Held in the nation’s capitol on May 3-5, the 2023 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit attracted 320 attendees from five countries to learn, network and discuss key topics facing the industry. 

“When we talk about raising a dairy replacement heifer, it’s going to ultimately make a milk cow,” said John Robison, a consultant at JDR Livestock Consulting Management Services, during a session of the 2023 Dairy Calf and Heifer Association annual meeting.

There was something for everyone at Central Plains Dairy Expo March 28-30 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. More than 4,000 dairy producers and industry allies attended the event, representing 32 states and four countries, including Canada, France and Ireland.

The 2023 Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW) Business Conference was held March 15-16, in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The annual conference brought together nearly 1,400 dairy producers and industry professionals for professional development and networking.

What sets successful dairies apart from the rest of the industry? According to agricultural economist Bruce Dehm, president of Dehm Associates LLC, there are four key indicators of success: efficient milk production, low or profitable cost per hundredweight, effective management, and financial stability/sufficient cash flow and equity.

Heavy snow and blizzard conditions impacted land and air travel to the Western Dairy Management Conference, Feb. 28-March 2 in Reno, Nevada. Broader industry topics such as the checkoff, farm bill and ag labor were covered.

After a several-year hiatus of an in-person Midwest Manure Summit after COVID-19 restrictions on community gatherings, the regional educational event returned with an impressive lineup.

A conversation between the late John T. Pagel and the Kewaunee County Economic Development Corporation (KCEDC) over 10 years ago set the wheels in motion for an opportunity for students in northeast Wisconsin to learn about careers within the agricultural industry.