Contact: Donna Amaral-Phillips, 859-257-7542

By Aimee Nielson

LEXINGTON, Ky., (Oct. 2, 2007) – America’s dairy industry producers, professionals and consumers will soon have a new Internet-based information and education tool at their fingertips. This dairy cattle website, DAIReXNET, is launching this week at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis.

DAIReXNET was developed through the collaboration of dairy cattle specialists throughout the United States. The experts came together to form a national, Cooperative Extension-driven, web-based community focused on designing a national resource on dairy cattle production. Dairy cattle specialists at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture are leading the effort through the eXtension Initiative and in collaboration with professionals at Penn State University, the University of Maryland, the University of Illinois, the University of Idaho, the University of Georgia and North Carolina State University.

“The planning for DAIReXNET has been extensive,” said Donna Amaral-Phillips, UK extension dairy specialist. “We’re excited to give people a comprehensive dairy resource. With combined information from land-grant universities around the country, DAIReXNET will have the most up-to-date information available for the dairy industry.”

Long known for its innovative use of technology, the dairy industry’s newest effort integrates the expertise of land-grant university researchers and specialists with the Internet’s instant accessibility, allowing dairy producers and others to access the latest, most up-to-date information from any Internet-ready device. The site includes information on many aspects of dairy production and is dedicated to meeting the educational and decision-making needs of people in all facets of the dairy industry.

“We chose to launch the Web site at the World Dairy Expo because we know that’s where dairy enthusiasts and experts from around the world gather to learn and share about the latest developments in the dairy industry,” Amaral-Phillips said. “We encourage those in the dairy industry to visit the DAIReXNET Web site. “

This broad-based Internet resource, launched as a part of the Cooperative Extension System’s eXtension Initiative puts a wealth of research-based information in an easily accessible format for anyone interested in dairy production. Beginning Oct. 2, people can access DAIReXNET via the eXtension Web site at http://www.extension.org, then choose “Dairy Cattle.”

The eXtension Dairy Cattle Web site features a frequently asked questions section that allows users to submit queries on various aspects of dairy cattle production. If an answer is not already available, the user’s question is directed to dairy specialists who will research and answer the question.

DAIReXNET will also allow users to gain access to current, in-depth, peer-reviewed articles as well as state and regional dairy newsletters, news releases and highlighted stories from around the country, and a list of current events at the local, state, regional and national levels.

eXtension is an educational partnership of more than 70 land-grant universities helping Americans improve their lives with access to timely, objective, research-based information and educational opportunities. eXtension’s interactive Web site located at http://www.extension.org is customized with links to local Cooperative Extension Service Web sites and information on other topics of interest.

This news release is available at http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/news/2007/Sep/dairexnet.htm

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Writer: Aimee Nielson, 859-257-4736, ext. 267

UK College of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension to enhance the lives of Kentuckians.