By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent
 
EAST LANSING, Mich. — The ninth annual Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference (GLRDC) features workshops on animal care, dairy product marketing and other hot topics aimed at preparing dairy producers for the future, Feb. 3-5 at the Bavarian Inn and Conference Center in Frankenmuth.
“The purpose of the GLRDC is to provide timely information for the dairy industry in the Midwest,” said Faith Cullens, chair of the 2011 GLRDC planning committee and Michigan State University (MSU) Extension dairy educator. “It’s also a great opportunity for producers to network with one another.”
The conference includes two days of educational sessions, one-half day of breed association and youth meetings and an industry-wide awards banquet honoring a variety of industry honorees including the MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year.

The conference kicks off with a series of speakers addressing dairy marketing and animal health.

Diane Leonard, vice president of strategic initiatives for Dairy Management, Inc., and Debra McDaniels, senior director of product innovation and development for McDonald’s USA, will talk with producers about thinking creatively in marketing their products.

“As the profit margin in the dairy industry continues getting smaller, it’s important for producers to look at new ways of generating income,” Cullens said. “For some, that might mean buying more cows, while for others, the answer might lie in diversifying their operations by direct-marketing their products. These sessions will walk producers through some of those possibilities.”

Dairy farmer and world champion hot rod racecar driver, Mark Thomas, will commence the series on animal health with his presentation titled, “Team Work Spells Success in Racing – and in Farming.”

Other speakers who will discuss specific dairy health issues include Dr. Ron Erskine and Dr. Dan Grooms, both from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Sam Leadley, calf and heifer specialist with Attica Veterinary Associates, P.C. Following their presentations, all of the speakers will serve on a panel facilitated by Dr. Mark Fox of the Deckerville Veterinary Clinic to field questions from the audience.

On Feb. 4, attendees can learn about milk pricing policy development, reproduction, dairy forage alternatives and preparing for the future during the morning session.

Beginning at 1:30 p.m., producers can choose from four concurrent workshops. Topics include milk marketing risk management, vertical integration, calf and heifer management, and dealing with issues when family and business collide.
“The Facts of Life: When Family and Business Collide,” features Jolene Brown, a family business consultant from Iowa who understands agriculture and the families that live it everyday. Brown will discuss the steps to follow and the conversations to have in order to become a “business-first family.”

For those interested in learning how to integrate retail sales into their dairy operation, MSU associate professor of food science and human nutrition, and animal science Dr. John Partridge will facilitate a panel discussion titled, “Vertical Integration of Dairy Farms.” Panel members include Doug Westendorp, of Mooville Creamery, Nashville, Mich.; George Crave, of Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Waterloo, Wis.; Jon Plummer, of Moomers Ice Cream, Traverse City, Mich.; and Wendell Van Gunst, of Country Dairy Inc., New Era, Mich.

“Each of these producers brings valuable experience and knowledge to this panel,” Cullens said. “Whether they’re making and selling cheese or ice cream, they’ve figured out how to add value to their operations. We think this is something that many other producers throughout the region would be interested in learning about.”

Crave will share more of his insights during a session on the final day of the conference. During “Marketing beyond the milk tank: The story of Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese,” he will discuss how his family’s operation has progressed, being named the Dairy Farm Family of the Year, Dairymen of the Year and runner-up in Farm Progress Magazine’s Best Managed Farms Contest through sustainable farm methods, local partnerships and cheese making.
Registration forms and a complete program schedule are available online at www.glrdc.msu.edu Participants can also register and receive more information on the conference by calling MSU events coordinator Megghan Honke at 517-353-3175, ext. 229. Online registration ends Jan. 28. On-site registrations are subject to availability.