Managing a dairy business means knowing as much about the financial books as knowing about the cows.  Open to farmers only, the class of 2019 PDPW Financial Literacy for Dairy series has a waiting list started; reserve your seat right away.

This series is presented through multiple sessions from fall 2018 through spring of 2019. This is your chance to learn and study at new levels, and then apply what you've learned in your business between sessions.

Once PDPW releases information on the trainers and training location, registration will be offered first to those on the waiting list, then to PDPW members, and then to the public.

In the 2018-19 series, two levels will be offered and students will be placed based on assessment.  Space is limited to 30 attendees per level.  Additional information will be made available soon.

Join the PDPW Media Training Workshop on Wed., Oct. 17, 2018 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, 8418 Excelsior Dr, Madison, WI 53717. 

Open to dairy farmers and allied industry professionals, media and communication experts Linda Wenck and Judy Rupnow of MorganMyers will properly prepare, practice and position you and your dairy for success when engaging with professional media personnel. 

You'll be able to:

• Manage media professionals with confidence
• Connect with consumers through media outlets
• Build credibility with media professionals
• Access tested key messages (animal welfare, antibiotic use, hormones, water/manure management, rural labor, etc.)
• Practice being on the spot in mock interviews and answering "nightmare" questions

Participants can earn up to 7.0 Dairy AdvanCE continuing education (CE) credits.

Registration for PDPW members is $125/session ($250 for non-members) and includes certified instruction, training materials, lunch, refreshments and access to a group of like-minded, progressive dairy farmers.  Additional Dairy's Visible Voice training sessions are open for online registration.

Similar communications trainings will be held in Madison on the following dates:

• Dec. 11, 2018: Crisis Management
• Jan. 10, 2019: Effective Leadership
• Feb. 7, 2019: Social Media Strategy

Join the PDPW World Class Webinars: "Market Management: New tools to manage market volatility," with Carl Babler, an expert in the futures industry and broker, educator and hedger. The webinar will be held on Wed., Oct. 24 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. CT.

Principal with Atten Babler Commodities, Babler will help you break down the options of Dairy Revenue Protection insurance and talk through available price, revenue and margin-protection programs offered by the USDA. Gain clarity and grasp the basics of Dairy-RP as Babler outlines strategies to use this insurance effectively and immediately.

*If you have a date/time conflict, you can watch the recorded session on-demand at your leisure from the PDPW World Class Webinar Library, following the Webinar date.

All past PDPW webinar sessions can be found online at the PDPW World Class Webinar Library at www.pdpw.org/webinar_library. This incredible collection highlights key experts from around the globe sharing the greatest ideas, solutions and resources. PDPW’s World Class Webinars are perfectly suited for those who are not able to leave the dairy for continued education on key dairy industry topics. For additional information regarding PDPW’s past or future webinar sessions, contact us at mail@pdpw.org or by phone at 800-947-7379.

The PDPW Herdsperson Conference is the place to be if you're a herd manager, nutritionist, veterinarian or a mid-manager making key herd-health and management decisions on a dairy. The conference will be held Oct. 1 in Marshfield and repeat Nov. 1 in Arlington, Wis. from 9:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Training Locations:

• Wed., Oct. 31: Marshfield Agricultural Research Station, 2611 Yellowstone Dr., Marshfield, Wis.
• Thu., Nov. 1: Arlington Agricultural Research Station, Public Events Building, N695 Hopkins Rd., Arlington, Wis.

Learn from Drs. Paul Fricke of UW-Madison, Thomas Overton of Cornell University, Trevor DeVries of University of Guelph and fellow dairy farmer and professional leadership expert, Hank Wagner of Wagner Leadership Training. They will showcase strategies to enhance reproductive efficiency, transition-cow management, herd health, feed and nutrition, and team leadership and management.

This training runs in partnership with the UW-School of Veterinary Medicine (UW-SVM) and will be crediting up to 6.0 CE hours, with the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) crediting up to 7.0 CE credits, and for dairy farmers and allied industry, Dairy AdvanCE will credit up to 5 CE credits.

For additional information email mail@pdpw.org or call 800-947-7379 to talk with a PDPW team member. To follow along on social media use #Herdsperson2018.

Geek out on calves at the PDPW Calf Care Connection® training on Nov. 13, 14, 15, 2018, from 9:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., in Fennimore, Eau Claire and Chilton, Wis., respectively. This workshop is designed to challenge the most seasoned calf care managers, calf feeders and other team members that work with and care for young stock and newborn calves.

Learn from the best: Drs. Donald Sockett, Richard Wallace and Jud Heinrichs will lead you through sessions on Salmonella Heidelberg disease, sanitation protocols, necropsies to expose digestive and respiratory systems, exploration of rumen development, appropiate calf rations and effective feeding strategies.

Training Locations:

• Tues., Nov. 13: Southwest Tech College, Lenz Center, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, Wis.
• Wed., Nov. 14: Chippewa Valley Tech College, Energy Education Center, 4000 Campus Road, Eau Claire, Wis.
• Thu., Nov. 15: Fox Valley Technical College, 1200 E. Chestnut Street, Chilton, Wis.

This training runs in partnership with the UW-School of Veterinary Medicine (UW-SVM) and will be crediting up to 5.7 CE hours, with the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) crediting up to 7.0 CE credits, and new for Dairy Farmers and allied industry, Dairy AdvanCE crediting up to 4.75 CE credits.

For additional information email mail@pdpw.org call 800-947-7379. To follow along on social media use #CCC2018.

Save the date for the 2018 PDPW Food & Policy Summit, held Dec. 19-20, 2018 in Madison, Wis. The Summit is designed to build a more proactive, prepared and engaged dairy sector with key stakeholders and thought-leaders around the table. 

Gain a deeper understanding on key dairy topics, with fellow dairy farm owners, industry CEOs, food system department executives and other community leaders - from farm, to processors and brand executives throughout the value chain. 

More information will be made available on session topics, speakers and agenda in the coming weeks.

The 2019 Managers Academy for Dairy Professionals is set for January 15-17, 2019. This executive-level three-day training brings together CEOs, dairy owners and managers, industry directors, processors, marketers and distributors.

Including both classroom and out-of-industry tours, attendees will grow their business and management acumen and raise the bar in the personal and professional development.

Tentative Agenda:

• 8:00 a.m. - Training begins (Tue., Jan. 15)
• 7:00 a.m. - 9 p.m. - Training Continues (Wed., Jan. 16)
• 3:30 p.m. - Training concludes (Thu., Jan. 17)

*Travel and lodging are the responsibility of the attendee.

Host city and training site will be determined in the coming months by the PDPW producer committee.  Information will be released as it becomes available.  Registration will open in September 2018.

A special thank you for our 2018 PDPW Managers Academy partners:

• Progressive Dairyman
• Rabo AgriFinance
• Zinpro

For additional information on the 2018 Managers Academy, or the coming 2019 PDPW Managers Academy, please call PDPW at 800-947-7379 or email at mail@pdpw.org.

Past Managers Academy Programs:

• 2018 Program – Orlando, FL
• 2017 Program – San Diego, CA
• 2016 Program – San Antonio, TX
• 2015 Program – Charlotte, NC
• 2014 Program – Sacramento, CA

Future Managers Academy Dates:

• January 15-17, 2019
• January 14-16, 2020

The PDPW Mentor Program application deadline is November 10th, 2018. Use the following information to apply and complete your mentor experience.  

Wisconsin agriculture is powered by a $43.4 billion dairy industry that’s full of opportunities for the next generation.  By participating in the PDPW Mentor Program, you grow your network, share ideas and get hands-on experience that will help you build your own future in dairy. 

The goals of the PDPW Mentor Program are to increase opportunities for students to experience modern dairy production systems and to stimulate career planning with production agriculture as an option.  PDPW has developed the PDPW Mentor Program for students of four-year universities, technical schools and Short Course students.

Here are the three simple steps to have a fun and successful Mentor Program experience:

1. Apply!  Complete and submit the PDPW Mentor Program student application, resume, and Disclaimer of Liability by November 10, 2018.  PDPW will contact you with your match by November 16, 2018. You can apply by filling out the online application: select "Apply Today" above, or download the forms and email them to Sydney Brooks at sbrooks@pdpw.org.  Also, mark your calendar to attend the PDPW Business Conference March 13-14, 2019.  We ask that you do not apply if you know you will not be able to attend.

2. Contact your mentor and set up a date. Set up a full 8-10-hour day so you can receive a full grasp of what your mentor does on the farm each day. It’s important to ask questions and get to know each another, because that is what this day is all about. Also, don’t be afraid to ask if you could potentially shadow for more than one day. Remember to bring the completion form to the job shadow. Have your shadow completed and submit your signed completion form, one-page summary and photo of you with your mentor by February 2, 2019

3. Attend Business Conference! After the requirements are met and paperwork is submitted, you will receive a complementary registration to the 2019 PDPW Business Conference at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison on March 13-14, 2019, including a one-night hotel stay for students attending schools outside of Madison. We expect that you'll attend the mentor program breakfast, as this is a tremendous opportunity to reconnect with your mentor, network with dairy industry experts and meet new students from around the state.

All questions should be directed to Sydney Brooks at sbrooks@pdpw.org.

Applications for the 2019 PDPW Cornerstone Dairy Academy will be accepted beginning October 1, 2019

PDPW Cornerstone Dairy Academy™ will be held March 12-13, 2019 at the Alliant Energy Center - Exhibition Hall, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, Wis., from 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., on the 12th and in conjunction with the 2019 PDPW Business Conference on the 14th, also at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis., from 7:15 a.m.-9:30 p.m., concluding with the evening banquet.

The application-based professional development training will equip farmers and other industry professionals with the tools to effectively communicate, collaborate and lead more proficiently. The training is designed to provide continuing education to college-age students pursuing dairy-related careers or individuals wanting to retool or those who are at a crossroads in their dairy career.

Accepted applicants have three training pillars from which to choose (just one pillar):

• Influential Leaders - Interact and Influence (*up to 7.75 Dairy AdvanCE CE credits &up to 8.1 non-scientific CE hours with UW-SVM)
• Visionary Leaders - Ethics, Leadership and Outlook (*up to 6.25 Dairy AdvanCE CE credits & up to 7.7 non-scientific CE hours with UW-SVM)
• Servant Leadership - Serve, Grow, Lead (*up to & 5.75 Dairy AdvanCE CE credits & up to 6.9 non-scientific CE hours with UW-SVM CEUs)

*This training runs in partnership with the UW-School of Veterinary Medicine (UW-SVM) and Dairy AdvanCE and will be credited as noted above.  For more information on each pillar, reference the full training flyer.

Important dates:

• January 27 - Application deadline
• February 8 - Applicants notified of acceptance 
• March 13 - Cornerstone Dairy Academy begins (Alliant Energy Center)
• March 14 - Cornerstone Dairy Academy ends (Alliant Energy Center)

If accepted, applicants pay $150.00 registration fee, with Professional Dairy Producers Foundation funding the remaining costs. Cornerstone Dairy Academy™ is a product of Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW) and is underwritten by the Professional Dairy Producers Foundation.  Should you have questions, please contact PDPW at 800-947-7379 or mail@pdpw.org.

Have you secured your 2019 exhibit booth? Thinking about attending in the future? PDPW's premier educational event is the place to connect with dairy producers, share best practices, build relationships and grow your business. You won't be disappointed.

--->  Access the "Exhibitor Portal" for exhibitor information, 2019 show contract, floor map and remaining booth space availability. 

Future Business Conference Dates:

• March 13-14, 2019
• March 18-19, 2020
• March 17-18, 2021
• March 16-17, 2022

APPs participants will leave the training with:

• Hands-on, on-farm experiences
• An enhanced knowledge of modern agriculture
• A comprehensive understanding of farm-management practices
• Access to training resources and industry experts
• Relationships with host farm owners and managers
• Direct connections with a network of like-minded industry peers

Relax and experience the charm of two fascinating countries - Holland + Germany on the 2019 PDPW International Dairy Tours.  Exclusive to dairy farmers, experience Oktoberfest, Anne Frank's House, Neuschwanstein Castle, a canal cruise, farm tours and numberous one-in-a-life-time adventures. 

An opportunity of a lifetime - enjoy the beauty at every turn and relish stunning landscapes and old world culture with delicious food and beverage.  Make this your time to relax and explore - mark your calendar for mid-September 2019. 

More information will be made available in the coming weeks as the program cost, logistics, etc. are negotiated and finalized.

Your PDPW Virtual Trade Show is a year-round benefit to both dairy farmers and industry leaders throughout the United States.  This value-added online resource can be viewed and updated throughout the year.  

For our farmers

Use the Virtual Trade Show as your go-to resource for information and solutions to your farming needs. Whether you're looking for the latest technology, the phone number of a company representative you met at the PDPW Business Conference Trade Show, or a list of a providers in a specific sector of the industry, this is your place to find it.

For our industry partners

Use the Virtual Trade Show as your company's storefront to the progressive and talented dairy-farmer base that is the membership of PDPW. Farmers look to the Virtual Trade Show for quick access to the most reputable and dedicated service and product providers in the industry. It takes just minutes to upload your sales team contact information, company profile and product, service and data pdfs. And then your prospects have all the details you want them to have so they can decide to choose you over your competitor.  

Sign me up!  

If your company is interested in being a part of the PDPW Virtual Trade Show, please contact us at 800-947-7379 or send an email to mail@pdpw.org to register and receive your link to access your profile.

If you are interested in purchasing a painting, please call 800-947-7379 to place your order Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm.

Sizes and prices are as listed below:

• Canvas – 30 X 22.5           $425
• Canvas – 24 X 18              $325
• Print – 30 X 22.5              $160
• Print – 24 X 18                 $135
• Print – 16 X 12                 $110

*Pricing includes shipping and handling.

Thank you to a group of active dairy farmers, past board members and board advisors for their generous purchase of the original oil painting which they purchased on behalf of Professional Dairy Producers. The painting is on display at PDPW headquarters.

To see more about the painting live auction, visit us on Facebook to watch.

Are you interested in making a difference for a student interested in pursuing a profession in the dairy and food industries?  Or, are you a student looking for that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge onto a dairy farm?  Now's the time!

The purpose of this program is to provide a platform and resource for college-level students to partner with an active dairy producer in order to participate in an educational, hands-on, on-farm professional experience. This program is limited to those interested in pursuing a profession in the dairy and food industries.

The internships are designed to be a win-win experience for both the host farm and student. This program is tailored to the needs of both student and farm owner / manager. Students should gain an array of experiences including business management, hands-on farm experience and involvement in special projects.

For additional information regarding the Enhanced Internship or to learn more about PDPW contact PDPW at mail@pdpw.org or by phone at 1-800-947-7379.

Our 2018-19 PDPW Educational Program & Event Calendar is established!  As dairy’s professional development organization, we reach our nation’s most forward-thinking, leading-edge dairy farmers.

A special thank you to our PDPW Mission, Corporate and Event Sponsors for ensuring adequate funding to build the best-in-class dairy education provided to our nation's dairy farmers.

National and event sponsorships are available.  To learn more about PDPW or to request our sponsorship opportuntieis, please contact Amy Bonomie at abonomie@pdpw.org or by phone at 800-947-7379.

Dairy AdvanCE™ is your new online, one-stop shop for professional development in the dairy industry.  Find vetted, high-quality dairy education and training programs, workshops and accredited CE opportunities on a wide range of topics including animal care, human resources, financial management, environmental stewardship and more. All available from trusted education providers, you can track your upcoming and completed trainings and report your continuing education through your official transcript at dairyadvance.org, 

PDPW developed Dairy AdvanCE so that farmers have easy access to education that will position their businesses and the dairy brand for success. We seek the utmost in quality from our third-party education providers in training submission content and speaker expertise with assurance of non-promotional content. 

While PDPW developed Dairy AdvanCE for farmers, anyone in the dairy industry can subscribe, including allied industry professionals such as veterinarians, nutritionists, technicians, field and sales representatives, as well as food system, legal and public service professionals.

Dairy AdvanCE is free for dairy farmers, farm managers and on-farm team members. For all others, there is a $50 annual subscription fee. To learn more or subscribe to Dairy AdvanCE visit www.dairyadvance.org, email mail@dairyadvance.org, or call 800-947-7379.

You asked for it. We delivered. Sign up for your online webinar session today online or call PDPW at 800-947-7379! 

PDPW has launched the PDPW World Class Webinars Library - a collection of the greatest online ideas, solutions, and resources, and from your industry's leading experts, brought to one place by PDPW. 

• Business & Dairy Markets
• Calf Care
• Feed and Nutrition
• Human Resources
• Milk Quality
• Weather
• Special Edition Topics

Over the past 5 years, PDPW has executed online webinars that are made available for viewing at your convenience, as each session is recorded.  Never before available, the full library is now accessible for purchase. 

Please click on the "Webinar Library" button to review the 30+ webinars currently available, as well as make selection and purchase for your own personal viewing, or to use as a teaching tool at your next team meeting.

Note: All webinars are purchased on a per-computer basis, as each link is unique to the purchasing computer.