The Brown Swiss Historical Society, BSHS, seeks nominations for the 2011 Master Breeder Award program. The program adopted in 2009, annually recognizes people important to the continuing progress of the Brown Swiss breed. The awards recognize an active breeder and a historical breeder that successfully developed a breeding program that accentuated cow families, especially those that contributed significantly to the advancement of the breed.

Purdue Extension's Dairy Digest, a weekly podcast that covers the dairy industry, is now available in Spanish. Created by Purdue Extension Dairy Specialists Tamilee Nennich and Mike Schutz, the two-minute digital recordings focus on general dairy practices, updates and animal welfare issues. Nennich said her team wants to use podcasts as a way to get information to producers more quickly. "This gives producers a chance to get up-to-date on hot topics without having to sit down in their offices," she said. "They can listen while they are working."

Dairy producers now have a new approved protocol available for the synchronization of estrus in lactating dairy cows. FDA approval has been granted exclusively for the concurrent use of LUTALYSE (dinoprost tromethamine) Sterile Solution and Eazi-Breed CIDR Cattle Insert in dairy and beef breeding programs.

Select Sires’ board of directors and team of employees have made a commitment to helping their customer-owners succeed through research, customized programs and products. These programs and products coupled with the outstanding service of Select Sires’ personnel led to record sales in 2010.

Interest in manure digester systems and bioenergy production is at an all-time high. Also, as greater attention becomes focused on greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production, it’s more important than ever to learn about the latest developments in anaerobic digestion of livestock manures. The AgSTAR Program will hold its sixth national two-day conference at the Boise Centre in Boise, Idaho, on May 11-12, 2011. This conference is recommended for livestock producers and others interested or involved in the design, financing, operation, or regulatory oversight of animal waste management systems, or in the development of alternative sources of energy.

The National Dairy Herd Information Association (DHIA) Scholarship Committee selected 24 high school seniors and college students as recipients of $750 scholarships. Judges evaluated applicants on scholastic achievements, leadership in school and community activities, and responses to DHI- and career-related questions. To be eligible for a National DHIA scholarship, applicants must be a family member or employee of a herd on DHI test, a family member of a DHI employee, or an employee of a DHI affiliate. The DHI affiliate for the herd or affiliate employee must be a National DHIA member.

Foremost Farms USA has issued cash payments totaling $31.8 million during 2009 and 2010 to dairy producers who are current and former members of the cooperative.

The University of Minnesota Dairy Extension Team currently has two Minnesota Dairy Days programs set for 2011: March 8 in Sauk Center and March 16 in Caledonia. Speakers include Noah Litherland, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota – St. Paul; Paul Peterson, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota – St. Paul; Craig Roerick, University of Minnesota Extension – Stearns County; Chuck Schwartau, University of Minnesota Extension – Rochester.

The Wisconsin Holstein Association’s annual convention will be held Feb. 18-19, 2011 and hosted by the Dodge County Holstein Breeders at the Best Western Campus Inn in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

By now you’ve probably heard of or read the New York Times article revealing the FDA’s plan to allegedly test milk on farms that have previously had antibiotic residues in slaughter cows. In this issue, we delve into how the USDA tests slaughter animals for antibiotic residues and what it takes to get on their list of violators. Click here to jump to the article in our Poll department.