Training Sessions
Presenters and topics by week, with a brief description of each day's episode topic and featured presenter(s):
Week 146: Interseeding Crops, Social Media Tips & Genomics: (watch now)
Tuesday, February 7
Curious about interseeding as an option for your farm? Tune in to hear an assessment of the 2022 interseeding season, including what worked and what didn’t, comparisons of applications in grain and silage crops, cover crop biomass tests and the impact of dry weather in June. Episode presenter will be:
- Matthew Oehmichen, Part-Owner of Short Lane Ag Supply
Hear tips and recommendations to effectively tell your farm’s story on social media, including choosing the right platform, breaking through the clutter and keeping things simple. Episode presenter will be:
- Kallie Coates, Owner, Briar Marketing
We’ll take a deep dive into genomics in this interactive discussion. Learn about the improvements we’re seeing as a result of genomics work and what’s on the horizon. Episode presenter will be:
- Dr. Kent Weigel, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Week 145: Financial Outlook, Contract Reviews and Discussions: (watch now)
Tuesday, January 31
As we wrap up the first month of 2023, we’ll take a look at expenses and costs of production compared to projections for 2023, with a focus on how inflation will impact dairy operations in the year ahead. Episode presenters will be:
- Gary Sipiorski, independent business and financial consultant
- Dr. Kevin Bernhardt, PhD, Professor of Agribusiness at UW-Platteville School of Agriculture and Farm Management Specialist with UW-Extension and Center for Dairy Profitability
Tune in for a discussion on reviewing contracts. Hear a review of what both parties should be mindful of before signing a lease or other contract, and some common watchouts. Episode presenter will be:
- Troy Schneider, Partner and Attorney at Twohig, Rietbrock, Schneider & Halbach Law Office
How do you prepare for and handle difficult discussions with employees? Learn strategies to manage these conversations in a way that leads to positive results and culture on your farm. Episode presenter will be:
- Michael Hoffman, President, Igniting Performance
Week 144: Communications Skills and Calf Care : (watch now)
Tuesday, January 24
Effectively communicating and resolving conflicts between current and incoming generations of leadership is key to business transition success. Tune in for a discussion of best practices, with a focus on providing constructive feedback and navigating challenging conversations.
- Nicole Bettinger Zeidler, Consultant, Family Business Consulting Group
How does your calf care team’s cleaning and sanitizing protocol need to change when temperatures drop below freezing? Learn about which adjustments need to be made so both calves and people stay safe and healthy during winter months.
- Dr. Don Sockett, Epidemiologist/Microbiologist at Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Understand how clostridium type A impacts calves, from how it develops to how it is detected and managed during this interactive discussion. Dr. Lauer will also highlight “The five Cs of calf care protocol."
- Dr. Vicky Lauer, Professional Services Veterinarian, Armor Animal Health
Week 143: Transition Cow,Bedding Management,Food System Research: (watch now)
Tuesday, January 17
Tune in for a “fact or fiction” episode focused on transition-cow management with an interactive discussion on some of the most common assumptions about cows during this critical period.
- Dr. Ryan Pralle, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Agriculture University of Wisconsin Platteville
Bedding types and management have a significant impact on bacteria counts, mastitis risk and milk quality. Learn how to benchmark bacteria counts in bedding materials and improve management to reduce mastitis risk.
- Dr. Sandra Godden, DVM, PhD, Professor, Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota
What does the food chain expect from dairy producers? How can dairy producers be Future Ready™? Hear the results of qualitative research with leaders up the chain in our food system to understand what sustainability looks like to partners now and in the future.
- Linda Wenck, Principal, Director of Sustainable Food & Consumer Communications, MorganMyers
- Shelly Mayer, Executive Director, Professional Dairy Producers
Week 142: Calf Social Housing, Insurance Coverage & Health Goals: (watch now)
Tuesday, January 10
As adoption of social housing of calves continues to expand across the industry, new methods and questions arise. Tune in for an interactive discussion of the challenges and opportunities of the practice, specifically focusing on practices that optimize calf behavior, nutrition and management in these systems.
- Dr. Trevor DeVries, Ph.D., Professor and Canada Research Chair, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph
January is an ideal time to review your insurance coverage for farm and other policies. Learn how to prevent yourself from being under-insured or over-insured, and understand the risks of both scenarios.
- Sara Grade, Products and Product Training Manager, Rural Mutual Insurance Company
Kickstart your wellness journey with a discussion of how to set, measure and meet your health goals, and how to get back on the bandwagon after a setback.
- Morgan Ekovich, Owner and Head Trainer, Get Fit with ME LLC
Week 141: Cold Weather Prep, Feed Additives & Market News: (watch now)
Tuesday, January 3
With winter weather upon us, ensure your entire team is prepared for working in it. Join in for a discussion on proper clothing and preparation for cold weather, as well as how to respond to injuries such as frost bite, hypothermia and more, and when to seek emergency care.
- Dr. Steve R. Krikhorn, MD, Medical Director for AgriSafe Network, Senior Occupational Medicine Consultant for UMASH
Tune in to learn about a feed additive with an added bonus. Hear from a producer who has used Agolin additive for reducing methane in cows, its impact on feed efficiency and opportunities for producers to benefit financially and receive carbon credits for use.
- Peter Williams, CEO, Advantec Associates Inc., and Partner, Feedworks USA Ltd.
- John Koepke, Koepke Farms, Oconomowoc, WI
Start the New Year with a look at the latest news and analysis of agriculture and dairy markets and trends that will impact your operation and bottom line now and in the future.
- Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company
Week 140: Mitigate Stress, Heifer Maturity & Corn Silage N Use: (watch now)
Tuesday, December 27
Join in for an interactive discussion on navigating stress in today’s hectic world. Learn methods for handling and lowering stress, including the different types, causes and potential solutions for stressful situations.
- Monica McConkey, Rural Mental Health Counselor, Eyes on the Horizon Consulting
Milk production and other factors are impacted by heifer maturity, often described as the “Peter Pan problem,” referring to the cartoon character who fully matured. To offer insights on how to ensure heifers enter the milking string at the right time, this episode will take a look at whether heifers are given enough time to mature and if they should be fed more aggressively in early years.
- Dr. Gavin Staley, Technical Services Specialist, Diamond V
Learn about a nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) trial in corn silage production that was completed during the 2022 growing season. Hear the results and insights for 2023 silage production.
- Matthew Oehmichen, Co-Owner, Short Lane AG Supply LLC
- Mike Redetzke, Owner and Operator, Peaceful Creek Acres
Week 139: Holiday Trends, Calf Winter Stress & Market Update: (watch now)
Tuesday, December 20
Holiday entertaining season is here! Get the inside scoop on the butter board trend, ideas for creative charcuterie boards, and recommendations for both new and tried-and-true cheese pairings for gatherings of all sizes.
- Tina Peterson, Director of Wisconsin Communications for Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin
Keeping the youngest members of your herd warm as winter temperatures drop is a top priority. Tune in and bring your questions for an interactive discussion on minimizing winter stress on calves and best practices during cold weather including calf jackets, bedding types, caloric intake and more.
- Dr. Theresa Ollivett, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Large Animal), Assistant Professor in Food Animal Production Medicine section at UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
With just a few days left in 2022, join in for a discussion on the latest updates in dairy exports, weather impact, market news and more. We’ll also discuss what impact those trends will have on your operation and the dairy industry in 2023.
- Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company
Week 138: Cold Safety, Transition Planning, Lending Decisions: (watch now)
Tuesday, December 13
As temperatures drop and snow begins to fall, ensure your entire team stays safe and healthy during the winter season. Tune in for the training, equipment and resources you need to prevent dehydration, frostbite, hypothermia and other cold-weather hazards.
- Jim Versweyveld, MS, Farm Management Outreach Specialist, Division of Extension, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Take a deep dive into business transition planning, including what a business transition plan should include, best practices, timelines and strategies for succession plans in passing the baton to the next generation. In addition, attorney Twohig will spotlight family considerations including how prenuptial agreements impact transition planning.
- George Twohig, Partner and Attorney at Twohig, Rietbrock, Schneider & Halbach Law Office
Learn about farm lending from the other side of the banker’s desk in this episode. Two experienced lenders join us to share their perspectives on the processes, rules and parameters in lending decisions and how farmers can better prepare for discussions about loans and financial operations.
- Jim Moriarty, Director Dairy Lending and Dairy Consulting, Compeer Financial
- Dave Coggins, SVP Ag Banking, Nicolet National Bank
Week 137: New Vaccine Technologies and a Look Ahead to 2023: (watch now)
Tuesday, December 6
Learn more about the ins and outs of autogenous vaccines, including what they are, how they’re made, and how they work in the animal’s system. Bring your questions about when and how these custom vaccines are beneficial to a dairy’s overall herd health and production.
- Dr. Justin Kieffer, DVM, PhD, Clinical Veterinarian, Associate Professor, The Ohio State University
With just a few weeks left of 2022, we’ll reflect on the year in terms of dairy markets and take a look ahead to the big supply, demand and production questions of 2023. The episode will also outline specific strategies and tools producers can use to manage risk and position themselves for success in the new year.
- Will Babler, Principal, Atten Babler Commodities LLC
Join in for an interactive discussion on the latest news in dairy exports, pricing, markets and supply in The Dairy Signal’s bi-weekly market update. Hear about the factors what will drive global dairy markets in 2023 and how they’ll impact your operation.
- Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company