More than 250 dairy producers gathered for the Missouri Dairy Grazing Conference, held in Springfield, Missouri July 6-8. Originally scheduled to be in Joplin, Missouri, the conference had to be moved when a devastating tornado struck Joplin in May.

Event organizers like Tony Rickard, Extension Dairy Specialist with the University of Missouri, were told the Joplin tornado resulted in three times the debris and destruction as when the World Trade Center was hit.

Despite the change in plans, producers arrived in Springfield, ready to learn from grazing experts. The first day of the conference was jam-packed with presentations and breakout sessions. Jay Waldvogel ofDairy Farmers of Americagave something for producers to think about throughout the week when he talked about marketing opportunities for grass-fed milk, similar to current marketing trends such as organic or humanely raised.

Scroll down or to see photos from the 2011 Missouri Dairy Grazing Conference.

Advertisement

"You're making the kind of product that consumers want to see," he told the crowd and added that retailers are also interested in a more diverse and fragmented dairy case with lots of options.

That evening, the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institutes's Associate Director Scott Brown explained to producers some of the factors affecting the Farm Bill, and he broke down some of the pieces of National Milk Producer Federation's Foundation for the Future plan. He said it's important for the industry to keep in mind that we shouldn't write or pass dairy policy based on what happened in 2009.

The following day, attendees toured three grazing operations: Meier Dairy owned by Mike and Janan Meier in Monett, Mo., milking 90 cows; Friend Heifer Ranch owned by Grassland Consultants LLC in Aurora, Mo., raising 3,000 replacement heifers; and Greenhaven Dairies LLC managed by sharemilkers Grant and Karryn Chadwick in Granby, Mo., milking 740 cows.

The final day of the conference featured additional presentations and closing remarks from DFA Board of Directors Chairman Randy Mooney, who presented a timeline of grazing systems, their implementation and grazing education in the United States. He believes a grazing operation is a great way for a young dairy producer to get started in the dairy industry.

"If you take the model discussed this week and implement it, there's no doubt in mind that you can make it to retirement and make money doing it," he said.

Following the conference, producers were able to take advantage of optional tours, including the operations of custom dairy heifer grower Denis Turner in Hartville, Mo., and 320-cow dairy owner Charles Fletcher in Purdy, Mo., both of whom had both presented on Wednesday.

Other farms featured were Beaver Creek Dairy owned by Clay and Sue McQuiddy in Graff, Mo., milking 250; Earlswood Dairy owned by Barry and Trevor Barfoote in Nevada, Mo., milking 500; Kitten Creek Dairies managed by Arnon and Nicola Langridge in Harwood, Mo., milking 1,400; and the University of Missouri's Southwest Center Dairy in Mt. Vernon, Mo., which will calve in 128 head this year.

Look for additional information from the conference in future issues of Progressive Dairyman and Progressive Forage Grower. You can also see proceedings and more information from the conference by clicking here. PD

PHOTOS

Emily Caldwell