Dr. Ken Bailey to Share Updates on Dairy Markets at Dairy Financial Conference

The Conference Will Be Held on September 13 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Dr. Ken Bailey, author of Dairy Economics: Pricing, Policy, and Risk Management and former professor at The Pennsylvania State University and the University of Missouri, will share a detailed update on the dairy market equation during the 2023 Dairy Financial and Risk Management Conference. Reflecting on what has happened to milk prices throughout 2023, while forecasting ahead to 2024, Bailey’s discussion is one of four sessions at the day-long conference. The event will take place on Wednesday, September 13, from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel in Harrisburg. Dairy financial consultants, lending representatives, and interested dairy producers can register for the conference online at www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/financial-conference.

Dr. Bailey has a PhD and Masters of Science in Agriculture Economics along with a Bachelors in Agriculture Business. He is an author and consultant with over 33 years of industry, government, and academic experience in dairy. Bailey started his career as an economist with USDA. From there he became a professor at the University of Missouri and Penn State. After that, Bailey earned his series 3 license and worked as a dairy commodity broker/consultant in Chicago, IL. More recently, he worked for Darigold, managing their risk portfolio, and working on strategy, planning, trade, pricing, and policy issues. Bailey is the author of the textbook, Dairy Economics: Pricing, Policy, and Risk Management.

In addition, one session at the Dairy Financial Conference will be focused on federal dairy policy with updates on the Farm Bill and FMMO reform. Dr. Chris Wolf from Cornell University and Paul Bleiberg, Senior VP of Government Relations at the National Milk Producers Federation, will lead the session and share real-time updates on the dairy industry’s legislative efforts.

“Any ‘Farm Bill year’ is a busy one in Washington, DC, but 2023 is a year like no other for dairy policy. In our ‘Breaking Down Dairy Policy: Farm Bill and FMMO Reform’ session, I will provide an update on the dairy industry’s legislative efforts in the 2023 Farm Bill, which is expected to be developed this fall,” Bleiberg shared. “I’ll also share an update on the NMPF-led Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization initiative that is now underway.”

Dr. Chris Wolf is the E.V. Baker Professional of Agricultural Economics and the Director of Land Grant Programs in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University. Wolf conducts research, extension and teaching focusing on dairy markets and policy, livestock disease economics, farm business management, risk management, and farm animal welfare. 

Paul Bleiberg currently serves as Senior Vice President, Government Relations at the National Milk Producers Federation. In this capacity, he leads the organization’s policy and advocacy efforts before Congress and works closely with various federal agencies.

View the full program and speaker line-up:

  • The Dairy Market Equation: 2023 Overview and 2024 Outlook with Dr. Ken Bailey
  • Breaking Down Dairy Policy: Farm Bill and FMMO Reform with Dr. Chris Wolf and Paul Bleiberg
  • Climate-Smart Opportunities for Dairy with Brett Reinford (Reinford Farms), Curt Gooch (Land O’Lakes), Matt Royer (Penn State), and Mike Hosterman (Horizon Farm Credit)
  • Calculating Where PA Stands: Performance Indicators with Samantha Gehrett and Rob Goodling

The cost to attend this year’s Dairy Financial and Risk Management Conference is $250 per person, discounted to $200 for those who are representatives of the Center for Dairy Excellence Allies for Advancement.

View the full list of speakers and sessions, along with registration information, at www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/financial-conference. Call the Center at 717-346-0849 for more information.