COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio dairy producers looking to get the scoop on herd management, farm finances and government programs, as well as information on nearly 20 other dairy topics, can attend the Ohio Dairy Management Conference in December.
The conference, sponsored by Ohio State University Extension, will be held Dec. 16-17 at the University Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio. Pre-registration is required. The $99 fee is due by Nov. 29. Registration after that date is $129. Registration includes a registration packet, copy of the conference proceedings, one lunch, refreshments and an invitation to the reception on Dec. 16.
Amanda Hargett, an Ohio State Extension animal sciences associate, said the conference is intended to provide information on managing dairy operations.
"It's mainly geared toward dairy producers to give them information that they can take home and use directly on their farms," she said. "Sessions are set up so that the speakers will talk for 30 to 40 minutes and then there will be 15 to 20 minutes of discussion where the producers can ask questions and get some feedback."
Topics at the conference include transition cow management, robotic milkers, herd biosecurity, a guide to heat stress, determining the economic value of haycrop forages, government programs and the new large livestock operation permiting program. There will also be producer panel discussions on managing Hispanic labor and problems that expanding dairy farms face Program participants include speakers from Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Penn State, Monsanto, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, Ohio EPA and Ohio dairy farms.
"What we try to do is address issues for all dairy sizes, so there should be a little something for everyone," said Hargett.
This is the third conference that has been held since 1998, with about 200-250 dairy producers and dairy industry personnel attending past events.
For more information on the conference or to register, contact Amanda Hargett at (614) 688-3143, or e-mail hargett.5@osu.edu or log on to http://dairy.osu.edu.