INDIANAPOLIS – The Hoosier state will host two dairy-related gatherings in March and April – the Indiana Milk Quality Conference in Indianapolis and the Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference in Fort Wayne.

The milk quality conference is March 10-11 at the Drury Plaza Hotel. The dairy nutrition conference is April 13-15 at the Grand Wayne Center.

The Indiana Milk Quality Professionals (IMQP) sponsors the milk quality conference. It’s open to anyone with an interest in learning more about the dairy industry, with a focus on milk quality, said Brent Caffee, IMQP president.

“Our committee has put together a strong agenda of topics and speakers with the goal of informing the attendees on the latest advances in the dairy industry,” he said. “Our attendees typically include regulatory personnel, dairy product processors, laboratory personnel, equipment manufacturers, cooperative services, dairy producers, milk haulers, and many others interested in the dairy industry.”

The conference serves as an excellent opportunity to provide continuing education on relevant industry topics, Caffee noted. It is also valuable to network within the industry and gain insight to the many important roles it takes to get dairy products to the consumer, he added.

Last year’s conference attracted about 80 people, said Robin Fuhrman, the organization’s secretary/treasurer.

One of the conference sessions is called “the day in the life.”

“With the wide diversity of attendees at the conference, the planning committee felt it would be educational to learn what some of the different positions in the dairy industry entailed,” she explained. “We will be asking the participants of the panel what a typical day is for them, and also diving into some of the high and low points of their careers.”

Other speakers include Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

Kerry Estes, who has served as a “Milk Man” for the Indianapolis 500, will be the conference’s keynote speaker. The Indy 500 Milk Man or Woman is a dairy farmer who delivers a bottle of milk to the race’s winner, according to the American Dairy Association Indiana.

The registration fee is $175 for everyone in the dairy industry except dairy producers, Fuhrman said. Dairy producers may register as a farm for $50 for an unlimited number of representatives from that farm. For the producers, lunch is an additional $25 per person, and the awards banquet is $50 per person. For more information, including a pre-conference trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, visit https://imqp.org.

Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference

The dairy nutrition conference is in its 34th year. Last year’s attendance was about 400 and organizers expect the same this year.

“When we began the conference on the (Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne) campus in Fort Wayne, I did not think it would gain the notoriety that is has,” said Maurice Eastridge, professor and senior associate chair of Ohio State University’s Department of Animal Sciences. “Even though it is hosted by Michigan State, Ohio State and Purdue, it has become a much larger conference than a three-state program.

“It is certainly a regional, and perhaps even a national, conference. I think what keeps it strong is a combination of the topics and speakers at the conference, the partnership with allied industries, and the quality of the undergraduate and graduate programs at the conference.”

The conference is geared toward feed industry personnel, nutrition consultants, Extension personnel, students and veterinarians.

Eastridge said he’s looking forward to the presentations on milk components, given the advancement in milk fat levels among dairy herds and its impacts on revenue from milk for farmers. He’s also looking forward to a session on feeding strategies with automatic milking systems (AMS).

“I think there is still much to learn about the best way to feed cows in AMS, whether that be the grain in the parlor or the PMR in the bunk,” Eastridge said. “In addition, research is assisting in determining how the AMS is impacting cow behavior in regard to eating, trips to the AMS, and lying time.”

Dr. Michael VandeHaar, from Michigan State, will discuss short-stature corn hybrids and if they can replace BMR corn to make top-quality silage for lactating cows. Eastridge said there is currently limited data on short-stature corn hybrids.

“The reason for the focus on it as a potential for replacement for BMR corn is that there is a limited availability of seed for BMR corn today because the major provider discontinued this seed corn,” Eastridge said.

The conference fee is $250 until March 30, and $280 after. For university personnel, the fee is $195. Student registration is free. For more information, including a complete agenda and registration form, visit www.tristatedairy.org.