The International Association of Milk Control Agencies’ (IAMCA) 87th annual meeting.
The Maine Milk Commission invites you to attend the 87th Annual Meeting & Conference of the International Association of Milk Control Agencies (IAMCA) from September 17 to September 19, 2023, in Freeport, Maine.
REGISTRATION
We encourage you to register early for this conference and make your hotel reservations as soon as possible.
Submit registrations to Christin Gravelle by August 30, 2023
*If you choose to download the registration form, submit it to Christin Gravelle via email or fax:
Email: christin.gravelle@agriculture.ny.gov
Fax: 518-485-8730
PAYMENT
The registration fee for the conference is $475 USD for participants and $150 USD for spouses, companions, guests and retired honorary members and $100 USD for children under 18.
Pay by Check
Mail checks in US funds (payable to IAMCA) to:
Christin Gravelle
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
10B Airline Drive, Albany NY 12235 USA
Pay by Credit Card
To pay by credit card, please email Christin Gravelle at christin.gravelle@agriculture.ny.gov
AGENDA
Sunday, September 17th
Registration / Reception
Julie-Marie Bickford – Maine, Presiding
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Executive Committee Meeting / Business Meeting / Legal Reports
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
President’s Reception
- Welcome to Maine! – Maine Milk Commission / DACF
- U.S. Greeting – TBD
- Canadian Greeting – TBD
Monday, September 18th
Morning - Session 1
7:15 a.m.
Registration/Breakfast
8:30 a.m.
Welcome and General Introductions
8:45 a.m.
The Importance of Dairy to Maine Agriculture
Amanda Beal, Commissioner, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry
9:15 a.m.
U.S.D.A. Report
Dana Coale, Deputy Administrator – U.S.D.A. and/or Shawn Boockoff, Market Administrator, FMMO1 – U.S.D.A.
9:35 a.m.
Canadian Dairy Commission Report
Benoit Basillais, Chairman & CEO Canadian Dairy Commission
9:55 a.m.
COFOCALEC Dairy Report
Dr. Sergio Soltero Gardea, Director General, COFOCALEC (Estados Unidos Mexicanos)
9:35 a.m.
Milk Break / Refreshments
Morning - Session 2
10:30 a.m.
Dairy in a Global Environment: Trade and the Geo-politization of markets
11:00 a.m.
The Changing Face of Dairy Regulation
- A review of changes proposed in USDA Federal Milk
- Marketing Order & US Farm Bill – Chris Galen, NMPF
- Changes in Canadian dairy regulation – TBD
11:50 a.m.
Break
11:55 a.m.
LUNCH
Nominating Committee (meets during lunch)
Legal Counsel (meets during lunch)
Afternoon - Session 3
Agricultural & the Environment Tour
12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Load Bus
The bus will leave promptly at 1:00 p.m.
Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment
- Small Scale Agriculture’s Response to Climate Change
- Not-so-extreme makeover – dairy barn edition
- New farmer training – Stonyfield / grazing apprenticeship
- Improving Soil Health and Crop Diversity to adapt to climate change
- Innovative Research consortium (using seaweed to reduce emissions)
Eartha – a Global View of Climate Change (tentative) OR Maintaining Working Waterfronts in the battle between sea level rise and urban encroachment (tentative)
The Evolution of Pineland Farm & Creamery – Innovating in situ (Connecting consumers with Agriculture & community while fulfilling a social mission & meeting market needs)
Evening - Session 4
6:30 p.m.
Taste of Maine Dinner Event
Location: Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room, Portland, ME Waterfront
8:30 p.m.
Board the Bus
9:15 p.m.
Arrive/Return to Hotel
Tuesday, September 19th
Morning - Session 5
7:15 a.m.
Continental Breakfast/Registration
8:30 a.m.
The Future of Fluid Milk – A panel discuession
- The rise of consumer-driven milk variations (Lactose-free, A2, Ultrafiltered, Local, Organic, Grass-fed, etc.)
- Battle for the “MILK” name – Real Milk vs “Alternatives”
- Changing consumer habits (post-pandemic – fast food/ready to eat vs cooking)
- Re-growing the Consumer sector for fluid milk
9:45 a.m.
Dairy Farmers of Canada Report
Steve Couture, Chairman, Dairy Farmers of Canada
10:10 a.m.
US Dairy Promotion / DMI
Paul Ziemnisky, Group EVP Wellness, Insights and Innovation – Dairy Management Inc. (DMI)
10:35 a.m.
Milk Break
10:45 a.m.
KEYNOTE: The Next Environmental Challenge: Maine’s Response to PFAS Contamination – How Dairy has Adapted: Observations & Solutions so far…
Meagan Hennessey, Director of PFAS Response, Maine DACF
Rick Kersbergen, UMaine Cooperative Extension Professor Emeritus & Consultant to Maine DACF
11:40 a.m.
IAMCA Legal Reports
US, Canada
12:00 p.m.
LUNCH
Executive Committee Lunch
Afternoon - Session 6
Agricultural & the Environment Tour
1:15 p.m.
IAMCA Annual Business Meeting
- Call to Order / Roll Call
- Minutes: 2022 Annual Meeting
- Treasurer’s Report
- Election of 2024 Officers
- Suggestions for website, interim review/research, 2024 Annual meeting, etc.
- Other Business
- Adjourn
5:30 p.m.
Social Hour
630 p.m.
Annual Banquet
VENUE & LODGING
Harraseeket Inn
A block of rooms is being held at a special conference rate of $179.00 single or double per night plus 8% state lodging tax. Rooms must be reserved by August 5, 2023 to receive this special rate, which is available for IAMCA attendees from Saturday, September 16, 2023 through and including Wednesday, September 20, 2023.
Book Your Reservation
Phone: 1 (207) 865-9377
Specify that you are attending the IAMCA Annual Meeting/Conference and reference the group code “Milk Commission” or “Maine Department of Agriculture”.
TRANSPORTATION
Air
The closest airport to the conference is Portland International Jetport – PWM Portland, Maine (21 miles/30 minute drive via US I-295)
Alternative airports include:
- Bangor International Airport – BGR Bangor, Maine (114 miles/1 hr 45 min drive via US I-95/US I-295)
- Boston-Logan International Airport – BOS Boston, Massachusetts (122 miles/2 hr 20 min drive via US I-95/US I-295)
- Manchester-Boston Regional Airport – MHT Manchester, New Hampshire (114 miles/1 hr 54 min drive via NH Route 101 to US I-95/US I-295)
Rail
Freeport can be reached via the Amtrack Downeaster rail service with daily service from Boston-North Station. The Downeaster track service operates as a stand-alone commuter service (North Station) and requires separate connecting arrangements between Boston-Logan Airport, or US Amtrack-Boston (South Station).
The Harraseeket Inn is a 15-minute walk from the Downeaster Freeport station. Taxi service is available through A B Cab. The Harraseeket Inn may offer shuttle service through arrangements in advance.
Bus
Concord Coach Lines provides bus transportation between downtown Boston, Logan Airport, and other southern locations to Portland, Maine. The Portland terminal also serves the Amtrack Downeaster train service. Bus service through Concord Coach does not include a stop in Freeport, ME.
The commuter bus service – METRO BREEZ – connects Portland, ME, and Freeport, ME with 13 round trips on weekdays and 6 round trips on Saturdays. The closest stop to the Harraseeket Inn is the LL Bean/Village Freeport stop. Schedules, pricing, and other information about METRO BREEZ can be found on their website: https://gpmetro.org/155/METRO-BREEZ.
QUESTIONS
Contact Julie-Marie R. Bickford, Executive Director, Maine Milk Commission
Phone: (207) 287-3221