Nestle SA, the world's biggest food and drink company, took a big step into the Chinese market Monday with the announcement that it is to buy a majority stake in candy maker Hsu Fu Chi for 2.1 billion Singapore dollars ($1.7 billion; $1.4 billion Swiss francs). The Swiss manufacturer of Nescafe coffee, KitKat bars and Dreyer's ice cream, said it will acquire 60 percent of shares in Singapore-listed Hsu Fu Chi, which had sales of about $800 million last year.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has taken the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to task for its handling of the Missouri River in a letter questioning its decision not to release more water from dams earlier in the spring to prevent prolonged flooding this summer. The river is near historic flood levels along the more than 800 miles it stretches from the Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota to its confluence with the Mississippi River. More than 560,000 acres in seven states have flooded, including nearly 447,000 acres of farmland, Vilsack spokesman Justin DeJong said. The flooding followed unexpected spring rains and the melting of a deep snowpack in the Rocky Mountains.

Pfizer Inc. said Thursday it may sell its animal health and nutrition business in the next two years so it can focus on expanding its low-cost pharmaceuticals unit. Pfizer, which has faced pressure to eliminate some business units and return more cash to shareholders, said the moves will allow investors to get more value for the businesses. The company will also consider transactions including spinoffs and may pursue different strategies for each business.

The Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) invites producers, veterinarians, nutritionists, academia and industry professionals to the 2011 annual DCRC meeting on Nov. 10-11 at the Hilton Kansas City Airport in Kansas City, Missouri. This year’s meeting will offer something for all attendees, including new research, application of current reproductive programs and a look at emerging technologies.

The Cornell Dairy Executive Program is now accepting applications for its latest class, to begin in December 2011. This unique educational opportunity, organized by the PRO-DAIRY Program at Cornell University, is designed to provide progressive dairy executives and agriservice personnel the opportunity to increase their leadership and management skills that are necessary to run a successful business. Timely topics in dairy business management are presented by a team of national experts from within and outside of the field of agriculture. Participants attending the program can expect to develop one- and five-year strategic business plans through a comprehensive self-evaluation of their business, while building a network of dairy executives and business relationships.

World Dairy Expo is now accepting entries for the 2011 Dairy Cattle Show. Premium Books have been sent out to recent year’s exhibitors and will arrive in the coming days. New exhibitors that would like a Premium Book may request one by calling the World Dairy Expo office at (608) 224-6455. Cattle exhibitors wishing to compete may enter online. Paper entry forms are also available on the website or in the Premium Book.

Tim and Sharyn Abbott of Fairfield, Vermont, have recently purchased the business of St. Jacobs ABC from the members of St. Jacobs Animal Breeding Cooperative. In April of this year, St. Jacobs Animal Breeding Cooperative made the decision to sell the business to Tim and Sharyn Abbott, who have formed the new business St. Jacobs Animal Breeding Corporation.

In an effort to reach out to future generations of veterinarians and offer them the chance to experience real-life veterinary medicine, Pfizer Animal Health announced a $50,000 contribution to Purdue University’s Senior Boiler Vet Camps. Forty high school students with an interest in veterinary medicine participated in a week-long, interactive educational program in June at one of the country’s most respected Colleges of Veterinary Medicine to discover more about the profession.