Dairy executives are tasked with managing today’s complex dairy supply chain and meeting consumer demands—all while containing costs and improving operational performance. This tough task requires an eye on data and markets of the future. These two topics are the focus of a session at Dairy Forum 2019, Jan. 20-23 in Orlando, Fla., that will feature economic experts from the private, government and academic sectors. The panelists will give leaders the tools to navigate what’s next for dairy markets to keep the industry on a path of growth.

IDFA has assembled a panel of economic experts with blended experiences and expertise to provide crucial market information and insight into the future. They’ll share market information and insights that will help guide dairy decision-making in the year ahead.

Panelists

Marin Bozic

Bozic is an assistant professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota. Bozic’s research program in dairy economics covers dairy policy, risk management, demand for dairy foods and economics of new dairy food processing technologies. Since earning his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011, he has published a dozen research articles, and has served as principal investigator on over twenty funded projects.

Robert Johansson

Johansson serves as the chief economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He is responsible for the department's agricultural forecasts and projections and for advising the Secretary of Agriculture on economic implications of alternative programs, regulations and legislative proposals. He is also responsible for the Office of the Chief Economist, the World Agricultural Outlook Board, the Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit analysis, the Climate Change Program Office, the Office of Environmental Markets, the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses and the Office of Pesticide Management Policy.

Moderator

Phil Plourd

Plourd is president of Blimling and Associates, Inc., a dairy research and consulting firm based in Madison, Wisconsin, is and president of the services division of Dairy.com. He has been involved in dairy market analysis, research, forecasting and risk management activities for 20 years. Phil draws on that experience to lead an expert team of 16 committed to helping clients find new ways to do business.

IDFA recently engaged Blimling and Associates, Inc. in a strategic relationship to provide market intelligence and economic analysis to the association and its leadership. Blimling and Associates will provide IDFA staff and members with strategic economic analysis and counsel, assess the impact of federal and state policy proposals on the dairy industry and answer questions on the federal and state milk marketing orders.

Dairy Forum 2019

Dairy Forum 2019 will be held January 20-23 at The Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida. Registration is open online.

For more information, contact Melissa Lembke, IDFA director of programs and partnerships, at registrar@idfa.org.