Training Sessions
Presenters and topics by week, with a brief description of each day's episode topic and featured presenter(s):
Week 50: (watch now)
Tuesday, March 23
Take a step back and evaluate some of the risk management strategies dairy producers are utilizing to manage amid current market trends and conditions.
- Will Babler, Principal, Atten Babler Commodities LLC
Get the latest update on what’s happening on the national level and how it will affect the dairy industry.
- Paul Bleiberg, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, National Milk Producers Federation
Learn the benefits of cover crops and how they impact productivity and sustainability of the land.
- Matthew Oehmichen, part owner of Short Lane Ag Supply
- Peter Graff, dairy producer from Stetsonville, Wis.
Week 49: (watch now)
Tuesday, March 9
Hear about the “Dairy Dozen,” or the 12 key financial ratios that lenders follow that are easy for dairy producers to calculate and understand.
- Dr. Kevin Bernhardt, Professor of Agribusiness at UW-Platteville School of Agriculture and Farm Management Specialist with UW-Extension and Center for Dairy Profitability
- Gary Sipiorski, independent business and financial consultant
Learn about the latest on-farm research projects and resources available at Discovery Farms that may be applicable on your dairy operation.
- Amber Radatz, Co-Director of Discovery Farms
The amount of business and personal data producers share in cyberspace is ever increasing. Learn how to identify a potential risk or attack and develop a cybersecurity strategy for your business.
- Jeremy Cherny, Founder and President, Tobin Solutions
Week 48: (watch now)
Tuesday, March 2
Family and management should go hand-in-hand, but sometimes the same vision and values are not utilized. Learn how to determine if your family members are in the right management position and glean tips on how to restructure management roles.
- Liz Griffith, Market Development, Human Resource Consultant, Encore Consultants
Learn the latest on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, what phase dairy producers fall into and other vaccine-related questions.
- Jon Meiman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and State Epidemiologist for Occupational and Environmental Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
- Lisa Olson, Assistant Deputy Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Hear about the latest Dairy Innovation Hub-funded projects and how they will affect the dairy industry.
- Mitch Breunig, dairy producer and chair of the Dairy Innovation Hub advisory council
- Dr. Heather White, PhD, Assistant Professor of Nutritional Physiology of UW-Madison
Week 47: (watch now)
Tuesday, February 23
The Center for Dairy Research is one of the premier dairy research centers in the United States. Find out what the research team is currently working on and what the dairy industry has to look forward to down the road.
- Dr. John Lucey, PhD, Director of Center for Dairy Research, Professor of Food Science at UW-Madison
Tune in to learn how we can best prepare the next generation of employees and managers for success by developing their leadership skills while managing everyone’s expectations.
- Nicole Bettinger Zeidler, Consultant, Family Business Consulting Group
Hear 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 46: (watch now)
Tuesday, February 16
Kwik Trip has quickly become a one-stop shop for food, fuel, household and other consumer needs. Discover how this company is managing their accelerated growth and learn its philosophy for providing opportunities to team members.
- John McHugh, Director of Public Relations, Kwik Trip
Learn how one of the largest beef processing companies in the U.S. has adapted through an unprecedented year in 2020, along with one of their suppliers. Find out how they are keeping up with consumer demand and what lies ahead in 2021.
- Steve Van Lannen, President and Chief Operating Officer of American Foods Group
- Keith Lindsey, President and CEO, Salm Partners
How will La Nina affect weather patterns in 2021? Hear about the climate and weather trends that will impact the remaining winter months, influence spring planting and effect the 2021 growing season.
- Eric Snodgrass, Principal Atmospheric Scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions
Week 45: (watch now)
Tuesday, February 9
Learn about the consumer trends that will drive the dairy industry in 2021 and how the industry is partnering with companies for promotional efforts. Also, hear about how fluid milk is competing with other beverages, especially dairy alternatives, in today’s marketplace.
- Chad Vincent, CEO, Dairy Famers of Wisconsin
- Paul Ziemnisky, Executive Vice President, Global Innovation Partnerships, Dairy Management Inc.
The foundation of a strong team is giving and receiving feedback. Learn effective ways to provide constructive feedback and communication with your team members.
- Liz Griffith, Market Development, Human Resource Consultant, Encore Consultants
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 44: (watch now)
Tuesday, February 2
Every manager is asking how profits are made and what is holding back greater profitability. Learn about the DuPont System for Financial Analysis, and how to break down elements of profitability and make the most of management decisions on your farm.
- Dr. Kevin Bernhardt, Professor of Agribusiness at UW-Platteville School of Agriculture and Farm Management Specialist with UW-Extension and Center for Dairy Profitability
- Gary Sipiorski, independent business and financial consultant
Review market drivers, trends and fundamentals for both milk and feed markets. Learn about practical risk management tools and example strategies on how to apply them to the current market opportunities.
- Will Babler, Principal, Atten Babler Commodities LLC
Get an update on the global dairy industry as markets around the world recover and reposition from the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, learn what producers can do to remain price competitive and avoid the “angry bird” phase when managing through changing times.
- Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritus, Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics, Virginia Tech
- Dr. Alex White, Advanced Instructor, Department of Dairy Science, Virginia Tech
Week 43: (watch now)
Tuesday, January 26
Hear the latest updates on water quality and cover crop research, as well as the environmental issues that dairy producers should be aware of in 2021.
- Amber Radatz, Co-Director, Discovery Farms
- Tim Radatz, Minnesota Discovery Farms Coordinator
Find out what grocery trends and consumer demands from 2020 will continue into the future, including the use of online grocery shopping and possible marketing opportunities for dairy producers.
- Brandon Scholz, President and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association
- Darrin S. Kuehn, Senior Director of Store Operations, Skogen’s Festival Foods – De Pere Support Office
Get the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets and trends that will impact dairy producers and the ag industry through 2021.
- Dan Basse, Economist and President of AgResource Company
Week 42: (watch now)
Tuesday, January 19
Learn how the calf’s rumen develops and hear tips to make the weaning transition period more successful, including cost-effective ways to begin introducing weaned calves to heifer rations.
- Dr. Jud Heinrichs, Professor of Dairy Nutrition, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
Gain insight from a panel focused on practical ways to make calf care a top priority on your farm, including calf care techniques, record-keeping systems and working with the entire dairy team.
- Ermith Ocampo, Livestock Director, Milk Source LLC
- Stacy Jauquet, Owner, Jauquet’s Hillview Dairy LLC
Pneumonia is the most common disease in growing calves, and is especially challenging in winter months. Tune in for the latest updates on preventing and treating this disease.
- Dr. Theresa Ollivett, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Large Animal), Assistant Professor in Food Animal Production Medicine section at UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
Week 41: (watch now)
Tuesday, January 12
Learn on-board training techniques, effective ways to retain and reward employees and ways to communicate using other means of technology when in-person meetings are unavailable.
- Liz Griffith, Market Development, Human Resource Consultant, Encore Consultants
Learn how to provide constructive feedback and manage challenging conversations. Find out what the next generation needs to know in order to be a successful contributor to the business.
- Nicole Bettinger Zeidler, Consultant, Family Business Consulting Group
Hear the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets and trends as we move into 2021.
- Dan Basse, Economist and President of AgResource Company