NCFAR, of which FASS is a member, each year hosts a series of webinars designed to educate and empower staff on Capitol Hill and policy stakeholders about the value of and need for public investment in food and agricultural research. NCFAR’s popular "Lunch-n-Learn" series and webinars feature experts from institutions across the country sharing expertise on a wide range of topics. While the target is policy makers, the webinars are open and likely of interest to all. The next webinar, Helping Americans Meet the Dietary Guidelines - Advances and Opportunities in Food Science and Technology, will be held on September 13, 2022 at 11:00 AM EDT.

For more than 40 years, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) have provided science-based guidance for healthy eating, yet the quality of American diets has shown limited improvement. In 2021 a diverse group of thought leaders in health, nutrition and food science convened at a workshop hosted by IFT and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, supported by USDA/NIFA, to discuss opportunities to help consumers meet dietary guidelines. Key opportunities identified included advancing food science and technology research and broadening public-private collaborations to develop safe, affordable, and accessible, nutrient dense foods. This webinar will discuss these key recommendations in greater detail and what steps can be taken to advance innovations and empower consumers to make positive shifts towards healthier. Click here for more information and registration. 

U.S., Mexico dairy leaders chart path forward

Leading dairy representatives from the United States and Mexico gathered at Dairy Farmers of America headquarters in Kansas City this week to discuss strengthening cross-border cooperation on dairy issues. The U.S. Dairy Export Council and the National Milk Producers Federation served as the U.S. hosts and event organizers.

Mexico’s delegation at the meeting included representatives from the Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas (CNOG), Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Leche (AMLAC), Gremio de Productores Lecheros de Mexico, Cámara Nacional de Industriales de la Leche (CANILEC), and Consejo Nacional Agropecuario (CNA). Read more

Organizations say milk and dairy critical to child nutrition

As nearly 50 million children return to public school, a group of dairy and nutrition advocates is encouraging parents and policymakers to prioritize the health of students by making milk and dairy options more accessible in the coming school year. A fact sheet released today by the group highlights that milk is the top source of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamin D in kids ages 2-18. However, according to the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, American children over four years old and adolescents are not consuming enough dairy to meet the recommendations in the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), thereby under consuming a variety of nutrients they need to grow. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), and the School Nutrition Association (SNA) look forward to working with parents and school nutritionists to increase consumption of dairy in keeping with recommendations from the 2020-2025 DGA report and leading health organizations. Moreover, because of falling participation rates in school breakfast and lunch programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and removal of universal free meals in the upcoming school year, there are growing concerns for nutrition security among students. Read more

ADSA Strategic Plan and Annual Meeting Highlights

ADSA was featured in several articles in the August issue of Progressive Dairy. ADSA Executive Director Jerry Bowman discussed goals related to the ADSA new three-year strategic plan, benefits of attending the annual meeting and how the organization is focusing on students and international members. Conor McCabe authored an article on Graduate Student Division (GSD) activities at the Annual Meeting, and Kimmi Devaney provided an additional overview of Annual Meeting presentations and activities. To read more click here, then click on the current issue (August 7).

Transition milk improves health in neonatal calves

Feeding calves transition milk instead of milk replacer in the first days of life stimulates intestinal development and improves health scores. In a new report in the Journal of Dairy Science®, published by FASS Inc. and Elsevier, five researchers from Michigan State University examine the effects of transition milk on the health and growth of Holstein bull calves. They found several benefits, including improved development in all sections of the small intestine and increased weight gain compared with calves fed milk replacer.

Lead researcher, Michael J. VandeHaar, PhD, Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, noted that some of the increased gut development and growth may be attributed to the greater energy, fat, and protein in transition milk compared with milk replacer. However, VandeHaar continued, “We suggest that these improvements were at least partly caused by the presence of the bioactive compounds found in transition milk. We further speculate that improved intestinal development and health would have carry-over benefits and enhance health and growth for most of the critical first three weeks in the life of a calf.” (MORE)

 Aug 22, 2022         Foreign Supplier Verification Programs, Cornell Dairy Foods Extension. Click here for more information   

Aug 23 – 26, 0022 Implementing SQF Systems, Cornell Dairy Foods Extension,   Click here for more information    

Sept 9 – Oct 1, 2022         The Science of Cheese (Basic Level), Cornell Dairy Foods Extension, Click here for more information

Sept 11-14, 2022  International Whey Conference, Hyatt Regency, Chicago, IL, Hosted by ADPI and EWPA. Click here for more information and registration

Sept 13, 2022 at 11:00 AM EDT NCFAR Virtual Lunch-N-Learn: Helping Americans Meet the Dietary Guidelines - Advances and Opportunities in Food Science and Technology,  Click here for more information and registration.

Sept 14 – 18, 2022 Leadership Skills for Success, Cornell Dairy Foods Extension, Click here for more information         

Sept 15 at 2:00 PM CDT   DCRC webinar, “Integrating variables to optimize our reproductive programs” (Integrando variables para mejorar nuestros programas reproductivos), presented in Spanish, Click here for registration and more information.  

Sept 20-22, 2022    PSU - Cultured Dairy Products Short Course, Erickson Food Sci Building, Penn State, Click here for registration and more information

Sept 27-29, 2022    PSU - Pasteurization Short Course, Erickson Food Sci Building, Penn State, Click here for registration and more information

Oct 2-7, 2022     55^th World Dairy Expo, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI, For more information visit https://worlddairyexpo.com/

Oct 3-Nov 15, 2022        SOP and Technical Writing, Cornell Dairy Foods Extension, Click here for more information         

Oct 7-Nov 3, 2022          Environmental Monitoring Programs, Cornell Dairy Foods Extension, Click here for more information    

Oct 11-13, 2022   HTST, Cornell Dairy Foods Extension, Click here for more information    

Oct 12-14, 2022    Dairy Products, Processing and Packaging Innovation Conference, Shell Beach,    CA, Further details to come.

Oct 20, 2022          Cheese Grading Workshop, Cornell Dairy Foods Extension, Click here for more information       

Oct 26-27, 2022     CA ARPAS Continuing Education Conference - “California Livestock Feeding 2022 and Beyond; Challenges and Opportunities, The Inn at Harris Ranch, Coalinga, CA, Click here for more information

Oct 27-29, 2022     The American Embryo Transfer Association (AETA)-CETA/ACTE Joint Annual Convention, Louisville Marriott Downtown Louisville, KY, Click here for more information and registration.

Nov, 1, 2022           Dairy Food Basics Fundamentals of Quality and Safety, Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building, 205 Curtin Rd, University Park, PA, Click here for more information.

Nov. 2, 2022           Hazard Analysis & Preventative Controls Workshop for Small-Scale Dairy Processors, Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building, 205 Curtin Rd, University Park, PA, Click here for more information.

Nov 2- 3, 2022       Penn State Dairy Nutrition Workshop, Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA., Click here for more information

Nov 7-10, 2022       The Science and Art of Cheese Making, Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building, University Park, Click here for more information and registration

Nov 8 – 10, 2022    Preventive Controls for Human Food (Al, Anika, Rob), Cornell Dairy Foods Extension, Click here for more information  

Nov 16-17, 2022     Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert (Advanced Level), Cornell Dairy Foods Extension, Click here for more information

2023

Jan 16-17, 2023     Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference, Grove Hotel, Boise, ID, Click here for more information.

Mar. 7-9, 2023        44thADSA Discover Conference on Food Animal Agriculture: “Why Cheese from Milk?”, Northern Illinois University Conference Center, Naperville, IL, Click here for more information

April 10-12, 2023    Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference*, Grand Wayne Center Fort Wayne, IN, Click here for more information

June 25-28, 2023   ADSA Annual Meeting 2023, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Details will be coming

2024

August 2024 International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology*, For symposium information visit https://www.isrp2024.org/

*An S-PAC Partner Conference

If your organization’s conference isn’t among the ever growing list that contribute proceedings and presentations to S-PAC®, ask your conference organizer to contact Ken Olson for more information about the benefits of participation.

If you would like to have an event included in the “Dates to Note,” please contact Ken Olson at keolson@prodigy.net or keoagconsulting@gmail.com