMatic University, a new training organization with a global mission to use the industry’s latest technology and time-tested BouMatic milking principles for the education of its dealers, employees and key industry influencers.

North West Labs in Jerome, Idaho, is now doing business as AgSource Laboratories. One of the most comprehensive agricultural testing organizations in the U.S., AgSource Laboratories operates out of seven locations across the country, including: Jerome, Idaho; Umatilla, Oregon; Lincoln, Nebraska; Ellsworth, Iowa; and Menomonie, Stratford and Bonduel, Wisconsin.

The American Jersey Cattle Association announced a new leader in its Living Lifetime Production Contest. After ranking second in the two previous contests, Queen-Acres Barber Booper moved into first place with lifetime totals on Dec. 31, 2010, of 306,145 pounds milk, 14,664 pounds fat and 10,520 pounds protein. Average daily production was 81.4 pounds milk, 3.9 pounds fat and 2.8 pounds protein.