In February, the USDA released the preliminary 2012 Census of Agriculture results. Key findings include an increase in the value of agricultural products sold in the U.S. totaling $394.6 billion in 2012, up 33 percent ($97.4 billion) from 2007.

Clay Zimmerman Technical Services Manager New Hampton, New York Balchem Corp.

Dr. Nicole Barkley Dairy Nutritionist Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Vita Plus

Lely invites its producers across North America to take part in the #LelyLife 2014 photo contest, open now through Aug. 31. The company wants to see how you “Live Life Lely” through heartwarming and fun photos of you, your family and your operation.

A new program in Vermont aims to help dairy farmers become more profitable by improving their access to technical support.

Those who plan to film animal treatment at Idaho’s agriculture facilities may want to reconsider. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter signed into law a bill aimed at hampering such secret filming and recording.

Selenium may be a key ingredient to producing healthier meat and lowering animal cholesterol levels according to researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil. The study aimed to determine the effects of canola oil as a fat source when combined with the antioxidants Vitamin E and selenium, as well as determine the metabolic lipid oxidation and nutritional value of the beef. The result? Meat enriched with Vitamin E and selenium with lower levels of cholesterol, according to the study.

The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) recently paid $2 million in cash patronage refunds to its dairy farmer members. This cash allocation represents 25 percent of the $6.5 million net earnings generated by the cooperative in fiscal year 2013.

Weren't able to make it to World Ag Expo this year? Or perhaps you heard about one of Progressive Dairyman's seminars or virtual tour videos and are looking for a link or video. See a list a below of all of our recap coverage of the 2014 World Ag Expo. World Ag Expo Virtural Farm Tour videos • Pirtle family, P7 Dairy, New Mexico

California Dairies Inc. (CDI), the largest dairy processing cooperative in California, has announced it will increase its processing capacity with the addition of a third evaporator at its Visalia plant.