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Challenges explored at international dairy summit

“Innovation” and “sustainability” were the two most used words after “dairy” and “cows” at the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit in Chicago.

More than 1,100 dairy farmers, processors, policymakers and industry leaders from 50 countries celebrated the World Dairy Federation’s 120th birthday at the summit Oct. 15-20.

On opening day, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said that “climate concerns and the impact on our ability to produce” are among the things that keep him up at night. Consumers are willing to invest in sustainable practices, but they need to know what they are, he said.

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Episode 115: Home on the Range

Video: Episode 115: Home on the Range

We look at how high crop prices, driven in part by rising global food demand, biofuel incentives, and risk perspective and management, are encouraging the conversion of marginal grasslands into cultivated cropland. As more hay and pastureland is turned over to crop production, wildlife habitat becomes increasingly fragmented, leaving isolated “islands” of grass that may be too small to sustain functioning grassland ecosystems. We explore research using Alberta as a case study to understand the impact that conversion of hay and pasturelands into cropland could have on ecosystem intactness and biodiversity.