Dairy farmers from all over the southern Midwest will be gathering Jan. 19-21 in Springfield for the fifth annual Heart of America Dairy Expo.

The expo will feature nationally known dairy speakers, along with a trade show at the Ramada Oasis Hotel and Convention Center.

“We are moving forward after a very challenging year of economic conditions caused by depressed milk prices at the farm,” says Ted Sheppard of Cabool, expo chairman and a Missouri dairy farmer. Sheppard also serves as president of the Missouri Dairy Association, which is the official host of the Heart of America Dairy Expo.

“Our program will provide attendees with new directions on dairy nutrition, finance, commodity prices and consumer demand for 2017,” says Sheppard.

Gary Sipiorski, a dairy development manager from Madison, Wis., will kick off the event at the Jan. 19 evening grand opening buffet reception at 6 p.m., and at the Early Bird Seminar during the trade show. After the buffet, Sipiorski will give a presentation, “How Did the Business of Milking Get to 2017?” including dairy business conditions, interest rates and competition in world dairy markets. Sipiorski will be back Jan. 20 during lunch to bring his perspective on the outlook for the dairy industry over the next five years, and how farmers can position their farm financially for the future.

The Jan. 20 programs start at 9:30 a.m. with Randy Asher, who works with Animal Science Consulting of Brookings, S.D. Asher will speak on "Moving Ahead with Dairy Nutrition Technologies."

Rounding out the morning program will be Mike Hutjens, a professor emeritus at the University of Illinois, Champaign, Ill., who will cover “Feed Strategies with 2017 Milk and Feed Prices."

After lunch, dairy farmers will get some tips from a producer panel, which will address managing during tough financial times.

The expo program also includes the annual meetings of the Missouri Dairy Association, Missouri Holstein Association, Missouri Brown Swiss Association, Missouri Guernsey Breeders Association, Missouri Jersey Cattle Club, the Midwest Milking Shorthorn group and the Missouri Ayrshire Association, according to Sheppard.

“Last year we drew almost 500 attendees from 15 states," says Dave Drennan, expo sales manager and executive director for the Missouri Dairy Association.

Registration is free for dairy farmers and their families, with a nominal registration fee for allied industry representatives.

The Ramada Oasis Hotel and Convention Center offers a convention hall, which will house more than 60 dairy exhibits and related equipment. The hotel is on the north side of Springfield at Glenstone Avenue and Interstate 44.

Meal reservations requests may be made at heartofamericadairy.org, where the complete expo schedule is also available.

Hotel room reservations may be made by calling the Ramada Oasis Hotel and Convention Center directly at 417-866-5253 or 888-532-4338; ask for the Heart of America Dairy Expo room block.

Source: Missouri Dairy Association