The most recent Sino-US Dairy Center seminar that took place on June 6-7, 2008 in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China was again a tremendous success.

Attendance was expected to be around 100-150 participants, but organizers were surprised and pleased with a turnout of nearly 300.

This is the fifth official seminar held through the partnership of the Babcock Institute and China Agricultural University. Topics included the role of dairy cooperatives and Cooperative Extension in the US dairy industry, and current developments in the US dairy industry. Dairy nutritionist, and partner in the Sino-US Dairy Center, Professor Li Shengli also introduced plans for modernizing China's dairy industry included in the government's next five-year plan.

Visits were arranged with dairy farms in the area, Wandasun Dairy Processing Group, Northeastern Agricultural University and with officials from the Heilongjiang Animal Husbandry Bureau and other provincial government offices. The Heilongjiang World Bank Management Office, the Land Reclamation Bureau, and the Heilongjiang Dairy Farm association were also included in the busy schedule of activities.

Speakers included Dr. Robert Cropp (Center for Cooperatives), Dr. Yvonne Horton (Cooperative Extension), Karen Nielsen (Babcock Institute), Lora Klenke and Dan Vogel (WI DATCP), and many Chinese dairy experts.

The Babcock Institute is working with the US Grain's Council, the Sino-US Dairy Center, and Wisconsin DATCP to organize programs for Chinese visitors coming to Wisconsin for World Dairy Expo 2008.

Sponsored by: Babcock Institute and China Agricultural University