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Gather with dairy sheep producers, sheep milk processors, and academic experts this November 7-10 at the 2019 DSANA Dairy Sheep Symposium
Registration is now open for the annual DSANA Dairy Sheep Symposium, to be held this year in Idaho Falls, Idaho. For a schedule, speaker topics, and a registration link, please visit the registration page on the brand new DSANA website. For a preview of what you could learn at the gathering, below are three topics to be covered by some of the featured speakers.
REGISTER HERE
The DSANA Board looks forward to seeing all of you in Idaho!
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How pasture species affect cheese flavor profiles
Cheese made from pasture-fed dairy animals has a singular flavor, unique to the farm--a strong marketing point used by many artisanal cheesemakers. Tom Pyne of Twenty Paces, a sheep dairy and creamery in Charlottesville, Virginia, will give us a little bit of forage chemistry background at the 2019 Dairy Sheep Symposium at Idaho Falls in November. Tom will explain the relationship between a ewe's diet and the sensory characteristics of her milk and the resulting cheese. Tom, who is working towards a Masters in Agronomy, specializing in Forage Science, will give us an overview of the scientific research on the influence of forage species and feeding strategies on cheese flavor profiles. (Pictured here and in the masthead are the dairy sheep and goats of Twenty Paces, in a pasture of crimson clover.) Here is more information on the Symposium.
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H-2A workers for seasonal sheep dairies
What is the most challenging aspect of operating a seasonal sheep dairy? Most of us would answer "LABOR!!" ... Can't find it, can't depend on it, can't keep it. This year a Texas agency called Head Honchos LLC helped a U.S. sheep dairy get approved for the U.S. Department of Labor's H2-A visa program for "temporary agricultural labor." As a result, two Mexican fellows arrived at that sheep dairy in early February to work for the season. The farm manager says, "They're focused, they hustle, and they care." Todd Miller, owner of Head Honchos, will be speaking at the 2019 Dairy Sheep Symposium at Idaho Falls in November, explaning the requirements of the H-2A program, its costs, and its pros and cons. Here is more information on the Symposium.
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Selling bottled milk direct to consumers
About half of our DSANA members, in both the U.S. and Canada, are producer-processors, meaning they both milk sheep and process the milk into yogurt, cheese, etc. A small number of us add value to our milk by selling bottled milk direct to consumers for fluid consumption. At the 2019 Dairy Sheep Symposium at Idaho Falls in November, three producer-processors will have a panel discussion about their personal experience with bottling, selling, and marketing fluid milk direct to consumers. From these producers we’ll find out who is buying bottled milk, and the pros and cons of adding this to the product line. (Photo here: Sheep's milk for sale at Misty Meadow Farm and Sheep Dairy in Petersburg, New Jersey.) Here is more information on the Symposium.
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Other topics covered at the 2019 Symposium will be:
Nutritional requirements of the high-producing ewe
Managing a milk-supplier network
Pricing of sheep-milk cheeses
Sheep-milk component testing
Pricing U.S. vs. European sheep-milk cheeses
Using manure analysis to indicate forage quality
Manufacturing custom pellet for dairy sheep
Develoing a plan for climate change and weather extremes
... plus a cheese & wine tasting, banquet dinner, farm tours, and more!
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Current DSANA members receive discounts on Symposium registration
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RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP or REGISTER FOR THE SYMPOSIUM
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Your dairy sheep association has a new website...
... and a new Member Directory that can promote your sheep dairy business
Thanks to an intrepid flock of DSANA volunteers, there is now a fresh, new DSANA website that links you (and the public) to a community of dairy sheep farmers, sheep milk processors, dairy sheep researchers, and businesses that support the dairy sheep industry. The site features:
- A new Member Directory, searchable by the public - get your free listing by renewing your membership or by becoming a member for the first time;
- Easy online registration for our upcoming annual Dairy Sheep Symposium, this year in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Nov. 7-12;
- Technical information for members only, including 25 years of Symposium Proceedings and soon-to-come interviews with producers who have utilized Laparoscopic Artificial Insemination for breeding;
- Information to improve your flock's production through our dairy sheep Production Improvement Project and details on how to access the highest quality dairy sheep genetics through our Semen Importation Project;
- Easy ways to renew your membership or join DSANA for the first time
Speaking of membership, it's time for ALL current members of DSANA to renew. We also encourage newcomers to join. Please become a member today to get your free listing in the DSANA Member Directory, access to member-only pages on the website, and discounts to the 2019 Symposium.
The DSANA board welcomes your feedback on the new website and anything else. Comment by replying to this message or by emailing dsanasheep@gmail.com.
Photo courtesy of Meadowood Farm, Cazenovia, NY
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RENEW YOUR DSANA MEMBERSHIP!
Or join for the first time...
As of July 1st, ALL CURRENT MEMBERS must renew their DSANA membership for the 2019-2020 membership year. There is no automatic renewal. If you've never been a member before, consider joining today.
For $75 you get:
- Access to members-only technical content on the website: 20 years of Symposia proceedings, plus interviews with successful producers;
- Your own listing in the Member Directory, searchable by the public
- A discount on registration for the 2019 Dairy Sheep Symposium, to be held November 7-12 in Idaho Falls, Idaho;
- Up to 4 additional people at your farm or business can be "bundled" into your membership for no additional charge; they, too, can receive discounts and member-only access on the website, plus they will receive this newsletter
Join or renew today, knowing you will support the work of DSANA, which is run entirely by volunteers and seeks to strengthen and expand the North American dairy sheep industry through gatherings of like-minded members and the sharing of technical information.
The new website makes it easy to join or renew your membership.
Thanks for your attention and support.
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