Kentuckiana Exchange Tours Dairy Operations
US - The Kentuckiana Dairy Exchange will highlight dairy industry challenges and developments as dairy farmers tour six farms near Fort Wayne, Indiana, in August.
22 June 2011
2 minute read
The fourth annual event on the second to the third of August is co-hosted by Purdue Extension and University of Kentucky Extension, with support from Indiana Professional Dairy Producers and other sponsors. During the farm tour, which includes visits to northeastern Indiana dairy farms, speakers will discuss ways to make operations more efficient.
"Dairy farmers always learn from each other," said Purdue Extension dairy specialist, Mike Schutz. "Participants can expect to see well-managed and unique dairy and heifer operations in Indiana while interacting with other farmers and members of the dairy industry." The two-day farm tour includes stops at:
- Four Leaf Clover Dairy, a 1700-Holstein dairy farm with a free-stall barn
- Blessing Farms, a registered brown Swiss dairy farm
- Keuhnert Dairy, a purebred Holstein operation
- Oneeda Dairy, a high-production Holstein farm
- Beer Dairy, which features an 800-cow, cross-ventilated, free-stall barn
- Schaum Heifer Operation, a custom heifer production and forage business. Lunch and a demonstration of robotic milking systems will follow.
Buses will pick up participants at 12pm on the second of August from Don Hall's Guesthouse (1313 W. Washington Center Road, Fort Wayne).
After the first day's tour stops, participants will head back to the conference hotel for dinner and evening sessions. University of Kentucky Extension specialists will speak about dairy production issues including management and informed decision-making, cow breeding, and managing heat stress in dairy facilities.
A block of rooms have been reserved at the hotel until 20 July. Call 260-489-2524 for reservations.
The conference registration cost is $25 for members of the Indiana Professional Dairy Producers and $45 for non-members. For non-members, the additional $20 will be converted to IPDP membership. Registration fees cover bus transportation during tours and some meals.
For more information and to register, contact Mike Schutz at 765-494-9478, [email protected], or Tamilee Nennich at 765-494-4823, [email protected].
