Annual Dairy Day slated for March 25

BY TED POTTS
The Tribune-Democrat

BERLIN Sat, May 17 2008

— This year’s Laurel Highlands Dairy Day is fast approaching.
It is being organized by Somerset County Cooperative Extension, and its purpose is to present research-based information on current issues relevant to area dairy farmers.
The 2008 Dairy Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 25 at the Berlin Community Building at Meadow and North streets here. It will include a trade show featuring products associated with dairy farming and related activities.
The registration fee is $10 for dairy farmers and $30 for trade show exhibitors. Registration deadline is March 18, said Miguel Saviroff, agriculture financial management educator at the county extension office, 6024 Glades Pike, Somerset, Pa. 15501.
Checks are to be made payable to Somerset County Cooperative Extension and mailed to the county extension office.
Michael O’Connor, a dairy reproduction specialist at Penn State, will offer a dairy reproduction update at 10 a.m.
Ernest Hovingh, a veterinarian at Penn State, will speak about conception rate concerns relative to calves at 11 a.m..
Brian Kelly, a cooperative extension agent whose area of expertise is dairy production, will speak about milk prices and milk marketing at 1 p.m.
Kelly is headquartered at the Blair County Extension Office and covers Somerset and Bedford counties as well.
Hovingh returns at 1:30 p.m. to discuss “To Treat or Not to Treat Mastitis.”
A question-answer session begins at 2:30 p.m.
Saviroff created Dairy Day in 2001, his first year in the Somerset County Extension Office.
He did so as a way of keeping dairy farmers informed about issues important to them and their families.
The annual Dairy Day has attracted from 20 to 135 people, he said.