DALTON, Ohio — Selecting top genetics, marketing cows and growing grass will be topics at the 2015 North Central Ohio Dairy Grazing Conference, Jan. 22-23 at the Buckeye Event Center in Dalton.

Featured speakers for the two-day event include David Kline, a dairy farmer and naturalist; Dr. Bennett Cassell, professor emeritus of dairy science, Virginia Tech; and Dr. Gustavo Schuenmann, extension dairy veterinarian, The Ohio State University.

The conference opens Jan. 22 and highlights include a panel discussion on “Marketing Surplus Dairy Animals” by Steve Mullet, Mt. Hope Auction, Greg Lavan, Jersey Marketing Service, and Mike Kline, Organic Valley Co-op. David Kline will present a session on “What Do We Need to Build Diversity of Nature On Our Farm?”

That Thursday will wrap with a panel discussion on getting started in farming, presented by a group of young farmers including Steven L. Hershberger, Joseph Yoder, David A. Miller and Shane Hartzler.

On Friday, Cassell will lead with the first of his two presentations, a session on “Why Genetics Matter,” followed by an afternoon session on “Picking Your Genetics” in a dairy herd. Other presentations include a session on “Direct Marketing” by Simeon D. Yoder and “Water Quality for Making Milk” by Schuenmann.

The afternoon session will conclude with a discussion by panel members Dennis Miller, Henry E. Hershberger, Marlin Newswanger and Alan Kozak addressing genetic preferences for their dairy herds.

The deadline for registration is Jan. 15. Cost of the conference is $55 for the first person from each farm and $50 for each additional person from the farm if made before Jan. 15. Participants may also register for a single day at a cost of $45.

After Jan. 15, registrations may be made at the door, and the cost is $75 for both days and $65 for a single day. The conference fee includes meals, breaks, registration and the vendor show. Checks should be made payable to the Small Farm Institute and mailed to: P.O. Box 214, Millersburg, OH 44654.

The conference is sponsored by the North Central Ohio Grazing Council, OSU, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and the Small Farm Institute.