Progressive Dairyman will present 10 dairy-specific seminars at World Ag Expo in 2014. Two of the seminars will be video farm tours of successful Western dairy farms. This most popular seminar format returns again this year.

Editors will also host prominent experts addressing issues at the forefront of the U.S. dairy industry at the other hour-long sessions.

All seminars will be held in an enclosed, climate-controlled room at the intersection of S Street and Expo Lane. The dedicated seminar complex is just a minute’s walk to the south of the Farm Credit Dairy Center.

Each of the seminars is explained in further detail below.

DAY ONE
Tuesday , February 11

10:30 a.m.
Don’t just make more dairy heifers
Topic: Genetics/crossbreeding
Jerry Wulf, president of Wulf Cattle in Morris, Minnesota, will discuss his beef cattle operation’s partnership with dairies to breed Limousin genetics to lower-ranking Jersey cows in order to produce higher-quality beef steers. Wulf and a panel of producers will discuss how to better utilize “available wombs” to maximize the market value of newborn calves.

Presenter bio:
Jerry Wulf is the vice president of Wulf Cattle, which is a division of Riverview LLP based in Morris, Minnesota. He specializes in raising registered Limousin, Angus and Lim-Flex cattle with a seedstock herd of more than 1,000 cows.

Wulf Cattle markets 40,000-plus Limousin-influenced cattle per year, purchased from their genetic customers and fed through Wulf feedlots in Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Wulf Cattle was established in 1955 by Jerry’s parents, Leonard and Violet Wulf. Jerry has worked his entire life with the family business and assumed the lead role when his father retired. Several of Jerry’s siblings and children are also involved in the business.

Invited panel participants:
Jack Pirtle
Dairyman
Roswell, New Mexico

P7 Dairy Farms is a 3,000-cow dairy farm that recently began breeding some of its open dairy cows to Wagyu semen. Dairyman Jack Pirtle says he’s been breeding his “end-of-the-road” pen to the beef-breed semen. A contracted buyer will purchase the calves for $100 over Holstein bull price. Pirtle says he may custom raise some of the steers up to 600 pounds for the buyer.

Arlan Vander Woude
Dairyman
Merced, California

Vander Woude’s dairy uses genomic testing and breeds some of its lower-end genetics to Angus semen. The dairy has a contract for its beef-bred youngstock with Grimmius Cattle Co. in Visalia, California.

Noon
Lunch-and-learn: Commodity market risk management
Topic: Business planning
This macroeconomic presentation will take you through need-to-know market conditions, potential price scenarios and the all-important “need to do” steps that savvy business people must take when running enterprises dependent on commodity market prices.

An overview of all markets impacting the dairy business will be given, including dairy, feed, currency and energy. A free lunch will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.

1:30 p.m.
Video farm tour:
Scott Brothers Dairy Farms,
San Jacinto, California
Topic: Manure management
See how this 100-year-old family-run dairy in southern California plans to turn its manure into renewable diesel beginning this year. The innovative system produces clean water and dry fertilizer as “byproducts.”

Learn about the family’s struggle to install the technology in order to renew their dairy permit and comply with a local ban on applying manure to land. The family has learned valuable lessons about working with regulators, neighbors and innovators to solve some of the toughest environmental challenges.

A live Q&A with farm representatives will follow this video presentation.

10:30 a.m.
2014 milk prices
Topic: Business planning
Rabobank’s Global Dairy Adviser Tim Hunt will present an outlook of domestic and global milk markets for 2014. Get a glimpse at what these dynamic markets will mean for your dairy’s bottom line.

Presenter bio:
Tim Hunt is an executive director with Rabobank’s Global Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory unit and leader of the unit’s global dairy sector team. Hunt’s responsibilities at Rabobank include analyzing developments in the regional and global dairy markets, developing the bank’s medium-term dairy forecasts and advising the bank on its engagement with the dairy industry.

He is a professional economist with 18 years experience and the lead author of Rabobank’s annual and quarterly global dairy market reports.

Noon
Lunch-and-learn: What does the dairy consumer want? How do we get them to buy it?
Topic: Milk marketing
Find out how today’s consumers fit milk and dairy products into their fast-paced, health-conscious diets. Discover the dietary trend toward on-the-go meals and snacks.

Mary Anne Burkman, MPH, RDN and program director for the Dairy Council of California, will address how dairy fits into this type of consumer’s diets and eating habits.

Jennifer Giambroni of the California Milk Advisory Board will talk about how checkoff dollars are used to reach and influence the target dairy-buying audience – women ages 25 to 54.

A free lunch will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Then the California Milk Advisory Board will host a milk and cookies dessert bar after the hour-long session.

1:30 p.m.
Panel discussion: A ‘whole’ new market
Topic: Milk processing
Rabobank’s Global Dairy Adviser Tim Hunt will moderate a panel discussion with milk co-op executives about the emergence of whole milk powder production in the West. Who will buy their products? How will sales impact producer paychecks? Invited panel participants include California Dairies Inc., Dairy Farmers of America and Darigold.

3 p.m.
Wisdom in Minutes
Topic: Technology use
Attend this session and take home a tip or trick to improve your dairy’s efficiency. The hour-long session will feature mini-presentations from leading California dairy producers, nutritionists and veterinarians.

Each will share a tool they’ve discovered to save you time, money or unnecessary hassle. The seminar will be round-robin style with several invited presenters giving short pieces of advice.

Two of four invited panel participants:
Dr. Alfonso Lago
Veterinarian
DairyExperts

Lago will present on how to enter mastitis events in DairyComp305 and use clinical mastitis records to show where mastitis comes from. Read more about his suggested approach to treating clinical mastitis on page 65. Come to see how to put his suggestions to action.

Walt Cooley
Editor
Progressive Dairyman

Cooley will introduce the free web-automation service IFTTT, or “if this, then that.” He will present one example use of the service to help improve cow comfort, manage heat stress and react to changing weather conditions.

DAY THREE
Thursday , February 13

10:30 a.m.
Avoid lawyers and regulators
Topic: Business planning
Discover the most common issues that give California dairies problems with the law and regulations. Find out how to steer clear of them. Anthony Raimondo, attorney with McCormick and Barstow, and Kevin Abernathy, director of regulatory affairs with Milk Producers Council, will each present case studies and answer dairy producers’ questions.

Presenter bios:
Anthony Raimondo
Raimondo is an attorney with McCormick Barstow, LLP in Fresno, California. He specializes in ag labor related issues and is a consultant to Western United Dairymen, among others.

Kevin Abernathy
Abernathy has a long history of working on behalf of the California dairy industry. He is a well-known producer-advocate in the world of environmental regulations as they apply to California’s dairy families.

Prior to his current position with Milk Producers Council, he was the executive director of the California Dairy Campaign, a dairy farmer trade association based in Turlock, for seven years. Abernathy graduated from California State University – Fresno with a degree in animal science.

Noon
Lunch-and-learn: Commodity market risk management
Topic: Business planning
This macroeconomic presentation will take you through need-to-know market conditions, potential price scenarios and the all-important “need to do” steps that savvy business people must take when running enterprises dependent on commodity market prices.

An overview of all markets impacting the dairy business will be given, including dairy, feed, currency and energy. A free lunch will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.

1:30 p.m.
Video tour: P7 Dairy,
Roswell, New Mexico
Topic: Herd health
See how this farming family got into the dairy business less than a decade ago. Since then they’ve taken an out-of-the-box approach to dairy herd health, adopting the use of ozone gas for a multitude of on-farm applications including in the parlor, footbaths and hospital pen.

A live Q&A with farm representatives will follow this video presentation. Read more about the Pirtle family dairy operation . PD

PHOTOS
TOP: Dairymen Brad Scott (left) and his brother Bruce celebrated their dairy’s 100-year anniversary last year. Photo by PD staff.

BOTTOM: Jack Pirtle, a third-generation farmer but first-generation dairyman, brought his farmer ingenuity with him when he bought two dairies in New Mexico. Here he explains how he custom built the shades from the feedbunks of his dry lot dairy. Photo by Ray Merritt.

The following businesses proudly sponsor Progressive Dairyman’s 2014 dairy seminars at World Ag Expo.

DeLaval
DeLaval is a leading supplier of solutions that improve the performance of farms for professional food producers. We support our customers in reducing their environmental footprint while improving food production, profitability and the well-being of the people and animals involved.

We offer products, systems and services for all steps of milk production. Our solutions are used by millions of dairy farmers around the globe every day.

DeLaval and its network of more than 100 dealers nationwide have been serving American customers for more than 125 years. Our industry commitment is further demonstrated by continuous innovation and sponsorship of environmental initiatives like the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards.

Mensch
Mensch Manufacturing has been working with dairy farmers for more than 25 years. During this time, together with our customers, we have designed 17 different pieces of equipment that are able to work on any dairy in any country.

Our goal at Mensch Manufacturing is to design quality equipment that functions well at a competitive price. We pride ourselves in providing our customers with equipment they need to run an efficient dairy and a responsive service team to keep your dairy that way.

Everyone at Mensch Manufacturing would like to thank all our customers for their support and overall dedication to this industry.

Soy Best High Bypass
Soybean Meal with Gums
Balancing dairy rations for bypass protein is standard practice. That’s what Soy Best High Bypass Soybean Meal with Gums is for.

Now, nutritionists in the know also balance for amino acids for improved production and income over feed cost. That’s what Soy Best PEARL is for. Soy Best PEARL is Soy Best fortified with Kemin LysiPEARL, an encapsulated source of rumen-protected lysine.

Two formulations:
1. Original Soy Best with fresh soy gums
2. Soy Best PEARL – the only high-bypass soybean meal available with rumen-protected lysine mixed right in
For more information, contact your local Soy Best dealer or call 1-800-422-4697.

CRV USA: Providing genetics with a purpose

Connecting dairy herds with the goals of the dairyman.

We produce long-lasting herds with a focus on long-term performance and profitability.

For premium milk producers, our genetics sire cows that produce high-component milk, meaning producers pocket more money without growing their herd. For high-volume operations, we deliver cows that stay healthier longer and reproduce better.

We can enhance any operation that recognizes its herd’s genetic makeup isn’t just a part of the equation – it is the equation.

Visit CRV's website to learn more about genetics with a purpose, and see us at World Ag Expo, Booth 6117. PD