Training Sessions
Presenters and topics by week, with a brief description of each day's episode topic and featured presenter(s):
Week 90: Communications Skills, Robotic Facilities & Work-Life : (watch now)
Tuesday, Dec. 28
Glean communications skills and approaches to handle conflicts and effectively work with team and family members with different personality styles.
- Liz Griffith, Market Development and Human Resource Consultant, Encore Consultants
- Tim Schaefer, Founder, Encore Consultants
Explore strategies to design, build and manage robotic milking systems to make the most of productivity and profitability for your operation.
- Doug Reinemann, Professor and Chair of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Tune in for a discussion on life on and off the farm for family business owners. Gather key tips and strategies to manage both business and family life and how to keep the two separate when needed.
- Monica McConkey – Rural Mental Health Counselor, Eyes on the Horizon Consulting
Week 89: (watch now)
Tuesday, Dec. 21
Tune in for a discussion of the ins and outs of digital dermatitis and how you can prevent and manage this crippling disease.
- Dr. Dorte Dopfer, MSc, PhD, Professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
Take a deep dive into the latest research on how bedding programs and the environment can impact mastitis and overall milk quality.
- Dr. Pamela Ruegg, DVM, MPVM, David J. Ellis Professor of Antimicrobial Resistance & Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University
Join us for the final market and industry news discussion for 2021, with a review of the year and a look ahead at the economic, production, weather, export, financial and other trends that will impact our industry in 2022.
- Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company
Week 88: (watch now)
Tuesday, Dec. 14
Prepare for holiday gatherings with tips on pairing cheeses with foods and beverages, and tasty ideas for building charcuterie boards. Learn about the Cheeselandia® promotion and its impact on the industry.
- Suzanne Fanning, Senior Vice President, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, and Chief Marketing Officer, Wisconsin Cheese
Tune in for the National Dairy Checkoff’s forward-thinking strategy for keeping dairy at the heart of wellness conversations with both consumers and health professionals.
- Eve Pollet, Senior Vice President of Strategic Intelligence, Dairy Management, Inc.
Learn the critical ins and outs of heifer comfort, including barn and stall design, bedding type, hoof health and other management practices for these important members of your herd.
- Dr. Nigel Cook, DVM, Professor in Food Animal Production Medicine, UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, and Chair of the Department of Medical Sciences
Week 87: (watch now)
Tuesday, Dec. 7
Hear a status report from the food-bank network regarding supplies of dairy products and other food items for the holiday season. Presenter Sam Schwoeppe will share ways to support local food pantries now and throughout the entire year.
- Sam Schwoeppe, Senior Account Manager for Feeding America
Tune in for strategies and watch-outs for risk management in the coming year and gain an understanding of forward-contracting opportunities and risks with various commodities.
- Will Babler, Principal, Atten Babler Commodities LLC
Gain insights on the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets and trends that are sure to impact dairy producers and the ag industry in this bi-weekly update.
- Dan Basse, Economist and President of AgResource Company
Week 86: (watch now)
Tuesday, Nov. 30
There is a paradigm shift underway in nutrient management in agriculture. Hear about new systems to capture more value from waste, and have a positive impact on land, water and air quality, including a worm-powered wastewater treatment system and carbon-credit programs.
- Dr. Frank Mitloehner, PhD, Professor and Air Quality Extension Specialist at University of California-Davis
- Austin Allred, Owner, Royal Dairy, Royal City, Wash.
Tune in for an update on what’s happening at the national level on key dairy industry issues and a look ahead at what could impact dairy producers in 2022.
- Jim Mulhern, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Milk Producers Federation
As we wrap up 2021, our financial management experts will share important tips to finish 2021 strong. They’ll also provide an outlook for 2022 cash flows.
- Dr. Kevin Bernhardt, PhD, Professor of Agribusiness at University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Agriculture and Farm Management Specialist with UW-Extension and Center for Dairy Profitability
- Gary Sipiorski, Independent Business and Financial Consultant
Week 85: (watch now)
Tuesday, Nov. 23
The “Rising Stars” showcase series will feature ongoing graduate student research at Cornell University. Researchers will share studies focused on the outcomes of management and nutritional practices on commercial dairy farms, and dietary supplementation impacts on calcium metabolism, health and performance of transition cows. This Rising Stars showcase episode is sponsored by Balchem.
- Dr. Thomas Overton, PhD, Department Chair, Professor, Animal Science and Program Director, PRO-DAIRY, Cornell University
- Allison Kerwin, PhD candidate, Cornell University
- Geneva Graef, PhD student, Cornell University
Tune in for a Thanksgiving-week update on news in the dairy and agricultural industries, and analysis of markets and trends that could impact dairy producers.
- Dan Basse, Economist and President of AgResource Company
Week 84: (watch now)
Tuesday, Nov. 16
Tune in for an update on silage quality from the 2021 harvest season, as well as a discussion of the implications of hard corn kernels and digestibility.
- 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
Top state officials will join The Dairy Signal to share an update on the $50 million in direct aid to Wisconsin farmers through the Wisconsin Farm Support Program to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the industry. They will also discuss a number of key issues and topics for rural Wisconsin.
- Tony Evers, Governor of Wisconsin
- Randy Romanski, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Learn the ins and outs of farmers markets from a panel of producers who will share their experiences. Bring your questions about selecting markets, preparing, promoting and connecting with customers.
- Shelly Grosenick, Owner of Crimson Kitchen and Gardens
- Katy Schultz, Co-owner at Tri-Fecta Farms Family Market
Week 83: (watch now)
Tuesday, Nov. 9
How do animal vaccines really work? Learn the ins and outs of viruses and how vaccines can be used most effectively in your herd.
- Dr. Amelia Woolums, DVM, MVSc, PhD, DACVIM, DACVM, Professor, Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, Mississippi State University
Tune in for recommendations for both landowners and hunters to prepare for deer hunting season, as well a refresher on hunter safety tips. The Wisconsin State Veterinarian will join the discussion with an update on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and tuberculosis with a focus on protecting both dairy herds and people.
- Jon King, Hunter Education Administrator and Conservation Warden, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Dr. Darlene Konkle, DVM, MS, DACVIM, State Veterinarian, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Gain insights on the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets and trends that will impact dairy producers and ag industry.
- Dan Basse, Economist and President of AgResource Company
Week 82: (watch now)
Tuesday, Nov. 2
When we talk farm transition, there’s a variety of business structure opportunities available. Learn about what each business structure has to offer for each farm’s situation.
- George Twohig, Partner and Attorney at Twohig, Rietbrock, Schneider & Halbach Law Office
Going through a farm transition involves some calculated steps. Hear from a producer panel about their experiences and the process involved in transferring the farm from one generation to the next.
- Kari Gribble, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer for Tri-Fecta Farms Inc. and TFF Land LLC, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director of Financial Aid for Edgewood College
- Jamie Witcpalek, Co-Owner, Pagel Family Businesses
Learn effective ways to communicate that will inspire your team to create a winning culture.
- Kristy Pagel, Partner, GPS Dairy Consulting, LLC
Week 81: (watch now)
Tuesday, Oct. 26
The Wisconsin Restaurant Association includes thousands of foodservice businesses representing every size and style of establishment in the state. While there are many challenges in today’s fluctuating environment, a number of innovative opportunities have arisen for foodservice businesses. Hear about a few of these opportunities and how business have adapted.
- Kristine Hillmer, CAE, President and CEO, Wisconsin Restaurant Association
- Eric Skrum, Director of Public Relations and Communications, Culver's
In this “Rising Stars: Graduate Research Showcase” episode, learn the effect of weight versus age at calving on milk production in the first lactation, and hear about strategies to optimize fertility to sexed semen in non-lactating heifers and lactating dairy cows. This Rising Stars showcase episode is sponsored by Balchem.
- Dr. Paul Fricke, PhD, Professor of Dairy Science and Extension Specialist in Dairy Cattle Reproduction Specialist, Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Megan Lauber, M.S., Graduate Research Assistant, Dairy Reproductive Physiology, Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences, UW-Madison.
Gain insights on the latest news and hear an analysis of agricultural markets and trends that will impact dairy producers and ag industry.
- Dan Basse, Economist and President of AgResource Company