Wisconsin Agriculturist Logo

Tuberculosis will be addressed during summit.

October 21, 2008

2 Min Read

Dairy producers will want to attend the annual PDPW Dairy Policy Summit to hear from Doug Maddox, owner of world-renowned RuAnn Dairy in the central valley of California, who experienced a tuberculosis outbreak and herd depopulation.

Held Oct. 30-31 at the Holiday Inn in Manitowoc, the Dairy Policy Summit is the place to hear from experts, see environmental issues firsthand and develop a more complete understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing today’s dairy industry, such as TB.

You will hear directly from Maddox who is a large-herd dairy producer, a dedicated Holstein breeder, a successful businessman and former president of the Holstein Association USA. Known for premium genetics and international sales, RuAnn Dairy has produced over 1,200 Excellent and 9,000 Very Good cows and put 2,500 young sires into AI service.

Maddox will connect with each producer as he shares the process of surviving a herd health issue like tuberculosis, and he’ll explain what the experience meant to his family and business. He will also share his outlook on national issues like border access, USDA’s response on animal health issues, market access and animal ID.

Following Doug’s session, Dr. Robert G. Ehlenfeldt, state Veterinarian with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, will share a frank and possibly uneasy discussion regarding Wisconsin herd’s health status.

During this two-day conference, you will also hear directly from environmental experts at UW-Discovery Farms – Dennis Frame, Dr. Fred Madison, and Eric Cooley – who will address topics including karst soil and tile drainage. You’ll then hit the road for unique on-farm tours and field demonstrations at two dairies. One stop will be at Gold Star Farms, a 250-cow dairy in Chilton, where you’ll see a karst soil boring demonstration and hear from managers Dave Geiser and Deb Reinhart. You’ll also visit Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, a 1,400-cow dairy in Kewaunee, where you’ll hear firsthand what they’ve learned about managing field tile lines and protecting ground and surface waters.

Developed and coordinated by Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW), the Dairy Policy Summit is the conference where you’ll learn to control your destiny in the dairy industry by overcoming challenges and discovering opportunities.

Cost for the PDPW Dairy Policy Summit is $175 for PDPW members and $250 for non-members. Single day rates are also available. Registration includes all materials, tour transportation, meals and refreshments. To register or receive additional information, visit www.pdpw.org or call 800-947-7379. Please pre-register as soon as possible. All PDPW educational programs, such as the Dairy Policy Summit, are open to anyone interested in the agriculture industry.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like