Sponsored by Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC

Dr. Felipe (Phil) Cardoso from the University of Illinois is a rising star in the dairy production community. Phil’s “out-of-the-box” thinking has enabled him to build an innovative interdisciplinary extension program (the “Dairy Focus Team”) combining extension, teaching, and applied research. His application of principles of leadership and entrepreneurship to his blended program constitutes a new approach to the Land Grant mission. Cardoso has developed an excellent rapport with the state’s dairy farms and the industries that serve them. His first graduate students have completed degrees and moved into the industry.  Dairy farmers and industry groups recognize Phil’s talents for insight, communication, integrity, and passion. His research in the areas of rumen health, nutrition and reproduction, fungicide effects on corn silage yield and quality, and mycotoxins has direct application to dairy farms, and it forms the basis for much of Cardoso's extension programming.