Central Plains Dairy Expo

Amanda NolzEducation, General

It’s a big week at South Dakota State University with Little International, the largest two-day livestock exposition run completely by students for students. Little “I” will be held on the SDSU campus March 27-28, 2009. As a member of the executive team, I’m keeping busy making sure things run smoothly, and that this year’s event is one for the books. … Read More

McPheron Named New Penn State Dean

News EditorGeneral

Congratulations to Bruce A. McPheron, for being appointed dean of the University’s College of Agricultural Sciences, effective July 1, pending approval of the Board of Trustees on March 20. McPheron will succeed Robert D. Steele, who is stepping down after 12 years to return full-time to the college’s faculty as a professor in the Department of Food Science. McPheron currently … Read More

WMMB Announces Candidates

News EditorGeneral

The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced the nominees for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) Board of Directors 2009 election. To vote, DATCP will distribute mail-in ballots in mid-April to dairy producers who live within the eight districts. Elections will be held through April 25, 2009, with results announced later in May. District 2 – Florence, … Read More

A Q&A with Secretary Vilsack

News EditorGeneral

New U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently conducted a Q&A session with the newspaper, USA TODAY. Take a minute to read through the interview and get to know Vilsack’s views better. Excerpts from the interview have been edited for content and clarity. Q: Can you assess the farm economy? Prices for corn, wheat, dairy and other products have dropped in … Read More

Consumers want to know: conventional vs organic dairy?

Amanda NolzAnimal Welfare, General

Christopher Peake interviews a conventional and organic dairy farmer to debate the differences between the two dairy production methods. His article is titled, “Communicate Green: Conventional vs organic dairy.” In an article aiming to address consumer questions about dairy, Peake writes, As the debate between conventional and organic milk consumers gets louder, we spoke with two local dairy farmers and … Read More

Dairy Farmers Love Feeding Families

Amanda NolzGeneral

The animal rights activists are at it again, busy making another dramatic documentary to show consumers the “evils” of livestock production. The documentary is titled, “Death on a Factory Farm,” and this 87-minute documentary will air on HBO beginning March 16, 2009. This is the provided excerpt that describes this upcoming film… A year ago, we were sickened by animal-cruelty … Read More

What Bloggers are Saying…

Amanda NolzGeneral

I like to keep up-to-date on the news, trends, developments and consumer perceptions of the dairy industry. I often stop by blogs that are starting conversations about dairy production, and I found one today worth noting. The blog is called A Pictorialist Blog, and the writer is a photographer from Brooklyn, NY. She has just returned to vegetarianism, and is … Read More

Two Additional Universities Join Teaching Consortium

News EditorGeneral

Two additional universities, Colorado State University and the University of Florida, have joined the eight original consortium member (Abilene Christian University, University of Arizona, New Mexico State University, Oklahoma State University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and West Texas A&M University) of the Southern Great Plains Dairy Consortium – Teaching (SGPDC-T). The 10-member consortium is the … Read More

Pioneer Woman's Special Dairy Section

Amanda NolzGeneral

Have you heard of The Pioneer Woman? She is a blogger, ranch wife, mother of four, city girl gone country. She does it all. She writes, cooks, takes photos, homeschools, gardens, decorates and looks good doing it. I’m addicted to her funny, self-deprecating writing style, and her daily updates keep me coming back for more. In her cooking section, she … Read More

Another Great Dairy Blog

Amanda NolzGeneral

There are so many great ways to start telling the dairy production story with consumers, and one of my dear friends is committed to doing just that. Melissa Hart is a freelance writer, wife, mother and dairy producer who writes on her blog every day. The blog is called Melissa Hart the Knolltop Farm Wife , and it details the … Read More