Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin: Register now for Aug. 18 Farm Bureau, PDPW dairy price forum

Contact: Jeff Lyon, Wisconsin Farm Bureau, 608-828-5713

Shelly Mayer, Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, 262-644-0855

MADISON – With 2012 Farm Bill discussions already underway, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin will host an educational forum called ‘Addressing Price Volatility in a Global Dairy Market – Preparing for the 2012 Farm Bill’ for all dairy farmers and persons with an interest in the success of the dairy industry.

Register now for the Aug. 18 event at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. The $45 per person registration includes lunch, an ice cream break and meeting materials. Go to the PDPW website at http://www.pdpw.org to register online and view the complete agenda. The registration deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 11.

Jerry Kozak, president and CEO for National Milk Producers Federation, will discuss his organization’s ‘Foundation for the Future’ plan. Other confirmed speakers for the one-day conference include: Mark Stephenson, the new Director of Dairy Policy Analysis at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Rod Nilsestuen, Secretary of Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, who serves on the USDA Dairy Industry Advisory Committee.

There will also be reactor panels of milk processors and dairy farmers including:

* Dave Fuhrman, Foremost Farms Cooperative

* Mark Schleitwiler, BelGioioso Cheese Inc.

* Mike North, First Capital Ag

* Mel Pittman, Pierce County dairy farmer

* Miranda Leis, Monroe County dairy farmer

* Linda Hodorff, Fond du Lac County dairy farmer

“The dairy industry is at a crossroads. We will either produce for the marketplace or have the government attempt to manage supply,” said Bill Bruins, dairy farmer and Wisconsin Farm Bureau President. “I believe changes to federal policy will have a greater impact on dairy farmer profitability than nutrition and genetics combined. We are pleased to have Jerry Kozak from National Milk Producers Federation coming to discuss their Foundation for the Future plan which addresses both the demand and supply side of dairy marketing.”

“Part of PDPW’s mission is to provide education-based programs that focus on the business side of dairying and seek solutions to challenges shared by fellow producers and collectively by our industry,” said Eric Hillan, dairy farmer and Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin President. “We are pleased to partner with Farm Bureau in an event that will give dairy farmers a chance to better understand policy options being discussed.”

“We’re glad to be partnering with PDPW which has done a great job helping dairy farmers be successful,” Bruins said. “I hope dairy farmers will take time to attend the summit. I believe it will help them better understand the opportunities for farmers and processors if we can make significant changes to our federal dairy policy.”

Contact Jeff Lyon at (608) 828-5713 or Shelly Mayer at (262) 644-0855 for more information.