All systems are go for Western Dairy Management Conference

The curtain rises in just 9 days on the dairy industry's largest educational event and it's already clear that the economic slowdown isn't going to derail things at all.

The 9th installment of the Western Dairy Management Conference runs March 11 to 13 in Reno, Nevada, and conference organizers say preregistrations are well over 1,000 so far. Total attendance is expected to be around 1,400 (versus 1,700 in 2007), which is a strong turnout at a time when milk prices are dipping to 1978 levels.

Two dozen different presentations will be made at the conference, all geared specifically for producers and focused to provide practical, "take home" management tips and information. In addition, a special "Dairy Issues" presentation will be made March 12 by Dairy Management, Inc., that will look at consumer perceptions about dairying and how it operates.

The conference will also feature dozens of hospitality events by industry companies and organizations the evening before the conference begins and at night the first two days. These will be in addition to two major receptions – one on opening night hosted by Pfizer Animal Health and the other the second night by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health.

This second event will feature a presentation by a world-famous expert on global food issues, Dennis Avery. Here's a prediction for anyone who has never heard him speak: You'll leave the room feeling proud and excited about owning dairy cows. You don't want to miss it.