COLORADO DAIRY PRODUCER OFFERS INNOVATIVE STYLE
Gary Henrickson has been pioneer in utilizing new technology on 2,000-cow dairy.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – No stranger to Pennsylvania, Gary Henrickson, owner and president of Bella Holsteins, Plattesville, Colo., has built much of his herd base using cattle and genetics from the Lancaster County, Pa., Amish community. Now with 2,200 milking cows, Bella Holsteins is known throughout the country as a pioneer in utilizing new technology. The Henricksons were one of the first to use milk metering, pedometers, complete synchronization, and a complete testing protocol for all known cattle diseases. The farm also has its own on-site veterinarian and is extremely progressive in adapting new practices.

Henrickson will speak during the afternoon general session on Feb. 7 and will lead a breakout on his innovative approach to nutrient management following the general session that afternoon. Henrickson is known as a national leader in nutrient management, driving the industry to develop a system to cost-effectively remove nutrients – nitrogen and phosphorus – from the manure to address nutrient loading issues. Research conducted at Bella Holsteins is exploring profitable measures to remove the nutrients from the manure and produce marketable products from those nutrients. A microbiologist waste treatment operator is on retainer at Bella Holsteins to lead these efforts.

The Henricksons also farm 2,000 acres of primarily corn, alfalfa, barley and wheat silage, with onions and sugar beets marketed for produce and sugar. During his presentation at the Dairy Summit, Henrickson will compare Colorado’s dairy industry to some of the latest trends in U.S. and share what he believes in takes to be a successful dairy producer in the 21st Century.

This year’s Summit also features Animal Agriculture Alliance’s Charlie Arnot, Cornell University’s Mark Stephenson, Cowboy Comedian Baxter Black, University of Nebraska Lincoln’s Ron Hanson and Dairy Foods Communication’s Donna Berry, along with 24 breakout sessions that are focused on the day-to-day issues that every dairy producer faces. More program information can be found at www.padairysummit.org.

The cost to attend the full Summit is $175 per person, with discounts for multiple participants from the same farm. Reduced rates to attend only one day of program or the Wednesday evening program with Baxter Black are also available.

Scholarship opportunities to help youth and first-time producer participants offset the full Summit registration costs are also available through the Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders and the Center for Dairy Excellence. More details about the discounts and scholarship opportunities and a copy of the Summit registration brochure are also available online at www.padairysummit.org. You can receive more information by calling the PDMP office at 814-238-2893.