- For more than three decades cattle producers have simplified their recordkeeping with a handy pocket-sized booklet from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The 2023 version of the Redbook is now available to help cattle producers effectively and efficiently record their daily production efforts, which can help enhance profitability and reduce stress levels.
- The National Pork Producers Council has appointed Kelly Cushman as its new vice president of domestic policy. In this newly created position, Cushman will oversee U.S. government engagement, advocacy and lobbying efforts on behalf of the U.S. pork industry.
- National Milk Producers Federation leadership unanimously endorsed a proposal to modernize the Federal Milk Marketing Order milk-pricing system at its annual meeting in Denver.
- Ralco has announced that the Jon Knochenmus Center for Innovation is fully operational with its first research studies being conducted. Ralco purchased this 13.6-acre site in fall 2020 which now includes a swine research barn, poultry research barn, ruminant lab, radio frequency gas production system, mycotoxin testing and particle size analysis services for Ralco customers.
- The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announces the four finalists in the 10th annual National Anthem Singing Contest, sponsored by Norbrook®. The winner receives a trip to the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans to perform the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the Opening General Session on Feb. 1 as well as during the evening event on Feb. 3. Videos of the finalists will be available for viewing and voting at https://convention.ncba.org beginning Nov. 1. The public can vote for their favorite singer once per day per person through Nov. 15, and the winner will be announced Nov. 18, 2022.
- World Ag Expo seminars are included with the price of admission and feature experts in global agriculture. In 2023, four sessions from the University of California will focus on Dairy and Livestock with speakers coming from the Extension system and the CLEAR Center at UC Davis.
- The Dairy Innovation Hub will hold its third annual Dairy Summit conference on November 16, hosted by UW–River Falls. Formatted for a general audience, the Summit features the Hub’s newest projects. Anyone unable to attend in person can participate through a live virtual option. Sessions will also be recorded and posted to YouTube.
- In a strong show of support for healthy nutrition incentive programs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a significant expansion of the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Projects, a pilot program that provides a dollar-for-dollar match to participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) when they purchase healthy fluid milk options at qualifying food retail outlets.
- The dairy checkoff has awarded 12 academic scholarships to students enrolled in programs that emphasize dairy and who have shown potential to become future dairy leaders. The National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, through Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy checkoff, annually awards $2,500 scholarships to 11 students. In addition, the NDB awards a $3,500 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship to one outstanding scholarship recipient.
- Royal DSM, the global purpose-led science-based company, has announced the update of its OVN Optimum Vitamin Nutrition guidelines to deliver sustainable farming practices. OVN, produced with a low environmental footprint, improves animal health and welfare by providing animals with high-quality vitamins in the optimal amount.
