Dec. 9-11, 2014, marked the 20th annual Vita Plus Dairy Summit. More than 200 producers and industry professionals were in attendance. The event, held in Red Wing, Minnesota, kicked off with farm tours to Clay View Dairy, Fetzer Farms and Son-Bow Inc. At each stop, attendees were able to tour the operation, ask questions and learn about practices and innovations the owners of each dairy used on their operation and why.
Tuesday morning, dairy producers Jeff Opitz, Blake Heller and Tom McClellan spoke in a pre-conference panel discussion on “Perspectives of the 20-year climb on our dairies.” Each of these men discussed their operation and what has and has not worked for them before opening it up for a Q&A.
Although there was some variation as to how each of them ran their operation, they all agreed that while it is impossible to predict the future, producers need to be open to using new technology since it is what will put them ahead in the coming years.
Dr. Elwynn Taylor, an agronomist and climatologist with Iowa State University, opened the general session with his presentation titled “Weather For Agriculture: What will 2015 bring?” Taylor used this time to speak on the weather conditions producers should expect in the coming months based on past weather patterns and current climate conditions.
Dr. Marin Bozic of the University of Minnesota wrapped up the session with his presentation on “Dairy Policy Reforms and Advanced Dairy Risk Management Strategies.” Using a program that allowed those in the audience to participate in a live poll through text message, Bozic was able to not only discuss the reforms and options producers were facing, but the ratio of producers in attendance who were choosing each option and why.
Attendees spent Wednesday afternoon in a series of breakout sessions. Six different presentations were available, and attendees had time for up to three of them.
Topics included “Double-cropping Options for Today’s Dairies,” “Feeding Holstein Steers: What Is the Optimal Market End Point?,” “What Does Being a Global Player Mean to the U.S. Dairy Sector?,” “Assessing and Improving Animal Welfare on Your Dairy,” “Success Factors in Transition Cow Management and Lameness” and “Employee Management Programs on Dairies.”
Each of these sessions was followed by a short Q&A giving attendees a chance to ask questions on the material discussed.
Wednesday evening was a bit more lively as some of the cardboard cutouts of various Vita Plus employees were auctioned off. The cutouts first appeared at World Dairy Expo last September and were an instant hit.
People were asking where they could get one, so Vita Plus decided to have a little fun with it and raise money for a good cause at the same time. The cutouts were auctioned off either by live or silent auction that evening with all of the proceeds going to the Great American Milk Drive.
Thursday morning, Dennis Frame, founding director of the University of Wisconsin – Discovery Farms, opened up the manure management panel with his presentation titled “Framing the Rules: Understanding the Trade-offs.”
Later Chuck Ripp, owner of Ripp’s Dairy Valley in Waunakee, Wisconsin, and Malachy Coyne, owner of Coyne Farms in Avon, New York, presented how they managed manure on their operations. Frame later rejoined them for a Q&A.
Jolene Brown, a farm business consultant and professional speaker, wrapped up the summit. She spoke on the “Top 10 mistakes that break up a family business.” Brown urged producers to sit down and have the discussion so many people do not want to have.
They need to have a plan and answer questions like: How will the farm transition over to the next generation? Does the next generation want to take it on, and if not, then what? What happens if the current owner dies suddenly?
She told attendees these questions need to be discussed and their answers written down. People are not mind readers, she says; the only way to make sure everyone is on the same page is to talk about it and come to a formal written agreement. PD
PHOTO
The event kicked off with farm tours to Clay View Dairy, Fetzer Farms and Son-Bow Inc. At each stop, attendees were able to tour the operation, ask questions and learn about practices and innovations the owners of each dairy used on their operation. Photo by Jenna Hurty.
Jenna Hurty
Editor
Progressive Dairyman
