National FFA 2023 Agricultural Proficiency Award recipients were named during the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo, Nov. 1-4, in Indianapolis.

Overall, 81 projects were awarded more than $1 billion under the 2023 RCPP, administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

With improving milk prices and margins and tightening cow numbers, average prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows moved to an eight-year high in October.

Struggling cheese and protein prices weakened the Class III price, offsetting strong butterfat and Class IV prices and widening the Class III-IV price spread, adding substantial Class IV depooling incentives.

Quickly and accurately characterizing the nutrient content of feedstuffs is vital for balancing high-performance dairy cow rations. It also allows manufacturers to develop robust quality control programs and represent their products as precisely as possible. When it comes to supporting overall animal health and performance, one of the most important nutrients we evaluate as an industry is protein.