A nasty ice storm couldn’t keep dairy producers and industry representatives from attending the 2011 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit, held Feb. 2 and 3 at the Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center. Hosted by the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania (PDMP) and the Center for Dairy Excellence (CDE), the event featured several speakers, a few of which had to use Skype to present to the group after their flights were cancelled. Click here to see photos from the 2011 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit.
The two-day program included general sessions, breakout sessions, dairy farm showcases, an early bird session, a special-discussion evening program and several breaks with nearly 70 exhibitors.
Kicking off the first general session was Cornell University’s Dr. Dale Bauman, discussing the environmental impact of gains in productivity.
“The color of this decade is green,” Bauman said. “That’s not going to go away.”
Dr. Bauman explained the differences in production practices from 1944 to 2007, noting both the productivity advances and their effects on the environment. Since 1944, the U.S. dairy farm industry has reduced its total carbon footprint by 41 percent.
He explained that the environmental impact reduction is due to improved productivity. Dairy farmers are now producing 59 percent more milk with 64 percent fewer cows than they were in 1944. They have also improved in genetic selection, feed management, herd management practices and new biotechnologies.
“The dairy industry has made amazing advances to reduce their carbon footprint,” said Bauman, “but there are still opportunities to make further advances.”
Mike Oscar, from Gray and Oscar LLC, provided an update on the 2012 Farm Bill and its impact on Pennsylvania. He detailed several concerns that could stand in the way of the bill’s completion, including the 2012 presidential election, new members of Congress and the cost of the next Farm Bill as it relates to the federal deficit reduction.
“If we can get consensus across Pennsylvania in the industry,” Oscar explained, “we can get it across the country.”
Skyping in from Green Bay, Wisconsin, was John Werner from Schreiber’s Foods, the world’s largest customer-brand dairy company. Schreiber’s has a large dairy plant in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, that specializes in cream cheese and yogurt production.
The final general session was a Pennsylvania producer panel with Dan Mains of Mains Dairy in Newville; Walt Moore of Walmoore Holsteins in West Grove; and Andy Zylstra of Zylstra Dairy in Friedens. Each producer shared their top five money makers and revenue drivers.
Dan Mains’ money makers included doing his own milk hauling, milking Jerseys, attending workshops with his management team and using advisory team members, building a feed mill and improving feed efficiency, and building a composter and digester.
Walt Moore said that his enhanced partnerships, profit team, facilities, silage re-processing and Moocho Moo Trucking business helped him remain profitable over the years.
Click here to read Moore's response to the question, "What is the most difficult problem you deal with on your dairy?"
Andy Zylstra strategizes on prices and especially feed prices to remain profitable. He also abides by the KISS principle – Keep It Simple, Stupid – and believes it’s best to refrain from making cows sacred. Zylstra focuses on his strengths, concentrating on the cows and hiring out the field work.
Participants could choose two of four breakout sessions. The breakout sessions included discussions on direct marketing, reproduction strategies, risk management and managing cow comfort.
Dr. Paul Fricke from the University of Wisconsin presented two different sessions via Skype on reproduction strategies. The first session focused on submitting cows for first A.I., and the second session focused on diagnosing non-pregnancies and submitting cows for second and subsequent A.I.s.
Presenting the breakout session on managing cow comfort was Dr. Paul Rapnicki from the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Rapnicki used lessons from animal welfare specialist Bud Williams, who taught low-stress livestock handling methods.
“We perceive the world differently than cows do,” Rapnicki said. “We need to think about not what feels right to us, but what’s best for the cow.”
Dr. Rapnicki works with his students to learn animal patterns and the most appropriate ways to work with cattle. He shared several videos, working with dairy farms to help animals get adjusted to a new environment.
“The most important way to effectively communicate with a cow is to always let them see where you are,” Rapnicki said.
Two dairy producers were highlighted in the dairy farm showcase: Dr. David Galton of Cornell University, and Mark Crave of Crave Brothers Farm. Dr. Galton described his unique business model that allows younger managers to grow their business through a partnership.
“Our focus is on growing our business, driven by assets and profitability,” said Galton.
Dr. Galton used his assets to form Ridgecrest Dairy LLC in 2003, and brought in partner Dan Osborne after he graduated from Cornell University in 2004. Galton now owns a second farm, Lincoln Dairy LLC, purchased in 2009 with partners Dan and Nate Osborne and a crop farmer.
Galton looks for positive attitude, dairy passion, strong work ethic and dedication in his partners. He helps them develop into strong businessmen by asking questions, not questioning their strategies.
“If I question the younger generation, that doesn’t allow them to develop,” said Galton. “They run the business.”
Mark Crave of Crave Brothers Farm, Skyped in from Waterloo, Wisconsin. They currently milk nearly 1,200 cows and raise 1,000 heifers on 1,700 acres. Mark and his three brothers – Charles, George and Thomas – each specialize in a different part of the business.
Mark manages the herd, Charles is in charge of feeding, George runs the family’s cheese business, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, and Thomas works with the crops.
The Crave brothers and their families have taken tremendous steps to tell their story to the public. They were featured on NBC twice and give numerous tours of the farm and the cheese plant every year.
Click here to learn more about Crave Brothers Farm.
In an early bird session, Lisa Perrin of the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association shared the importance of dairy producers telling their story. She shared tips for using Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites.
“Dairy farmers should care about social media – because the rest of the world does,” Perrin said. “When you’re online, you’re putting a face on dairy.”
Perrin noted that it is important to use social media to combat some of the statements made by animal rights activists, such as Paul Shapiro from the Humane Society of the United States.
Shapiro, along with Chris Herr of PennAg Industries Association , and Kay Johnson Smith, of Animal Agriculture Alliance , participated in the Late Show Dairy Style in a special-discussion session. While Shapiro aimed to find common ground on tail-docking, discussions between the three panelists turned to the future of the farm animal industry.
Each panelist was asked by moderator Kirk Sattazahn, of Select Sires, what animal agriculture will look like in five years.
“Animal agriculture can only be expected to go as far as the American public wants to take it,” said Shapiro.
Chris Herr expects that “animal agriculture is going to continue to evolve, like it always has.”
The Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania and the Center for Dairy Excellence, with supporting partners Penn State Dairy Alliance and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, look forward to the 2012 Dairy Summit, Feb. 8-9 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. PD
 |
|
| Sarah Caldwell is a senior in agribusiness management and agricultural communications at Penn State University. |
