Download 201509280855541.25 - Illinois Department of Agriculture

NEWS
_____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2015
CONTACTS:
Kristi Jones (217) 558-1546
Rebecca Clark (217) 725-5207
ILLINOIS DAIRY TOUR BEGINS TODAY
IDOA trade mission designed to increase foreign sales for state’s agriculture
industry enters 12th year
Springfield, IL -- The Illinois Department of Agriculture is hosting close to 20 international
buyers from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Nepal, and Thailand in an effort to
increase export sales for the Illinois dairy industry. Since the inception of the Illinois Dairy
Tour in 1993, Mexico has purchased over $6.5 million in dairy cattle from Illinois. In 2013, the
last year of the tour, Illinois dairy companies recorded sales of over $1 million.
Participants began the tour by meeting with representatives from Rolling Lawns Farms in
Greenville. In 1915, one of the first Holstein cows in the state was registered to this farm. Four
generations of dairy producers have called this farm home, milking cows for over 100 years.
Rolling Lawns Farms has one of the nation’s highest herd scores for type in the breed, and has
produced many local, state, national, and world show winners.
“Illinois is the 22nd largest milk producing state, with nearly 700 licensed dairy herds,” said
acting Director Warren Goetsch. “The Dairy industry provides jobs and necessary exports for
the state’s number one industry. This Dairy Tour is key tool in our state’s marketing plan.”
The tour also will make stops at:

Trouw Nutrition USA in Highland. Trouw Nutrition USA is an international leader
providing the agriculture nutrition industry with technology-based ingredients originating
through research and development. Trouw’s efforts lead to discovery and introduction of
new, unique, and improved feed ingredients.

University of Illinois Dairy Research Facility, in Urbana. At the University’s Dairy
Research Unit, the farm houses 400 cows. Dr. Phil Cardoso, DVM, PhD, does nutritional
and reproductive research on items such as mechanisms of metabolic adaptation from
gestation to lactation in dairy cows (transition period), and the impact of nutrition on
metabolism, reproduction and health in dairy cows.
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DAIRYTOUR/2222

GEA in Naperville. GEA offers everything from milk collection and storage, (automatic)
feeding systems, manure management, barn equipment, young-stock solutions including
integrated farm (dairy) management tools, as well as sophisticated service concepts.
From single products to complete integrated dairy systems, GEA’s state-of-the-art
technology is developed and manufactured according to the latest guidelines and certified
quality standards.

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), an international marketplace enabling
institutions and businesses to manage their financial risks and allocate their assets. It is
the world’s oldest and largest futures and options exchange. The CME is a not-for-profit
corporation owned by its 2,725 members. The CME consists of futures and options on
futures within four general categories: agricultural commodities, foreign currencies,
interest rates and stock indexes.
On Thursday the tour will depart for Madison, WI., site of the World Dairy Expo.
All participants of the Illinois Dairy Tour are required to pay their own airfare and a participation
fee prior to joining the tour.
Please note that any media outlet interested in covering the Illinois Dairy Tour must first receive
permission from the company/farm. Interviews can then be arranged and coordinated through
representatives of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
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