Loan officer Kelly Langmaid from our Newport office submitted this report from the recent Vermont Dairy Producers' Conference:
The Vermont Dairy Producers’ Conference was held on February 25, 2010 at the Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center in South Burlington. The opening remarks were made by VT US Senator Bernie Sanders and comedian Carl Hurley led the conference.
Dr. Bill Stone, a technical support and field research veterinarian with Diamond V Technologies followed the welcome with a discussion about limiting the amount of shrink in forages to reduce feed costs. He highlighted forage and silo managements practices, feeding management, and feed additives that can affect the level of shrink, in turn affecting the bottom line in feed costs.
Dr. Andrè Wright, Associate Professor, and the new Chair of the Department of Animal Science at UVM followed. His discussion focused on the research he has been conducting for the last 10 years in modifying dairy methane production.
The morning was wrapped up by Dr. Julie Smith, a UVM Extension Dairy Specialist. Dr. Smith talked about the importance of preparing for a Bio-Disaster. She used footage from the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak in the United Kingdom to show the tragedy that can occur.
Lunch was provided with VT Secretary of Agriculture Roger Allbee in attendance to speak to the group about the current dairy economy and events in the state, including the recent visit from US Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack.
Dr. Bill Stone followed lunch with a look at BMR corn silage and the possible benefit in transition cow health. Proper management can affect cow health and production.
Rick Grant, President of the Miner Institute in Chazy, NY spoke next about cow comfort and the effect on profitability. He discussed the time budget of the cow, as well as stocking rate and how changes can positively or negatively effect health and production.
Vermont Governor Jim Douglas stepped in during the afternoon to personally thank the farmers for their hard work and dedication to their business, as well as to the state. The Governor was presented with a plaque to thank him for his support of the conference. Governor Douglas has never missed the conference since becoming governor in 2001.
The afternoon was wrapped up by Associate Professor of Animal Science and Associate of Cornell Pro-Dairy, Tom Overton. Tom discussed 10 key herd management opportunities on dairy farms in 2010 and how these opportunities will affect profit margins.
