Several dairies were recognized at the recent Nebraska Dairy Convention. Distinguished Dairyman – Warren and Merry Snodgrass. They operate O & W Dairy, milking 500 cows and farming 2,100 acres. The family began milking cows in 1966, and since then has achieved numerous production and quality awards. They frequently host tours, and both Warren and Merry have played an active role in community and dairy activities.

Employees at Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.’s (DFA) plant in Zumbrota, Minnesota, were recently recognized by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for excellence in wastewater operations during 2010. Honorees were recognized at the 74th annual Wastewater Operations Conference on March 24.

Now that Neogen has completed its Picture It & Pitch It! program, the rest is up to you. Neogen’s Picture It & Pitch It! program ran through March 31, and offered rebates for the purchase of one of Neogen’s calf pullers – Dr. Frank’s, Calf-Eze or Ratchet Style Puller. The program offered an additional cash prize to the person who submitted the photo that depicts the most creative method used to discard an old puller – as determined by a vote of you, the people.

The Animal Agriculture Alliance announced the results of its second College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship competition. The nationwide program was developed in partnership with the American National CattleWomen, Inc. to help college students utilize social media tools to share agriculture's story. Students with an interest in agriculture were invited to join the CAO network in September 2010. Over the past seven months, 600 college students from more than 50 universities have participated in the competition. Members have earned points by posting blogs, photos and videos related to agriculture and by participating in “Aggie Homework” agriculture advocacy challenges via Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail.

Calibrate, a proprietary industry leading technology in dairy nutrition from Forage Genetics International, has added Dairyland Laboratories, Inc. to the network of labs running Calibrate rapid NIR starch tests. The addition of three Dairyland locations allows Calibrate technology to expand service reach and continue providing dairy producers and their nutritionists’ insights and recommendations to achieve a higher standard for nutrition consistency. All Dairyland laboratories are now equipped to conduct the rapid NIR test for rumen starch digestibility including the Arcadia and Stratford, Wisconsin, and St. Cloud, Minnesota, locations.

Western United Dairymen has secured $500,000 for water quality projects on dairies in California’s Central Valley. The funding is provided through the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP), part of the 2008 Farm Bill conservation title, and is administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) made cash payments of $4.8 million in equity retirements in April. These cash payments represent the retirement of the 2002 Equities. This is in addition to the $1.9 million in cash patronage from 2010 earnings paid to members earlier this year. Combined, MMPA has paid $6.7 million in addition to the monthly milk check to its dairy farmer members in the first four months of 2011.

If you couldn’t picture a better way of life than family dairy farming, here’s your chance to prove it. Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., a family-owned business, is proud to introduce the Dairy Life Photo Contest. The contest is calling all dairy farm families to submit photos that capture what their cherished lifestyle is all about. Winning entrants will appear in a 2012 calendar to be distributed across the country and at the 2011 World Dairy Expo.

As part of its ongoing commitment to invest in the future of the veterinary profession, Pfizer Animal Health announced the recipients of its second annual student scholarship program. Pfizer awarded $2,500 each to 300 second- and third-year veterinary students at accredited universities throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean, for a total of $750,000.

More than 70 auction items donated by dairy industry enthusiasts brought a total of $20,000 for dairy education programs of the Professional Dairy Producers Foundation in its 2011 Silent Auction. A package of 100 units of Semex Semen with tank topped the auction at $2,850. Dairy Producer Loren Greenfield from Markesan, Wisconsin, purchased the semen units and Justin Daniels of Kansasville, Wisconsin, purchased the semen storage tank, donated by Semex and ai24. Twelve tons of dry distillers grain donated by United Wisconsin Grain Producers garnered the second-highest amount of $2,100, purchased by Russ Warmka of Fox Lake, Wisconsin.