The 2007 National Dairy Leaders Conference in Stevenson, Washington was a huge success! The conference, hosted by National Milk Producers Federation, hosted almost 200 industry leaders.
The three-day conference focused on many of the high-profile issues affecting the dairy industry today, including the development of the next Farm Bill, organic marketing trends, animal biotechnology, cheese industry economics, and the push for renewable farm-based energy sources.
Steve Krikava of Land O’Lakes moderated a session on what various agricultural groups are seeking in the 2007 Farm Bill. Mary Kay Thatcher spoke about the American Farm Bureau Federation’s approach to this year’s farm bill.
There were two separate farm tours during this year’s NDLC. One group traveled to Pacific coast and visited Tillamook County Creamery and the Martin’s Dairy farm. The other group went east to Sunnyside Washington, where they visited the Darigold cheese facility, the Dan & George DeRuyter farm, as well as a local winery.
William Jorgenson, Michael Marsh and Dr. Brian Perkins participated in the renewable energy panel discussion. The panel explored how farmers all over the country farmers are looking for new ways to produce and conserve energy. NMPF’s Rob Byrne moderated a session on animal identification. The panel featured Dr. David Morris with USDA to give the perspective of the federal government.