Plan now to join growers and producers from around the country at the 2012 Dairy Calf & Heifer Conference, March 20-21, in Visalia, California, centrally located in California's dairy country. Nearly 90 percent of attendees at this year's Dairy Calf & Heifer Conference (attendance was up 30 percent and it received rave reviews) said they would recommend the DCHA Conference to fellow growers and producers.

The Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW) has declared August as Hispanic Training Month and, at the suggestion of its Hispanic advisory committee, will be offering three workshops – taught totally in Spanish – for Hispanic dairy workers. In addition, in September, PDPW will offer an exclusive workshop for Hispanic Supervisors. It will also be taught in Spanish.

For more than a quarter of a century, Great Bend, Kansas, has been known in the agricultural community for its quality facilities, dedicated volunteers, and outstanding exhibitors who have participated in the biennial farm show held every even numbered year at the Great Bend Expo Complex. The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development is now pleased to announce its plans for a new, annual show called The Great Bend Farm & Ranch Expo to be held the second week of every April.

Grazing animals and stewardship of grazing lands will be the topics discussed at the 11th Nebraska Grazing Conference in Kearney, Nebraska, next month. The conference will run from Aug. 9-10 at the Kearney Holiday Inn and Convention Center.

This spring the Western States Dairy Producer Trade Association held the Western Dairy Air Quality Symposium in Sacramento, California. Researchers from across the country presented the latest information about dairy farm air emissions. The data was informative and overwhelming, but key take-home messages from the symposium were: 1. The dairy industry has increased its understanding of on-farm air emissions, but there is still more to learn. 2. Regulations are likely to occur but hopefully not to the extent the industry expected. 3. There will always be concern from the public about dairy farms impacting the environment.

The Central Plains Dairy’s Golf Classic will be Wednesday, Aug. 3 at the Rocky Run Golf Course, Dell Rapids, South Dakota. Cost is $80 per person. The price includes lunch, dinner, golf cart, green fees and drinks on the course. There will be two flights with place winners in each flight. There’s a cash prize of $5,000 to the first hole-in-one on hole #6. There is also the chance to win a Carnival Cruise on #11, a Hawaiian vacation on #17 and the U.S. Open vacation on #11. Pin prizes can be won on every hole, too. Mulligans will be sold at $20 per foursome and a tree tax will be collected.

Ohio’s annual Manure Science Review, featuring new and better ways to manage farm manure and wastewater, takes place on Aug. 16. Speakers from Ohio agencies, the farming community, and Ohio State University highlight the program. Both morning presentations and afternoon field demonstrations are part of it.

The Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) invites producers, veterinarians, nutritionists, academia and industry professionals to the 2011 annual DCRC meeting on Nov. 10-11 at the Hilton Kansas City Airport in Kansas City, Missouri. This year’s meeting will offer something for all attendees, including new research, application of current reproductive programs and a look at emerging technologies.