DairyBusiness

WUD annual convention in Modesto, March 10-12

MODESTO, Calif. – Western United Dairymen annual convention gets under way Wednesday, March 10 at the Doubletree Hotel in Modesto.

Registration and trade show open at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast sponsored by American AgCredit.

March 10 workshops begin at 8:15 a.m. and run throughout the day. Morning topics include: “San Joaquin Valley air quality update,” Sheraz Gill; “Managing working capital in a new financial environment,” Paul Anema, partner, Genske Mulder Co., “Carbon credit opportunities,” Tom Hintz, SeaHold, Carl Morris, Gallo Cattle Company; “Workers compensation and hay fire protection,” Rick Adams, Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance Agency; “Labor update for dairy producers,” Tony Raimondo, attorney, McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard Wayte & Carruth.

Afternoon sessions are: “Ag criminals: Don’t become their next target,” Stanislaus County Sheriff Department; “The conversation: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Dairy Industry,” dairy producer panel, Mark Looker, moderator; “Central Valley water quality update,” WUD field staff; “Diesel truck rule – how to comply,” Kathleen Mead, manager, California Air Resource Board; “Dairy Nutrient Management,” panel.

March 11 features annual meeting and dairy leader graduation. A “Ladies Day” program will be held at Turlock Dairy & Refrigeration.

Morning presentations include: “Report from Capitol Hill,” Charlie Garrison, political advocate, Washington, D.C.; “Environmental update for dairies,” Paul Martin, director of environmental affairs, WUD; “Report from Sacramento,” Gary Conover, government relations, WUD; “Dairy economic update,” Tiffany LaMendola, director of economic analysis, WUD.

Jerry Kozak, CEO, National Milk Producers, invited to be the luncheon speaker.

Afternoon sessions include: “Global opportunities for US dairy,” Jerry Dryer, consultant, JDC Consulting Group. Speakers for “Importance of Agriculture Working Together,” and “Animal Well Being,” were still to be determined at press time.

March 12 program concludes at 11:20 am.

Central Plains Dairy Expo expected to draw large exhibitor/visitor crowds

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The annual Central Plains Dairy Expo gets under way March 31 – April 1 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center Arena.

Prayer Breakfast

Expo participants can attend the Ag Prayer Breakfast at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday, Mar. 31. Scot Hillman, chairman of J.D. Heiskell and Co., Tulare, Calif., and Gerrit Davelaar, owner of County Edge Dairy, Inwood, Iowa, will talk about the importance of faith in our lives and how individuals preserve through tough times. Tickets are $15 per person. Call Kathy at 218-236-8420 by Mar. 20 for tickets. Hosted by Western Iowa Dairy Alliance and Central Plains Dairy Expo.

Schedule of Expo events

Monday, Mar. 29 – Sioux Falls Convention Center – 10 a.m. Trade Show setup

Tuesday, Mar. 30 – Sioux Falls Convention Center/Sioux Falls Arena

8 a.m. Trade Show setup

5:30 p.m. – Welcome Reception

7:30 p.m. – Heidi Newfield concert

Welcome reception and concert free to dairy producers, their families and employees. Others: $30 per person. Everyone must RSVP or order tickets by calling 218-236-8420 by Mar. 20. Sponsors: Land O’Lakes, Davisco, Valley Queen Cheese and First Bank and Trust.

9 p.m. – Hospitality rooms, Sheraton Hotel. Hosts: Vi-COR and Farm Credit Services of America.

Wednesday, Mar. 31 – Sioux Falls Convention Center – 6 a.m. – Trade Show set up

6:45 a.m. – Prayer Breakfast.

Hosts: Western Iowa Dairy Alliance and Central Plains Dairy Expo.

8:30 a.m. – Learn Abouts/Workshops

9 a.m. – Trade Show opens

9:30 a.m. – How The Economic Tsunami Got To My Milking Parlor – Gary Sipiorski, business development manager, Vita Plus; and Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today.

11 a.m. – 5 Star Sponsor Breakout Sessions – Group A

Noon Lunch In Trade Show. Buffet tickets $10/person. Concessions are also available.

1 p.m. – 5 Star Sponsor Breakout Sessions – Group B

2:15 p.m. – Moving On, Milking On In A New Economy – Gary Sipiorski, Vita Plus; and Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today.

3:15 p.m. – Make Every Conversation Count – Midwest Dairy Association

4 p.m. – Cheese Judging Contest

4 p.m. – 5 Star Sponsor Breakout Sessions – Group C

5 p.m. – Wine and cheese social in trade show. Cheese provided by Green Meadows Foods, Hull, Iowa; and Cass Clay, Hoven; DairiConcepts, Pollock; Dimock Cheese, Dimock, Lake Norden Cheese Co., Lake Norden; Land O’Lakes, Brookings; Saputo Cheese, Big Stone; South Dakota State University Dairy Plant, Brookings; and Valley Queen Cheese, Milbank; all of South Dakota.

6:30 p.m. – Trade Show Closes

8 p.m. – Hospitality Rooms, Sheraton Hotel, Host: Home Federal

Thursday, April 1 – Sioux Falls Convention Center. – 7:30 a.m. –South Dakota Fieldmen’s update.

8 a.m. – Learn Abouts/Workshops

9 a.m. – Trade Show Opens

9:30 a.m. – 5 Star Sponsor Breakout Sessions — Group C

11 a.m. – Simple Choices, Big Rewards — V.J. Smith, author and motivational speaker

Noon Lunch In The Trade Show. Buffet tickets $10/person. Concessions also available.

1 p.m. – 5 Star Sponsor Breakout Sessions – Group B

2:30 p.m. – 5 Star Sponsor Breakout Sessions – Group A

4 p.m. – Trade Show Closes

4 p.m. – The Richest Man in Town – V.J. Smith, author and motivational speaker

Schedule subject to change.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Group A

1) Hoof Trimming Records: The Key to Reducing Lameness in Your Herd – Jeffrey M. DeFrain, Zinpro Corporation. Sponsored by Supervisor Systems

2) (Wednesday only) Piecing Together Reproduction – Charlie Elrod, Ph.D., Technology Deployment Manager, Vi-COR. Sponsored by Vi-COR

(Thursday only) Using Records to Best Advantage on the Dairy – Charlie Elrod, Ph.D., Technology Deployment Manager, Vi-COR. Sponsored by Vi-Cor

3) Estate and Business Succession Workshop and Estate Tax Reform Update – James E. McCarthy, vice president estate and business development, Farm Bureau Financial Services. Sponsored by Farm Bureau Financial Services

Group B

1) (Wednesday only) Applying the Gold Standards In Calf Raising – Gary D. Neubauer, DVM, senior veterinarian, Pfizer Animal Health. Sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health

(Thursday only) Hispanic Fresh Cow Workshop – Jorge Luna, Fresh Cow Reproduction Manager, Pfizer Animal Health. Sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health.

2) How To Use Omega Fatty Acids To Make More Money – Kevin Murphy, global technical director, Virtus Nutrition. Sponsored by Virtus Nutrition.

3) Future Forage – Randy Welch, alfalfa and forage agronomist, Croplan Genetics. Sponsored by Land O’Lakes.

Group C

1) Utilizing technology for cow comfort – Dan and Pam Schullo, Michelle and Travis Schullo and Ashley and Riley Smith, Valley Vu Dairy, Cumberland, Wisc. Sponsored by Quality Liquid Feeds.

2) How to Better Utilize Your Resources in Raising Quality Heifers and Bull Calves – Lewis B. Anderson, Jr., president, Dairy Calf and Heifer Association, and national sales manager and calf management consultant, Calf-Tel by Hampel Corporation. Sponsored by Calf-Tel by Hampel Corporation.

3) Mycotoxins: Impacting Your Herd’s Performance and Profitability – Juan Tricarico, Alltech. Sponsored by Alltech.

WORKSHOPS

March 31 and April 1, 8:30 a.m. – Controlling Environmental Mastitis to Make Your Dairy More Profitable.

March 31, 8:30 a.m. – Get Better With QuickBooks.

March 31, 3:15 p.m. – Make Every Conversation Count.

Ellsworth releases web-based business system

MODESTO, CALIF. – Dairy financial expert John Ellsworth of Success Strategies, Inc. has announced the release of The Business Confidence Maximizer™, a web-based financial newsletter and tool kit geared specifically to dairy producers.

The Business Confidence Maximizer™ showcases 12 years of field-testing with real dairy clients, plus eight years of banking experience from Ellsworth and others. The product is filled with numerous financial scenarios, which dairy producers face on a daily basis, then gives step-by-step advice on how to handle each of these situations.

Ellsworth also stated that, “With the current state of the dairy economy, dairy producers are always looking for new and creative ways to manage their finances, The Business Confidence Maximizer™ is filled with Success Strategies’ proven techniques to creatively manage your financial situations.”

This product line is different from other offerings in the marketplace because it is entirely web-based. After consulting with dairy producers in ten different states, on a one-on-one basis, Ellsworth felt it was fitting to share his financial techniques and experiences with dairy producers across the nation, through access to his financial advice and tool kit online.

Besides the launch of The Business Confidence Maximizer the Success Strategies website has undergone a re-design to provide subscribers an array of financial tools that are Microsoft Excel based.

To find out more about the product and introductory subscription specials please visit www.success-strategies.com.

Replacement prices rebounded in January

After five consecutive quartery declines, U.S. average replacement cow prices rebounded slightly in January 2010. Based on USDA’s January Ag Prices report, U.S. average prices increased $100/head from October 2009, to $1,340/head. The January 2010 average was $290/head lower than January 2009.

The largest quarterly increase in replacement prices was in Wisconsin, up $260/head from October 2009. Six other states posted gains of $100/head. Just four states posted declines.

Western states generally saw a steading of replacement cow prices in January, with prices unchanged to $100/head higher compared to October 2009.