Alltech’s fifth annual Global 500, Dec. 4-6 in Lexington, Kentucky, will feature industry experts who will address the changing future of the dairy and beef industries. In 2011, more than 700 beef and dairy producers from 32 countries attended. The event is expected to attract more than 1,000 attendees this year.

What do cell phones, iPods and heat detection have in common? The same technology that changes the screen on your iPod or Smart Phone when you move your phone from horizontal to vertical is the same technology helping to detect heat in dairy cattle. That technology is known as the accelerometer and it is the most recent electronic system to be marketed to dairy farmers for the purpose of monitoring physical activity with estrous behavior.

A new analysis was released by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) earlier this week in order to help members of Congress and their staffs better understand the details of current dairy policy and potential changes to those programs. The CRS report provides an impartial view of the specific programs contained in the Dairy Security Act of the pending Farm Bill. Although the House has failed to act on the farm bill in September, the CRS report should expedite the process of considering the bill after the November elections in a lame duck session of Congress.

The equipment demonstrations at the North American Manure Expo, Aug. 22, 2012, in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, featured 10 different solid manure spreaders. See each of them in action. Video by PD Editor Karen Lee.