Expo Seminars

Presented daily by industry leaders in the Mendota 2 meeting room of the Exhibition Hall, these seminars address topics centered around finances, climate, management practices and dairy markets. Seminars consist of a 45-minute presentation and time for questions and answers.

Tuesday, October 1, 1:00 p.m.

Domestic & Global Beverage Trends: How U.S. Dairy Innovation Can Seize the Opportunity
Paul Ziemnisky, Executive Vice President of Global Innovation Partnerships, Dairy Management, Inc.
Kristina Alexander, Manager, Knowledge and Insights of Global Innovation Partnerships, Dairy Management Inc.
Sponsored by: Dairy Management, Inc.
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Today’s beverage and food environment is rapidly evolving as consumers look for foods and beverages that reflect their needs, values and desires. They make buying decisions based on wants for innovation, health and wellness, sustainability and taste preferences. For U.S. dairy to remain relevant and thrive in this market, both in the short and long-term, dairy product innovation must meet changing consumer product preferences. Kristiana Alexander and Executive Vice President, Paul Ziemnisky of Dairy Management Inc.’s Global Innovation Partnership team will explore the latest in domestic and global beverage trends driven by consumer needs to inspire new dairy beverage innovation for retailers and foodservice partners. Learn more about these trends and how the dairy checkoff is helping drive innovation by attending this seminar. This discussion presents a unique opportunity to have your consumer and market questions answered by the experts.

Back to top.

 

Wednesday, October 2, 11:00 a.m.

What Drives Financial Success on a Dairy
Steve Bodart, Senior Dairy Lending Specialist, Compeer Financial
Sponsored by: McLanahan Corporation
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Dairy farmers strive to find financial success through milk production and can determine their results by evaluating the net income per cow on their farm. Starting with 2006 financial results, Compeer Financial and Zoetis began a research study to determine what distinguished the most successful dairies from their peers based on net income per cow. After reviewing data that was collected for a decade from farms averaging 1,071 milking cows, the researchers determined six key factors that separate the top performance herds from their peers. Learn what sets these dairies apart from Compeer Financial Senior Dairy Consultant Steve Bodart, who focuses his work on commercial dairy operations that have grown and expanded their business. In his role, Bodart assists farmers with business and financial planning, performance monitoring, and integrating production and financial management together. He also brings two decades of knowledge as the former CFO of a commercial dairy in Wisconsin and a deep understanding of family dairy businesses to this discussion.

Back to top.

 

Wednesday, October 2, 1:00 p.m.

The Makeup of Your Milk Check
Calvin Covington, Chief Executive Officer (retired), Southeast Milk, Inc.
Sponsored by: Page & Pedersen International, Ltd.
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Many factors, including dairy commodity prices, component levels, milk utilization, location, milk supply and demand factor into the price a dairy farmer receives for milk production. Calvin Covington, well-known for his national and international expertise in milk pricing, will help farmers better understand their milk check by discussing the primary factors that are considered in the pricing system. Covington is a former Chief Executive Officer of Southeast Milk, Inc. and played an instrumental role in the national acceptance of multiple component pricing during his time with the American Jersey Cattle Association. A trusted advisor on milk pricing, Covington has testified at congressional hearings, authored milk marketing articles for various publications, and has prepared and presented proposals at Federal Order hearings. In retirement, Covington continues to provide consulting services to dairy companies, farmers, and cooperatives and is a regular contributor to Progressive Dairyman.

Back to top. 

Thursday, October 3, 11:00 a.m. 

Proactive Management Practices to Reduce Antibiotic Usage on Your Dairy
Dr. Michael Capel, DVM, Partner, Perry Veterinary Clinic
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

The implementation of the Veterinary Feed Directive has led dairy farmers and researchers to discovering new ways to reduce antimicrobial use on farms. New research findings that will be discussed during this seminar identify potential ways to significantly reduce the use of antimicrobials on dairy farms without negatively impacting individual animals or herd health. These findings compliment well-documented measures already known for reducing antimicrobial use such as the importance of disease prevention, proper employee training, development of on-farm treatment guidelines and judicious use of therapeutic interventions. Dr. Michael Capel, DVM, is a dairy cattle veterinarian in western New York who plays an active role in a variety of research including pharmaceutical industry, academic and on-farm projects pertaining to transition cow health, judicious antimicrobial use and effective treatment regimens. 

Back to top. 

Thursday, October 3, 1:00 p.m.

Climate Change – Reducing the Dairy Industries Carbon Footprint, Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Dairy Industry
Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Professor, University of California, Davis
Sponsored by: SOP S.r.l
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Climate change continues to be a topic of great importance in today’s society and due to political leaders discussing the impact that agriculture and dairy in particular play in the current situation, the spotlight is on the dairy industry. Dr. Frank Mitloehner is a professor in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis and is an Air Quality Specialist in Cooperative Extension. Widely recognized as an expert in agricultural air quality, livestock housing and husbandry, Dr. Mitloehner will discuss the overarching issues around a changing climate as well as the role the dairy sector plays, both in the United States and globally. Dr. Mitloehner received his master’s degree in animal science and agricultural engineering from the University of Leipzig in Germany and his PhD in animal science from Texas Technical University. 

Back to top. 

Friday, October 4, 11:00 a.m.

Why Heifer Maturity Matters
Dr. Gavin Staley, Technical Services Specialist, Diamond V
Sponsored by: Diamond V
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

For the past decade, a trend of breeding heifers at a younger age has developed in the dairy industry. While there are economic benefits to doing so, the evaluation of dairy herds across the country reveals that if heifers do not achieve desired maturity goals, there is a significant lasting impact on subsequent milk production. As the average cow in the United States stays in the milking herd for 2.2 lactations, it is of the utmost importance that the genetic potential of these animals is maximized during the first two lactations. However, the evaluation that Dr. Gavin Staley will discuss reveals heifer immaturity is a major barrier in herd milk production in the United States. Dr. Staley is a 1984 graduate of the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He is a Board certified Theriogenologist (DiplACT) and has worked in academia, private practice and industry over the past 35 years.

Back to top. 

Friday, October 4, 1:00 p.m.

Are You Buying Your Milk Production?
Dr. Bill Weiss, Professor, Department of Animal Science, Ohio Agricultural & Research Center, The Ohio State University
Sponsored by: Quality Liquid Feeds
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

As the largest single cost on a dairy farm, feed and its impact on milk production are front of mind for dairy producers. While feed costs, in dollars per pound of feed, and milk production are positively correlated, the relationship is not strong. This means that feed costs vary substantially among farms that have similar production levels. Dr. Bill Weiss, a professor in dairy nutrition, will discuss different means of keeping feed costs in check without adversely affecting milk production while uncovering opportunities when spending a little more on feed can result in large returns. Dr. Weiss has 30 years of experience conducting research in diet formulation methods, vitamin and mineral nutrition and feed evaluation. During his career, he has also authored more than 500 scientific and popular press articles in many areas of dairy cow nutrition and management. 

Back to top. 

Saturday, October 5, 11:00 a.m.

Dairy Farm Financial Decision Making in Turbulent Times
Dr. Chris Wolf, Professor, Agricultural Economics in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University
Sponsored by: Feed Supervisor Software
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

The compounded financial stress of the past few years is wearing on dairy farmers, and every day decisions are made that will either save their business or not. As a professor of Agricultural Economics at the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University, Dr. Chris Wolf conducts research and extension training focused on farm business management, dairy markets and policy, farm animal welfare and animal health management. With his research experience and expert knowledge of agricultural economics, Dr. Wolf will examine the financial decision-making benchmarks for dairy farms from whole farm to long-term investments to management changes. A widely-published academic and industry author, he will focus his discussion on decisions that address efficiency, risk management and farm financial resiliency, particularly in cash constrained environments.

Back to top.

"This program 395-29959 is approved by the AAVSB RACE to offer a total of 8.00 CE Credits (8.00 max) being available to any one veterinarian: and/or 8.00 Veterinary Technician CE Credits (8.00 max). This RACE approval is for the subject matter categories of:
Category One: Scientific
Category Three: Non-Scientific-Practice Management/Professional Development using the delivery method of Seminar/LectureNon-Interactive-Distance. This approval is valid in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE; however, participants are responsible for ascertaining each board's CE requirements. RACE does not "accredit" or "endorse" or "certify" any program or person, nor does RACE approval validate the content of the program."