The importance of successfully transitioning dairy cows from pregnancy to lactation has been well documented. With more than 50 percent of periparturient cows experiencing hypocalcemia, dairy experts remind producers about the importance of diet management to optimize health and lactation performance.

Tera Koebel Delavan, Wisconsin Wisconsin and Illinois Territory Manager AgriLabs

Milk Street Dairy LLC, a dairy farm in Tylerville, New York, has completed construction of five new buildings and increased its production capabilities in part due to an investment from National Grid's New York economic development program. The $50,000 National Grid grant helps to defray the cost of extending 3-phase electric service to the dairy farm.

On April 24, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will seek to reduce the industry's greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020. The document extends a 2009 agreement to save energy and accelerate the adoption of innovative waste-to-energy projects and energy efficiency improvements on U.S. dairy farms.

The last couple months have been a roller coaster ride for proponents of HB574, a bill that in its original form would have allowed owners of small dairy herds in Montana to sell raw milk directly to consumers. The bill passed in the Montana House in March. The Senate Agriculture Committee made considerable changes to the bill and then voted – twice – to kill it.

Shamrock Farms, one of the largest family owned and operated dairies in the country, is building a new $50 million dairy manufacturing facility in Virginia. The announcement was made during a groundbreaking ceremony in Augusta County, with the Governor of Virginia, local officials and Shamrock Farms executives.

Integrated Environmental Technologies, Ltd. is updating the company's Excelyte sales and marketing efforts to dairy farmers. The company has been focusing primarily on the Utah and Idaho markets recently and is currently selling the products to 11 dairies with approximately 3,700 dairy cows.

Midwest Dairy Council is partnering with the McDonald’s Twin Cities Co-op throughout 2013 to underscore the benefits of a healthy breakfast. The partnership includes an $8,000 contribution from Minnesota McDonald’s franchise owner/operators to the Midwest Dairy Council and the GENYOUth Foundation.