By Rick Zimmerman, Executive Director
More than 100 farmers, nutritionists, cooperative extension agents, Land Grant faculty and NEAFA members gathered on March 11th for the first ever all New England Dairy Nutrition Conference. This virtual event, co-hosted by NEAFA, Cornell, UConn, UMass Amherst, U of Maine, UNH, UVM and URI, focused on key issues impacting successful dairy production throughout New England.
Justine Deming, of URI kicked off the program with a presentation on farm labor management. Cover crops was the topic for Richard Smith of UNH and Quirine Ketterings from Cornell. Bill Weiss of Ohio St talked about profitable grouping of dairy cows and Cornell’s Tom Overton focused on feeding and managing for milk components. The conference finished up with Pete Ericson of UNH presenting on the importance of colostrum in a successful dairy farm business.
The conference was strongly supported by many businesses serving the New England agriculture community. NEAFA and its Land Grant co-hosts appreciates the following agribusinesses for their co-sponsorships: Adisseo, Balchem, Gold Star Feed and Grain, Gramco Inc., Jefo Nutrition, Papillion Agricultural Company, Phoenix Feeds and Nutrition, Poulin Grain, PMI Nutritional Additives, Westway Feed Products, Vermont Feed Dealers Association, and Zinpro Corp.
Planning for 2022 will begin soon.