Training Sessions
Presenters and topics by week, with a brief description of each day's episode topic and featured presenter(s):
Week 110: Financial Planning, Feeding Behavior and Market Update: (watch now)
Tuesday, May 24
Tune in for a discussion on risk management and budgeting for the remainder of 2022. Now is a great time to review financials from the first quarter and adjust plans for coming months.
- Gary Sipiorski, independent business and financial consultant
- Dr. Kevin Bernhardt, Professor of Agribusiness at UW-Platteville School of Agriculture and Farm
Learn about the effects that dietary fiber and starch digestibility can have on your herd’s feeding behavior and lactation performance.
- Dr. Luiz Ferraretto, Assistant Professor and Ruminant Nutrition Extension Specialist, UW-Madison
Join the bi-weekly discussion on the latest dairy industry and weather news and hear an analysis of agricultural markets and trends expected to impact dairy producers and the ag industry.
- Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company
Week 109: Prepare for summer - Heat stress and fire prevention: (watch now)
Tuesday, May 17
Protecting yourself and your team from the sun and heat stress has both short- and long-term health benefits. Learn strategies for working and playing safely in the heat, including sun-protection tips and how to prevent and identify heat stress and heat stroke. Episode presenter will be:
- Leslie Olivares, Education and Outreach Specialist, Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, University of California, Davis
A quick response can save property and lives in case of a fire. Discover important tips to prevent common fire hazards and learn how to respond when equipment or tractors overheat – or when a fire starts in a barn. Episode presenter will be:
- Gerald Minor, Fire Chief, Pittsville Fire Department
Take a closer look into how heat stress impacts dairy cow reproduction, including longer breed-back time, incidence of twins and more. Learn practical strategies to combat these adverse effects during warmer summer months. Episode presenter will be:
- Dr. Paul Fricke, PhD, Dairy Reproduction Specialist at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Week 108: Life Balance, Off Farm Investments & a Market Update: (watch now)
Tuesday, May 10
A dairy farmer panel will share perspectives on balancing the many obligations of business and family. Clark and Pollack will share their strategies for managing stress, schedules and more – and the live Q&A gives listeners the chance to ask their burning questions. Episode presenters:
- Janet Clark, Dairy Farmer and Co-Owner, Vision Aire Farm LLC, Eldorado, Wis.
- Chris Pollack, Dairy Farmer, Pollack-Vu Dairy, Ripon, Wis.
How should today’s dairy farmers approach investing in off-farm assets such as retirement accounts, life insurance and all the other options? Tune in for discussion of how much should be set aside and which investments are the right fit for farm families. Episode presenters:
- Brian Hoskens, Vice President of Agricultural Banking and Senior Lender, Nicolet National Bank
- P.J. Madson, Senior Vice President of Wealth Management, Nicolet National Bank
Hear an update on the latest market and industry news impacting dairy and agricultural markets in the bi-weekly market update episode. Episode presenter:
- Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company
Week 107: Effective Meetings, Alfalfa Harvest & Feed Variation: (watch now)
Tuesday, May 3
Time is money for busy dairy teams. Make the most of management-team meetings by inviting the right team members and practicing effective meeting techniques.
- Liz Griffith, Market Development, Human Resource Consultant, Encore Consultants
- Tim Schaefer, CFP, Certified Family Business Advisor, Certified Professional Business Coach, Encore Consultants
Maximize your 2022 alfalfa harvest with strategies for optimizing forage quality and yield, harvest planning for different varieties and identifying the right times for cutting.
- Dr. Don Miller, Ph.D., Director of Product Development, Alforex Seeds
Fluctuations in feed and ingredient markets combined with the ongoing uncertainty in the Ukraine make feed variation more critical than ever. Discover what feed variation really is and how to lower feed costs in today’s markets.
- Dr. John Goeser, PhD, Director of Nutritional Research & Innovation at Rock River Lab, Inc., and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Dairy Science Department at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Week 106: Carbon Markets, Dairy Research & Market Updates: (watch now)
Tuesday, April 26
Carbon markets present a number of opportunities for today’s farmers but they also come with potential risks. A recent PDPW Business Conference presentation, the topic is being made available to present to a broader audience the options available to meet a farm’s business goals. Those tuning in live are encouraged to engage with the presenter and ask questions about the logistics, dynamics and carbon-marketplace contract terms.
- Patrick Wood, Founder and General Manager, Ag Methane Advisors, LLC
Sponsored by Balchem, this month’s Rising Stars Graduate Research Showcase features students from the University of Florida. They will share research on the impact of choline on hepatic metabolism and performance in dairy cows as well as studies on how a cow’s ability to utilize nutrients can impact her production, health and reproduction.
- Usman Arshad, PhD student, University of Florida
- Mariana Nehme Marinho, PhD student, University of Florida
- Dr. José Eduardo Santos, Research Foundation Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida
Staying on top of the latest news on global grain markets, dairy industry trends and other economic factors that impact dairy farming can overwhelming. Tune in to hear the latest news and market trends in this bi-weekly market update.
- Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company
105:Feed Strategies, Selective Dry Cow Therapy & Pain Management: (watch now)
Tuesday, April 19
Adjust your feeding strategy to feed more economically and take advantage of the continued popularity of protein and fat by maximizing components in the bulk tank. Learn how to read your milk check and make adjustments to capture opportunities. Presented at the 2022 PDPW Business Conference, this topic merits exposure to a broader audience.
- Dr. Thomas Overton, PhD, Professor, Animal Science Department and Director of PRO-DAIRY, Cornell University
How familiar are you with today’s selective-dry-cow-therapy options? Learn best practices to establish protocols, identify cows for treatment, monitor the program’s efficacy and identify cows with subclinical infections.
- Dr. Chris Booth, DVM, Partner, Dairy Doctors Veterinary Services
Pain management should be a critical part of a farm’s animal-health program. Hear practical approaches and best practices for managing pain in procedures such as dehorning, calving, lameness, injury and illness, and take a look at the public’s expectations for animal pain management. A subject with critical implications for the dairy community; this 2022 PDPW Business Conference session will now be remastered for the larger Dairy Signal audience.
- Dr. Hans Coetzee, DVM, PhD, Professor and Head of the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University
Week 104: Antibiotic Usage, Nutrient Inputs & Market Update: (watch now)
Tuesday, April 12
Take a deep dive into antibiotic usage on farms, including best practices around mitigating antibiotic resistance and minimizing antibiotic residues.
- Brian Lubbers, DVM, Associate Professor, Food Animal Therapeutics, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University
Fertilizer pricing and availability will drive many decisions regarding crop rotations and feed rations for the upcoming growing season. After this expert panel shared valuable recommendations and insights on crop growing choices and nutrient input options at the 2022 PDPW Business Conference, there’s been demand to have them present to a broader audience.
- James Bailey, Owner, ProAGtive Dairy Nutrition
- Eric Birschbach, Owner and Operator, Ag Site Crop Consulting, LLC
- Matt Lange, Business Consultant, Compeer Financial
Global news is impacting agriculture markets on a daily basis. Tune into the bi-weekly market update to hear the latest developments and how they could impact your business.
- Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company
Week 103: Water Quality, Tractor Safety & Disease Culling Factor: (watch now)
Tuesday, April 5
Learn about the latest on-farm and water-quality research underway at Discovery Farm and hear about the results that may be applicable to dairy operations.
- Amber Radatz, Agricultural Water Quality Program Manager, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension
Planting season is just around the corner; that means safety is top of mind. Hone in on practical safety tips and best practices for working around large equipment.
- Cheryl Skjolaas, Agricultural Safety and Health Specialist, Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, UW-Madison/Division of Extension
Johne’s disease and leukosis remain important concerns for dairy herds. Learn about new data on these two diseases and the parameters producers should consider to combat them.
- Dr. Keith Poulsen, PhD, Director, Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL), University of Wisconsin
Week 102: Calf Management, Graduate Research & Market Updates: (watch now)
Tuesday, Mar. 29
Hear about the latest research findings in caring for newborn calves, including the non-IgG factors that are important to stimulating the gut health while building the calf biome.
- Dr. Robert James, PhD, PAS, Professor Emeritus, Dairy Science Department Virginia Tech; owner of Down Home Heifer Solutions, Inc.
This month’s Rising Stars – Graduate Research Showcase will feature Iowa State University graduate students and their research findings regarding the effects of hindgut acidosis on intestinal-barrier dysfunction in dairy cows. The episode will also discuss current work on the immune activation’s role in transition-cow performance and potential dietary solutions.
- Megan Abeyta, PhD Candidate, Iowa State University
- Brady Goetz, PhD Student, Iowa State University
- Dr. Lance Baumgard, PhD, Professor, Norman L. Jacobson Endowed Professor in Dairy Nutrition, Iowa State University
We’re three months into the year; gain insight on the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets and trends that will impact dairy producers and ag industry.
- Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company
Week 101: Milk Pricing, Farm Safety & Spring Outlook: (watch now)
Tuesday, Mar. 22
Tune in for an overview of milk and commodity pricing trends as well as a look ahead at what the industry should be preparing for in a constantly changing economic environment.
- Dr. Mark Stephenson, PhD, Director of Dairy Policy Analysis at UW-Madison and Director of Wisconsin’s Center for Dairy Profitability
As weather warms and activity on the farm increases, ensure that you and your team are using personal protective equipment (PPE) to stay safe on the farm, and review best practices for safely handling farm equipment.
- Jenna Gibbs, Director of Operations, Ag Health and Safety Alliance; Personal Trainer, University of Iowa
What is the weather outlook for spring planting and the 2022 growing season? Take a deep dive into weather trends and forecasts that will impact the agricultural and dairy community.
- Eric Snodgrass, Principal Atmospheric Scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions