I-29 Dairy Conference Feb. 27 & 28 in Sioux Falls

Brookings – SDSU Extension together with the I-29 Dairy Outreach Consortium will host the eighth Annual I-29 Dairy Conference Feb. 27 & 28 in Sioux Falls.

The mission of this multi-state event is to prepare and develop a sustainable dairy community. In addition to dairy producers from South Dakota, producers from North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska are expected to attend, along with allied industry personnel.

The conference will be held at the Best Western Ramkota Inn & Conference Center, 3200 West Maple Street, Sioux Falls, S.D. (Exit 81 off I-29 South of I-90). To make a lodging reservation at Ramkota Inn, please call 605-336-0650. Reserve your room by February 18, 2013. Mention “SDSU Dairy Science” to get the conference rate of $85.99 (single/double occupancy) plus tax.

Conference agenda

Feb. 27

3:30 to 9 p.m. Registration

5 p.m. Exhibits Open

5:30 p.m. Social

6 p.m. Dinner

7 p.m. Keynote – Joys of Stress, presented by David Okerlund of Agriculture Speakers Network

8 p.m. Wine and Cheese Reception hosted by local vintners and artisan cheeses

Feb. 28

7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration

8 a.m. Early Morning Weather Outlook Report presented by Dennis Todey, SDSU Extension and State Climatologist

9 a.m. Break and meet the vendors

9:30 a.m. Opening Session: Cherished Cows Sometimes Do Make the Best Burgers and How to create a positive mindset about coping with change by David Okerlund

10:30 a.m. Feeding For Uncertain Times, How will we face 2013 and beyond with the high feed costs we are seeing? Presented by Jim Linn, Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota.

11:30 a.m. Midwest Dairy Survey Results, Listening and Learning: What producers are saying -Alvaro Garcia, Professor, Department of Dairy Science, South Dakota State University.

11:45 a.m. Break with the vendors

Noon Lunch and Producer Panel: From the Producers: What am I doing to make my farm business sustainable??- Brad Nosbush, Fairfax, MN and Lynn Boadwine, Baltic, SD

1:40 p.m. Industry Perspectives-Meeting the Challenges of the Dairy Industry in the Upper Midwest presented by Jim Tully of Pine Creek Consulting; Roger Cady-Elanco.

3:30 p.m. Conference Wrap-up & Feedback

Registration fee is $30 per person which includes keynote evening meal on Feb. 27 and lunch on Feb. 28. The Milk Producers Association of North Dakota (MPA-ND) will pay the $30 tuition for each member attending. Members of the South Dakota Dairy Producers (SDDP) will receive a $10 discount at registration. Members of the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance (WIDA) will be reimbursed $10 for registration.

To view program details and register visit http://igrow.org/events/

i-29-dairy-conference/ To learn more contact Melinda Bennett at SDSU Dairy Science, 605-688-4116 or Melinda.bennett

@sdstate.edu.