The first change is the show’s move to the first week in April from its previous dates in February.
According to a CDX press release, the new time frame improves the safety of customers traveling from near and far, and allows for growth in outdoor exhibit space.
The 2016 CDX is scheduled to take place Wednesday, April 6, and Thursday, April 7, at the same venue – the Stratford Rotary Complex in Stratford, Ontario.
While the location remains the same, the venue will change with the addition of a new, permanent Cow Coliseum. It will be an A-frame building with steel ends and a fabric roof.
The new 72-by-400-foot structure is a little wider and 50 feet longer than the previous temporary structure. CDX General Manager Jordon Underhill states, “We’ve done that to make more room, not only for cows, but for international innovations that are now being showcased at CDX.”
The Cow Coliseum will serve as the official North American launch site for leading dairy manufacturers from across the globe. It will also continue to host the evening CheeseFEST function, featuring local Canadian cheese, wines and microbrews.
The larger facility will welcome a new children’s area in 2016. “We tried to make it more family friendly,” Underhill says. At the north end of the coliseum, there will be two sandboxes filled with corn and plenty of toys for kids to play with while their parents network. Nearby, visitors can grab a complimentary glass of 100% Canadian Milk served throughout the day.
As mentioned, CDX will continue to have an international focus. This year, it will showcase products from companies around the globe at its twice-daily innovation demonstrations. Participants can stop by the Cow Coliseum to see a fresh fodder system from Australia, an in-line milk composition measuring device and real-time milk classification system from Israel, and an automatic teat dip system from the United Kingdom.
CDX’s ever-changing speaker lineup keeps the Dairy Classroom dynamic and fresh each year. 2016 is no different with global experts and two producer panels from within Canada set to take the stage in April. Here is the agenda for each day:
Wednesday, April 6
10 a.m. Welcome and introduction
10:10 a.m. Exposing your business on camera and a special message for youth in agriculture
Dr. Jan Pol, from the popular Nat Geo Wild show The Incredible Dr. Pol, will deliver a message of industry responsibility and speak to youth on pathways to success.
11 a.m. Milking robot producer panel
The robot producer panel will feature dairy producers selected by the four major automatic milking companies, speaking about their personal experiences with their robots and the changes the robots have brought to their farms and family lives.
The producers include: Frank and Heather Louwagie, Hillmanor Farms, Mitchell, Ontario; Chris Frizzell, Valleyville Farm, Glen Valley, Prince Edward Island; Joe and Barb Terpstra, Cranbrook Farms Ltd., Brussels, Ontario; and Jack Danen, Danensview Farms, Tavistock, Ontario.
Topics will range from barn renovation, cow transition, service contracts, power usage and management flexibility to family and peace of mind. Rene Van Acker, associate dean, University of Guelph, will moderate a question and answer session with the audience.
“I don’t think there is anything more powerful than a producer-to-producer message,” says Jordon Underhill, CDX general manager. “We’ve had some exceptional speakers on stage and will continue to have those renowned speakers, but at the end of the day, farmers connect best with other farmers.”
12:30 p.m. DFC producer updates
Wally Smith, president of Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), will speak on global trade and understanding Canada’s opportunity and future outlook. He will also address the importance of Canadian dairy producers standing aligned and supporting each other.
1 p.m. Live udder dissection
Dr. Roger Scaletti from Alltech Canada will perform a live udder tissue analysis on stage. By seeing what the other side of the udder wall looks like, producers will gain insight into what is going on within the udder during stimulation, milking and proper and improper teat dipping.
2 p.m. How robotic equipment puts a value on the people behind the operation
Francisco Rodriguez, DVM, of DeLaval North America and owner of Colganados Genetics in Columbia, will address the value behind on-farm robotics and how to translate that value into business economics.
Thursday, April 7
10 a.m. Welcome and introduction
10:10 a.m. Exposing your business on camera and a special message for youth in agriculture
Dr. Jan Pol from the popular Nat Geo Wild show The Incredible Dr. Pol, will deliver a message of industry responsibility and speak to youth on pathways to success.
11 a.m. On-farm processing producer panel
This panel will showcase four elite on-farm producer processors from all over the country. This interactive panel, also moderated by Rene Van Acker, associate dean, University of Guelph, will discuss start-up, regulations, processing, branding, distribution, marketing, profit margins and much more.
Panellists include: Bonnie den Haan, Sheldon Creek Dairy, Ontario; Jenny Butcher, Little Brown Cow, Ontario; Hennie Bos, Bles-Wold Dairy, Alberta; and Hetty Smyth, Armadale Farms Dairy, New Brunswick.
“Starting an on-farm dairy is a huge commitment, and one must have their farm, family and finances in order, along with a good dose of passion and humour to handle the rollercoaster ride associated with starting any new business,” says Bonnie den Haan.
Hennie Bos, another panellist, says, “On-farm, value-added processing is very rewarding, especially if you see your products on the shelf; it feels great! It offers an interesting dimension of business, like processing, food safety, distribution and marketing, all of them with their own challenge. ... Like any other successful business, it takes a lot time, money and failures before you make a profit.”
Panellist Hetty Smyth hopes to encourage and enlighten producers with her perspective on both on-farm processing and running a business. “There are many ways to do things, and not every situation is the same,” Smyth says. “The main objective of running any business is to make a profit. First and foremost, however, you have to love what you do in order to be genuinely successful.”
12:30 p.m. Understanding your U.S. trade partner
Mark Stephenson, director of dairy policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin, will provide an inside look at regions of dairy product surplus and deficit, and how the U.S. is positioning itself as a strategic global dairy product exporter.
1 p.m. People power
Eric Spell, CEO and president of AGCareers.com, will speak on hiring, motivating and leading your farm team.
2 p.m. Milking goat industry discussion and virtual farm tour
Bruce Vandenberg, president of Mariposa Dairy Ltd., will hold an interactive discussion and virtual tour of a commercial dairy goat operation.
While CDX continues to grow and change each year, one thing remains the same – its core focus to be an exclusive dairy tradeshow, showcasing the latest in innovation, genetics, robotics, dairy products and services. PD
