2007 Midwest Dairy Expo

The 2007 Midwest Dairy Expo was the 35th annual year for this program, which is one of the largest dairy educational events in the state. The University of Minnesota Extension Service holds the event in partnership with Minnesota Milk Producers Association and the Professional Dairy Heifer Growers Association. Dairy producers and professionals are all welcome at this popular event!

2007 Date and Location

Tuesday, December 4th - Wednesday, December 5th St. Cloud Civic Center - St. Cloud, MN

Program Agenda

2007 Dairy Expo Proceedings Table of Contents (12 KB, pdf)
Tuesday, December 4th
9:00 am	10 Golden Rules for Young People in Agriculture Dr. David Kohl, Virginia Tech The future of production agriculture will be exciting for young people with the right sklls. Hear Dr. Kohl explain the rules that young people should follow to have a thriving and successful business. J5: New Thoughts on it Use Dr. Ron Erskine, Michigan State University E. coli (core antigen) batrerin have been available for over ten years, and can help reduce losses associtated with severe coliform mastitis. Many strategies have tried to improve the performance of the vaccines. Are these strategies warranted? Economical? Come hear the latest research to develop an effective vaccination program for your herd.
10:30	Good to Great in Agriculture: Vision 2010 Dr. David Kohl, Virginia Tech Take your business from good to great. Come hear one of agriculture's most dynamic economists discuss the management proficiencies that elevate performance in farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses. This information is based on extensive research on over 400 farms and agribusinesses. Use a scorecard to analyze how well you execute these strategies in your business.
1:30	Making Fresh Cow Monitoring Practical and Useful Dick Wallace, University of Illinois Research has shown that frew cow monitoring programs can increase profits by several hundred dollars per cow. Come learn tips from Dick, who has worked extensively with dairy producers throughout the Midwest to help develop effective and practical fresh cow programs. The Business Coach Dr. David Kohl, Virginia Tech Learn how to transition and trouble-shoot your business. Dr. Kohl will discuss the dynamics of bringing a new generation into the business and gracfully exit the older generation. Learn how profit, communivation and growth management are keys to your business success. The transition management scorecard will be available to examine your business. Asking the Right Questions for Economic Success Brad Nosbush, Minnesota Dairy Producer Making good decisions begins with asking the right questions. For the dairy industry to prosper, the right questions need to be answered by producers, suppliers, researchers, advisors and government. Often times, businesses address symptoms and not the underlying problems. Brad will share his opinion on the underlying problems that need to be addressed within the dairy industry.
2:30	Successful Immunization: It's More than a Shot of Vaccine Dick Wallace, University of Illinois Are you ever confused by all the recommended vaccination programs and why it sometimes appears vaccination is not effective at preventing disease? Come and hear Dick discuss the keys to developing a successful immunization program for your herd. Interviewing and Hiring the Right Way Chuck Schwartau, University of Minnesota Extension Come hear Chuck discuss the latest rules of employment that will help keep you and your farm on the right side of the law. Some rules seem to be a moving target, but it is important that employers of all kinds stay current with the latest rules and issues. (Two seperate handouts, "Interviewing" and "Hiring," above.) Want to Dairy Farm? Determination and a Positive Attitude are Key Jeff Metz, Minnesota Dairy Producer Jeff grew up in the city of Winona and started working on farms in high school. After graduating from college, he rented a couple tie stall carns. Eventually, Jeff purchased a farm, remodeled the tie stall barn into a step up parlor and built a free-stal barn where he is now milking about 130 cows. Determination and a positive attitude are keys to Jeff and his family reaching many of their personal and business goals. Come hera Jeff's inspirational story and why he chose dairy farming as a career choice.
Wednesday, December 5th
9:00 am	Life's Challenges: Roadblocks or Stepping Stones? Dick Beardsley Dick's talk will insprie you as he references his struggles in life and with chemical dependency, in particular, how he turned his life around with hard work and a positive life attitude.
10:30	Keys to a Successful Farm Transfer, Part I and II (11:30) Ron Woltjer, AgStar Financial Services "I want to come home and farm" - These can be scary words for parents to hear. However, if successful, it can be a rewarding experience. It is often a complex process, involving multiple personalities, estate planning and tax issues as well as matching the parent's retirement income needs with the younger generation's ability to pay. Over the past 24 years, Ron has helped hundreds of families in Minnesota successfully trasfer their farms. Making Sand Bedding Systems Work Brian Holmes, University of Wisconsin Sand is the gold standard for cow health and comfort. Come learn about the different manure handling systems, including sand lanes, along with their benefits and limitations. Economics of Reproduction in Dairy Herds John Fetrow, University of Minnesota Are you making the best decisions for your bottom line when it comes to your reproductive program? Dr. Fetrow will discuss the economics of reproduction on dairies and the conditions under which synchronization programs may be profitable.
11:30	Conserving Silage Feed Value: Management is the Key Brian Holmes, University of Wisconsin Growing quality forage is expensive. Maintaining that value after harvest can sometimes be a challenge. Come and learn how 80-85 percent of the originial value can be maintained through harvest, storage and feeding. Applicable Research Updates for Today's Dairy Producer John Feltrow, University of Minnesota Come learn some of the latest applied reserach results that can be applied to your farm from the dairy group at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota. This will include information on colostrum, ketosis and calving behavior. Will Climate Trends Impact Agriculture? Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota All of agriculture depends on the climate. Trends show that the climate in the western Great Lakes is changing. Changes include warmer winters, higher minimum temperatures, more tropical-like dew points, and an overall increase in variability of precipitaion. These climate trends may have serious implications for agriculture. Come hear a fascinating presentation about these trends and how they will affect your farm. Mark will share various perspectives on societal implications, including acknowledged perceptions of risk. Additional climate reference and web-based resources.

2007 Dairy Expo Sponsors