Thursday Schedule

9:00 a.m.

Pre-conference Session & Registration
Sponsor Opportunities

9:30 a.m.

Exhibitor Showcase Begins

9:45 a.m.

Program Welcome & United Dairy Industry of Michigan Update

10:20 a.m.

Networking Break

10:30 a.m.

Breakout Sessions

High Oleic Soybeans for Dairy: Enhancing Efficiency and Sustainability
EMCEE: Dr. Alycia Bales, Caledonia Farmers Elevator
Industry Panelists: Nate Elzinga, Caledonia Farmers Elevator & Dr. Adam Lock, Michigan State University
Farm Panelists: Nathan Brandt, Four Cubs Farm & Brian Preston, Preston Dairy
RACE Credit: 0.5
Adam’s current research with high oleic soybeans builds on over a decade of research in exploring how dietary fatty acids influence milk composition, cow health, and farm economics. While oleic acid has been studied in other contexts, recent efforts by the lab are the first sustained research in Michigan or elsewhere showing the potential dual benefit of high oleic soybeans for feed cost reduction and milk component enhancement. In this presentation we will summarize recent research with high oleic soybeans and highlight how the success of this work is rooted in collaboration—with producers, nutritionists, and academics; it’s a great example of how land-grant research can drive real change on the ground.

From Dry to Fresh: Using Tech to Nail the Transition
Claira Seely, Ph.D., University of New Hampshire
RACE Credit: 1.0
In this session we will explore available precision technologies within the dairy industry, touching on the pros and cons as well as utility of certain technologies in differing dairy systems. We will discuss the data recorded by these technologies and how it and associated alerts can be interpreted and utilized in the field, especially as it relates to transition cows. We will diver deeper into research studies exploring the utility of precision technology data to predict and identify cows at risk of or currently experiencing transition cow disorders. Through this review of past and on-going research studies, we will touch on how producers can incorporate these findings into their individual herd health protocols.

Latest Research at MSU and MSU Updates
Barry Bradford, Ph.D., Michigan State University
RACE Credit: 1.0
MSU Dairy Update: this presentation will feature updates on the new MSU dairy facility and highlight a new program that helps farms answer their management questions. The Evidence-Based Dairy Management Program (EBDM) is a collaborative program designed to connect dairy producers with support to ask and answer questions on their own operation. Dr. Bradford will speak of the benefits of using this program.

Lynn Olthof, Michigan State University
A New Tool for Planning Dairy Farm Expansions: this presentation will demonstrate how to utilize and interpret results from a new dairy farm expansion tool. This tool evaluates profitability, cash flow, equity, and financial ratios of multiple expansion scenarios to determine the scenario that best achieves a farm’s economic goals. The online tool can be tailored to individual farm situations and is available on the MSU Extension website.

Martin Mangual, Michigan State University Extension
The Value of a Worker Development Program: this presentation focuses on the role of workforce training and its importance for farm improvement and consistency. It will outline current MSU Extension dairy worker training programs, and how these have impacted dairy operations, along with practical insights into what makes training programs effective and effective for dairy employees.

11:20 a.m.

Networking Break

11:30 a.m.

Breakout Sessions

12:30 p.m.

Lunch and Sponsor Networking

1:30 p.m.

Keynote: Growing Pains: Navigating the Dairy Markets Amid Industry Expansion
Sarina Sharp, Daily Dairy Report
The U.S. dairy herd hasn’t been this large since the early ‘90s, in the days of grunge, jellies, and Boyz II Men. And today’s cows are making a lot more milk than their forebears, supercharged with record-setting components. All that milk is weighing on the prices of cheese, butter, and dairy producers’ milk checks. How long will cow numbers stay high? Will beef revenues and inexpensive feed be enough to keep producers in the black? Join veteran industry analyst Sarina Sharp as she explores the fundamentals that determine your bottom line.

2:30 p.m.

Networking Break

3:00 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

Feeding the Herd: Crop Outlook and Its Impact on Dairy
Matt Tranel, Ever.Ag
Matt Tranel brings a unique perspective grounded in real‑world dairy experience: he grew up on his family’s dairy farm in southwest Wisconsin, and now works as a broker/analyst for Ever.Ag, where he helps dairy, grain and livestock producers craft marketing plans and margin‑management programs. This session will leverage Matt’s market‑intelligence background to explore the latest crop outlook and how those trends ripple through dairy operations. Attendees will gain actionable insight into feed‑crop markets and strategies to stretch feed and input dollars — even when markets are volatile or supply is tight. Objectives include:

Understand current and projected market trends for key feed crops (corn, soybeans, etc.) and how those trends affect feed costs for dairy producers.
Learn creative strategies — including margin management, marketing plans, and hedging tools — to optimize feed efficiency and reduce risk.
Explore how broader supply‑chain and market factors — such as global dairy commodity markets and export/import dynamics — influence U.S. dairy economics.

The Big Shift: Moving Milk to New Dairy Processors
Sarina Sharp, Daily Dairy Report
The U.S. dairy industry has added a lot of new dairy processing in recent years, with more plants preparing to open in 2026. Does the industry have the milk to supply all these new facilities? What will this mean for the dairy product mix and regional milk premiums? Sarina Sharp will walk through the rapidly-shifting dairy processing landscape in this exciting breakout session.

Healthy Hooves, Healthy Herds: Advancing the Prevention and Control of Claw Diseases in Dairy Cattle
RACE Credit: 1.0
Dörte Döpfer, DVM, MSc, PhD, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Dr. Dörte Döpfer MSc, PhD, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin will talk about risk factors, early detection and onset of infectious claw diseases (especially DD), and develop effective prevention and control strategies across the herd with special focus on chronicity of infectious claw diseases in dairy cattle. Machine learning and computer vision enhanced tools using Artificial Intelligence should be robust enough to withstand on-farm conditions and deliver the information that support decision making processes in real-time without jeopardizing data security on-farm. Everything else is just ‘a model in an expensive box’. Objectives Include:

Understand the role of herd management in the emergence of chronic DD lesions and chronic consequences of foot rot when using invasive and caustic therapy and prevention measures
Lameness is preventable and long-standing lameness is unacceptable; Make a plan to go about preventing both by training the eye for risk factors in the environment and risk factors among which overtrimming the claw horn and overuse of caustic foot bathing chemicals. A well-trained hooftrimmer is your greatest ally!
Demonstrate the role of robust AI-enhanced tools for continuous detection of claw diseases such as DD and lameness that work in real-time and leave data on the farm

Shaping the Future of Your Farm: Insights on Infrastructure and Innovation
EMCEE: Casey Mickelson, SE Agricultural & Commercial Solutions
Industry Panelists: Keith Sikkema & Bob Woronko, SE Agricultural & Commercial Solutions
Farm Panelists: Rudy DeJong, Mayflower Dairy & Aubrey Lettinga, Walnutdale Family Farms LLC
In this session, prepare to gain valuable insights into the future of your farm’s physical development—whether you’re renovating existing structures or planning new builds. This session features a panel of building and equipment experts, alongside experienced farm operators, to discuss the latest trends, benefits, and practical considerations in modern farm infrastructure.

3:50 p.m.

Networking Break

4:05 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

Understand current and projected market trends for key feed crops (corn, soybeans, etc.) and how those trends affect feed costs for dairy producers.
Learn creative strategies — including margin management, marketing plans, and hedging tools — to optimize feed efficiency and reduce risk.
Explore how broader supply‑chain and market factors — such as global dairy commodity markets and export/import dynamics — influence U.S. dairy economics.

Securing the Workforce: TN Visas and Other Labor Strategies
Ryan E. Lamb, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
Ryan Lamb of Foster Swift presents a practical session for dairy owners and managers on navigating labor policy to build and retain a safe, legal, and reliable workforce. The session covers strategies for working with hiring firms, understanding TN visa opportunities, and implementing policies that help employees stay compliant and productive while keeping the farm running smoothly.

Capitalizing on Opportunities with Milking Robots
Trevor DeVries, University of Guelph
RACE Credit: 1.0
This presentation will focus on capitalizing on the opportunities we have with the use of automated (robotic) milking systems (AMS). Specific focus will be on how we can optimize efficiency of use of those systems, both for the cow and the producer. By understanding how housing, management, and nutrition affect dairy cow behavior in AMS, we can use that knowledge to improve production, health, and efficiency, ultimately leading to greater economic returns.

4:55 p.m.

Networking Break

5:10 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

Healthy Hooves, Healthy Herds: Advancing the Prevention and Control of Claw Diseases in Dairy Cattle
Dörte Döpfer, DVM, MSc, PhD, University of Wisconsin – Madison
RACE Credit: 1.0
Dr. Dörte Döpfer MSc, PhD, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin will talk about risk factors, early detection and onset of infectious claw diseases (especially DD), and develop effective prevention and control strategies across the herd with special focus on chronicity of infectious claw diseases in dairy cattle. Machine learning and computer vision enhanced tools using Artificial Intelligence should be robust enough to withstand on-farm conditions and deliver the information that support decision making processes in real-time without jeopardizing data security on-farm. Everything else is just ‘a model in an expensive box’. Objectives Include:

Understand the role of herd management in the emergence of chronic DD lesions and chronic consequences of foot rot when using invasive and caustic therapy and prevention measures
Lameness is preventable and long-standing lameness is unacceptable; Make a plan to go about preventing both by training the eye for risk factors in the environment and risk factors among which overtrimming the claw horn and overuse of caustic foot bathing chemicals. A well-trained hooftrimmer is your greatest ally!
Demonstrate the role of robust AI-enhanced tools for continuous detection of claw diseases such as DD and lameness that work in real-time and leave data on the farm

5:45 p.m.

General Reception
Exhibitor Hall

GreenStone Farm Credit Services Reception
Saginaw Ballroom