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More than 135 dairy farmers and industry professionals attended the 2023 ODPA Annual Meeting in Wooster to review the proposal to modernize the Federal Milk Marketing Order.

NMPF consultant Jim Sleper and American Farm Bureau Federation chief economist Roger Cryan presented the proposal, followed by a question and answer session facilitated by Ohio dairy farmer and ODPA board member Karl Wedemeyer.

Dairy economist Mike McCully shared his perspective, via video, on the US milk pricing system and offered insights into how the current system may be due for a complete overhaul in the coming years to compete internationally.

The afternoon session was dedicated to an overview of the dairy industry's environmental and sustainability goals. ODPA CEO Scott Higgins reviewed the Ohio Agricultural community's partnership with the H2Ohio program to mitigate nutrient loss.

OSU Department of Agricultural Engineering Chair Dr. Scott Shearer presented "High Clearance Robotic Irrigator for In-Season Nutrient Management" - an exciting new technology for livestock farmers, who are constrained by early spring and late fall manure application windows, to apply liquid-phase nutrients in-season beyond V4 stage of corn.

Ohio's new Director of Agriculture Brian Baldridge made a special appearance and was welcomed by ODPA and guests. Attendees also heard an update about the Ohio State Dairy program from Dr. Maurice Eastridge, professor and senior associate chair for the OSU Department of Animal Sciences, as well as an ODPA management report including updates on state and federal legislation from Higgins.

In addition, Mark Hoewischer, a dairy farmer from Champaign County, was recognized for his years of service as a director to both the national and local dairy promotion boards. Ohio dairy farmer Greg Conrad, chair of the American Dairy Association Mideast, presented him with two plaques.

Lunch was provided by ODPA's sponsors.