The fourth annual Kentucky Dairy Partners meeting is set for March 1 and 2 at the Cave City Convention Center. Dairy producers, industry representatives and anyone interested in the dairy industry are welcome to attend.

Exhibit viewing begins March 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. CST. Registration begins March 2 at 8:30 a.m. with the sessions beginning at 9:30 a.m. Opening sessions include a presentation about cow comfort and its effect on animal health from Alltech’s Fabian Bernal and a new approach to the dairy industry’s image from Cheryl Hayn and Kentucky dairy farmer Terry Rowlett. Hayn is general manager of the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association in Atlanta; Rowlett milks 120 cows and raises corn silage, grain, tobacco and grass hay on 600 acres.

Jeff Reneau from the University of Minnesota will lead a discussion titled “Lowering SCC is Not a Guessing Game” followed by an update about what’s new in dairy research and teaching at the University of Kentucky from dairy professor Bill Silvia.

Afternoon sessions on March 2 include a presentation from Diane Leonard of Dairy Management Inc. titled “McDonald’s – A Dairy Destination!”, and Reneau will lead another discussion titled “Lowering SCC Makes Cents for You.” The day will wrap up with a farmer-led panel discussion about “Raising the Standard on Milk Quality.” Dairy farmers on the panel include Beth Jones, Brad Bertram and Jeremy Kinslow.

Sponsors of the meeting include the UK College of Agriculture, the Kentucky Dairy Development Council, Kentucky American Dairy Association/SUDIA and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

Two producers per Kentucky dairy operation will receive free registration courtesy of the Kentucky Dairy Development Council. The fee for other participants is $25 per person. All registrations will be taken at the door.