GLRDC Offers Variety of Workshops for Dairy Producers
GLRDC Offers Variety of Workshops for Dairy Producers
12/10/08
Contact: Sara Long
517-432-1555, ext. 170
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Dairy producers will be able to select from three workshops the afternoon of Feb. 6 as part of this year’s Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference (GLRDC), Feb. 5-7 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center (28th Street) in Grand Rapids. In addition, a grazing seminar is scheduled the same day from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Ken Bailey, professor of agricultural economics at Penn State University, will headline the “Managing Your Margins” workshop. Earlier in the day, Bailey will conclude the general session by presenting the Hot Topics talk “$16 Milk: Where’s the Profit?”
Nutrient management will be the focus of a second workshop, “Don’t Raise a Stink: Manure Management Issues.” Michelle Crook, an engineer with the Michigan Department of Agriculture, will cover the topic of manure storage structures. Charles Gould, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension educator in manure and nutrient management, will provide insight into experiences with methane digesters in Michigan. The final component of the nutrient management workshop will be a session on understanding carbon credits, which will be presented by Jim Dragun, agronomist and soil scientist with The Dragun Corporation.
A third workshop, “Optimizing Hoof Health: What Does it Take?”, will feature Gordon Atkins, dairy practitioner and instructor at the University of Calgary School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Atkins will present another session earlier in the conference called “Cows Built to Last: Conformation from the Inside Out.”
The grazing seminar, which will run concurrently with the general session, will cover a range of topics related to grazing dairy cattle, including a summary of Michigan dairy farm conversions from conventional to intensive grazing systems, two options for the beginning grazer (start-up versus conversion) and considerations for forages. The keynote will feature MSU Extension educator Ben Bartlett, who will discuss observations, insights and lessons learned from grazing practices around the world. Income over feed cost considerations will also be addressed.
The GLRDC, now in its seventh year, is organized by a grass-roots group of Michigan dairy producers, dairy industry representatives and members of the MSU Extension Dairy Team, and sponsored in part by state, regional and national dairy businesses and organizations.
Also planned for this year’s conference are the popular partners program, the fourth annual Great Lakes Commercial Heifer Extravaganza Sale, breed association and youth meetings, and the third annual Michigan Dairy Industry Recognition Night.
The $40 per person registration fee for the Friday workshops ($65 per person after Jan. 23) includes lunch and workshop meeting materials. The cost for students is $20 per person ($45 per person after Jan. 23). The cost to attend the grazing seminar is $75 per person for adults and students ($110 after Jan. 23) and includes lunch and all meeting materials.
Fees to attend the full conference vary according to the half-day session(s) selected. Fees range from a half-day rate of $70 for Thursday and $50 for Friday ($35 and $25 for students, respectively) to full conference rates of $230 ($95 for students) when participants register before Jan. 23. After Jan. 23, half-day rates increase to $105 for Thursday and $85 for Friday ($53 and $50 for students, respectively) to the full conference rate of $265 ($125 for students). Farm rates (maximum of five people per farm) are also available.
For complete registration and schedule information for the 2009 GLRDC, visit www.glrdc.msu.edu, or call Megghan Honke, education program coordinator, at 517-353-3175, ext. 229.
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