For the sixth year, and with more than 5,000 applicants to its 2011 season, global animal nutrition company Alltech has focused on bringing together the world’s brightest scientific thinkers from colleges and universities across the globe through its Alltech Young Scientist Competition.

When the world’s dairy industry gathers each fall in Madison, Wisconsin, it is only fitting that outstanding individuals be recognized for their contributions to the dairy business. World Dairy Expo General Manager Mark Clarke notes, “The best come to Madison. This is true whether you are talking about the trade show exhibitors, the dairy cattle that parade on the colored shavings or the people who attend this show year after year. We are honored to spotlight accomplishments with four special awards.”

Behind every American farm family is the backbone of the operation: the farm mom. Monsanto is honoring her contributions to her family, farm, community and industry with the 2011 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year program.

National Dairy Herd Information Association (DHIA) recognized Harlan Borman, Kingdom City, Missouri, with the H. Victor Joachim Distinguished Leadership/Martin A. Wilson Memorial Award on March 16, in New Orleans, in conjunction with the association’s annual meeting. This award goes to a DHI dairy producer and/or spouse who has held a leadership position in DHIA or the dairy industry, and rendered outstanding and unselfish service for many years, along with a notable contributions to advancing DHIA in the U.S.; or, is a worthy person who has been employed in a DHI management position for at least five years and has been dedicated to improving DHIA.

Steve Schram, AgriLabs president and CEO, announced that AgriLabs has aligned with ImmuCell Corporation for the development, sales and marketing of certain current and future products featuring ImmuCell's First Defense bolus. “This collaboration furthers our commitment to make available relevant and technically driven products that get newborn calves off to a strong start," Schram said. “The arrangement bolsters ImmuCell's ability to reach more calves with First Defense products, and fits AgriLabs business model of collaborating with companies who can benefit from a broad reach sales and marketing organization such as AgriLabs."

In recognition of Alltech’s extensive research data on the safety of its flagship brand Sel-Plex, the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition has granted notification of GRAS for the use of Sel-Plex as a human food additive. Sel-Plex is a selenized yeast produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3060.

Wells’ Dairy has legally changed its corporate name to Wells Enterprises Inc. The move is intended to better reflect its current product mix of Blue Bunny ice cream and frozen novelties, company spokesman Dave Smetter said in a statement. The Le Mars, Iowa-based company sold its milk and yogurt holdings three years ago.

For the third year, the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) is once again looking to recognize dairy producers through their Reproduction Award Program for accomplishing reproductive efficiency with well-implemented management procedures.

The Pfizer Animal Genetics laboratory in Kalamazoo, Michigan, received Ilumina CSPro 50K certification. The certification reaffirms Pfizer Animal Genetics’ commitment and investment in cutting-edge genomic technology to support livestock producers.

FFA chapters in seven states began efforts to make new and stronger connections with their local farmers and earn their share of more than $225,000 in incentives provided by Monsanto. The 2011 FFA Chapter Challenge encourages members of FFA chapters in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Georgia and Alabama to reach out to their community’s farmers, learn about their operations, engage them and bond them with FFA. Confirmation of each participating chapter’s connection with local farmers must be registered by farmers online or by calling the National FFA Organization at (800) 293-2387.