Sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is described as a digestive disorder where the pH of the ruminal contents is between 5.5 and 5.8. Historical estimates indicate it costs the dairy industry in North America between $500 million and $1 billion per year. A decrease in rumen pH from the normal range of 6.0 to 6.4 may be attributed to many factors. Some potential causes include: • Quick diet changes from a lower to a higher concentrate ration • Overmixing the TMR • High DCAD diets • Diet sorting and errors in nutrient content of feeds.

In the past 30 years, one of the strategies to supply dietary minerals for dairy animals was to cover a high proportion (50 percent or more) of dairy animal requirements with a mineral mix composition with minimal or, in some cases, no consideration of mineral content in the other dietary ingredients (i.e., forages, grains and byproducts).

The results from a new poll released by the Center for Food Integrity indicates consumers are coping with the rising cost of food by changing their shopping behaviors. The poll, posted on the organization’s Best Food Facts website (www.bestfoodfacts.org) shows that 37 percent of the respondents are clipping coupons, 32 percent are buying fewer name brand items, and 17 percent are shopping at discount/warehouse stores in an effort to keep the household budget in the black. Best Food Facts interviewed Dr. Helen Jensen, an economics professor at Iowa State University, about the survey results and her thoughts on how American families are dealing with the higher cost of food. In addition to the options listed in the survey, Dr. Jensen suspects people are also cutting back on food eaten or prepared away from home.

In recognition of Earth Day, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) is sharing the results of an internal assessment to understand its environmental impact. The comprehensive process has allowed DFA to determine its carbon footprint and evaluate activities throughout the Cooperative designed to manage that footprint in years to come.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack invited agricultural producers and rural small businesses to apply for loans and grants to implement renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. "Biofuels and other renewable energy sources present an enormous economic opportunity for rural America and the rest of the nation," Vilsack said. "President Obama and I recognize that we need to win the future by implementing a long-term strategy to meet our country's current and long-term energy needs. The funding I am announcing today will help make America's farmers, ranchers and rural businesses more energy efficient."

Commodity & Ingredient Hedging (CIH) will be hosting a two-day seminar in Chicago May 4-5. The seminar, titled Margin Management for Lenders, will cover a broad range of topics, including the risks associated with lending to agricultural producers looking to protect profit margins in their business.

A groundbreaking agreement has been reached between the UK, U.S. and Canada, which will shape the future of dairy cattle breeding in these three countries. Through a three-way collaboration, genomic information for many thousands of bulls will be shared, which will benefit the farming and cattle breeding industries in each participating country.

What a pleasure I had attending the Western Canadian Dairy Seminars in Red Deer, Alberta, this spring. While there was still plenty of snow and freezing temperatures, the great company and brewing coffee kept a soul warm.