Farm Focus - March 25, 2025
Hosted by
Visalia Convention Center | Visalia, CA

The 2025 Farm Focus - California Dairy Sustainability Summit will...
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Equip California’s dairy farm families with information about new technologies and strategies to strengthen and sustain their operations
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Take a head-on look at challenges that lay ahead for dairy farmers, as California continues to pursue ambitious environmental goals
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Help dairy farmers learn from one another about ways to improve economic and environmental sustainability
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Recognize California dairy’s important contributions to sustainability, through health and nutrition, culture and community, environment and the economy​
Official Event Partners: We are proud to have the support of the industry’s leading organizations, including the California Dairy Campaign, California Dairies, Inc., California Farm Bureau Federation, Clover Sonoma, Dairy Farmers of America, Dairy Institute of California, Hilmar Cheese Company, Land O’Lakes, Inc., Milk Producers Council, Producer’s Dairy, Joseph Gallo Farms, Valley Milk, LLC., and Western United Dairies Foundation.
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Organized in partnership with
2025 Speakers Include...

Jack de Jong is the Co-Founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Forever Feed Technologies, a company pioneering automated indoor sprout-grain production for use as a sustainable and highly-nutritious dairy feed ingredient. Jack is also the owner of River Ranch Farms in Hanford, CA, an 1880-acre dairy operation. Jack also farms additional ranches which grow more dairy feed, almonds, and blueberries, totaling over 3,500-acres farmed in all. Jack was honored as the 2023 Kings County Agriculturist of the year for his outstanding contributions to the agricultural community.
Co-Founder, CEO, & Chairman
Forever Feed, River Ranch Farms
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Jack de Jong

Dr. Frank Mitloehner is a professor and air quality specialist in cooperative extension in the Department of Animal Science at UC Davis. As such, he shares his knowledge and research, both domestically and abroad, with students, scientists, farmers and ranchers, policy makers, and the public at large. Frank is also director of the CLEAR Center, which has two cores – research and communications. The CLEAR Center brings clarity to the intersection of animal agriculture and the environment.
Professor & Air Quality Specialist
University of California, Davis
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Frank Mitloehner

Karen Ross was appointed Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture in 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom. In re-appointing Secretary Ross, Governor Newsom cited her unmatched leadership experience in agricultural issues nationally, internationally, and here in California, in areas including environmental stewardship, climate change adaption, and trade. Secretary Ross was initially appointed by Governor Edmund. G. Brown Jr. in 2011.
Secretary
California Department of Food & Agriculture​
Karen Ross

Gregg Doud is NMPF’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Before arriving at NMPF he served as the Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative from 2018 until 2021; before that, he served as the president of the Commodity Markets Council, representing commodities exchanges before Congress and federal agencies. He also has served as a staff member for the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, where he helped draft the 2012 Farm Bill, and as chief economist for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Most recently, he worked at Aimpoint Research as its Vice President of Global Situational Awareness and Chief Economist.
President and CEO
National Milk Producers Federation
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Gregg Doud
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Darrin Monteiro is the Vice President of Sustainability & Member Relations for California Dairies, Inc. He manages CDI’s sustainability team that develops and maintains key sustainability metrics throughout the supply chain, from the farm to the customer. Additionally, he engages with customers, identifying and securing value-add opportunities on behalf of CDI and our member-owners. Darrin also manages the CDI field team and government relations for the company.
SVP, Sustainability & Member Relations
California Dairies, Inc.
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Darrin Monteiro

Advocacy/Development Consultant
Orbia Precision Agriculture (Netafim)​
Val Fishman
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Assistant VP of Sustainability Strategy & Programs
Dairy Farmers of America​
Hansel New
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Dairy Farmer
Legacy Ranches
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Jared Fernandes
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Global Sustainable Sourcing Lead -Dairy, Meat, Poultry & Eggs
Nestlé
Daniel Peerless
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Owner
Michael McRee Farming,
Triple M Dairy
Michael McRee
Michael McRee is the owner of Michael McRee Farming and Triangle M Dairy in Chowchilla, CA. He grows 750 acres of corn/wheat, 650 acres of tomatoes, 600 acres of alfalfa and 220 acres of almonds. His forage feeds 2000 cows across two dairy operations in the California Central Valley. Michael switched to drip irrigation because it's the most optimal and efficient way to deliver water to the crops. Implementing Netafim's sub-surface drip irrigation has given him the control he needs to deliver the proper nutrients in the timeliest manner to increase production. A leader in sustainable agriculture, in 2017, he was recognized as the Conservation Agriculture Farmer Innovator by the Conservation Agriculture Systems Innovation (CASI) Center.
Registration is Now Open.
Farm Focus - March 25, 2025
Visalia Convention Center | Visalia, CA
Secure your ticket today by registering at myaglife.com/events-cdss.
Due to continued demand, the registration deadline has been extended to March 24.​
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Hotel
Visalia Marriott at the Convention Center, 300 S. Court Street, Visalia, CA, 93291. Phone: 559-636 -1111. The discounted room block has closed. Book hotel room: Click Here.
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Comfort Suites Visalia at the Convention Center, 210 E Acequia Ave, Visalia, CA 93291 Phone: 559-738-1700 – ask for California Dairy Sustainability Summit when calling to receive our negotiated hotel room rate.
The Darling Hotel, 210 N Court St, Visalia, CA 93291 Phone: 559-713-2113 – ask for California Dairy Sustainability Summit when calling to receive our negotiated hotel room rate.
The registration rates are:
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$50 for all Farmers/Dairy Farm Owners/Ranches & Employees
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For a complimentary dairy farmer pass, just ask one of our event partner organizations!​
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$250 for all other Professionals
Registration includes full access to all sessions, breakouts, and Expo Hall, and all meals: breakfast, lunch, and closing reception (3:30 -5:30 pm).
Agenda
Click to see a pdf of the current agenda. More details to TBA. Exact times subject to changes.
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Tuesday, March 2025, 2025 - Visalia Convention Center
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7:00 - 8:00 am - Continental Breakfast in the Expo Hall
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8:00 - 10:30 am - General Sessions in the Expo Hall
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Networking Break
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11:00 - 11:50 am - Breakout Sessions
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12:00 - 1:30 pm - Lunch and Exhibits in the Expo Hall
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1:40 - 2:30 pm - Breakout Sessions
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2:40 - 3:30 pm - Breakout Sessions
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3:30 - 5:30 pm - Reception in the Expo Hall
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Complimentary Pre/Post Event Tour: DairyExperts, Inc. is offering optional tours of its research facilities in coordination with the Summit. DairyExperts is a Contract Research Organization (CRO) that specializes in cattle trials. The facility has a capacity of 400 cows with a feed intake control and measurement system that controls access of cows to feed mangers with different diets and 12 GreenFeed units to measure enteric methane.
Tours are approximately one-hour long. To ensure biosecurity, disposable coveralls and boots to visitors. No pictures or videos will be allowed. Please complete the RSVP form if you would like to participate in this pre/post-event opportunity. The location: is 17721 Rd 112, Tulare, CA 93274
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