FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 7, 2009 MEDIA

Professional Dairy Managers Of Pennsylvania Offers August Program On Emerging Environmental Markets

Bellefonte, PA – Dairy farmers have traditionally been good stewards of the land. But recently they have also begun thinking of environmentally sound practices as another way to create a profit center for their business. The Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania will help producers explore emerging environmental markets with a special workshop beginning at 8:30 am on Thursday, August 6 in Mifflintown, PA.

Featured presentations will focus on practical solutions to environmental concerns with an eye to innovations that can result in profit for the farm. There will also be a panel of producers who talk about their experiences and how moderate changes are profiting their farms. Following the morning program at Mifflintown Fire Hall, the group will travel to the nearby farm of Steve and Gina Reinhold who are using a digester that creates energy being used run the farm operations.

In discussing PDMP’s goals for the session President Rod Hissong said, “The Dairy Industry and Emerging Environmental Markets is envisioned as a program that will inspire producers to consider how much they can earn or save through smart environmental thinking.” He notes, “For example, farmers will learn about using a farm energy audit to help make decisions about what to fix, depending on payback, and we’ll be looking at ways to modify existing infrastructure to create income.”

Featured speakers will be Richard Naczi who will discuss “Creating Value and Profitability from Cow to Consumer” and Peter Hughes, whose topic is “Seeing the Green Movement as an Income Stream Rather than a Problem.” As Executive Vice President of Strategic Industry Analysis and Evaluation for Dairy Management Inc., Rick is managing an industry wide sustainability project. Hughes’ company, Red Barn Consulting, assists farms with nutrient control and has more than 600 farm clients located within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Every farm, large or small, is faced with increasing consumer and regulatory pressure related to the environment. PDMP is offering this program to help all farms find solutions that continue the tradition of environmental stewardship without diminishing the farm business. Anyone from a PDMP member farm can participate at the $25 member fee, so even workers who deal with the day-to-day operations are encouraged to attend. To help producers who do not hold PDMP membership, the organization continues its offer allowing a non-member to attend one Issue Forum at the member rate. The standard non-member fee is $75 per person.

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