The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has more than 7,000 federal employees and supports more than 650 active projects at nearly 250 laboratories in every state and Puerto Rico. Join us on March 22 at 1 pm ET to learn how ARS contributes to food and agricultural research and education and adds value to land grant universities and many other research facilities across the country. This is the second in a 3-part webinar series that will *help you* learn the value of all four of USDA’s research agencies.

Each webinar covers a different agency:  NIFA, ARS, and ERS/NASS. You may register for each webinar separately and attend one or all three. If you have already registered, no need to do so again. The registration site provides HIGHLIGHTS for each webinar about the featured agency, as well as presenters (to be updated as additional information becomes available).

Once you register, you will receive an email confirmation.  You will also receive an email in advance of each webinar for which you have registered containing instructions about how to join the webinar.

In one of the first widely bipartisan votes of the new Congress, the House advanced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, H.R. 1603, by a vote of 247-174 on Thursday evening. Rep. Newhouse, R-Wash., alongside Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., shepherded the legislation which ensures a solution to what many say is the most vexing problem for the ag industry: a stable and legal workforce.

Fairlife LLC announced March 17 the opening of its newest production and distribution facility in Goodyear, Ariz. The new 300,000 square foot facility boasts advanced manufacturing technologies and equipment to enable continued growth more efficiently while supporting the increased demand for fairlife products.

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) recently released a comprehensive study that found there is a collective total of nearly $11.5 billion in needed repairs and renovations at the buildings and supporting facilities at schools of agriculture authorized to receive U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research funding. The study was conducted for APLU by Gordian, a leader in facility and construction cost data, software and expertise. The study notes that 69% of the buildings at these schools – 97 land-grant universities in total – are more than 25 years old and require urgent upgrades to remain safe and useful. Without action, the declining state of these facilities threatens to hinder critical research on food safety and security, natural resources, climate change, and other key matters.

ADSA joined 92 other agricultural organizations in a letter to House and Senate Appropriation leaders urging an increase of the 302(a) allocations for Appropriations Committees. The effort is focused on the big picture, seeking to get a bigger piece of the Federal pie for Ag programs, including research. If accomplished it would allow a significant increase in discretionary funding for crucial U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. This and past letters can be found in the advocacy area of www.adsa.org

Study examines fermented milks’ potential benefits for decreasing high blood pressure through modulation of gut microbiota

In recent years, fermented dairy foods have been gaining attention for their health benefits, and a new review published in the Journal of Dairy Science indicates these foods could help reduce conditions like hypertension (high blood pressure). A team of investigators from the Center for Food Research and Development in Sonora, Mexico, and the National Technological Institute of Mexico in Veracruz report on numerous studies of fermented milks as antihypertensive treatments and in relation to gut microbiota modulation. They also examine the potential mechanistic pathways of gut modulation through antihypertensive fermented milks. Click here to see this and other recent releases. 

ADSA Partner Webinar: Dairy Cattle Welfare Council presents “Cognition and emotion in dairy cattle”

ADSA is pleased to share webinars delivered through our partner, the Dairy Cattle Welfare Council (DCWC). These one-hour webinars are available free of charge, but you must register in advance to attend. The next webinar is “Cognition and emotion in dairy cattle”, presented by Dr. Dan Weary, Professor, University of British Columbia. It will be held March 24 at 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (4:00 – 5:00 p.m. CDT). REGISTER HERE

DCWC webinars are geared toward dairy farmers, veterinarians, consultants, industry, Extension/academia, and government representatives interested in many aspects of dairy cattle welfare. Professional, undergraduate, and graduate students are strongly encouraged to participate. Continuing Education Credit is awarded on an hour per hour basis. Contact DCWCouncil@gmail.com to request Veterinary CE documentation.

Save the dates! The 2021 Dairy Cattle Welfare Symposium will be held virtually on May 25-27, 2021. Program agenda and registration information will be coming. 

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 Overall Program Committee is planning to have a robust in-person program AND an in-depth online meeting, including virtual events, live from Louisville, that enable scientists from around the world to join us virtually if they are unable to travel to Louisville. We are very excited to be able to plan a hybrid meeting and expand the reach of our science! While the deadline for requesting a ticketed event has passed, there is still time to request a spot for “All Other Events”. The deadline for non-ticketed special events is Thursday, April 1, 2021. Click here for details.

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 programming 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.

The deadline for nominations is April 1, 2021.

Procedures: Nominations should be submitted on the FASS Awards website.

Deadline: All nominations must be submitted on the website no later than April 1, 2021, 11:59 pm CDT.

Instructions: Guidelines for the FASS-AFIA New Frontiers in Animal Nutrition Award are posted here. Nominators are encouraged to review the instructions carefully and to follow these guidelines strictly to avoid rejection of the nomination.

If you require any assistance during this submission process, please contact Cara Tharp, FASS awards coordinator, at 1800 S Oak St, Ste 100, Champaign, IL 61820, carat@assochq.org, 217-356-2426.

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. 

Are you or your employer looking for the best and the brightest to fill a job, assistantship, or internship? The resource you need is myDairy Career, a complimentary online job resource center created by the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Graduate Student Division, where employer needs and student interests are matched instantly. Your next employee, graduate student, or intern could be searching for your open position, so don’t delay.

Sign in at https://careers.adsa.org/ to post a job, assistantship, or internship opportunities and gain access to high-quality undergraduate and graduate dairy science students in both dairy foods and dairy production. And did we mention myDairy Career is FREE of CHARGE!

Once you are on the myDairy Career website:

If you have any questions about myDairy Career, and the potential benefits to you and your company, please feel free to contact the ADSA GSD gsd@adsa.org

Our ADSA Linked In group now includes 1,946 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