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Meetings and Training

January 14-17, 2007
Disney Yacht & Beach Club
Orlando, FL

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

This event also features tennis and golf tournaments, a spouse tour and special IDFA discounts for participants who want to visit Walt Disney World attractions. Adding to Dairy Forum's appeal is the expanded dairy product tasting opportunities that will be offered throughout the day on January 16. For more information, click here.

Agenda     Registration     Hotel Information     Walt Disney World Tickets

AGENDA

Saturday, January 13
12:00 Noon - 7:00 pm Legislative & Economic Policy Committee Meeting
2:00 - 5:00 pm Registration
 
Sunday, January 14
7:30 am AM Golf Tournament
10:00 am - 12:00 pm Dairy Forum Guest Information Center
12:00 Noon PM Golf Tournament
2:00 - 3:00 pm IDFA Farm Bill Task Force Meeting
3:00 - 5:00 pm IDFA Board of Directors Meeting
3:00 - 7:00 pm Registration
6:00 - 7:00 pm Keynote Address

Speaker: Bruce Knight, Undersecretary for Marketing & Regulatory Programs
U.S. Department of Agriculture

7:00 - 8:30 pm Opening Reception
8:00 pm PAC Dinner (by invitation only)

 

Monday, January 15
7:00 - 5:00 pm Registration
9:00 am - 11:00 am Dairy Forum Guest Information Center
7:30 - 9:00 am Breakfast & Keynote Address - "A Worthy Pursuit"

Presider:   Kevin Ponticelli, Executive V.P. & President, Cheese & Dairy
Kraft Foods N.A.
Speaker:   Connie Tipton, President and CEO
International Dairy Foods Association
Sponsored by: TetraPak Inc.

9:00 - 10:15 am General Session — Congressional Dialogue
The 110th Congress will tackle many daunting challenges, including immigration, federal spending and a whole host of other pressing issues for the dairy industry. Congressional leaders are also preparing for the reauthorization of key federal farm programs (Farm Bill) in 2007 and dealing with the domestic implications of world trade negotiations. Don't miss this opportunity to hear how Members of Congress think these critically important issues will be resolved.

Moderator: Chip Kunde, Sr. Vice President
International Dairy Foods Association
Panelists:   The Honorable Mel Martinez (R-FL)
United States Senate

The Honorable Adam Putnam (R-FL)
United States House of Representatives
Sponsored by: APV

10:15 - 10:45 am Coffee Break
10:45 am - 12:00 Noon General Session — CEO Panel
This is your chance to hear perspectives on the dairy business from top executives who focus on building the business they are in and in finding success for their shareholders.

Moderator: Tim Kahn, COO
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream
Panelists:   Alan Bernon, President, Dean Dairy Group
Dean Foods Company

Kevin Ponticelli, Executive V.P. & President, Cheese & Dairy
Kraft Foods N.A.

Rick Smith, CEO
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
Sponsored by: Portola

12:00 Noon - 1:30 pm Awards Lunch
(Soaring Eagle, NCI Laureate Award, Innovative Farmer of the Year, Dairy Foods Processor of the Year, Dairy Field Processor of the Year)
2:00 - 3:30 pm International Trade Committee Meeting
2:00 - 4:00 pm Worldwide Food Expo 2007 Partner Networking Event
2:00 - 5:00 pm Tennis Tournament
3:30 - 5:00 pm PAC Steering Committee Meeting
5:00 - 6:00 pm Editor's Reception (by invitation only)
6:00 - 7:30 pm PAC Reception (by invitation only)
 
Tuesday, January 16
7:00 am - 5:00 pm Registration
7:30 - 8:30 am General Session — "Ripped from the Headlines — Hot Topics in Dairy"
"Mixing milk and politics," "Worried parents turning to organic foods," "Farm programs pay $1.3 billion to people who don't farm," "Eyes on Doha deadline" — all stories written by this panel of top-notch journalists. No need to bring your paper to this "coffee with" session — you'll get the latest news first-hand from those who know the scoop!

Moderator: James C. Webster, Editor
The Webster Agricultural Letter
Panelists: Chuck Abbott, Writer
Reuters

Jim Dickrell, Editor
Dairy Today

Dick Groves, Publisher, Editor
Cheese Reporter

Jerry Hagstrom
National Journal

8:30 - 9:45 am General Session — Organic vs. Natural
Consumer demand for organic and natural dairy products continues to grow. But can the producer supply and processor capacity keep pace with demand at a comparable price? Learn what's behind consumers' desires to buy organic instead of conventionally produced dairy products and see what alternatives are emerging in the natural foods markets with innovative claims to meet this niche market.

Moderator: Tom Nagle, Sr. V.P., Marketing
International Dairy Foods Association
Panelists: Tom Camerlo, Chairman
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.

Louise Hemstead, COO
Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative

Roberta MacDonald, Senior Vice President of Marketing
Cabot/McCadam

Jule Taylor, Vice President of Dairy Operations
Horizon Organic Dairy, Inc.

9:00 am - 12:00 Noon Spouse Event — "Inspiration: Through Walt's Eyes"
During this 3-hour adventure, your facilitators will share the stories behind the stories about the events and milestones in Walt Disney's life that inspired many of the fine details around the Walt Disney World Resort. Journey to place most guests never get to see for an incredible and entertaining experience you won't soon forget (photo ID required). For more information, click here.
9:45 - 10:00 am Coffee Break
10:00 - 11:15 am Concurrent Sessions

1.   Nuts and Bolts of Organic
Regulators and experts will help you navigate the requirements of organic dairy products from the cow to the label. This session will help you understand what changes it takes and costs to convert from conventional to organic milk production and final product marketing. We will cover the rules for processing and packaging organic milk, yogurt, cheese and ice cream and how these products must be labeled under USDA's National Organic Program.

Moderator: Cary Frye, V.P., Regulatory Affairs
International Dairy Foods Association
Panelists: Andrea Caroe, Director Operations, Protected Harvest and Vice Chair
National Organic Standards Board

Ed Maltby, Executive Director
Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance

Scott McGinty, Vice President Business Development
Aurora Organic Dairy

2.   Dairy Policy Alternatives: Let the Debate Begin
The 2007 Farm Bill debate is hitting full stride, and dairy policy is getting a lot of attention. Some long-time industry thinkers have a few new ideas to reform the current dairy policy quagmire. Come listen, get your questions answered, and join the discussion as the panelists display their outside-the-box thinking about the future of dairy policy.

Moderator: Sue Taylor, Vice President, Dairy Policy & Procurement
Leprino Foods Company
Panelists: Dr. Ken Bailey, Associate Professor for Ag Economics
The Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Robert Cropp, Dairy Marketing & Policy Specialist and Professor Emeritus
University of Wisconsin — Madison

Dr. Joe Outlaw, Professor and Extension Economist
Texas A & M University

Dr. Bob Young, Chief Economist
American Farm Bureau Federation

3.   Energy Sustainability by Management & Innovation
Sustainability is the ability to achieve continuing economic prosperity while protecting the natural systems of the planet. Achieving sustainable solutions calls for stewardship with everyone taking responsibility for solving the problems of today and tomorrow. With the ever increasing demand on and cost of energy, the dairy industry is refocusing attention in this area and some are already achieving success.

Moderator: Greg Molloy, Corporate Director of Risk and Safety
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc.
Panelists: Doug Dornbier, Vice President of Operations
CoolBrands International Dairy, Inc.

Brian Glasbrenner, Director of Global Business Development — Bottles
NatureWorks

Al Morales, Executive Vice President
Environmental Power Corporation

Craig Nelson, Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Vigilistics, Inc.

11:15 - 12:30 pm Concurrent Sessions

4.   Milk Pricing Policies — Indispensable or Unnecessary for Future Success?
Dairy pricing policies have been around since the Great Depression. While the "business" of producing milk and manufacturing dairy products has changed considerably, the basic of minimum pricing and pooling requirements have not. Have these policies outlived their usefulness or are they essential to the orderly marketing of milk? How can the government keep up with the pace of change? What are the issues facing regulated vs. unregulated milk? Come hear this panel of experts share their thoughts on these broad ranging issues and learn what they think is in store for the future.

Moderator: Mike McCully, Associate Director, Dairy Risk Management
Kraft Foods N.A., Inc.
Panelists: Mike Brown, Director, Member Relations
Darigold, Inc.

Dana Coale, Deputy Director, Dairy Division, AMS
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Kelly Krug, Director
California Department of Food & Agriculture

John Wilson, Sr. V.P., Marketing & Industry Affairs
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.

5.   Politics of Trade — Future Trade Opportunities
Global consumption of dairy products is rising due to demands from developing-country consumers wanting to upgrade diets, and developed-country markets seeking specialty products. Increased competition and further liberalization of the international dairy markets provide the U.S. dairy industry a unique opportunity to service new consumers and abroad. Join us to learn about how changes in the international arena for dairy commerce can benefit your business.

Moderator: Jon Huenemann, Principal
Miller & Chevalier Chartered
Panelists: Ken Roberts, Director, International Business Relations
Kraft Foods, N.A., Inc.

Sharon Sydow, Vice President
Allen F. Johnson & Associates

Simon Tucker, V.P., Government Relations & Trade North America
Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

6.   Is Uncle Sam Turning into Big Brother?
USDA has announced a timeline for implementing a mandatory Animal ID system, Congress has already debated a new immigration policy, new farm security and Johne's control/eradication measures may be imposed soon. How will these policies affect most dairymen? What are some strategies for minimizing any disruption on your farm? Hear leading producers discuss pending regulations and current proposals that may affect how you manage your farm in the years to come.

Moderator: Steve Larson, Editor
Hoard's Dairyman
Panelists: Bill Ahlem, Co-Founder
Hilmar Cheese Company

Brad Feuerhelm, Partner
Plymouth Dairy Farms, Inc.

Dick Waybright, President
Mason-Dixon Farms, Inc.

12:30 - 2:00 pm Lunch — Member-to-Member Session
Don't miss this new and exciting event at the Dairy Forum! Join your fellow attendees for lunch and roundtable discussions on the hottest dairy industry topics including regulatory issues; dairy economics; health and nutrition updates; and much more. You will be able to sign up for specific tables at registration.
2:15 - 3:30 pm General Session — Westward Ho!
Land availability, robust milk production, and welcoming states in the Western U.S. have proved a magic combination in attracting major new dairy manufacturing facilities that will use billions of pounds of U.S. produced milk. Hear the hopes, plans, challenges and dreams of both U.S. and global companies in these new adventures and how the West is changing the future of our dairy industry.

Moderator: Mike Reidy, Sr. V.P., Procurement, Logistics & Business Development
Leprino Foods Company
Panelists: John Jeter, President & Chief Executive Officer
Hilmar Cheese Company

Mike McCloskey, CEO
Select Milk Producers

Kevin Toland, CEO and President
Glanbia USA

3:30 - 3:45 pm Coffee Break
3:45 - 5:00 pm Concurrent Sessions

7.   Classified Pricing — More or Less; or None at All?
The never-ending debate in the dairy industry seems to be about how many classes of milk do we need, and how do the minimum class prices relate to each other? This year, our classified pricing session at Dairy Forum focuses on hearing from producer groups about their thoughts on our Federal milk price regulations.

Panelists: Cal Covington, Chief Executive Officer
Southeast Milk, Inc.

Mike Quesnell, President (Invited)
Idaho Dairymen's Association

John Vrieze, Owner
Baldwin/Emerald Dairy

Bob Wellington, Sr. V.P., Ecnomics, Communications, Legislative Affairs Cabot/McCadam

8.   Future of Federal Agriculture Programs: From Farm—to Factory—to Fork
From massive structural change at all levels of the food chain to budget pressures to meeting world trade commitments, there is a growing public policy awareness that current farm programs just don't work in today's marketplace. Leading thinkers on the changes necessary to bring Federal food and agricultural policy back to its senses share their thoughts in this important Farm Bill year

Moderator: Dr. Ron Knutson, Professor Emeritus
Texas A&M University
Panelists: Bill Kuckuck, Executive Vice President
American Farmland Trust

Sallie James, Trade Policy Analyst
Cato Institute

9.   Changing Nutrition Policy -- Implications for Dairy
The Federal Government and the private sector are changing nutrition policy in a number of venues. Do these changes represent a paradigm shift from an emphasis on fats and sugars to a nutritional density model, and is that a good thing? Is this an opportunity or a danger for dairy products, or both? Listen to some of the preeminent thinkers in this field sort it out.

Moderator: Tom Nagle, Sr. V.P., Marketing
International Dairy Foods Association
Panelists: Randy Green, Sr. Government Relations Representative
McLeod, Watkinson & Miller

Bill Layden, Consultant
FoodMinds.com

Sarah Roller, Counsel
Covington & Burling

6:00 - 7:30 pm Reception
 
Wednesday, January 17
8:00 - 9:00 am Coffee with...Greg Mertes, Wal-mart
Join us for an exciting presentation from Wal-Mart outlining its dairy strategies for the future. With more than 3,600 domestic stores and 138 million customers weekly worldwide. Wal-Mart's influence with consumers makes this a must-see session.

Presider: Rick Beaman, Chief Operating Officer
National Dairy Holdings
Speaker: Greg Mertes, Merchandise Manager for Dairy
Wal-Mart

9:15 - 10:30 am General Session — Perspectives from IDFA and NMPF
The executives of two of the dairy industry's foremost organizations will share their views on a variety of timely subjects.

Moderator: Susan Ruland, Vice President
International Dairy Foods Association
Panelists: Jerry Kozak, President & CEO
National Milk Producers' Federation

Connie Tipton, President & CEO
International Dairy Foods Association

10:30 am Adjournment


HOW TO REGISTER

You have four easy options for registering! The conference is only $995 for attendees and $250 for news media, government or university attendees. You can:

  1. Email the registration form to registrar@idfa.org
  2. Fax the registration form to (202) 331-7820
  3. Mail the registration form and check to IDFA, 1250 H St, NW, Ste. 900, Washington, DC 20005.

HOTEL AND TRAVEL INFORMATION

Hotel Reservations
Call the Disney Yacht and Beach Club at (407) 934-3372 and reserve a room today. Refer to the 2007 Dairy Forum and receive a special $249 single/double room rate! The deadline to secure a room is Monday, December 11, 2006. 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 3:00 pm and check-out time is 12:00 pm.

Cancellation of a room reservation must be made 3 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 wear 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 60s to mid-70s during the day to low 60s at night. Bring a sweater or jacket for the evenings.

If you have any questions, call IDFA's registrar at 202-220-3557.