IDFA's premier annual meeting gathers players from all facets of the dairy industry - producers, processors and suppliers — to discuss and debate the significant policy issues facing the industry.

DAIRY FORUM HOTEL RESERVATIONS: Call the Boca Raton Resort & Club at (561) 447-3000 to reserve your room. Refer to the IDFA Dairy Forum and receive a $260 single/double room rate!

2004 DAIRY FORUM: SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Sunday, January 18
Golf Tournaments
7:30 am	AM Golf Tournament — Country Club Resort
12:00 Noon	PM Golf Tournament — Resort Course
3:00 – 5:00 pm	IDFA Board of Directors Meeting (by invitation)
6:00 – 7:00 pm	Keynote Address (co-sponsored by Dairy.com) Presider: Paul Kruse, Vice President & General Counsel Blue Bell Creameries, L.P., Brenham, TX Speaker: Daniel Pipes What's next for the Middle East? How will the U.S. war on terrorism there affect the West? During this invaluable session, returning Forum Keynote Speaker Daniel Pipes will seek to answer such pressing questions about recent global events. Back by popular demand, Pipes is the Director of the Middle East Forum and a columnist for both the New York Post and the Jerusalem Post. His vast knowledge will help attendees gain insights on the most unpredictable region of the world.
7:00 – 8:30 pm	Opening Reception (co-sponsored by Ecolab, Inc.)
Monday, January 19
(Beverage breaks on Monday and Tuesday are co-sponsored by Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc.)
7:30 – 9:00 am	Awards Breakfast Presentation (co-sponsored by Tetra Pak Inc.) Dairy Foods Processor of the Year Dairy Field Presentation NCI Laureate Award Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year Presider: Lou Gentine, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Sargento Foods Inc., Plymouth, WI Keynote Address (8:30 – 9:00 am) Risk Success...! Speaker: Connie Tipton, President & CEO International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, DC
9:15 – 10:30 am	General Session — Congressional Panel Don't miss this great opportunity to hear Members of Congress discuss the hot issues in Washington. Learn what is in store on policy and politics as we approach the Presidential election. Gain insights on how Washington will deal with issues affecting the economy, international affairs, and how this may impact your business and your family as we move into the new year. Moderator: Chip Kunde, Senior Vice President International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, DC Panelists: Pete Sessions (R-TX) Washington, DC John Boehner (R-OH) (Invited) Washington, DC Cal Dooley (D-CA) (Invited) Washington, DC Ron Kind (D-WI) (Invited) Washington, DC
10:45 am – 12:00 Noon	General Session Strategies for Driving Dairy Market Growth and Profitability Does market mass matter? Defining the competitive set The role of brands/private labels Expanding dairy ingredients usage Moderator: Tip Tipton, Chairman The Tipton Group, Washington, DC Panelists: Rick Beaman, Chief Operating Officer, Southwest Region Dean Foods Company, Dallas, TX Gary Hanman, President & CEO Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., Kansas City, MO Larry Ferguson, President and CEO Schreiber Foods, Inc., Green Bay, WI T. Gary Rogers, Chairman & CEO Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc., Oakland, CA
12:00 Noon – 1:30 pm	"Spa Lunch" and General Session Learn How to Weigh in on Weight Loss The weight loss properties of dairy consumption are big, big news. Leaders of our industry's generic campaigns will lay out the big picture strategy behind the Weight Loss Introductory campaign. What's to come, and, how the generic campaigns can support the efforts of individual companies and brands will be the focus. Moderator: John Robinson, Sr. V.P., Sales & Marketing, Chairman, MilkPEP Dean Foods Company, Dallas, TX It's a Big Deal! Speakers: Tom Gallagher Chief Executive Officer Dairy Management Inc., Rosemont, IL Kurt Graetzer, Chief Executive Officer MilkPEP, Washington, DC The Dairy Industry Program Overview Speakers: Tom Nagle, Vice President, Marketing International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, DC Grant Prentice, Vice President, Marketing Dairy Management Inc., Rosemont, IL
2:00 – 3:00 pm	General Session What's Up for Dairy Markets Is your crystal ball cloudy? Leading dairy economists will provide their views of what's ahead for dairy markets. Bring your own questions and views to share. It will be interactive. Moderator: Dr. Bob Yonkers, Chief Economist International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, DC Speakers: Dr. Mark Stephenson, Sr. Extension Associate Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Dr. Bob Young, Chief Economist American Farm Bureau Federation, Washington, DC
2:00 – 5:00 pm	Tennis Tournament (co-sponsored by Herbein + Company)
3:00 – 4:30 pm pm	General Session Strategic Marketing Priorities for Milk Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC) has developed a detailed understanding of current U.S. beverage sales and analyzed milk's competitive position in each key channel to identify gaps that exist today. They also suggested actionable ways to turn these gaps into opportunities. If these opportunities are fully optimized, BMC estimates that the fluid milk category would grow by more than 5% in 5 years. Come learn more about how you can develop a plan to maximize your company's volume potential. Speaker: Stan Kostman, President Beverage Marketing Corp., New York, NY
5:30 – 6:30 pm	Editors' Briefing (Invitation Only)
6:30 – 7:30 pm	PAC Reception and GRAND Pioneer Award Presentation (Invitation Only)
Tuesday, January 20
7:30 – 8:30 am	Coffee with...Speaker TBA Presider: Mary Kay Haben, Group V.P., Kraft Foods & President Kraft cheese, Enhancers & Meals Group Kraft Foods N.A., Inc., Glenview, IL
8:45 – 10:30 am	General Session Leaders of major world companies discuss global market strategies. Learn how major international companies are strategically positioning themselves globally — and why they have become global marketers. Moderator: Tip Tipton, Chairman The Tipton Group, Washington, DC Panelists: Jorge Sadurni, Senior Vice President NESTEC Ltd., Vevey, Switzerland John Moloney, President & CEO Glanbia Foods, Kilkenny, Ireland Luc Morelon, Director of External Relations (Invited) Groupe Lactalis, Laval, France
9:00 am – 3:00 pm	Spouse Tour — Flagler Museum Henry M. Flagler created the "Palm Beach Image" of opulent living when in 1902 he built a Gilded Age estate "Whitehall" for his wife. Architects Carrere and Hastings designed Whitehall in the Beaux-Arts style. In traditional Gilded Age fashion, a New York design firm designed the interiors of Whitehall as a series of period rooms. Today, Whitehall is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as the Flagler Museum. After visiting Whitehall enjoy a delicious lunch at Charley's Crab, and then on to shopping on Worth Avenue home to some of the most rarefied merchandise in the world!
10:30 – 12:00 Noon	Concurrent Sessions How Today's Dairy Farm Leaders View Tomorrow's Dairy Industry Many factors are shaping the future of the dairy industry, including price volatility, structural change, new technologies, and changing domestic and trade policies. Some of today's leading dairy farm operators share their views of what this all means for tomorrow's dairy industry, and how they are planning now to be a part of that future. Moderator: Mark Davis, President Davisco Foods International, Inc., Le Sueur, MN Panelists: Mike McCloskey, General Manager (Invited) Select Milk Producers/Country Line Dairy, Lake Arthur, NM Randy Mooney, 1st Vice Chairman, DFA M&M Dairy, Rogersville, MO George Mueller, Operator Willow Bend Farm, Clifton Springs, NY Dick Waybright, Co-Owner Mason Dixon Farms, Inc. Gettysburg, PA Milk vs. Soy in Schools Soy wants a place on the school milk tray to meet the needs and preferences of some students, whether driven by medical, cultural or family preferences. The milk industry argues that no alternative delivers the nutritional benefits of real milk. Meanwhile right at the heart of the policy debate is the ethnically charged issue of lactose intolerance. How widespread is it? Is it a disease at all? And because lactose intolerance varies by ethnic group — is it a policy lever that is being used appropriately, or abused? Moderator: Kristin Wilcox, Senior Director, Legislative Affairs International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, DC Panelists: Nancy Chapman, Executive Director N. Chapman Associates, Washington, DC European Union's New Agriculture Policy and Its Impact SThe EU is substantially reducing government intervention in agricultural product markets — direct payments decoupled from production, reduced export subsidies — it may signal a new day for world dairy markets and domestic policies. Moderator: Clay Hough, Senior Vice President & General Counsel International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, DC EU's New Policy: Presenter: Dr. Joop Kleibeuker, Secretary General (Invited) European Dairy Association, Bruxelles, Belgium Respondents: Tom Camerlo, DFA First Vice Chairman of the Board (Invited) Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., Florence, CO Mastering the Collaboration-Innovation Equation Between Buyers & Sellers (co-sponsored by IAFIS) Collaboration is the key to innovation. Exciting new things happen when suppliers and their customers get together to create something new or improve something current. In this exciting session, you'll hear case studies that show how collaboration leads to innovation in products, processes, programs and services offered by suppliers and their customers. You won't want to miss this solutions-focused look at innovation in the industry. Moderator: Stephen C. Schlegel President IAFIS McClean, VA Speakers: Gunther Brinkman Vice President, Sales & Marketing Norse Dairy Systems, Inc. Columbus, OH John Rooney General Manager Evergreen Packaging Equipment/International Paper Cedar Rapids, IA
12:30 – 2:00 pm	Awards Luncheon and General Session (co-sponsored by Monsanto) Presider: Tom Nagle, Vice President, Marketing International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, DC Speaker: Stu Rothenberg, Editor and Publisher The Rothenberg Political Report, Columnist, Roll Call, Washington, DC What's in store for the 2004 election year? Will it be as exciting and controversial as in 2000? Don't miss this great opportunity to gain insight from one of Washington's most prolific writers, Stu Rothenberg, whose commentary has been featured in newspapers throughout the country. Mr. Rothenberg has also been an anlyst for CNN since 1996 and was an on-camera election night analyst for over ten years.
2:15 – 3:30 pm	Concurrent Sessions Promoting the Farm Business Environment Increasingly, states are recognizing the important role production agriculture can play in maintaining the economic vitality of many rural areas. What are states doing to keep existing dairies viable and to attract new investment in the dairy industry? What challenges face progressive dairy producers as they position their business for the future? Are state governments adequately addressing the needs of dairy producers? Moderator: Rick Smith, Chief Executive Officer Dairylea Cooperative, Inc., Syracuse, NY Panelists: Pat Takasugi, Director/Secretary (Invited) Idaho State Department of Agriculture, Boise, ID Rod Nilsestuen, Secretary (Invited) Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Madison, WI Chuck Ahlem, Producer (Invited) Hilmar Cheese Company, Hilmar, CA "Just the Facts Ma'am" — Casein, Caseinates & MPCs Joe Friday's mantra will be the focus of the International Trade Commission's Section 332 Investigation. The highly politicized and emotionalized issue of restrictions and the importation of these important dairy ingredients will be tested against the facts. Moderator: Clay Hough, Sr. Vice President & General Counsel International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, DC Panelists: Several panelists have been invited. Health Claims — Driving Brand Sales and How They Will Work for You What can you say on the package or in advertising that will drive your sales higher? We will look at examples of claim success stories and cover how to navigate the regulatory hurdles for health and nutrition claims. Moderator: John Robinson, Sr. V.P., Sales & Marketing, Chairman, MilkPEP Dean Foods Company, Dallas, TX Panelists: Cary Frye, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, DC Victor Fulgoni, III, Ph.D., Sr. Vice President Nutrition Impact LLC, Battle Creek, MI Roberta MacDonald, Senior Vice President, Marketing Cabot/McCadam, Montpelier, VT Dairy Policy — What's Right, What's Wrong, What do we Need to Do? Is the dairy industry suffering from too many dairy policies or not enough? Come listen as some leading land grant dairy economists and industry participants discuss what policies to keep, what to get rid of, and what to change in order to ensure a bright future for the U.S. dairy industry. Moderator: Dr. Ron Knutson, Professor Emeritus Texas A&M University, Tabernash, CO Panelists: Curtis Kurth, V.P., Planning & Marketing Analyst (Invited) Foremost Farms USA , Coop., Baraboo, WI Dr. Andrew Novakovic, Professor Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Ed Jesse, Professor University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI Patty Stroup, Director Dairy Policy & Producer Services Hilmar Cheese Company, Hilmar, CA
3:30 — 5:00 pm	Concurrent Sessions Investing in Your Future Milk Supply Capital investments, long term commitments, price risk management are all part of the evolving relationship between producers and processors. Some key innovators who are investing in their future milk supply share their thoughts on these issues. Moderator: John Fridirici, V.P., Milk Marketing & Procurement Grande Cheese Company, Brownsville, WI Panelists: Dave Thomas CEO Glanbia Foods, Inc., Twin Falls, ID Dan Wells, President Wells' Dairy Inc., LeMars, IA Dolores Wheeler, President & Chief Executive Officer Gossner Foods, Logan, UT Arming for the Competition...New Research on Milk Price Elasticity New research has revealed insights on the elasticity of milk. The study looks at white vs. flavored, small vs. large containers, and fat levels in terms of real time consumer behavior over a more limited and market driven timeframe. These results will inform the development of marketing and promotion strategies for processors. Moderator: J.T. Wilcox, Director of Operations Wilcox Farm, Inc., Roy, WA Speaker: Dr. Oral (Jug) Capps, Professor, Department of Agriculture Economics Texas A&M University, College Station, TX What Consumers Think About Dairy and Weight Loss In developing the new generic dairy weight loss campaign, MilkPEP and Dairy Management, Inc. conducted a variety of consumer research activities. Learn about how consumers react to this new and important claim, and find out the keys to building successful and credible marketing campaigns for your brand and products. Speakers: Tom Nagle, Vice President, Marketing International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, DC Grant Prentice, Vice President, Marketing Dairy Management Inc., Rosemont, IL Geographic Indicators — A fight to keep traditional product names To take issue with Shakespeare, a feta, gouda, or parmesan cheese by another name may still taste the same. Spearheaded by the EU, there are many countries attempting to get the WTO to adopt a new international system restricting the use of geographic indicators (GI) that if successful would strip countless manufacturers of the product names they currently use. Moderator: Erick Boutry, President & CEO Sorrento Lactalis, Inc., New York, NY Panelists: Several panelists have been invited.
6:00 – 7:30 pm	Closing Reception (co-sponsored by Evergreen Packaging/International Paper)
Wednesday, January 21
7:30 – 9:00 am	Coffee with...Jerry Kozak, President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation and Connie Tipton, President and CEO, International Dairy Foods Association. Don't go home from the Forum without an update on the top issues facing the dairy industry in the year ahead!
9:00 – 10:30 am	Congressional Staff Panel You have heard the rhetoric and policy debate, now hear what Congressional staff working day to day on dairy think. They will share their insights on policy and politics, and what we need to do as an industry to work more successfully with Congress. Don't miss this chance to hear from the folks toiling in the trenches on such important issues as Child Nutrition, the next Farm Bill, Dairy Compacts, dairy import tariffs, the federal order system, and more. Moderator: Kristin Wilcox, Senior Director, Legislative Affairs International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, DC Panelists: House and Senate staff from the Agriculture Committees and Congressional Offices have been invited.
10:30 am	Adjournment of the Forum

HOW TO REGISTER

• Click here to download the Dairy Forum registration form. (.pdf)

HOTEL INFORMATION

Call the Boca Raton Resort & Club at (561) 447-3000 to reserve a room today. Refer to the 2004 Dairy Forum and receive a special $260 single/double room rate! The deadline to secure a room is Friday, December 19, 2003. We have secured a large block of rooms, but once all the rooms have been reserved, we cannot guarantee that additional space will be available.Reservations will be confirmed only if accompanied by one night's room deposit or with a major credit card. Check-in time is 4:00 pm and check-out time is 12:00 Noon. Cancellation of a room reservation must be made 8 days before scheduled arrival. Please plan ahead and reserve your room now.

Appropriate Attire: Casual resort attire (ties are not required) is appropriate during the day. Sport jackets are appropriate for most activities during the evening. Ladies will be comfortable in resort casual dresses or slacks for daytime, dresses or dress pants for the evening. Spouses participating in the spouse event are encouraged to bring comfortable shoes and a jacket or sweater. The temperature will range from the mid-70s during the day and 50s to low 60s at night. Bring a sweater or jacket for the evenings.

Questions? Please contact Tanika Manning at (202) 220-3557, tmanning@idfa.org.