Annual/Termination Reports:

[05/04/2010] [04/28/2011] [03/08/2013] [03/11/2013]

Report Information

Participants

Jeffrey Bewley, University of Kentucky
Bruce Jenny, Louisiana State University
Jim Bannon, Auburn University
Sue Mosley, USDA
Jack McAllister, University of Kentucky
Leigh Maynard, University of Kentucky
Tony Rickard, University of Missouri
Joe Horner, University of Missouri
Wayne Prewitt, University of Missouri
Steve Nickerson, University of Georgia

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

Activities: 149 participants from academia and industry participated in the 2010 Southern Dairy Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia on January 26-27, 2010.<br /> Outputs: Conference proceedings posted on Southern Dairy Conference Website http://southerndairyconference.com/).<br /> Milestones: Increased meeting attendance by 50 participants.

Publications

Impact Statements

1. In 2010, 149 participants participated in the Southern Dairy Conference bringing together a variety of stakeholders in the southern dairy industry. Stakeholders included dairy producers, dairy industry representatives from cooperatives and proprietary dairy manufacturing organizations, regulatory personnel responsible for matters impacting the economics as well as the technical and public health aspects of the dairy industry, university personnel responsible for both research and extension dairy oriented activities and representatives shaping state and federal dairy policies.

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Report Information

Participants

Jeffrey Bewley, UKY, Committee Chair;
Jack McAlister, UKY;
Gary Hay, LSU;
Bruce Jenny, LSU;
Stephanie Hill Ward, MS State, Secretary (2012 Chair);
Terry Kiser, MS State, Administrator;
Landon Marks, MS State, Graduate Student;
Wayne Greene, AU;
Mary Sowerby, UFL, Secretary (2012);
David Anderson, TAMU;
Joe Horner, Missouri;
Lane Ely, UGA

Brief Summary of Minutes

The meeting convened at 4pm, with a few members arriving slightly later. Representatives from each state gave a short update on the status of the dairy industry. Everyone reported interests in better forage growth, stabilization of milk prices, and concerns over increases in feed and fuel prices for producers in their area. Most states reported a decrease in infrastructure, with the exception of Georgia and Florida who noted stable (if not slight growth) in dairy infrastructure. Representatives from UKY noted that in 2014 their Dean plans to relocate their dairy herd, and to potentially extinguish it all together. Discussion on possible plans for saving the dairy progressed and possibilities for intrastate collaboration in teaching, research, and extension were discussed. The Southwest dairy consortium was brought forward as a potential model for a SE consortium. Potential collaborations on USDA/NSF grants were proposed and will be pursued at a later date.
The possibility of relocating the SERA15 meeting and SDC to a different hotel was discussed. The decision was made to keep the meeting in Atlanta and have UGA Conference Services explore more economical hotels in the same area. Results will be reported back to the committee through the 2012 Chairman (Stephanie Ward). Participation in SERA 15 was discussed and suggestions were made to remove inactive members and recruit new members to the committee. A letter of invitation will be sent to all departments across the southeast.

Accomplishments

The 37th annual Southern Dairy Conference was held at the Westin Atlanta Airport from Jan 25-26th. This meeting brought together 129 people from academia, industry, producers and other stakeholders in the dairy industry to discuss current issues faced by dairy producers including on-farm production related topics, milk marketing, and health and nutrition promotion.

Publications

Impact Statements

1. The 129 participants in the Southern Dairy Conference, held in Atlanta, GA on January 25-26, 2011 represented many facets of the southern dairy industry, including dairy producers, dairy cooperatives, regulatory agencies, university personnel responsible for research, teaching and extension, policy makers, and representatives from milk marketing agencies. Presented topics covered the state of the industry, milk marketing, grazing style dairy production, public perceptions of dairy and dairy products, animal welfare issues, and globalization of the industry.

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Report Information

Participants

David Anderson (Texas A&M);
James Bannon (Auburn University);
Jeffrey Bewley (University of Kentucky)*;
Geoff Benson (North Carolina State University);
Bennett Cassell (Virginia Tech);
Lane Ely (University of Georgia);
Wayne Gauthier (Louisiana State University)*;
Wayne Greene (Auburn University);
Gary Hay (Louisiana State University);
Stephanie Hill Ward (Mississippi State University)*;
Tina Horn (Clemson University);
Joe Horner (University of Missouri)*;
Bruce Jenny, Louisiana State University;
Peter Krawczel (University of Tennessee)*;
Jamie Larsen (Mississippi State University);
Jack McAllister (University of Kentucky);
Steve Nickerson (University of Georgia);
Michael Roberts (North Carolina State University);
Mary Sowerby (University of Florida)*;
Stephen Washburn (North Carolina State University);
Shannon Davidson (for Stephen Washburn)*;
Chris Thompson (for Sue Moseley, SE Milk Market Administrator)*

Brief Summary of Minutes

The 2012 SERA-15 Annual Meeting was held at the Embassy Suites Airport Hilton Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, January 23. 2012. President Stephanie Hill Ward presided with five SERA-15 members and two non-members present. New USDA Administrator Steven Smith was not present. State reports were given for Missouri, Kentucky, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee and Mississippi. Two dairy industry members, Katie Krupa from Rice Dairy and Amanda Trice from SUDIA were suggested as potential committee members. Pros and cons of obtaining sponsorships for the Southern Dairy Conference were debated. Potential topics for the 2013 Southern Dairy Conference were discussed including consequences of the 2012 Farm Bill, impacts of lowering somatic cell counts and what exports are doing to producer income. Discussion began about forming a Southeast Dairy Consortium to fill in especially the shortage of dairy specific classes many SE universities lack. Michael Roberts was elected as 2012 SERA-15 Secretary upon his acceptance (which he did). Mary Sowerby was the incoming chair for the 2013 Southern Dairy Conference.

Accomplishments

One hundred twenty participants from industry and academia attended the 38th Annual Southern Dairy Conference held January 24-25, 2012. Fourteen speakers made presentations about dairy economic policy, risk management, enhancing the image of dairy, animal welfare, training the next generation of the dairy industry, farm owner succession, and a grazing dairy model. Conference proceedings were posted on the Southern Dairy Conference website: http://southerndairyconference.com/ and the American Dairy Science Association S-PAC. In addition, recognizing the need for more specific dairy classes in many SE universities, discussion began of a Southeastern Dairy Consortium to improve teaching and extension efforts in the Southeast.

Publications

Impact Statements

1. In 2011-2012 the SERA-15 committee organized and held the 38th Annual Southern Dairy Conference. This conference has a unique niche by consistently focusing on Southeastern dairy economic issues and impacting an audience of primarily milk cooperative, federal milk marketing order and other individuals from industry and academia interested in the economic direction of the industry. Conference attendees indicated by exit survey that they found five conference topics over 80% very useful or extremely useful: 1) transition of farm ownership, 2) factors impacting farm milk price, 3) the young farmer panel discussion, 4) the challenges and opportunities of the dairy industry, and 5) Southeast dairy policy.

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Report Information

Participants

David Anderson (Texas A&M) *;
James Bannon (Auburn University);
Jeffrey Bewley (University of Kentucky);
Bennett Cassell (Virginia Tech);
Lane Ely (University of Georgia);
Wayne Gauthier (Louisiana State University)*;
Wayne Greene (Auburn University);
Gary Hay (Louisiana State University);
Stephanie Hill Ward (Mississippi State University)*;
Tina Horn (Clemson University);
Joe Horner (University of Missouri)*;
Bruce Jenny (Louisiana State University)*;
Peter Krawczel (University of Tennessee)*;
Jamie Larsen (Mississippi State University);
Jack McAllister (University of Kentucky);
Steve Nickerson (University of Georgia);
Michael Roberts (North Carolina State University)*;
Mary Sowerby (University of Florida)*;
Stephen Washburn (North Carolina State University);
Chris Thompson (SE Milk Market Administrator);
Joe West (University of Georgia) *

Brief Summary of Minutes

The 2013 SERA-15 Annual Meeting was held at the Embassy Suites Airport Hilton Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, January 21. 2013. Secretary Michael Roberts presided in the absence of Chair Mary Sowerby who was late. Eight SERA-15 members were present. Joe West of the University of Georgia, the new research administrator advisor, was present. State reports were given for Texas, Missouri, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina. It was noted that the Southern Dairy Conference (SDC) continues to be expensive. It was noted that expenses for SDC 2013 had been reduced by $2000.00. Pros and cons of obtaining sponsorships for the Southern Dairy Conference were discussed for offsetting costs associated with hosting the SDC. It was noted that earlier members of the SDC committee had observed that sponsors were part of the reason some dairy conference no longer existed as they tend to erode objectivity that should dominate university research. Also noted was that todays audiences are used to sponsorships and they can be noted as general sponsors of the SDC. A motion by Bruce Jenny was carried that sponsors be pursued to generate monies to offset SDC expenses.
A brief discussion was pursued asking the reason for the SDC purpose and location? Various reasons and participant targets were given and it was noted that further discussion may be a good thing to consider evaluating the purpose and direction for the SDC.
No Secretary was elected at the meeting. It was determined that incoming Chair Michael Roberts would poll all the SERA015 committee members for nominations/volunteers. On February 14, 2013 Joe Horner of the University of Missouri was nominated and approved via electronic voting. Joe agreed to serve as the 2013 SERA015 Secretary and 2014 SERA015 Chair.

Accomplishments

One hundred twenty participants from industry and academia attended the 38th Annual Southern Dairy Conference held January 22-24, 2013. Fifteen speakers made presentations about dairy economic policy, global dairy markets, climate change and its effects on the dairy industry, lowering somatic cell counts and milk quality, evaluating the viability of recycled grocery store waste for dairy cattle feed, using livestock margin for dairy, evaluating the future of dairy research, analyzing the use of social media to educate and market, exploring value added dairy markets, looking at bedded compost loafing barns, learning about efficiencies of new bedding facilities, and finally a panel of producers who talked about their experiences of adding value to enhance farm profits. Conference proceedings are posted on the Southern Dairy Conference website: http://www.southerndairyconference.com/Pages/Proceedings.aspx .

Publications

Impact Statements

1. In 2012-2013 the SERA-15 committee organized and held the 39th Annual Southern Dairy Conference. This conference focused on farm bill policy, politics, and dairy economic issues impacting an audience of primarily milk cooperative, individuals from industry, and academia. Additional presentations included improving dairy quality, producer value-added profit enhancing techniques and experiences, compost bedded pack systems, climate change, and research regarding grocery waste as a dairy feed source. Exit surveys indicated that over 93% of conference attendees found five conference topics very useful or extremely useful.
2. The following are in their order of relative importance: 1) farm bill changes and policy updates, 2) adding value to on-farm dairy profits, 3) value-added marketing channels, 4) the value-added farmer panel discussion, 4) using social media as a means to educate non-dairying public and market value-added products, and 5) risk management tools that enhance dairy farm profits

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