Training Sessions
Presenters and topics by week, with a brief description of each day's episode topic and featured presenter(s):
Week 70: (watch now)
Tuesday, August 10
As part of the effort to address groundwater issues and protect drinking water and public health across Wisconsin, the Department of Natural Resources are working with key public and agriculture industry stakeholders, state agencies, the State Legislature, the governor, and the general public to update ch. NR 151. Get an overview of how this administrative rule will affect dairy producers.
- Christopher Clayton, Agricultural Runoff Section Chief, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Farm accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Learn how local emergency responders and farmers can create a safer work area on the farm for employees and for responders.
- Chief Gerald Minor, Pittsville Fire Department
- Ronald Naab, Allenton Fire Department Assistant Training Officer
Getting started in the dairy industry involves planning, whether it’s establishing goals or understanding financial tools. Learn some of the strategies young producers should consider when get started in the industry.
- Gary Sipiorski, independent business and financial consultant
- Dr. Kevin Bernhardt, Professor of Agribusiness at UW-Platteville School of Agriculture and UW-Extension Farm Management Specialist
Week 69: (watch now)
Tuesday, August 3
Financial data is necessary for taxes and lender requirements, but those uses represent only about 20 percent of their value to dairy managers. A panel of three savvy dairy producers will share how they put financials to work to better their operation.
- Carrie Pollard, Owner, Pollard Farms, Rockford, Ill.
- Stacy Eberle, Owner, EbAcres Orchestrated Dreams, Monroe, Wis.
- Geoff Gerrits, Chief Financial Officer, Breeze Dairy Group, LLC, Pine River, Wis.
Listen to an update on some of the dairy and agriculture-related issues being discussed at the national level, from climate/infrastructure to immigration to trade to economic support.
- Paul Bleiberg, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, National Milk Producers Federation
Hear 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 68: (watch now)
Tuesday, July 27
Thousands fall victim to human trafficking, even in rural areas and agricultural labor markets. Know what signs to look for and how to prevent it from happening on your farm.
- Paul Marik, Captain of Patrol Division, Village of Pleasant Prairie, Wis.
Learn from UW-Madison graduate students about new research on the relationship between serotonin and calcium during a cow’s lactation and how calcium levels can affect reproduction hormones around calving time and reproductive health long-term. Episode presenters include:
- Dr. Laura Hernandez, PhD, Professor of Lactation Physiology, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Meghan Connelly, PhD, Research Scientist, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Pedro Leopoldo Jeronimo Monteiro Junior, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Body condition score (BCS) is one of the factors limiting reproduction on farms today. Learn the role BCS plays during the transitional period.
- Dr. Paul Fricke, PhD, Dairy Reproduction Specialist with UW-Madison
Week 67: (watch now)
Tuesday, July 20
Hazardous distractions can be found all around your farm. Learn how to identify these distractions and explore an effective communications plan to help prevent these types of distractions from resulting in injuries.
- Marsha Salzwedel, Project Scientist at Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation/National Farm Medicine Center
President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month. Learn from two entrepreneurs what it takes to operate a farmstead creamery.
- James Baerwolf, Owner, Sassy Cow Creamery, Sun Prairie, Wisc.
- Karen Kelley, Owner, Kelley Country Creamery, Eden, Wisc.
Hear 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 66: (watch now)
Tuesday, July 13
Opportunities exist for bovine tuberculosis (TB) to reemerge in the U.S. Learn how to minimize your herd’s risks for introduction and spread of TB and hear firsthand how one family dairy dealt with this zoonotic disease.
- Dr. Darlene Konkle, DVM, MS, DACVIM, State Veterinarian, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
- Dr. Elisabeth Patton, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM, Assistant State Veterinarian, Wisconsin DATCP
- Steve Maddox, Maddox Dairy, Burrel, California
Certain areas of the U.S. have received adequate moisture; other areas are still in a drought-stricken state. Learn how this will affect the dairy state and where we are at in terms of quality and quantity of second-crop harvesting and corn growth.
- 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
- Scott Fleming, Nutrient Management Specialist and Sampling Director from Rock River Lab
Learn how nitrates can affect groundwater and hear the latest update on Discovery Farm’s nitrogen-use efficiency research project as it relates to fine-tuning crop decisions and how this study weaves into the new DNR regulations.
- Amber Radatz, Co-Director, Discovery Farms
- Ryan Heiderman, Nitrogen Projects Coordinator, Discovery Farms
Week 65: (watch now)
Tuesday, July 6
Learn how the agricultural industry can capitalize on alternative energy resources such as geothermal, solar and wind.
- Adam Wehling, Dean of Agriculture, Energy, Construction & Transportation, Chippewa Valley Technical College
- Frank Cardoza, Dairy Operations Manager, Philip Verwey Farms, Hanford, Calif.
Hear the latest consumer research when it comes to e-commerce beef growth, the changes that occurred over the last year on both the retail and consumer side, as well as an outlook on alternative protein sales.
- Shawn Darcy, Senior Director, Market Research, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
- Brandon Scholz, President and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association
Gain insight on the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets and trends that will impact dairy producers and the ag industry.
- Dan Basse, Economist and President of AgResource Company
Week 64: (watch now)
Tuesday, June 29
It’s officially summer and that equates to hot and humid days. Learn how to maintain calf health during warmer weather and how one producer works daily keeping 8,000 calves comfortable and hydrated.
- Dr. Geof Smith, DVM, MS, PhD, Veterinarian, Dairy Technical Services, Zoetis
- Sherry Arnold, Busse’s Barron Acres, Barron, Wis.
Hear from two “rising stars” in dairy research talk about some of the recent work on silage quality and its nutritive value.
- Dr. Luiz Ferraretto, Ruminant Nutrition Extension Specialist, University of Wisconsin – Madison
- Ben Saylor, Ruminant Nutrition PhD Candidate, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences
- Cole Diepersloot, MS Student, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences
Find out how Dairy Farmers of America remains competitive as the largest cooperative in the nation and the innovations keeping them in the forefront of the industry.
- Kristen Coady, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Dairy Farmers of America
- David Darr, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA)
Week 63: (watch now)
Tuesday, June 22
New products are being developed and marketed at a steady pace, including GoodSport, a hydrating sports drink formulated from milk. Learn the concept behind this product and how the Center for Dairy Research provides product development, research and troubleshooting for those looking to create something new.
- Michelle McBride, Founder & CEO, GoodSport™ Nutrition
- Tom Guerin, Research Program Manager, Center for Dairy Research
Learn about consumer food interests and branding, cheese pairings and tips, recipe appetizers to celebrate dairy and current media efforts to promote Wisconsin’s dairy industry.
- Molly Browne, Education Manager, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin
- Tina Peterson, National Program Manager, Media Appearances-Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin
Hear 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 62: (watch now)
Tuesday, June 15
Hear an overview of how weather patterns are affecting the United States and find out what’s in store the rest of the summer.
- Eric Snodgrass, Principal Atmospheric Scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions
The majority of first crop hay has now been harvested. Dive into a nutritional analysis of this crop and how harvesting higher quality feeds can offset overall feed costs.
- 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
Adding value to your dairy by diversifying on-farm sales is growing in popularity. Glean tips on how to start, market and maintain a successful business.
- Kristin Quist, Dairy Manager, Minglewood, Inc., Deer Park, Wis.
- Heather Moore, Owner, Moore Family Farms and Moore Local, Maquoketa, Iowa
Week 61: (watch now)
Tuesday, June 8
Find out what’s trending when it comes to consumer buying habits, what’s the recent perception on plant-based and cell-based alternatives to dairy and meat and how certain new initiatives could affect the dairy industry.
- Charlie Arnot, CEO of The Center for Food Integrity and president of Look East
Heat stress can affect overall economics, production, fertility and alter milk composition. Learn some of the more effective heat abatement practices and feeding techniques to combat heat stress.
- Dr. Geoffrey E. Dahl, Harriet B. Weeks Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida
Hear 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