Members and adult leaders of 4-H clubs and FFA chapters from several Michigan counties gathered at Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) headquarters June 27-28 for the 75th Annual 4-H/MMPA Milk Marketing Tour. The two-day conference, co-sponsored by MMPA and Michigan State University Extension, is the longest running 4-H tour in existence with over 4,000 students having participated. The focus of the tour is to educate students about milk marketing principles, as well as the duties and operations of a dairy cooperative.

The byproduct of industry: Rock climbing is one of those sports that elicits both fear and awe for those climbing and for those watching. Acrophobia – the fear of heights – is a constant as the climbers have just a toe or a couple of fingertips gripping a crack sometimes on just a quarter-inch wall. At heights of hundreds, and sometimes over 1,000 feet, a fall is certain death. Enter the climber's lifeline … the climbing rope.

Patz Corporation has expanded its vertical mixer series with two new additions. 3600 Series II Triple Screw Vertical Mixer With a mixing capacity of 1,400-1,580 cu. ft. (39.6-44.7 m3), this huge mixer is the largest in the series.

The following excerpt is from Gayle Anderson’s blog, “A Glorious Life of an Idaho Farmwife.” Anderson is married to a fourth generation wheat and bean farmer. One of the reasons that I blog is to put a face on the people (like us) who raise the food that America eats. We have a joke around here that farmers never quit farming until they die.

GEA Farm Technologies, Inc., is now the exclusive distributor of the FutureCow Prep System, manufactured by Alpha Technology USA Corp, which is doing business as FutureCow. The patent-pending FutureCow Prep System uses a mechanical brush unit to effectively and reliably wash, disinfect, dry and stimulate teats prior to milking. “Prepping cows with the FutureCow Prep System accomplishes all of the necessary pre-milking procedures in one easy step,” said Chad Buchanan, vice president of sales and marketing for GEA Farm Technologies, Inc.

Editor's note: On a recent trip to the Southern Forage and Pasture Crop Improvement Conference (SPFCIC), Progressive Forage Grower Editor Lynn Olsen had the opportunity to learn more about the dairy, beef and forage industries in Puerto Rico. Click here to read Darren Olsen's article to learn more about Puerto Rico's dairy industry. As you might imagine, there are some challenges with milk production on an island in a hot, humid tropical environment, but there are also some challenges for the dairy industry as a whole in getting the population to consume milk and milk products.

Junior, University of Wisconsin-Madison Genesis Intern with Genex Shawano, Wisconsin Background Q. What is your dairy background? I grew up on a dairy farm in Tillamook, Oregon, of about 180 Jerseys and Holsteins. I was in charge of feeding calves, checking for heats, milking and whatever other responsibilities came my way. My parents relocated to Stratford, Wisconsin, about two years ago and are now milking only 30 cows. Now that they have moved, I am more involved with the genetics and mating to improve the herd.

2012 graduate, Virginia Tech Dairy Genetics Intern with Genex Based in Shawano, Wisconsin Background Q. What is your dairy background? I grew up on the Rutter’s Dairy Farm in Pensylvania. It consisted of 100 head of registered Holsteins and Guernseys until the herd sold out in 2004. All the Guernseys but the show herd were sold to Hoard's Dairyman, and the Holsteins were sold privately to herds in the area. The Guernsey heifers are still raised on the farm, and the cows are milked at another location. For the heifers, I am responsible for the mating decisions. Q. In what area did you obtain a degree? I graduated with a bachelor's of science in dairy science and a focus in statistics.

Senior, University of Wisconsin-Platteville Genesis Intern with Genex Based in Shawano, Wisconsin Background Q. What is your dairy background? I grew up working on my uncle's dairy farm doing various tasks such as feeding calves and milking cows. I also showed dairy for seven years. Q. In what area are you pursuing a degree? I'm majoring in animal science with a dairy emphasis.

Solving the problem of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soil and developing more nutritious food for young children were the two winning topics in this year’s Alltech Young Scientist Program, announced at Alltech’s 28th Annual International Symposium. There was unprecedented interest in the competition this year, with close to 8,000 participants representing the future generation of animal health scientists.