Organic Dairy Field Day

Register for the Organic Dairy Field Day.(opens in new window)

8:00–8:30am: Registration and Trade Show Visit

8:30am: Welcome, Dr. Cindy Daley and the Chico State Dairy Management Team

8:30–9:45am: Starting your Calves off Right, Dr. Victor Cortese, DVM, Zoetis

9:45-9:50am: What is WODPA doing for you? Mr. Robert Mensonides, Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Executive Director

9:50–10:15am: Trade Show Company Introductions

10:15–10:45am: Break and Trade Show Visit 

10:45–12:00pm: In the Quest of Future Dairy Systems: A back to the future story, Dr. Santiago Utsumi, Professor in the Kellogg Biological Station and Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University. The competitiveness of future dairy systems will rely heavily on emerging technologies to hunt efficiencies. In this section, Dr. Santiago will review the state of the art of precision dairy and grazing technologies such as robotics, sensors and acoustics, and how low input grazing dairies can truly benefit from them.

12:00–12:30pm: Trade Show Company Introductions continued

12:30–1:30pm: Lunch and Visit Trade Show

1:30–2:15pm: The Warming Issue: What role grazing dairies can/must play? Dr. Santiago Utsumi,Professor in the Kellogg Biological Station and Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University. The Warming Issue: What role grazing dairies can play? Meeting climate change and increasing stewardship of natural resources is likely to place an increasing pressure on dairy farmers. This talk will review how agronomic approaches such as soil carbon sequestration and selection for better grazing and feed efficiency traits can truly help dairy producers reduce greenhouse gases to combat climate change.

2:15-3:00pm: New technology for disease prevention on your farm, Dr. Victor Cortese, DVM, Zoetis 

3:00–3:30pm: Break and Trade Show Visit

3:30–5:00pm: Breakout Sessions: (30 minute presentation – then rotate)

- Group A: Updates on Genomics and Health Traits, Mr. Mat Schager, Zoetis

- Group B: Decision tools to manage a successful grazing plan, Dr. Santiago Utsumi,Professor in the Kellogg Biological Station and Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University. Most problems of grazing management often relate to a poor decision making and this is because even very basic management decisions such as proper stocking rates, grass allocation or minimum supplementation can be fairly complex. This section will present easy-to-follow examples on forage systems and crops, novel forage monitoring methods such as drones and pasture sensors, and rapid decision support models to better inform grazing management, enhance production and manage profit.

- Group C: Chico State Dairy Calf Management Program, Chico State Dairy Management Team

5:00–6:00pm: Social Hour – Chico State Sausage, beer, wine & cheese tasting in Farm Pavilion 

Register for the Organic Dairy Field Day.(opens in new window)(opens in new window)

Location: Chico State Farm, 311 Nicholas C. Schouten Lane, Chico, CA 95928

Trade Show Participants: Bio-Vet, Blue River Seed, CDFA - Organic Division, Gallagher, LIC, PGG Seed, Throvin, Zoetis

Sponsored by: Bio-Vet, Clover Sonoma, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Sierra Nevada Cheese, PGG Seeds, Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Zoetis