Posted: 10.19.2010
The 11th Annual Business Conference of the Dairy Business Association is packing all the punch todays dairy operations are up against.
"Reaching New Heights...A Journey for Learning." will examine everything from OSHA making random appearances on dairies - to the illegal immigrant question and how dairy workers might be exempted.
The conference will be Tuesday, November 30th and Wednesday, December 1st at The Madison Concourse Hotel in Madison. At least 300 dairy producers and industry leaders are expected.
This year's conference will cover the forthcoming immigration battle, OSHA's proposed Wisconsin enforcement program, future livestock expansion in the state, and a segment on milk pricing offering insight on the US Farm Bill.
The first day kicks off with an overview of the proposed H-2A Improvement Act S.3858 with Visas for dairy workers. This Act if passed will explicitly exempt dairy farms from having to show that sponsored workers are engaging in "temporary or seasonal in nature" employment and also includes a provision which provides for permanent residence (green cards) without going through the existing bureaucratic nightmare. In order to assure a strong labor force in your future, you won't want to miss this presentation!
The expert panel of immigration attorney/experts will handle specific immigration questions from growers being impacted. Panelists include Leon Sequeira from Seyforth Shaw in Washington DC, Jose Oliviera from Michael Best & Friedrich in Milwaukee, and Eric Straub from Straub Immigration in Milwaukee.
Rounding out the line-up for Tuesday's afternoon is a one-stop training class on OSHA regulations, laws and analysis. DBA producer members Lee Jensen of Five Star Dairy, LLC and Roxanne Solum of Minglewood, Inc. will share their firsthand experience when OSHA and the Dept. of Labor came knocking at their door. Jeff Carter (Loss Control Program Director for WI AgriService Association) will show insight on OSHA requirements for dairy operations and Chuck Palmer from Michael Best & Friedrich in Waukesha will offer expertise to help protect you should OSHA come knocking at your door. There will be plenty of opportunity for attendees to ask specific questions to our OSHA experts to find out firsthand what to do in order to make certain safety is number one.
The conference will wrap up with a key milk pricing segment. Ben Yale (Senior Partner of Yale Law Office in Waynesfield, Ohio and nationally recognized as an expert on dairy law, regulation and policy) will discuss the US Farm Bill, the primary Ag policy tool of the Federal Government. Unprecedented losses in 2009 followed by less-than or break-even prices stretched cow loans to the max and dropped cow values. With a growing heifer population and milk supply, it will be vital for DBA to work with the congressional delegation to make dairy policy changes.
The registration fee is $175 with a special rate of $99 for dairy producers. All are welcome to attend.
To view a conference brochure or to register on-line, visit www.widba.com.
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