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February 14, 2003

Purdue Dairy Road Show to focus on dairy profitability

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - In an effort to help struggling dairy farmers around the state, Purdue University Extension has put together a Dairy Road Show to address dairy production issues. In the coming months, the road show will travel to 12 counties throughout Indiana.

"We understand that many producers are struggling with continuing low prices and, in some parts of the state, with forage shortages on top of the low prices," said Mike Schutz, an Extension dairy specialist. "So this year we're presenting information that will help dairy producers face those and other issues.

"From the dairy price situation and outlook, to advice on manure management systems and environmental regulations, the information presented will be useful to producers."

At the road show, experts will give presentations on subjects that affect the dairy operation, including milk prices, cow management, the dairy check-off and waste management.

Schutz will talk about marketing opportunities, including the future price market for milk, marketing options and using marketing tools. Don Jones, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, will discuss new regulations on animal waste management and the best ways to comply with them.

Extension veterinarian Simon Kenyon's presentation on fresh cow management will focus on health maintenance and how to get a cow started on milk production.

"This segment is bound to help profitability by getting the fresh cows off to a flying start after calving," Schutz said.

Sue Brames and her associates of Milk Promotion Services Inc. will review dairy check-off initiatives and milk promotion in Indiana.

In each county, Extension and Purdue staff also will discuss news and topics of interest to local audiences. Each event is free and prior registration is not required.

The road show is scheduled to visit the following counties:

  • Feb. 17, Tippecanoe, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST, Purdue Animal Sciences Research and Education Center.

  • Feb. 18, Parke, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EST, Parke County Fairgrounds.

  • Feb. 25, Daviess, 6:30-9 p.m. EST, Dinky Sale Barn, Odon-Cannelburg Road.

  • Feb. 26, Vanderburgh, 9 a.m. to noon CST, Vanderburgh County Fairgrounds Exposition Hall.

  • Feb. 26, Dubois, 7-9:30 p.m. EST, Dubois County Fairgrounds Clover Pavilion.

  • Feb. 27, Washington., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST, Purdue Extension Office in Salem.

  • Feb. 27, Bartholomew, 7-9:30 p.m. EST, Bartholomew County Fairgrounds Family Arts Building.

  • March 3, Dekalb, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST, Purdue Extension Office in Auburn.

  • March 3, Adams, 7-9:30 p.m. EST, Purdue Extension Office in Decatur.

  • March 4, Marshall, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST, Purdue Extension Office in Plymouth.

  • March 4, LaGrange, 7-9 p.m. EST, Purdue Extension Office in LaGrange.

  • March 25, LaPorte, 9:30 to noon CST, Pinney-Purdue Agriculture Center.

    For more information on the Purdue Dairy Road Show, contact the local Purdue Extension office in these counties.

    Writer: Michelle Betz, (765) 494-8402, news_students@aes.purdue.edu

    Sources: Simon Kenyon, (765) 494-0333, skenyon@purdue.edu

    Schutz, (765) 494-9478, mschutz@purdue.edu

    Related Web site: Dairy@Purdue page: https://www.ces.purdue.edu/dairy/

    Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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