The U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards program continues to gain support, as the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy announced that the newly launched awards program will be judged by a panel of experts from academic institutions, USDA, EPA, World Wildlife Fund, media and dairy industry leaders.

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), representing California’s 1620 dairy families, announced the Real Seal Appeal! sweepstakes and promotion where Southern California elementary schools can win up to $2 million in cash, books and other prizes for collecting Real California Milk seals. Families in participating elementary school districts from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties can get “moo-tivated” to help their teachers and schools win simply by collecting Real California Milk seals from the dairy products they already buy and turning them in to their teachers to enter.

Temple Grandin will have a scholarship established in her name at Colorado State University. CSU said the scholarship will be called the Temple Grandin Scholarship in Animal Behavior and Welfare. She's a professor of animal sciences at CSU.

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe and First Lady Ginger Beebe pledged their support to the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, an in-school health and wellness program that encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve 60 minutes of physical activity every day. The Governor and First Lady joined students from Weiner High School in Weiner, Arkansas, dairy farmers and members of Midwest Dairy Council to sign the symbolic pledge.

U.S. dairy producers have benefited from the U.S. being the gold standard in global genetic progress. This position is the result of research efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Research Service (ARS), coupled with a massive database developed through the selfless cooperation from members of the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB). CDCB members include National Dairy Herd Information Association, National Association of Animal Breeders and Purebred Dairy Cattle Association.

The list of those opposed to a new government dairy supply control program that House and Senate Ag Committee Chairs will attempt to sneak into the super committee bill is growing. Americans for Tax Reform, Citizens Against Government Waste and the National Taxpayers Union have joined together to urge the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to oppose a controversial dairy program that will increase milk prices for consumers.

Just as that Energy Star tag helps you choose your appliances, a new report says a rating symbol on the front of every soup can, cereal box and yogurt container could help hurried shoppers go home with the healthiest foods. The report urges the Food and Drug Administration to adopt new food labeling to clear the confusing clutter off today's packages and give consumers a fast way to compare choices.

Women involved in agriculture from throughout the U.S. and Canada will head to Wichita, Kansas, Nov. 10-13 for the 36th annual American Agri-Women (AAW) convention. Their purpose reflects the mission of the 40,000-member organization: Gather resources and knowledge to represent the agriculture industry in an educated, professional and passionate manner. Kansas Agri-Women, a state affiliate, is hosting the event. The convention’s theme is “Sharing America’s Harvest.” Download the convention registration form here. Speakers and programs will cover the latest issues in agriculture, including sustainability, marketing, advocacy and more.

Mediators, human resource managers and other interested individuals may obtain a free copy of the 321-page book Party-Directed Mediation by Gregorio Billikopf of the University of California. The focus of the publication is on the mediation of deep-seated interpersonal conflict, so the book may also be of interest to attorneys and therapists. In Party-Directed Mediation the author shares two models: (1) the first deals with contention between co-workers; and (2) the second; for handling differences between supervisors and subordinates.