Following up on his promise to reevaluate the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and identify gaps in funding, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday that USDA plans to distribute additional financial assistance to those who felt the impact of COVID-19 market disruptions. USDA says the new initiative—USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers—will reach a broader set of producers than in previous COVID-19 aid programs. USDA is dedicating at least $6 billion toward the new programs, and also plans to begin the distribution of $4.5 billion for crop producers and $1.1 billion for cattle producers.

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Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) has completed the sale of former Dean Foods milk processing plants located in De Pere, Wisc. and Harvard, Illi. that was required as part of antitrust enforcement action brought by the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division when DFA purchased Dean Foods. The purchaser of both plants is a new partnership between New Dairy Opco (New Borden) and Select Milk Producers.

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Legislation that would help implement a nationwide, One Health approach to zoonotic diseases was reintroduced in both chambers of Congress. The bill would create a framework focused on prevention efforts and improved coordination among federal agencies. One Health is the concept that human, animal and environmental health are all intertwined. The AVMA is dedicated to working closely with Congress to build support for this critically important bill.

After 32 years of service, Vicki Paden will retire from FASS, the association management company that supports ADSA. Vicki has been an incredible team member to FASS and ADSA. If you have ever called the FASS office, chances are you have interacted with Vicki and her caring, can-do attitude. Her customer service skills are second to none, and she has been a great asset to ADSA. Her last day with the organization will be this Friday, April 2. If you feel so inclined, please join ADSA and FASS in thanking Vicki for her service by sending a farewell note to Vicki at VickiP@assochq.org. Congratulations on retirement, and we wish you all the best, Vicki!

ADSA joined a coalition letter to House and Senate Appropriation Committee leaders urging funding to complete the modernization of the US Geological Survey (USGS) National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) in Madison, Wisconsin. It is the nation’s only federal BSL-3 facility exclusively dedicated to scientific investigation and research on wildlife diseases that threaten human, animal, and environmental health. This and past letters can be found in the advocacy area of www.adsa.org

The 2021 Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association® (ADSA®) will be held as a 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 enables 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. 

Our ADSA Linked In group now includes 1,948 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