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.

More milk and components from each kilogram of feed is the basis for the feed efficiency equation. In countries where production caps have not been set, this idea resonates well since maximized production most often translates to additional revenue for the dairy.

In connection with the Alltech 27th Annual International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium being held in Lexington, Kentucky from May 22-25, 2011, Alltech is launching the first Farming Film Festival. The Farming Film Festival tasks budding videographers to tell a farmer’s game changing story. Following the theme of Alltech’s Symposium, The Game Changers, video submissions should focus on an idea or technology that helps farmers meet the tough challenges in their career.

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners condemns willful acts of animal abuse such as those videotaped on the calf ranch in Hart, Texas. The AABP represents 5,000 beef and dairy cattle veterinarians from the United States, Canada and numerous other countries distributed around the world. Humane care and handling of all animals is a key commitment made by the veterinary profession. Veterinarians have an ethical obligation to treat animals humanely.

With rising commodity costs, it is increasingly important to protect and preserve feed quality from harvest to feedout. The period prior to spring planting provides an opportunity for producers to evaluate current silage management practices and explore options to improve this year’s crop storage.