Upcoming Events

Save the date for the tenth annual Dairy Financial and Risk Management Conference. View a brochure for this year’s conference.

The annual event provides insight for dairy lenders and financial professionals to advise their dairy farm clients on how market dynamics should impact decisions, business planning and best management practices on the farm. Two of the featured speakers in this year’s conference include Gary Siporski with Vita-Plus, Inc. and Christine Brodeur with Dairy Farmers of America.

Siporski will speak about “Benchmarking to Avoid Financial Risk.” Currently the Dairy Development Manager with Vita-Plus,  Sipiorski spent 17 years with Citizens State Bank of Loyal and worked his way up to president and CEO.  In 2008, he transitioned to his current role at Vita Plus and continues to serve on the CSB board of directors.  In addition, he served on the advisory committee on agriculture and industry for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.  He is also an advisor for the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, is a co-trainer of PDPW’s Financial Literacy for Dairy Program, and a regular contributor to Hoard’s Dairyman and other agricultural publications.

Brodeur is the Dairy Price Risk Administrator with Dairy Farmers of America’s Risk Management Division. She works with dairy farmer members in the Northeast and Southeast US to build risk management plans for their operations, utilizing forward contracting programs and other options such as the new Dairy Revenue Protection Program available through the USDA. Brodeur will share risk management strategies DFA members are using and the fundamentals that should be part of any effective risk management plan.

The conference will also include two panel discussions. Mike Peachey, with Acuity Advisors and CPAs, and George Cook, an attorney with Blakinger Byler & Thomas in Lancaster, will lead a session on helping producers through mergers, acquisitions and liquidations. Kara McDonald with US Dairy Export Council and Jacqi Coleman and Judy Wisler with Dairy Management Inc. will follow Peachey and Cook with a panel on innovation and opportunities in dairy, both domestically and in the global marketplace.

Cost of attendance is $200 per person, including meals. Registration costs for representatives with Allies for Advancement companies are discounted to $150 per person.

To register electronically for the conference, click here. You must register by September 4, 2019.

To register for the conference off-line, download our registration form. Send your completed form by September 4 to Center for Dairy Excellence, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

To learn more about the conference, please contact Zach Myers at 717-346-0849 or by email at zmyers@centerfordairyexcellence.org.