Producers to learn how to 'survive and thrive' at Dairy Summit IV
PLATTEVILLE- Producers will learn ways to modernize and maximize profit while networking with other producers and industry specialists at Dairy Summit IV on Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore will host the event.
Registration begins at 9:15 a.m., followed by a welcome and introduction. Workshops and discussions are centered on the theme "The Drive to Survive and Thrive." At 10 a.m., morning sessions centering on production practices will open with a keynote address on improving profit without expanding by Dr. Mark Armfelt, technical services specialist for Monsanto Dairy in Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Armfelt is also a clinical assistant professor of veterinary preventive medicine at Ohio State University, president of the Ohio Dairy Veterinarians Association and a board member of the Ohio Dairy Industry Forum.
After learning about improving profit, attendees may choose one of three sessions to attend. Armfelt will present a session on cow longevity while Dr. Paul Fricke, associate professor and extension specialist in dairy reproduction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discusses reproductive efficiency. Fricke is the recipient of the 2006 Midwest Section ASAS/ADSA Outstanding Young Extension Specialist Award and the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Pound Extension Award. Dr. Mike Hutjens is a professor and dairy extension specialist at the University of Illinois. He writes feed columns for the Hoard's Dairyman, Dairy Today, Dairy Japan, Wisconsin Agri-View and Dairy Herd Management. He will examine where to save and invest in nutrition.
Farm business practices is the focus of the afternoon sessions, beginning after lunch at 1 p.m. Attendees will gain information from Irv Possin of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and Dairy 2020 Initiative, about outside dollars to aid in the modernization of their farm.
Following Possin's presentation, producers and industry specialists will take a look ahead at what educational events, tours and workshops are planned for the year. Dairy Summit IV is a launch event for nine Pathways to Success events planned for 2007. These events include farm bus tours, calf raising workshops, low cost parlor tours, and a dairying with goats workshop.
At a discussion panel at 1:30 p.m., attendees will converse with producers about taking charge of farm performance. The panel consists of Greg Schramm, field representative for Lakeshore Farm Management; Al Koepke of Koepke Farms in Oconomowoc; Jim Pfeiler of Pfeiler Bros. Farms in Holy Cross, Iowa; and Dale Gaul of Gaul Farms in Peosta, Iowa.
Attendees will conclude the day with a second breakout session. Sessions on reproductive efficiency and nutrition will be offered again in addition to a session with Schramm, which digs deeper into taking charge of farm performance.
Kevin Bernhardt, associate professor of agribusiness at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and state extension statewide farm management specialist, invites producers or anyone that has an interest in dairy modernization to attend the summit. He said, "If you want to improve profits or increase the success of your business, a great place to start is the dairy summit."
Bernhardt is a member of the Regional Dairy Modernization Task Force, the group that is organizing the event. The Regional Dairy Modernization Task Force is an action team of the Southwest Wisconsin Regional Economic Development Coalition. One of its primary goals is increasing economic activity in the region. It also strives to increase the region's milk production and its number of cows while improving producers' abilities to achieve their financial performance, farm business and family goals. According to Bernhardt, UW-Platteville was a primary catalyst in establishing the task force.
From the producers who attended Dairy Summit III and thought about modernizing, 48 percent said that the task force events were very influential in their decisions. With 110 modernizations from 12 people who attended Dairy Summit III, the task force is having an impact on producers and making progress toward its goals.
Registration forms are available on the second floor of Pioneer Tower on the UWP campus. The cost is $40 and $20 for each additional person from the same farm. Early registration ends Nov. 28. After this date, the fee increases $10. Anyone wanting more information about Dairy Summit IV may contact Bernhardt at (608) 342-1365 or bernhark@uwplatt.edu.
Contact: Kevin Bernhardt, associate professor of agribusiness, state extension statewide farm management specialist, (608) 342-1365,bernhark@uwplatt.edu Prepared by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,kurdik@uwplatt.edu
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