The Dairy Profit Seminars at the August 7-9, 2018 Empire Farm Days at Rodman Lott and Son Farms in Seneca Falls, NY, will feature free seminars on Three Dairy Herd Management Strategies for Challenging Times, Data to Dollars: making more money from DHI records and milk samples; and Changing Times, Changing Consumers: Telling dairy’s story.
The seminars, held at the Dairy Seminar Center at Empire Farm Days, are a collaboration among the Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY Program, Northeast Dairy Producers Association, Empire Farm Days, and DairyBusiness Communications. The Dairy Profit Seminars are sponsored by ASAP Interiors, Dairy Farmers of America, Dairy One, Farm Credit East, Farm Family Insurance, and Pikeside Enterprises.
The schedule of activities and speakers for the 2018 Dairy Profit Seminars at the August 7-9, 2018 Empire Farm Days is as follows:
Tuesday, August 7 and Wednesday, August 8: 10:30 am-12:30 pm: Three Dairy Herd Management Strategies for Challenging Times
1. Optimize Calf Management with Jerry Bertoldo, DVM, Dairy Specialist, NWNY CCE Agriculture Team: learn how to get calves off to a healthy, productive start at effective cost, with low-cost practical methods for neonatal calf care.
2. Strategic Ration Opportunities with Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY Director Tom R. Overton, Ph.D., Professor of Dairy Management, Cornell University Department of Animal Science: learn how to increase efficiency and cash flow.
3. Improving Labor Efficiency and Effectiveness with Jason Karszes and Ashley Howlett, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY Farm Business Management: learn key management concepts related to what is typically the first or second-largest expense on most dairy farms.
Tuesday, August 7 at 1:00 pm: Dairy One Data to Dollars Panel Presentations
1. Milking Your Milk Sample with moderator and Dairy One Agricultural Management Resource Group member Dr. Chris Dutton, VMD; panelists: Gabriel Carpenter, Keystone Mills Dairy Sales Manager, nutritionist and dairy farmer; Andrew Kross, Indian Camp Farm, Earlville, NY; Dan Sheldon, Woody Hills Farm, Salem, NY; and Dr. Amy Vasquez, Quality Milk Production Services veterinarian. Discussion will include selective dry treatment, intensive culturing, milk urea nitrogen analysis, and milk pregnancy testing.
2. Wringing Your Records with moderator Judy Moody, Dairy One; panelists: Dr. Brenda Carter, DVM, Keseca Veterinary Clinic, Geneva, NY; Richard Horning, dairy farmer, Savannah, NY; Philip Hurst, dairy farmer, Seneca Falls, NY; and Tom Phillips, DHIA Field Technician. Discussion will include how to use computer-generated records and reports, identification systems, heifer records, and proper herd change communication with your DHIA technician.
Wednesday, August 8 at 1:30 pm: Junior DAIRY LEADER Formal Presentations and Graduation Ceremony with Junior DAIRY LEADER Coordinator Debbie Grusenmeyer, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY, and 31 youth from two states. This program is a statewide, year-long program for youth ages 16-19 with an interest in learning about dairy careers along with adding to their leadership, personal and professional development. The ceremony highlights their experiences, knowledge and the dynamic aspects of dairy education.
Thursday, August 9 at 10:30 am: Changing Times, Changing Consumers: How to Connect with the Moovable Middle presented by Northeast Dairy Producers Association.
Learn how to share a positive story about dairy farming and on-farm production practices with non-farm neighbors and local community organizations. Dairy Farmer Panelists: Nate Chittenden, Dutch Hollow Farm, Schodack Landing, NY; Lou Anne King and Kelsey O’Shea, Mapleview Dairy, Madrid, NY; Hannah Worden, Will-O-Crest Farms, Clifton Springs, NY; and Brad Macauley, Merrimac Farms, Groveland, NY.
Empire Farm Days is the largest outdoor agricultural trade show in the Northeastern U.S. The event includes exhibits of agricultural and rural living equipment, working equipment and crops field demonstrations, test driving, products, equine round pen and cattle handling demonstrations with live animals, safety information, and much more with more than 600 exhibitors and vendors. For details on the 2018 Empire Farm Days event, visit the website here.