The state-supervised dairy board is backing away from claims that milk and other dairy products can help people lose weight after some experts said the claims were deceptive.

Milk production in the dairy state jumped less than 1 percent from 2010, but that was still enough to set a new state record. The Winona Daily News says Wisconsin cows accounted for 1 out of every 8 gallons of milk in the United States. Minnesota, meanwhile, saw dairy production dip about 2 percent.

The board says American Crystal offered several contracts before the lockout that made significant strides towards a compromise with the workers' union. The union plans to appeal the board's ruling.

Long strenuous hours and rising operating costs can be blamed for fewer milk producers in Minnesota. The Star Tribune reports there are roughly 4,079 dairy farms in the state -- 356 fewer than in January 2011.

The plan developed by Rep. Collin Peterson would replace dairy programs with new ones aimed at better protecting farmers by limited milk production when the difference between milk prices and the cost of producing it fell to a certain level.

More than 1,000 dairy calves throughout the Midwest have died during the past two-three weeks as a result of heat stress, officials said Friday. Half of the more than two dozen herds of dairy cows struck by the heat stress deaths are in Wisconsin.

The Government Accountability Board says it needs the extension because of the large number of petitions filed to recall Gov. Scott Walker and five other Republicans. The law requires the board to verify the 1.9 million signatures in 31 days. Channel 3000 reports the board says it needs at least 60 days. A hearing is now scheduled for Wednesday morning.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says last year's beverage milk sales fell to the lowest level since 1984. One expert blames the drop on consumers shifting toward bottled water, tea and sports drinks, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board says yogurt consumption is up 400 percent from 30 years ago. Cheese sales are also up.