PDPW brings you a 2-part World Class Webinars series: "U.S. and World Impact of 2016's Crops & Markets," with economist, Dan Basse.  Together you will explore price trends and glean insights from Basse's tenure in the commodity business, focusing on agriculture numbers, trends and forecasts.

• 2017 Commodity Crop Trends: Wed., Sept. 21, 2016, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. CDT (COMPLETED)
• Global Markets: The Impact: Wed., Oct. 12, 2016, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. CDT

In the first session, Dan Basse will walk you through how the most recent growing season impacted domestic and global supplies and look at trends and projections for the year ahead in forage, corn and protein prices.  The second session will work around the world discovering and analyzing key players and the effect of these markets.

The two-part series requires pre-registration per session by Sept. 14 and Oct. 5, respectively, in order to receive the verification email with unique login instruction.  For more information on content please review the program flyer.  For additional tech support on how to login please call PDPW at 800-947-7379.

Geek out on calves at the PDPW Calf Care Connection training on Oct. 18, 19, 20, 2016, registration beginning at 9:00 a.m., training beginning at 9:30 a.m. and concluding at 4:00 p.m.  This workshop is designed to challenge the most seasoned calf care managers, calf feeders and other team members that work alongside young stock and newborn calves.

Be exposed to the most dynamic experts in the field, learning and taking vital information away on key calf care challenges: abomasum bloat, nutrition, and scour management and fluid treatments.  Gain new ideas, solutions and resources as you walk through the general session, breakouts, producer panel and peer-to-peer networking.

This training runs in partnership with the UW-School of Veterinary Medicine (UW-SVM) and will be crediting up to 6.9 CE credits, and with the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) and will be crediting up to 5.0 CE credits.

Training Locations:

• Tuesday, Oct. 18: Fox Valley Technical College, Main Campus (door 16), 1825 N. Bluemound Drive, Appleton, WI 54912
• Wednesday, Oct. 19: Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison WI 53713
• Thursday, Oct. 20: Three Bears Lodge (main entrance), 701 Yogi Circle, Warrens, WI 54666

For more information call PDPW at 800-947-7379 or review the program flyer.

The PDPW Food & Policy Summit will be held October 25-26, 2016, at the Sheraton Hotel in Madison, Wis.  This meeting will build a more proactive and prepared dairy meat and milk sector with dairy farmers, industry and food system leaders at the table.  Join the conversation and raise the bar on transparency and consumer trust within the food system - from farm to consumer. 

The two-day collaborative event, open for one-day registration or two-day registration, will provide a deeper understanding through unified dialogue with innovative dairy farm owners, industry CEOs, food system department executives and key decision makers and thought-leaders - from farm, to processors and brand executives in the value chain.

The meeting will offer an intense agenda.  Here are a few highlights:

• Tues., Oct. 25: Dig into hot-topic food system issues with the dairy meat and milk sectors from farm to brand. Hear from food companies like Dean Foods, Hershey Company and the largest processor of beef, JBS USA to provide an honest, thorough understanding of how the value chain is serving their customers and our consumers. Listen to understand as we hear from consumers sharing their views of the dairy industry.
• Wed., Oct. 26: Delve into policies that impact you. We will bring the science and solutions impacting some of dairy’s toughest issues. Hear from National Milk Producers Federation executives on how policies are shaped as well as what the FARM program really means to you. Join for a solution-focused conversation to better build and execute our promotional and marketing efforts with an end-result to increase global and domestic demand for our safe meat and milk products.

This high-level executive meeting is designed to expand your thinking and offer a clearer vision of the state of dairy through our processor, customer and end-users’ eyes. Make time to be at this critical meeting. Mark your calendars for October 25-26 in Madison, Wis.

Wisconsin agriculture is powered by a $43.4 billion dairy industry that’s full of opportunities for the next generation.  By participating in the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin Mentor Program, you can 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 easy steps in order to have a fun and successful Mentor Program experience:

1. Apply! Complete the PDPW Mentor Program student application, resume, and Disclaimer of Liability by November 1^st, 2016. PDPW will contact you with your match by November 16^th.Fill out the online application at pdpw.org/mentor_program.php. Also, mark your calendar to attend the PDPW Business Conference March 15-16, 2017. We ask that you do not apply if you know you will not be able to attend the conference.
2. Go! Contact your mentor and set up a date. Try to set up an entire day so you can get a full grasp of what your mentor does. 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 possibly shadow for more than one day. Remember to bring the completion form to the job shadow. Have your shadow completed, as well as your signed completion form, one-page summary and photo of you with your mentor turned in by February 2^nd, 2017.
3. Business Conference! After the requirements are met and paperwork is finished and submitted, you will receive a complimentary registration to the PDPW Annual Business Conference at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison on March 14-15, 2017, including a one-night hotel stay for students attending schools outside of Madison. We expect that you will attend the mentor program breakfast, as this is a tremendous opportunity to catch up with your mentor, network with dairy industry experts and meet new students from around the state!

Application questions should be directed to Jessica Pralle at jpralle@pdpw.org

The PDPW Herdsperson Conference is your one-stop-shop for mid-manager professional development, scheduled for December 6, 7, and 8, 2016, registration beginning at 8:30 a.m., training beginning at 9:00 a.m. and concluding at 3:45 p.m.  These three one-day dairy herd health trainings highlight the need for herdsmen, other mid-level managers, and on-farm consultants to gain the skills and confidence needed to lead and execute with success. 

Training Locations:

• Tues., Dec. 6 - Fox Valley Technical College - Chilton, 1200 E. Chestnut St., Chilton, WI 53014
• Wed., Dec. 7 - Chippewa Valley Technical College, 620 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701
• Thur., Dec. 8 - Southwest Technical College (Lenz Center), 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809

Each of the training days will tap into a specific focus of herd health, in order to enhance your operation's key production management areas:

• Dry Cow & Facility, led by Dr. Gordie Jones, DVM, Dairy Consultant, Central Sands Dairy LLC
• Feed & Nutrition, led by Dr. Randy Shaver, Professor, Nutrition, UW-Madison, Dept. of Dairy Science
• Reproduction, led by Dr. Richard Pursley, Professor, Repro. Mgmt., Michigan State, Dept. of Animal Science
• Transition Cow, led by Dr. Heather White, Asst. Professor., Nutritional Physiology, UW-Madison, Dept. of Dairy Science

The 2017 Managers Academy for Dairy Professionals is set for January 17-19, 2017, in San Diego, Calif.  Join like-minded professionals, including CEOs, dairy owners and managers, industry directors, processors, marketers and distributors for this three-day national executive education training.

The high-level professional development for dairy business economic success will challenge and grow those with the most astute and proficient management skills, while soaking in the climate of southern California.  Unique to standard dairy trainings this fall and winter, Managers Academy will expose thought leader and key decision makers in their operations.  Come away with advanced ideas, solutions and resources, and engage with peers in the food value system.

Do not miss this experience:

• Enhance your knowledge of global dairy economics and learn strategies to strengthen your equity position
• Better understand domestic and international trade and export trends, with food security considerations
• Explore out-of-industry animal welfare challenges and the many parallels in confinement facilities
• Develop your awareness of rural labor, regulations and legal management of resources

More information and registration will be made available later this summer.  Mark your calendar today!

Set your high school students calendar to join the 2017 PDPW Youth Leadership Derby for a two-day, overnight educational experience.  The program will run April 22-23, 2017 at Colby High School.  Students must be 15-18 years old.

This is a must-attend program as your child prepares for the next step in securing an education and career in the dairy industry.  Youth Leadership Derby has been designed to allow students to take a deep dive exploration in leadership, science & communication activities, while participating in dairy operation tours and hands-on breakout sessions that will benefit their future success in either an academic or work place environment.

• Career-building opportunities include:
• Keynote speakers
• Communication & team building workshops
• Industry networking
• Interactive leadership activities
• Industry tours

Students will network with both UW-Madison college students and industry leaders from around the country.  More information on keynote speakers, breakout sessions and tour specifics will be available soon. 

We invite you to be a part of the 25th PDPW Business Conference, March 15-16, 2017 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI.   

The recent 2016 conference reached over 1,600 dairy farmers from 23 states and three countries.  We are already planning next year’s event and looking forward to a big, big celebration highlighting PDPW’s 25th year.

To secure your exhibition space, please print the contract below and return to Julie Gabris at mail@pdpw.org or fax to 920-386-9440.

Have you attended PDPW Business Conference in the past?  Thinking about attending in the future?  Take the opportunity to be exposed to your industry's leading experts and most demanded motivational speakers.  Make connections and realize the greatest innovations our industry has to offer. Take all of your learnings back to your farm to increase efficiencies and overall profitability.

PDPW's premier educational event is the place to share best practices, build relationships with your peers and continue to grow your farms professional portfolio.  You won't be disappointed.

Future Dates:

• March 15 & 16, 2017
• March 14 & 15, 2018
• March 13 & 14, 2019

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 life time 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 collegiate-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 tailors to all the needs of the student and mentor. Students should gain an array of experiences including: business management, special project and hand-on farm experience.

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

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
• 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.