Dairy producer and industry leaders from across the United States will discuss dairy's future at the 2012 joint annual meeting of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, National Milk Producers Federation and United Dairy Industry Association.

The meeting will take place Oct. 29-31 at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

The three-day event, titled Secure Dairy's Future, will convene dairy producer cooperative and promotion leaders to learn more about how national dairy policy and promotion organizations are working together to secure a better future for all producers.

Producer leaders of the National Dairy Board, UDIA and Dairy Management Inc. -- which manages the dairy checkoff funding -- will share goals, strategies and results of the dairy checkoff.

DMI CEO Tom Gallagher will speak to the nearly 1,000 producers who are expected to attend the annual event and provide updates regarding the dairy checkoff's partnerships and export activities.

National Milk Producers Federation's Chairman Randy Mooney and President and CEO Jerry Kozak will provide updates on efforts to reform federal dairy policy and plans for 2013 and beyond. Members of NMPF's leadership and staff also will conduct a town hall session to provide an in-depth examination of many of the strategic issues in which National Milk is engaged, including farm policy, animal care, product safety, trade, and the Cooperatives Working Together program.

Other speakers will cover topics such as tackling business challenges, the November elections, Domino's sales-building partnership with the dairy checkoff, customer service and leadership.

For general meeting information, fees and registration, and hotel registrations, visit www.nmpf.org/nmpf-joint-annual-meeting

-- Carol Ryan Dumas