Bill Sutliff Dairy Nutritionist Mycogen Seeds Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

What education are you bringing with you to this position?
My education in dairy nutrition has been earned in the classroom and on the farm. I graduated with honors from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science. I have been working with dairy cattle rations for 35 years, both as a nutritionist and as a dairy producer.

Please describe your agricultural background.
My family raised 4-H steers when I was young, which sparked my interest in farming. My mother urged me to go to college, and a degree in animal science was a natural fit for me. After college, I worked in agribusiness, doing nutrition and farm supply sales. Six years later, I moved home to pursue my dream of owning my own farm. I purchased a 50-cow dairy farm in northeastern Ohio and continued to consult as a nutritionist. I farmed for 10 years before going back into agribusiness full time.

What territory will you cover?
I cover the Mid-Atlantic region, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Virginia. I’ve spent much of my career working in the Mid-Atlantic region, and I am excited for the opportunity to continue working with the great dairy producers in this region.

What are your new responsibilities?
In my role with Mycogen Seeds, I offer technical guidance to help dairy producers maximize feed quality, overcome nutrition challenges, increase milk production and improve overall profitability. I educate producers about silage-specific corn hybrids. I collaborate with herd nutritionists and farm management teams to successfully manage, feed and evaluate silage corn hybrid performance.

What previous positions have you held?
I have a broad range of experience in both production agriculture and agribusiness sales and management. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned in my varied experiences to provide value to dairy producers in the Mid-Atlantic.

Who has made the biggest impact on your career?
The dairy producers I worked with while I was an independent nutritionist with Cumberland Valley Cooperative made a significant impact on my career. They challenged me to look beyond typical resources and customize recommendations to each operation’s specific needs. They helped me learn more about adjusting individual farm rations and grow my skills as a nutritionist.

How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
I’m here to be a partner to dairy producers, whether it’s forage planning, ration balancing or finding other resources to optimize production and profitability. I take a whole-farm approach to help producers achieve their goals. Specifically, I enjoy educating producers about new research and technology, helping apply it to make improvements.

Why did you choose this company?
Mycogen Seeds is a strong forage option for dairy producers seeking to maximize productivity and profitability. As part of the local Mycogen Seeds support team, I work cross-functionally to look at silage corn agronomics and how it affects nutritional value. I enjoy bridging the gap between agronomics and nutrition, applying my background and knowledge to help dairy producers in the Mid-Atlantic get the most out of their silage.

What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
My goals are driven by my customers’ goals. I enjoy helping dairy producers establish plans and goals, then seeing them succeed. It's like it's my own farm making the advancement. I aim to help improve diets and profitability at individual farms in the Mid-Atlantic region using the company’s brand of silage-specific hybrids. PD