The Biden administration submitted to Congress on Friday the President’s priorities for fiscal year 2022 discretionary spending including $27.8 billion for USDA, a $3.8 billion, or 16% increase from the 2021 enacted level.

In a statement, USDA says the funding request advances key agency priorities, including economic development and growth in rural America, maintaining support for American agriculture, rebuilding scientific expertise in our agencies, aiding in an all-of-government approach to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and supporting a strong safety net to address hunger and nutrition insecurity.

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Total dairy export value climbed 7% year-over-year to reach $565.5 million and volume in milk solids equivalent (MSE) jumped 15%. February’s growth was driven primarily by resurgence in nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder (NFDM/SMP) to Mexico and Southeast Asia and whey products to China.

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FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals recently launched AccuMast Plus, an on-farm mastitis culture test building on the innovation of the original AccuMast system. As the first and only on-farm kit capable of differentiating common pathogens, including Klebsiella, E. coli, Lactococcus, Staph. aureus, Enterococcus and Streptococcus, the AccuMast system became the gold standard for mastitis culturing. AccuMast Plus uses the same lab-grade precision and convenience, but also incorporates S. agalactiae identification.

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Perry to depart ADSA, join The Fertilizer Institute

The American Dairy Science Association® (ADSA) announced to members last week that Executive Director Catharine Perry will depart the association to serve as the COO of The Fertilizer Institute. ADSA Board of Directors President Rich Erdman will chair a search committee to identify ADSA's next executive director. "While I'm sure you will join me in wishing her the best in her new position, I am equally sorry for us and for ADSA to see her go," Erdman said. "I am thankful to have worked with Catharine during her tenure at ADSA." In addition to Erdman, the search committee will include Paul Kindstedt (ADSA vice president), Rafael Jimenez-Flores (ADSA past president), Trish Dawson, and Susan Pollock. ADSA hopes to have a new executive director as early as mid-summer, and updates will be announced by the search committee when appropriate.

The 2021 Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association® (ADSA®) will be held as hybrid meeting with a virtual component and a corresponding in-person meeting in Louisville, Kentucky July 11-14. As always it will be the most comprehensive dairy science meeting in the world. The in-person registration fee includes the Opening Reception, coffee and pastries during morning poster sessions, afternoon ice cream breaks in the exhibit hall, our always-popular ice cream social, a meeting with really nice people, and the best dairy science you will find in the world!

The ADSA annual meeting in Louisville will be directly followed by the ASAS annual meeting at the same location. Make plans now to catch the shared programing day on Wednesday, July 14, and the shared social event later that evening. For more information about the meeting visit the 2021 ADSA Annual Meeting website. Visit often as it will be updated frequently as new information becomes available.  

Just a reminder discounted Annual Meeting registration is one of the many benefits of ADSA membership. The savings on annual meeting registration will largely cover the cost of membership so if you aren’t a member be sure to become one before registering and take advantage of this great benefit.

Join us for the 40^th ADSA Discover Conference on NASEM Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle

American Dairy Science Association^® (ADSA) continues to adopt best meeting practices during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which includes plans for our 40^th ADSA Discover Conference: NASEM Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle. It will now be held as a hybrid conference August 30-September 2, 2021. Continued COVID-19 related travel and gathering uncertainties coupled with delays with the NASEM publication brought us to this decision.

Registration options include in-person participation at the Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Itasca, IL, virtual participation, and a non-participation option that simply gives registrants access to the conference recordings. Your registration includes 90 days of free access to ADSA’s Searchable Proceedings of Animal Conferences (S-PAC) and the opportunity to subscribe at ADSA member rates. For complete registration details, visit our web site at https://www.adsa.org/Meetings/40th-Discover-Conference

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM, previously known as NRC) anticipates the 2021 release of the eighth revised edition of “Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle,” the world’s most highly cited reference on dairy cattle feeding. This Discover^SM Conference will focus on the scientific advancements in dairy cattle feeding used to revise the 2001 edition. The NASEM subcommittee members will address the substantive changes in the nutrient requirements and the conceptual approaches used to make those changes. Participants will hear reports on areas with significant knowledge gaps that still prevent more accurate prediction of the nutrient requirements. Emphasizing the interactive spirit of Discover Conferences, the agenda will incorporate structured small group discussions, including a demonstration of the software and focused discussions with the speakers. The program will bridge the fundamental science to applied dairy cattle feeding.

Expanding to a hybrid conference format allows us to offer meaningful collaboration among our colleagues throughout the world in a manner that best meets individual needs. We hope that you will join us for this redesigned event and celebrate our collective resilience and dedication to forging connections without boundaries.

We look forward to welcoming you to the 40^th ADSA Discover Conference in August, and we are here to help you however we can with questions and requests for support. Please contact Molly Kelley, Conference Coordinator or Larry Miller, Conference Director, or visit our web site at https://www.adsa.org/Meetings/40th-Discover-Conference

Make your plans now to attend the 41^ST ADSA DISCOVER CONFERENCE^SM ON FOOD ANIMAL AGRICULTURE - Health Management of Calves: From Intrauterine Life to Successful Weaning. It will be a hybrid conference with the in-person meeting being held October 25-28, 2021. Registration options include in-person participation at the Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Itasca, IL, virtual participation, and a non-participation option that simply gives registrants access to the conference recordings.

Your registration includes 90 days of free access to ADSA’s Searchable Proceedings of Animal Conferences (S-PAC) and the opportunity to subscribe at ADSA member rates. For complete registration details, visit our web site at https://www.adsa.org/Meetings/41st-Discover-Conference

A poster session will be included to allow participants to share and discuss research findings. Further details are posted on the meeting site. 

The 2021 Symposium on Gut Health in Production of Food Animals will be held October 31 to November 3 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark. It is now accepting abstract submissions, meeting registrations, and hotel reservations. The deadline to submit abstracts is Monday, August 30, 2021.

Register now for the symposium to secure your spot.

Our ADSA Linked In group now includes 1,949 members from around the world, are you one of them? It’s a great place to get information about ADSA and industry activities as well as to network with other dairy professionals from around the world. Check it out here.

While on “Linked In” check out the ADSA Graduate Student Division (GSD) as well. You can find their page at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12059336/profile