
54th Annual Dairy Practices Council Conference
Educational Meeting for Dairy Food Safety Professionals
Embassy Suites Nashville Airport
10 Century BoulevardNashville, TN 37214-3644
United States
Event Details
Join Us at the 54th Annual Dairy Practices Council Conference
The place where dairy industry, academic, and regulatory professionals gather together to learn dairy food safety best practices and expand their network of dairy industry expertise through participation in technical sessions, task force sessions, vendor visits, pre-conference educational workshops, and post conference tour offerings.
Click Here to Register Click Here to Reserve Hotel
November 7th, Pre-Conference Workshops:
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Automated Milking Systems+Technology Fair
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Environmental Monitoring & Sanitation Controls
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Preventative Maintenance Best Practices for Pumps, Valves, Gaskets, and Heat Exchangers
Official opening of the conference is at 8:30 a.m. CST, Wednesday November 8th at the Embassy Suites Nashville Airport Hotel in Nashville, TN
Tennessee Ag Commissioner, Dr. Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M, will provide a Welcome. Followed by the Keynote Speaker:
This year's Keynote speaker will be Corey Geiger, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and serving as the Lead Economist with the Dairy Knowledge Exchange Division of CoBank. Prior to this position, Corey served on the Hoard’s Dairyman editorial team. Corey is a member of a sixth generation family farm operation and an accomplished author and international speaker on dairy related trends and topics. He will be speak on how "Dairy is Making Moves: On-Farm, In Exports and At Retail". In addition, he will share a few stories from his recently published, second book entitled "The Wisconsin Family Farm They Built"
Additional Topics To Be Covered on Wednesday Include:
School Milk Splash
Animal Housing Impacts on Health and Safety
PFAS-The Forever Chemicals On Farm Through Processing
Later in the afternoon, Task Force Working Sessions will commence where attendees will discuss industry needs, write/review existing Guidelines and decide what additional Guidelines would be most useful.
Be sure to identify your Task Force(s) of interest when you register.
If you are new or are unsure what Task Forces do
Click Here
Task Force I Farm Buildings & Equipment: Activities & Guidelines relate to buildings & equipment for dairy operations. Focused on systems including designs for handling cows, feed, milk, ventilation & manure.
Task Force II Plant Equipment & Procedures: Activities and Guidelines relate to procedures and equipment involved in dairy plant operations. Focused on promoting uniformity between the states.
Task Force III Laboratory & Quality Control Procedures: Activities and Guidelines relate to laboratory, quality control, product evaluation & trouble shooting procedures. Focused on methods of assuring quality through good production and manufacturing procedures.
Task Force IV Regulatory Issues & Food Safety: Activities and Guidelines relate to inspections and HACCP. Focused on fostering communications & uniformity between the states.
Task Force V Milking Systems & Procedures: Activities and Guidelines relate to milking system design, equipment, and facilities. Focused on function and proper cleaning/sanitation.
Task Force VI Small Ruminants: Activities and Guidelines relate to dairy goat, sheep, and other small ruminants. Focused on best practices pertaining to all aspects of production and processing.
From 5:30-7:30 p.m. a Networking Reception with Cash Bar will be held where participants can visit with our vendor sponsors and each other to catch up on new technologies, product offerings and changes in the industry.
Thursday, November 9th, will kick-off at 8:00 a.m. CST, as we hear from The Hatcher Family Farm. Their farm was established in 1831. In 2007, the family was faced with the choice of selling out or bottling their own milk. They stuck it out, built their own creamery and bottling plant and have grown their business to service over 80 local shops and restaurants. In addition to hearing about their operation, they will share more about their journey into social media and the filming of the National Geographic documentary series on dairy farming streaming on Disney+
Additional Topics To Be Covered on Thursday Include:
Sustainability and The Dairy Value Chain
Tech Tools for Dairy Profitability: Making SMARTer Decisions
NCIMS 2023 Highlights & Further Actions
Getting into the Dairy Spirits: How Dairy Is Finding New Uses
A second Task Force Working Session will be held just prior to lunch.
During lunch, the Annual Business Meeting will be held where we will celebrate the accomplishments of 2023, share the vision for 2024, and honor our volunteers through the Eugene T. Wolff Award, Guideline Author Acknowledgments and Honorary Lifetime Membership Inductees.
The meeting will adjourn at 4:30 p.m. CST.
A Post Conference Tour & Tasting Event will be held at Yee Haw! from 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. in Downtown Nashville. Participants will tour the brewery and distillery, and have a chance to taste some of the products shared during the Dairy Spirits panel discussion. This event requires participants be 21 years of age or older and purchase a separate ticket when registering. Click Here for Venue Details
For additional information regarding conference program, events, registrations, membership or sponsorship opportunities, please contact our office at 419-890-5147 or evp@dairypc.org.
Click Here to Register Click Here For Hotel Room
Agenda
November 7 | |
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM | Automated Milking Systems Workshop & Technology Fair This practical workshop is ideal for dairy producers, veterinarians, milk inspectors, regulatory personnel, milking equipment providers and milk quality consultants interested in AMS installations and operations. Workshop instruction will take place at Middle Tennessee State University, followed by a technology fair where participants can experience working AMS equipment with the course instructors and meet with suppliers. Bus transportation, course materials, lunch & refreshments provided |
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM | Environmental Monitoring & Sanitation Controls Training will cover Environmental Monitoring and Sanitation Controls with an emphasis on a holistic approach utilizing ATP monitoring, indicator and spoilage organism testing and pathogen screening. Participants will practice swabbing techniques, learn how to interpret results and discuss what to do if there is a positive test result. Workshop instruction will take place at Middle Tennessee State University. Bus transportation, course materials, lunch, and refreshments will be provided. |
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM | PM Best Practices for Pumps, Valves, Gaskets & Heat Exchangers Interactive training will cover best practices for the preventative maintenance of pumps, valves, gaskets, and heat exchangers. Participants will learn functional operation and servicing recommendations. Pilot models of a plate heat exchanger and pump will be used to demonstrate proper assembly and gasket/seal replacement. Instructors will share industry realities and consequences if valves are not serviced regularly. Course materials and afternoon refreshments will be provided at the hotel. |
November 8 | |
8:30 AM - 3:15 PM | Opening Session: Welcome to TN, Key Note Speaker & Educational Sessions Welcome to TN followed by Keynote speaker Corey Geiger, an accomplished author and international speaker on dairy related trends and topics. Corey will share how "Dairy is Making Moves: On-Farm, In Exports and At Retail". In addition, he will share a few stories from his recently published, second book entitled "The Wisconsin Family Farm They Built". Plus, additional sessions on School Milk, Animal Housing Impacts on Safety and PFAS-The Forever Chemicals On Farm Through Processing |
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Lunch On Your Own For Those Who Wish To Stay at Hotel for Lunch: There is a Restaurant and Boxed Lunches Will Also Be Available For Purchase. |
3:15 PM - 5:00 PM | DPC Task Force Sessions Join the Task Force Working Sessions to expand your knowledge and network with fellow industry experts while reviewing and creating Guidelines. Choose from the following: TF-I Farm Buildings & Equipment TF-II Plant Equipment & Procedures TF-III Laboratory & Quality Control Procedures TF-IV Regulatory Issues & Food Safety TF-V Milking Systems & Procedures TF-VI Small Ruminants If you have questions, contact evp@dairypc.org for more information |
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM | First Time Attendee Regroup Come meet fellow First Time Attendees and DPC President Keith Hay. Get your questions answered and expand your network. |
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Networking Reception Visit with vendor sponsors, reconnect with industry peers and expand your network over hors d'oeuvers. A cash bar will also be available during this time. |
November 9 | |
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM | Final Day General Sessions Start your day off as we hear from The Hatcher Family Farm, a local dairy processor and featured in Disney+ Nat. Geo. series. Further educate and expand your network during educational sessions on Sustainability, Tech Tools for Dairy Profitability: Making SMARTer Decisions, NCIMS 2023 Highlights & Further Actions and Getting Into the Dairy Spirits Panel Discussion: How Dairy is Finding New Homes |
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM | DPC Task Force Sessions Second day of Task Force Working Sessions to expand your knowledge and network with fellow industry experts while reviewing and creating Guidelines. Feel free to attend the same one or try another one. TF-I Farm Buildings & Equipment TF-II Plant Equipment & Procedures TF-III Laboratory & Quality Control Procedures TF-IV Regulatory Issues & Food Safety TF-V Milking Systems & Procedures TF-VI Small Ruminants If you have questions, contact evp@dairypc.org for more information |
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM | DPC Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon Everyone is invited to attend the Annual Business Meeting and Awards Luncheon where member volunteers will be recognized for their contributions. |
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM | Post Conference Tour Come join your DPC friends for a tasting experience at Yeehaw! in Downtown Nashville. The Center for Profitable Ag has arranged a tour of the brewery, distillery and a tasting of some of the Dairy Spirits shared during the panel discussion. Separate Registration Required. Includes One-Way bus transportation to Yeehaw! |
For More Information:

Pandora, OH 45877
United States (419)890-5147
A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors Who Help Make This Conference Possible!
Gold Level Sponsors
Silver Level Sponsors
Bus Transportation Sponsors