National Compost Dairy Barn Conference
June 21-22, 2007

The conference proceedings is available for $25. For a copy of the proceedings, send your name and address along with a check payable to University of Minnesota to:

Attn: Bonnie Rae
University of Minnesota
Department of Animal Science
1364 Eckles Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108-6118

The National Compost Dairy Barn Conference is for anyone interested in current research and producer experiences with this housing system for dairy cows. The program will also include topics related to compost science and marketing.

• Location
• Compost Dairy Barn Tour
• Conference Agenda
• Speakers
• Fees
• How to Register
• Lodging Options
• Contacts
• Cancellations
• Area Attractions
• Conference Brochure (pdf)

Location:

Holiday Inn-Burnsville
14201 Nicollet Avenue South
Burnsville, Minnesota

The Holiday Inn-Burnsville is located off County Rd 42 at the junction of Interstate 35E & 35W. The hotel provides free shuttle service to and from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport and the Mall of America.

Map

Tour:

Meet and load buses for the Tour at 8:15 a.m. in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn-Burnsville. Buses will leave promptly at 8:30 a.m.

The tour will take us to three dairy farms:

• Dean and Elizabeth Johnson, Storden, MN – The Johnson’s have housed cows in their barn since early December 2003. They are currently milking 65 cows. Rolling herd average for the past year is 23,300 lb and SCC is about 160,000. They have two cover-all type barns that are used to house the cows.
• Porthaven Dairy: Tom and Mark Portner,  Sleepy Eye, MN – Tom and Mark constructed their first barn in October 2001. Since then they have constructed a second barn with cows in the new facility in August 2005. They are currently milking 215 cows. Rolling herd average for the past year is 25,400 lb and SCC is about 225,000.
• Mike and Judy Sellner, Sleepy Eye, MN – Mike and Judy have housed cows in their barn since December 2004. They constructed a Winkler hoop barn that features scissor gates and Big Ass Fans®. They are currently milking 84 cows. Daily bulk tank average is 78 lb per cow and SCC for the last 7 months is about 90,000. Mike uses a rototiller behind the tractor to aerate the bedding.

Tour Coordinator: Wayne Schoper, Extension Educator, Brown/Nicollet Counties.

NOTE: The cost of the Tour is an additional $40 over the cost of the Conference. You must be registered for the Conference to be eligible for the Tour.

Agenda:

Friday, June 22 - Compost Dairy Barn Conference Agenda

Speakers:

Russ Bey, Professor, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota. Currently, Russ is involved in evaluating the role of bedding materials in mastitis.

Alan Doering, Associate Scientist, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Waseca, MN. Alan works with plant and animal byproducts that present environmental and economic opportunities.

Marcia Endres, Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota. Marcia’s research focuses on compost dairy barns, and management and behavior of dairy cattle.

Tom Halbach, Extension Professor, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota. Tom works in the area of beneficial waste utilization, and has conducted research on composting for 16 years.

Keith Jacobson, Forest Products Utilization and Marketing Program Leader, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry.

Kevin Janni, Professor, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota. Kevin conducts research in the area of livestock housing systems.

Martin Long, President, Minnesota Mulch and Soil, St. Paul, MN.

Jeff Reneau, Professor, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota. Jeff’s expertise is in the areas of mastitis control, milk quality and safety, and management.

Margot Rudstrom, Regional Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension, Morris. Margot’s interests include the economics of compost dairy barns.

Michael Russelle, USDA-ARS Scientist and Adjunct Professor, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota. Michael’s research focuses on improving nitrogen cycling in agriculture, particularly on dairy farms.

Stephanie Widmer, MS Candidate, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota. Stephanie is researching feedlot runoff treatment using high carbon material and alternative bedding sources for compost barns.

Fees:

Registration fees include lunch and one of copy of the Conference proceedings (hard copy or CD).

Conference and Optional Compost Dairy Barn Tour: $130.00

Conference Only: $90.00

At the Door (only on Conference day, June 22): $130.00

Additional Copy of Conference Proceedings: $25.00 (choice of either hard copy or CD)

Please note the following:

• Space is limited. Pre-register by June 11, 2007 (deadline has been extended) to ensure a reservation.
• You must be registered for the conference to be eligible for the tour.
• Registration at the door will be accepted for the Conference only, and only if space is available.

How to
Register:

SORRY, REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

If you would like to order a Conference proceedings, send check payable to 'University of Minnesota', along with your name, address, telephone number and email address, to:

Bonnie Rae
Dept of Animal Science
University of Minnesota
1364 Eckles Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108

Bbe sure to include your preference of hard copy or CD.

Lodging options:

Holiday Inn-Burnsville
14201 Nicollet Avenue South
Burnsville, MN
Tel: (952) 435-2100
Rate: $95 + tax per night
*When making a reservation at Holiday Inn, ask for the "National Compost Dairy Barn Conference" block (if you do not ask for the block by name, you may be told the hotel is full)

Hampton Inn-Minneapolis/Burnsville
14400 Nicollet Court
Burnsville, MN
Tel: (952) 435-6366
Rate: $119 + tax per night
*When making a reservation at the Hampton Inn, ask for the "Rate Plan CCU" or the "Compost Conference" block (if you do not ask for the block by name, you may be told the hotel is full)

Burnsville Fairfield Inn
14350 Nicollet Court
Burnsville, MN 55306
Tel: 952-435-2887
Rate: $99 + tax per night
*When making a reservation at the Fairfield Inn, ask for the "Compost Barn Conference" block (if you do not ask for the block by name, you may be told the hotel is full)

Contacts:

Marcia Endres, Program Coordinator
Tel: (612) 624-5391
Email: miendres@umn.edu

Bonnie Rae, Registration Information
Email: bjrae@umn.edu
Tel: (612) 624-4995

Cancellations:

If cancellation should become necessary, please contact Bonnie Rae at (612) 624-4995 or bjrae@umn.edu. Sorry, no refunds after June 15, 2007.