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| Midwest dairy conference targets hot topics |
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| By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Biofuels have been a hot topic at area meetings and seminars recently, and the upcoming Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference is no exception.
The 16th annual conference is April 24-25 at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne, Ind. It is sponsored by The Ohio State University, Michigan State University and Purdue University.
The conference is designed for feed industry personnel, veterinarians, county extension officials, dairy producers and anyone interested in the dairy industry.
Last year, more than 470 people attended the annual event.
The second part of Wednesday morning sessions will focus on biofuels, said Maurice Eastridge, a professor of animal sciences at Ohio State.
“With all the new ethanol plants being built, feed costs for farmers have gone up considerably, and they’re going to continue to go up some,” Eastridge said. “We’re going to try to give answers to questions a lot of farmers have.”
Speakers will discuss the use of distillers grains and glycerol in rations. Both are byproducts of biofuel production.
High gas prices, plus government incentives, have led to increased interest in biofuels as an alternative fuel, Eastridge said.
“We recognize the problem every time we pull up to the pump and the price has gone up,” he said. “And from a financial perspective, the market is responding to the subsidies. There’s a financial incentive for the construction of ethanol plants.”
Topics scheduled for Tuesday include the future of biotechnology in the barnyard, new approaches to feeding dry cows and manure output on dairy farms.
“We ask for the input of those who attended the previous year and in September; we meet to discuss the next year’s conference,”
Eastridge said. “We’re always looking at topics that will best reflect the forces affecting the dairy industry.”
Pre-registration has closed, but registrations are still being accepted and will be taken at the door.
Late registrations are assessed an additional $30 fee, for a total cost of $170.
Those registering the day of the event may pay with cash or check, but no credit cards will be accepted.
Registration begins at noon on April 24, with the welcome speech beginning at 12:50 p.m. The conference ends about 12:30 p.m. on April 25.
This farm news was published in the April 18, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
| 4/18/2007 |
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