ELSIE, MI – Getting cows bred back and hiring, training and keeping employees are two of the most challenging topics that are consistently top of mind for dairy producers everywhere. These two subjects, reproductive management and employee management, will be the focus of the Friday morning sessions at the 10th annual Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference (GLRDC) set for Feb. 9–11 at the Soaring Eagle Casino, Resort and Conference Center in Mount Pleasant.

Kicking off the Friday morning program, Dr. Albert DeVries, associate professor at the University of Florida, will define the value of a cow’s pregnancy. Dr. Ray Nebel, senior reproduction and dairy herd management specialist for Select Sires Inc., will follow with a talk about improving service rates. Nebel will then facilitate a producer panel highlighting how three Michigan dairy farms have been able to achieve higher service rates in their herds: Goma Dairy (VanderGoor), Marlette, using tail chalk; Double Eagle Dairy (Weller), Middleton, using the AfiAct heat detection system; and Sturgis Dairy (VanderHulst), Sturgis, using the Select Detect activity monitoring system.

The second half of the morning will feature Mary Kraft, owner, chief financial officer and human resources director of Fort Morgan, Colorado-based Quail Ridge/Badger Creek Dairy Farm, and Dr. Noa Roman-Muniz, assistant professor of animal science at Colorado State University. The duo will conduct an interactive labor-training discussion focused on developing effective mentoring and training programs. They will explain how training those responsible for teaching employees how to perform their jobs in all areas of labor management in dairy and business operations can have a positive impact on the entire farm.

After lunch, participants will be able to attend two of the four in-depth workshops offered on the Friday afternoon schedule:

• “Your Employee Hiring Process: Can You Pass Inspection?” with Craig Anderson, Michigan Farm Bureau

• “Connect with Your Community: Every Relationship Counts” with Jane Hillstrom, Hillstrom Communications Inc. (offered one time at 1:15 p.m.)

• “Leading the Conversation: How to Answer Difficult Questions from Curious Consumers” with Hillstrom (offered one time at 3:15 p.m.)

• “The Economics of Getting Cows Pregnant” with Dr. Albert DeVries, University of Florida.

Visit www.glrdc.msu.edu to view the complete conference schedule or to register online. Participants can also register by phone by calling Michigan State University agriculture and natural resources events coordinator Megghan Honke at 517-353-3175.

Individual (adult), student and farm registration options are available. Registrations received before Jan. 20 will receive a $50 discount. Online registration closes Jan. 27 at midnight. On-site registrations are subject to availability.