HighGround Dairy recently announced that registration is open for its 2024 Global Dairy Outlook Conference, set for June 18-20 at the Union League Club of Chicago. The conference, now in its third year, promises to be a watershed moment for industry leaders, experts and stakeholders to convene and explore the latest trends, insights and strategies shaping the global dairy landscape, says Eric Meyer, president of HighGround Dairy.
Early-bird registration is open at www.highgrounddairy.com/conference for those who want to get a head start on their 2024 plans. Meyer notes space is limited at the historic Union League Club, so it is recommended that attendees secure a spot sooner than later.
Now in its third year at this location, Meyer says the club offers a unique, intimate venue with historical charm.
“It’s different from a lot of the conference centers and other venues where this type of event typically is held,” he says, adding that the central location in downtown Chicago on Jackson Boulevard also offers attendees a lot of options for dining and entertainment.
“It’s a good opportunity to bring the family, if possible,” Meyer says. “June isn’t too hot yet, but there’s a lot going on in the city. It gives people a chance to combine the conference with a leisure trip.”
This year’s conference will kick off on Tuesday, June 18, with a networking welcome event in the evening, with the conference programming beginning on Wednesday, June 19. While the agenda still is being finalized, Meyer says the conference will open with dairy market forecasts from the HighGround Dairy intelligence team. HighGround also has confirmed Drew Lerner, President and Senior Agricultural Meteorologist at World Weather Inc., and Tom Bailey, Executive Director-Consumer Foods and Foodservice at Rabobank, as guest speakers at this year’s conference.
Meyer notes the conference also will include a producer panel similar to the one featured last year to talk with producers from across the country on the impacts of domestic and global markets on their production.
Another hot topic likely will be the federal milk marketing orders, as USDA currently has a hearing underway to consider changes to the country’s milk pricing structure.
“We’re hopeful that USDA will have published a recommended decision by then, so we want to bring panelists in that have some expertise or are heavily involved in the outcomes of that hearing,” Meyer says.
While Wednesday will be a full day of sessions, with a networking reception in the evening, Thursday will be a half day, with sessions in the morning and an optional networking lunch before attendees disperse.
Meyer notes the conference’s size and scope allow for more networking opportunities to be built into the agenda.
“We want to connect people across the supply chain who need to access this information and give them the opportunity to have an open dialogue,” he says.
“The feedback we’ve gotten is that people like the intimate nature of our conference,” he adds.
For more information, contact HighGround Dairy at 312-604- 3080 or email info@highgrounddairy.com.
Reprinted with permission from the January 12, 2024, edition of CHEESE MARKET NEWS®; © Copyright 2024 Quarne Publishing LLC; (608) 288-9090; www.cheesemarketnews.com
