After 25 years, Ontario Large Herd Operators has changed its name to Progressive Dairy Operators, and with the new name comes a new emphasis in programs.
The group has a reputation for delivering educational tours and symposia focussed on leading dairy technologies and management.
The group plans to put new emphasis on dairy business management and human resources.
Chairman Gerrit Wensink, noted that in the demographics of the industry, the baby boomers are handing over the reins to the next generation, and the group hopes to attract these younger farmers to group as well as to its executive. As part of the youth emphasis it has launched a youth innovation competition, cosponsored by Grand Valley Fortifiers.
This year, Ron Groen, Mirjam Groen, and Alex Sterk received prizes for their in-novative solutions to on-farm problems with robotic calf feeding, bird damage to bunker plastic, and footbath design.
The group also recognizes that emerging automation and precision management technologies can go a long way to improving the labour efficiency of moderate size family farms, and that today large may not be the only way to be progressive.
In recognition of this growing technology area the Progressive Dairy Operators will work with industry partners to deliver its next symposium as the First North American Conference on Precision Dairy Management. The program, scheduled for March 2, 3, 4, 2010 and will bring together international experts on sensor based technologies such as radio frequency identification, robotic milking, automated milk analysis, pedometry and other aspects of the technology revolution that are beginning to change the direction of dairy development.
Despite the former name, it has never really been about “large” according to Wensink, because the focus has always been on efficient milk production in the freestall management system, and not on herd size as an end in itself. So how progressive do people need to be to join Progressive Dairy Operators?
According to Wensink, everyone is welcome. Membership is $100 for three years and includes monthly updates, a subscription to Dairy Herd Management magazine, and reduced fees for tours and events. For more information go to www.pdo-ontario.ca or contact Carol Anne Pinkney at 519-846-8756 or email capinkney@sentex.ca.
