Training Sessions
Presenters and topics by week, with a brief description of each day's episode topic and featured presenter(s):
Week 96: Floor Resurfacing Time Budgets & Optimizing Calf Health: (watch now)
Tuesday, Feb. 8
Learn the ins and outs of concrete resurfacing, including the process, when producers should begin thinking about taking action at their facilities and what to consider in decision making. Episode presenter will be:
- Alan LeBlanc, owner TrakRite Services
How do changes in a cow’s schedule impact lameness and other health factors? Discover what the latest research shows regarding a dairy cow’s time budget and the importance of rumination and resting for rumen pH, health and milk components. Episode presenter will be:
- Dr. Rick Grant, president, William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute
Understand the five most deadly afflictions for calves – crypto, rotavirus, coronavirus, E. coli and salmonella – the most effective methods to prevent them and the proper protocols in cases of an outbreak. Episode presenter will be:
- Dr. Geof Smith, DVM, MS, PhD, veterinarian, dairy technical services, Zoetis
Week 95: Cover Crops, Ration Quality and Market Updates: (watch now)
Tuesday, Feb. 1
Take a deep dive into cover crops and how they can be incorporated into dairy farming operations. Learn about potential forage use, the impact of cover crops on compaction, tips for choosing the right mix and selecting the best approach for farms and soil types. Episode presenter will be:
- Matt Oehmichen, co-owner, Short Lane AG Supply LLC
Hear about the most common factors that cause inconsistent dairy rations and what can be done to address them, including ensuring consistent mixing of rations and more. Episode presenter will be:
- Mark Tegeler, M.Sc., ruminant technical field specialist, Diamond V
Tune in for a bi-weekly update featuring the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets and trends that will impact dairy producers and the agriculture industry. Episode presenter will be:
- Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company
Week 94: Managing Data, Research Showcase and Compassion Fatigue: (watch now)
Tuesday, Jan. 25
Learn how to put the data you collect to work for you and your herd by digging into the metrics that can simplify calf, herd and financial management decisions. Hear from a dairy farmer panel about what is most valuable to aid decision-making on their operations. Episode presenters will be:
- Laura Raatz, calf, youngstock and herd manager at Wagner Farms Inc.
- Pam Selz-Pralle, dairy farmer, Selz-Pralle Dairy
This month’s “Balchem Rising Star” episode will feature graduate research at Dr. Jennifer Van Os’ lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The lab focuses on understanding, evaluating, and improving the welfare of dairy cattle. Faith Reyes is investigating the relationships between social dynamics among cows at the feed bunk and their production and feed efficiency. Kim Reuscher is studying thermal stress (heat and cold stress) in calves housed in outdoor hutches and heat abatement and ventilation for lactating cows. Episode presenters will be:
- Kim Reuscher, PhD candidate, UW-Madison
- Faith Reyes, PhD candidate, UW-Madison
- Jennifer Van Os, PhD., assistant professor and extension specialist in Animal Welfare, UW-Madison
Burnout is real. And it can be really damaging to your team. Learn how to recognize the signs of compassion fatigue and discover strategies to prevent, handle and treat the condition. Episode presenter will be:
- Monica McConkey, rural mental health counselor at Eyes on the Horizon Consulting
Week 93: Transition Cows, Colostrum Management, Market Update: (watch now)
Tuesday, Jan. 18
Learn about metabolic issues that impact transition cows, specifically ketosis and fatty liver, and discuss practical strategies farmers can implement to prevent and manage these issues. Episode presenter will be:
- Dr. Ryan Pralle, Assistant Professor, School of Agriculture University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Prepare your calves for success with proper colostrum management. Learn how to handle and store colostrum and learn more about the complexities of what makes it so crucial to getting calves off to their best start. Episode presenter will be:
- Dr. Tom Earleywine, Ph.D., Milk Replacer Director of Nutritional Services with Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Solutions
Gain insight on the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets and trends that will impact dairy producers and ag industries. Episode presenter will be:
- Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company
Week 92: COVID-19 Update, Taxes, Making Most of Smart Phones: (watch now)
Tuesday, Jan. 11
Take a deep dive into how coronavirus breaks down in humans and learn how vaccines work, starting with the basics. Episode presenter will be:
- Dr. Chris Ashworth, DVM, Discovery Researcher-Beef, Global Veterinarian, Zinpro Performance Minerals
Start the new year off with a discussion on tax preparation, from tips for 2021 filing and claims to a review of changes that will impact 2022. Learn about what will have the most impact on your business and farm, and how you can prepare. Episode presenter will be:
- David Mayer, Associate Attorney, Twohig Rietbrock Schneider & Halbach S.C.
Tune in for a roundtable discussion with dairy farmers on how to make the most of smartphones, including apps for managing herd and financial data, coordinating schedules and staying connected with teams and more. Episode presenters will be:
- Mitch Breunig, dairy farmer, Mystic Valley Farms LLC
- Jared Feltz, dairy farmer, Feltz Family Farms & Dairy Store
Week 91: Healthy Lifestyles for Humans and Cows, Market Update: (watch now)
Tuesday, Jan. 4
Tune in to learn how to make choices toward a healthier lifestyle and hear tips for avoiding repetitive-movement injuries on the farm. Discover how stretching and techniques for lifting and bending can make a world of difference.
- Amy Mydral Miller, MS, RDN, FAND, Founder and President of Farmer’s Daughter Consulting
- Jenna Gibbs, Director of Operations, Ag Health and Safety Alliance; Personal Trainer, University of Iowa
Hear the latest advances in our understanding of the importance of rumination and resting for rumen pH, health and milk components, as well as how decreasing or adding time for certain activities can impact a cow’s health and incidence of lameness.
- Dr. Rick Grant, President, William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute
Start the year with a look at the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets and trends that will impact dairy producers and ag industry now and through 2022.
- Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company
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