- Applications are being accepted for college scholarships that are awarded by America’s dairy farmers and importers through the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Eleven scholarships worth $2,500 each will be awarded, in addition to a $3,500 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship to one outstanding recipient. NDB funds, in part, Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy checkoff program.
- The National Pork Producers Council released its latest pork industry economic update that summarizes key pork industry market indicators through January 2023.
- The Trailblazers program, developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, takes advocacy to an unprecedented level by giving participants the tools and training they need to promote beef to new audiences while addressing and correcting myths. After a competitive application process, ten Trailblazers from eight states have been selected for the program’s second cohort of beef community spokespeople.
- At the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Winter Policy Conference, NASDA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council announced a new partnership to enhance coordination and preparedness to prevent and protect the United States from African Swine Fever, a deadly pig disease that could cripple the entire agricultural sector with long-lasting ramifications for the economic viability of U.S. livestock production.
- John Rettler of Neosho, Wis. was re-elected president of the FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative’s board of directors following the cooperative’s 11th annual meeting held on February 11, 2023. Steve Brock of Daggett, Mich. was re-elected vice-president, Stephanie Hughes of Pittsville, Wis. was elected secretary, and Bob Dietzel of East Dubuque, Ill. was re-elected treasurer.
- VAS, the maker of DairyComp, is excited to celebrate 40 years of innovating dairy herd management. Herd management software has transformed how dairy farmers manage their herds, taking them from hand-written 4×6 paper notecards to rapid mobile cowside entry and accessible data.
- Zoetis announced its partnership with Select Sires Inc. to help cattle producers gain more from data. The partnership provides a grid marketing service, GeneNet, which will provide Performance Livestock Analytics customers a designated marketing platform to communicate and promote the value of their cattle. Select Sires’ farmer-owners will gain value with access to the Precision Animal Health portfolio from Zoetis, including beef genetic testing and Performance Livestock Analytics software.
- Austin Hill joins a prestigious list as back-to-back winner of the 2023 Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.® 300. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, once again partnered with Daytona International Speedway to sponsor the 42nd annual NASCAR Xfinity Series season opening race, one day before the iconic DAYTONA 500. For the second year in a row, Austin Hill drove into victory lane where he was greeted by a buckle and the beef to close out a week that showcased all things beef and agriculture to race fans young and old.
- National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is pleased to announce a staff promotion and new hire in its Washington, D.C. office. Sigrid Johannes has been promoted to Director of Government Affairs and Director of the Public Lands Council. Sigrid will continue working on the natural resources, endangered species, and grazing portfolio. Sigrid previously worked for NCBA on the communications team and is a Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Joint Economic Committee alum. Kelsea Forward has been hired at NCBA as Associate Director of Government Affairs. She joins NCBA from the American Farm Bureau Federation.
