Training Sessions
Presenters and topics by week, with a brief description of each day's episode topic and featured presenter(s):
Week 221: Manure Management, Harvest Meals, Family Conversations: (watch now)
Tuesday, August 27
Proper manure management is important to protect the environment as well as increasing farm profit. Tune in for a discussion on effective management strategies and what to do if a manure spill occurs.
- Kevin Erb, director, Conservation Professional Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension
With the busy harvest season just around the corner, learn about options for healthy meals that can be prepared quickly and eaten on the go.
- Morgan Ekovich, owner and head trainer, Get Fit with ME LLC
Dive into the messy world of family business dynamics and how the overlap of family and business relationships can create friction and conflict. Hear about strategies to navigate roles, improve communications, deal with sensitive issues and develop transition plans.
- Wesley Tucker, Field Specialist in Agricultural Business, University of Missouri Extension
Week 220: Marketing Plans, Cow Personalities and Market News: (watch now)
Tuesday, August 20
What are the keys to an effective marketing plan for your operation? Hear about the key elements and how to develop a plan tailored to your needs.
- Will Babler, principal, Atten Babler Commodities LLC
Tune in to learn about the latest research on cow personalities and how management practices can be adapted for animal health, wellbeing and productivity.
- Dr. Trevor DeVries, Ph.D., professor and Canada research chair, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph
Join the discussion on market, weather, exports and other news that will impact the dairy industry and your operation as summer winds down and harvest season nears.
- Ben Buckner, chief grains and dairy analyst, AgResource Company
Week 219: Corn Silage, Difficult Employees & CO2 Feed Options : (watch now)
Tuesday, August 13
As 2024 corn silage harvest nears, take time to hear about crop status from across the country and discuss late-season management and harvest options to make the most of your crop. Dr. Goeser will also recap 2024 haylage quality and trends.
- Dr. John Goeser, PhD, director of nutritional research & innovation at Rock River Lab, Inc., and adjunct assistant professor, Dairy Science Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison
One of the most challenging parts of managing a farm or business is dealing with difficult or under-performing team members. Tune in for an interactive discussion of disciplinary strategies and how to manage those conversations.
- Don Tyler, founder of Tyler & Associates, executive and management coach
Thursday, August 15
Tune in to hear the practical strategies and ways that dairy producers can reduce the carbon footprint of their farm through feeding.
- Dr. Alexander Hristov, PhD, P.A.S, distinguished professor of dairy nutrition, Pennsylvania State University
Week 218: HPAI, Emergency Preparedness & Market News: (watch now)
Tuesday, August 6
Bring your questions to the experts and tune in for an update on the latest news and research on the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle.
- Dr. Keith Poulsen, PhD, director, Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL), University of Wisconsin
- Dr. Darlene Konkle, DVM, MS, DACVIM, state veterinarian, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Preparing for an emergency will pay dividends for operations of any size. Learn about the protocols and processes that farms should have in place in case of fire, tornado or other natural disasters.
- Gerald Minor, chief, Pittsville Fire Department
As summer starts to wind down, join the webinar for updates on ag and dairy markets, exports, weather and more that will impact your business through 2024.
- Ben Buckner, chief grains and dairy analyst, AgResource Company
Week 217: Employee Coaching, Social Media & Facility Security: (watch now)
Tuesday, July 30
Take a deep dive into the art of coaching in this interactive episode. Learn how to focus on critical skills and be more effective in one-on-one interactions with team members to build a workforce of people who own their roles.
- Michael Hoffman, president, Igniting Performance
Learn about the opportunities to grow your farm’s social media reach, engagement and sales and how to determine if outsourcing or working with a freelancer is the right fit for you.
- Kallie Coates, owner, Briar Marketing
Join a conversation about keeping facilities secure, including use of security cameras, alarm systems and more. Experts will share how they developed security protocols and how to handle biosecurity.
- Chad Juel, senior director of operations support, Kwik Trip
- Paul Ayers, animal care manager, The Maschhoffs
Week 216: Manure & Conservation, FMMO & Market News: (watch now)
Tuesday, July 23
Learn about manure and landscape management with implemented conservation practices and how this can provide more opportunities for a dairy farm’s acres and nutrient applications.
- Matthew Oehmichen, part owner, of Short Lane Ag Supply
Tune in for the second session with leading dairy economists focused on the proposed changes to Federal Milk Marketing Orders, with a focus on the likely impacts of these proposed changes on farm milk prices, exports and more. They will also highlight the next steps in the process of reviewing and finalizing the proposed changes.
- Dr. Charles Nicholson, associate professor, Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences and Agricultural & Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Dr. Christopher Wolf, E.V. Baker professor of agricultural economics, director of land grant programs, Cornell University
- Dr. Mark Stephenson, retired director of dairy policy analysis, UW-Madison
Join in the bi-weekly discussion of agriculture and dairy markets, including the impact of weather, exports, global news and more.
- Ben Buckner, chief grains and dairy analyst, AgResource Company
Week 215:Calf Enrichment, Data Ownership, Water Quality Research: (watch now)
Tuesday, July 16
Join an interactive conversation about ways that producers can enrich the lives of calves and youngstock, including cost-effective solutions that will deliver benefits to animals, team members and the operation.
- Dr. Jennifer Van Os, Ph.D., assistant professor and extension specialist- animal welfare, University of Wisconsin-Madison
There is no shortage of data in today’s dairy operations. Take a deep dive into the rights that farmers have to control data streams and what current laws are affecting ownership and control of data streaming from farms.
- Todd Janzen, attorney and co-founder, Janzen Agricultural Law LLC
Learn about on-farm water quality research program coordinated by Wisconsin Discovery Farms, including results of ongoing research and exciting upcoming projects to benefit the state’s water quality.
- Steven Hall, assistant professor and extension specialist, Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, UW-Madison
- Lindsey Hartfiel, research program manager, UW-Madison Division of Extension
Week 214: Employee Engagement, FMMO & Market Update: (watch now)
Tuesday, July 9
Hiring, engaging and retaining good employees is the foundation of your business. Tune in for a discussion on employee engagement and how to build a workforce that is committed, enthusiastic and productive.
- Tim Schaefer, CFP, certified family business advisor, certified professional business coach, Encore Consultants
Bring your questions about the newly released Federal Milk Marketing Order recommendations to this session with some of the leading minds in dairy economics. In the first of two sessions, hear about the proposed changes, what was not changed, and the next steps in moving to a producer vote on these changes later in 2024. The second session of two sessions will be held Weds., July 24.
- Dr. Charles Nicholson, associate professor, Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences and Agricultural & Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Dr. Christopher Wolf, E.V. Baker professor of Agricultural Economics, director of Land Grant Programs, Cornell University
- Dr. Mark Stephenson, retired from UW-Madison as director of Dairy Policy Analysis
Thursday, July 11
With summer in full swing, join in for a discussion of the latest market, weather, export news and trends that will impact dairy producers and the industry.
- Ben Buckner, chief grains and dairy analyst, AgResource
Week 213: Farm Data, Carbon Insets & Building a Strong Culture: (watch now)
Tuesday, June 25
The point of analyzing farm data is to improve performance. That requires quality data and recognizing that correlation is not causality. Learn how to find the right data for the answer you need for your business.
- Dr. Michael Overton, DVM, MPVM, global dairy platform lead, Zoetis Animal Health
The carbon conversation can be overwhelming. Tune in to learn the ins and outs of carbon insets: what they are, what opportunities are available to dairy farmers, and what pitfalls you should watch out for.
- Patrick Wood, founder and general manager, Ag Methane Advisors, LLC
Put away your excuses that a highly intensive labor position can’t be filled. Glean insights from seasoned executives from Kwik Trip and Marucci Sports on how they hire, grow and sustain a culture where both business and people thrive. Steal trade secrets that will have lasting impacts on your team.
- Ryan Levendoski, district leader, Kwik Trip
- Kyle Achord, vice president of team sales, Marucci Sports
Week 212: Cleaning Protocols, Fungicide Strategies and FARM ES: (watch now)
Tuesday, June 18
Join in this timely and interactive conversation about preventing disease in our youngest herd members. Learn about sanitation and cleanliness protocols for young calves, with a focus on cleaning feeding equipment, calf huts and pens.
- Dr. Donald Sockett, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D., Diplomate ACVIM, veterinary microbiologist/epidemiologist, Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Wisconsin
What is the outlook for disease pressure in this year’s growing season? Tune in for a discussion on fungicide strategies and which diseases could present challenges for this year’s crops.
- Todd Schaumburg, part owner and agronomist, Tilth Agronomy
Learn about the FARM Environmental Stewardship (FARM ES) program, including how greenhouse gas emissions and energy use on dairy farms are calculated, and the tools and resources available to farmers to measure and improve their footprint.
- Nicole Ayache, chief sustainability officer, National Milk Producers Federation
- Sage Saffran, manager, Sustainability Initiatives, National Milk Producers Federation