THE SPEAKERS

This year's program has fewer speakers and more time for questions and discussion. Our audience response system, sponsored by Gay Lea Foods, is back for the fifth year. We want to know what issues are important to you and discuss them in the "Speak Your Mind" session, so we can all gauge the opinions of fellow producers and seek input from industry leaders. Email questions to jrodenburg@xplornet.com and look for them HERE. This is the only educational program where you can express your views in confidence, and learn how you and your neighbours see the issues of the day. "Food from Our Farms" is also back with novel dairy products!

Dr. Gerard Cramer operates Cramer Mobile Bovine Veterinary Services in Stratford. His broad experience as a dairy farmer, hoof trimmer, veterinarian and researcher provides a unique perspective to the prevention and treatment of lameness in dairy cattle. Gerard teaches courses on hoof trimming and foot care and is recognized internationally as a top speaker on the subject. While operating his own practice, Gerard remains actively involved in research at the University of Guelph as well.

Pierrette Desrosiers is the foremost work psychologist, coach and professional speaker specializing in the agricultural sector in Canada. She was raised on a farm and is married to a dairy farmer for over 25 years. She has a keen interest in human relations and the development of emotional intelligence in leaders in the field of agriculture. At times, stress, burn out and depression can get to all of us, and Pierrette will challenge you to stop and think about your personal values, to grasp the impact of stress in your life and to consider your actual habits in the race to performance. If farming, family and your personal interests don't always mesh perfectly in your life, Pierrette's presentation will provide tools to help you find success and balance.

The talk on green energy seems more focused on the politics than on the technology itself. Ted Cowan, researcher and energy specialist with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, knows both the business and technical side of this high profile topic very well. He will update us on what's new with the Green Energy Act and Feed-in Tariff programs, and will also share his perspective on the economics and technology side of small-scale digesters and solar projects, and how they fit on dairy farms looking for new profit centers.

Ontario's SCC penalty limit will drop to 400,000 in August. In 2010, 35% of samples tested were above this level. As many dairy producers know, outside influences can occasionally push cell counts up unexpectedly. From a management perspective, setting your target well below that is the only way to ensure penalties will not happen to you. Dr. Ynte Schukken is the general manager of the highly successful Cornell University Quality Milk Production Services Program, a practical farm level program that is helping New York dairymen meet their SCC goals. Dr. Schukken is an excellent and practical speaker. He will provide insight into how a 400,000 SCC limit in Ontario will impact your farm and how to manage cell counts to stay penalty free.

Our closing session will feature an "open mike", where any topic can be raised for discussion. While in previous years there has not always been time for this important dialogue, the word for 2012 is that this is a priority we will not overlook.

REGISTRATION AND LUNCH

Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. The cost is $20.00 and includes admission to the speaking program, a "roving hot lunch" among over one hundred agribusiness exhibits, and a copy of the day's Proceedings. Receipts will be available at the door.

Similar to previous years, the Oxford Auditorium, Mutual Building, and the Market Building will be connected. Registration, exhibits and lunch will be separated from the speaker program by a sound proof barrier, so that the exhibits can stay open throughout the day.

The "roving hot lunch" promises to be educational as well as appetizing, featuring novel and innovative dairy products. Food stations will be set up among the displays, giving you an opportunity to talk to exhibitors and other producers over lunch.

ORGANIZATION

The South Western Ontario Dairy Symposium is organized by Dairy Farmers of Ontario through its Dairy Producer Committees in Essex-Kent, Lambton, Middlesex, Elgin, Perth, Oxford, Waterloo, Wellington, Brant, Norfolk, Wentworth, Haldimand and Niagara, in cooperation with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

EXHIBITS

Over one hundred agribusiness firms participate in this program as exhibitors. If you have questions about products or management concerns, plan to include time before or after the program to visit with these company representatives. The financial support of these companies is gratefully acknowledged.