The Animal Agriculture Alliance announced that the number of participants in its College Aggies Online scholarship competition has grown from 350 to 577 students. In 2009, the Alliance partnered with the American National CattleWomen, Inc. to launch CAO and help college students become more confident advocates for the agriculture industry.

DCI Cheese Company (DCI) announced that the company has entered into a definitive merger agreement whereby Saputo Cheese USA Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Saputo Inc., will acquire Fairmount Cheese Holdings Inc. (Fairmount), parent company of DCI Cheese Co. The transaction is anticipated to be completed in March 2011.

E.I. Medical Imaging (EIMI) announced the creation of its new Facebook page to help the company interact with its growing worldwide customer base.

Whether in sports competition or the game of life, there are turning points that elevate the underdog to victory, redefining the anonymous as the unforgettable. In the face of mounting challenges, how does one identify and seize these pivotal moments to create a catalyst for success? In Lexington, Kentucky, from May 22-25, Alltech’s 27th Annual International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium will be dedicated to just such a pursuit, exploring The Game Changers for the animal health and feed industries.

Global dairy company Fonterra is now closer to the heart of Europe’s dairy and food innovation hub with the official opening of its new Amsterdam office in The Netherlands. The Amsterdam office, opened by Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovations, Mr. Verhagen, will bring Fonterra closer to its partners and food manufacturing customers and open the door for new ideas and products.

A half century ago Harold Gould was looking for some good land to start a farm. The Delaware County native in 1956 picked a spot on South Street Road in Pavilion, New York. The high limestone soil has a good pH for growing crops. But Gould, now 82, noticed some spots didn’t drain well. He installed tile to move water off the land so he could plant crops sooner in the spring. He was rewarded with better yields in the well-drained soil.

The National FFA Organization is now accepting applications for its 2011 New Century Farmer conference. The exclusive, highly competitive conference is open to college of agriculture students who intend to pursue careers in production agriculture after college. Those selected to attend the conference will be among the first in the nation to learn about the latest technological developments in the agriculture industry, and will receive business management advice from top industry leaders. The program will also help students begin to develop a nationwide network of industry professionals and colleagues to whom they can turn for support when they begin their own operations.

World Ag Expo and E.M. Tharp Inc. presented the “We Believe in Growing” scholarship to two graduating seniors from the Central Valley.

The Brown Swiss Historical Society, BSHS, seeks nominations for the 2011 Master Breeder Award program. The program adopted in 2009, annually recognizes people important to the continuing progress of the Brown Swiss breed. The awards recognize an active breeder and a historical breeder that successfully developed a breeding program that accentuated cow families, especially those that contributed significantly to the advancement of the breed.