The Hilarides Dairy, a Western United Dairymen member located just northwest of Lindsay in Tulare County, California, has been selected as the 2010 recipient of the Agricultural Stewardship Award presented by the California Chapter, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) at its annual Spring Outlook Conference in Fresno. The dairy features a covered lagoon, which captures biogas from manure to generate renewable green energy that is used to supply the dairy’s fuel and electricity needs.

This week DeLaval produced its 2,500th unit of the new Feed Stations FSC40/400 – a solution created to help milk producers maintain greater control over production while reducing input costs. Feeding each cow to her individual needs throughout the lactation cycle increases milk production, optimizes use of feed, helps promote animal welfare, reduces concentrate waste, saves energy and helps cut CO2 emissions.

Milk Specialties Global has announced it has acquired the Protient Dairy Processing Facility in Norfolk, Nebraska, from PGP International. The Norfolk facility is considered a state-of-the-art processing plant capable of producing a wide variety of specialty milk products including lactose, cream, milk proteins, whey proteins and hydrolysates. The addition of this facility will significantly enhance Milk Specialties Global Food Solutions’ position as a major supplier to the sport nutrition, health and wellness, and infant formula markets.

Organic Valley is offering retailers nationwide “The Future is Organic,” a turnkey, cause-related campaign focused on providing schools with educational materials to teach children about the important link between food, health and the environment. The Future is Organic in-store promotion also offers advertising in national consumer publications, valuable prizes, online education, point-of-sale promotions and coupons to boost sales of Organic Valley snacks and lunchbox-friendly products during the months of August and September 2010.

In 2009, Pfizer Animal Health contributed more than $1.3 million to support FFA programs and help fund the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) Foundation/Pfizer Veterinary Student Scholarships through a unique partnership with veterinarians, animal health suppliers and dealers. Today, Pfizer announces the same program is available for 2010 through March 31.

Proud to Dairy is very close to awarding its 300th member with a hat.

Proud to Dairy has been helping producers find pride in their work since October 2008. In November 2008 we started www.proudtodairy.com. Since that time we have grown in numbers, purpose and action.

National Dairy FARM Program launches at 2009 World Dairy Expo The National Milk Producers Association (NMPF), with support from Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI), formally launched the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management, at a news conference during the 2009 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, unveiling key components of the voluntary, nationwide program designed to bring consistency and uniformity to animal care through education, on-farm evaluations and objective third-party verification.

Progressive Dairy Publishing recently brought home impressive recognitions from the Livestock Publications Council’s annual critique contest announced at Ag Media Summit held in Forth Worth, Texas, August 1-5.

Even though Progressive Dairy Publishing received the award, we know our website, which was voted best Special Site, would be for naught if it wasn’t for our members.