April 2016
Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®
 
Peter McFarland
McFarlandale Dairy, Watertown, Wis. 
 
In 1852, four years after Wisconsin was granted statehood, the first generation of McFarlands began dairying in Watertown, Wis. Today, the fifth generation is at the helm of McFarlandale Dairy. Peter and Cindy McFarland and nine full-time employees milk 400 cows, raise all young stock and grow the forages for them. About 850 acres of alfalfa and corn - haylage, silage and high-moisture shell corn - end up in the dairy's feed troughs.
 
Because sustainability is a top priority, Peter, Cindy, and their team are dedicated to building up organic matter in the soil.  "Our soil has to be at a point that it's in better condition than when the farm started," Peter states. They're also committed to ongoing learning.
 
Since joining PDPW in the early '90s, the McFarlands have enjoyed sharing business challenges and solutions with other members and learning from each other. They have developed many friendships with fellow members while also getting to take advantage of the kind of continuing education opportunities they're seeking for their dairy.
 
When Peter and Cindy attend PDPW's Business Conference, they divvy up breakout sessions between the two of them. At the end of each day, they compare notes and discuss new ideas to apply on the dairy.  
 
"When PDPW got started, it made a lot of sense for us to join. They've always focused on helping dairy farmers become more profitable, and continuing education is important to us, so PDPW fit right in," he says.
 
Opportunities to learn... 
 
ACTUAL HOOF HEALTH CASES
will be front and center at three upcoming one-day Hoof Care Workshops to be held Tuesday, April 12 in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Wednesday, April 13 in Eau Claire, Wis. and Thursday, April 14 in Oshkosh, Wis. Industry experts Dr. Nigel Cook of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Dr. Gerard Kramer of the University of Minnesota will deliver information and hands-on learning geared to help all levels of dairy producers, including the most astute cow guru. Workshop participants will learn how to identify the most difficult on-farm hoof-health issues and gather the knowledge and skills to develop the best treatment protocols. To get more details or to register online  click here.
 

A  DEEP-DIVE EXPLORATION in leadership, career development, dairy scie nce and communication activit ies is revvin g up for youth ages 15 to 18 during PDPW's Youth Leadership Derby®, April 16-17, at Brillion Hi g h School. This two-day, overnight educational experience will deliver amazing career-building opportunities including industry tours, top-class keynote speakers, fun and informative communication and team-building w orkshops, industry networking and interactive leaders hip activities. Every minute of learning and networking is designed to benefit these youth and their future success in either an academic or workplace environment. If you don't have a youth 15-18 years of age, think neighbor, friend, relative, savvy high school kid. The dairy industry depends on tomorrow's leaders and the Youth Leadership Derby gives them a closer look at our world so they can see what might be a fit for them. To register or learn more, here i s where you can find all the details. 
Dr. Mike Hutjens

DR. MIKE HUTJENS WILL DISCUSS FEED ADDITIVES during our Wednesday, April 20th World Class Webinar, and you can hear what he has to say about whether or not feed additives are worth the investment when profit margins are tight. Hutjens will also address which additive, why, when and how much for dry, transition and high-producing cow groups. He'll also delve into direct-feed microbes, new research on yeast products, organic chromium and futuristic products such as enzymes and essential oils. The April 20 World Class Webinar will occur live from noon-1 p.m. CDT. A full recorded version of Dr. Hutjens' presentation will be available to listen to at your leisure for those who have pre-registered. This website is where you can find more details and register online.

PROTECT YOUR DAIRY AND LIVELIHOOD by being prepared for a crisis before it happens. To equip owners and employees for these situations, Dairy's Visible Voice® is offering those tasked with consumer and media relations an opportunity to increase their knowledge and skill set at a training workshop on Thursday, April 28, in Chilton, Wis. This hands-on training will review past crisis situations, identify and evaluate your farm's risk and help participants develop a physical response plan and zero in on basic response materials like fact sheets, material locations and emergency response numbers. Bottom line: if your farm is ever faced with a crisis, don't be shaking in your boots and wishing you had attended the workshop. Instead, be prepared to address the situation with confidence. Click here to find more details and register online.

For your dairy...
 
THREE QUARTERS OF A SECOND TO 1 SECOND 
is the estimated time it takes the average person to respond to a stimulus. Research shows that an arm gets wrapped around a PTO shaft at the rate of 7 feet per second, a glove gets caught in a spinning stalk roll at the rate of 12 feet per second, and a loose bootlace gets pulled into a moving belt and pulley at the rate of 66 feet per second. With a lawnmower blade making 52 rotations every second, a single blade will have gone around 39 times before a person can react. For this reason Iowa State University's Charles Schwab and Shawn Shouse urge individuals working around farm machinery to be use proper safety precautions so dangerous situations don't occur. "No matter how fast the reaction time, it will never be enough to avoid injury from farm equipment," they state. Read more here.
 

WHEN THE SKY TURNS DARK AND GREENISH OR A CLOUD LOOKS LIKE A WALL, 
think tornado.  Ditto if large hail starts pelting down or you hear a loud roar similar to a freight train. April, May  and June is known as  "prime tornado time," and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers three tips to stay safe during a tornado: 1) In an open field, stop and get out of the tractor or vehicle. Lie in a low area or ditch away from the vehicle. Cover your head with your arms to protect yourself from flying debris. 2) Do not try to outrun a tornado on your tractor. A tornado's speed and direction are deceptive. 3) Know which buildings offer the best protection, such as a building with a below-grade floor (basement), or a building with a strong inner structure (barn). Stay away from the outside walls of the building. Employers: there's no time like now to inform workers regarding the safest place to go on-farm during a tornado.
   
EVEN LOW-LEVEL MYCOTOXIN CONTAMINATION IN CALVES
can initiate what Dr. Johanna Fink-Gremmels of Utrecht University in the Netherlands calls "a cascade of events, impairing immune function and increasing susceptibility to bacterial and viral disease inside the calf. Most mycotoxin problems with calves often go undiagnosed because the dairy doesn't pursue a further investigation," Fink-Gremmels says. She advises dairy producers to analyze feed and ingredient records to determine the cause and source of a case of mycotoxicosis. Then, eliminate the suspected source of the mycotoxin, add mold-inhibition products (e.g., fungicides or mold inhibitors in the total mixed ration or corn silage) and use mycotoxin-sequestering agents in the feed. In many cases, Fink-Gremmels says, using sequestering agents can help clinical and/or subclinical symptoms disappear, and affected animals can begin to return to normal.

THINKING OF STARTING A FARMER-LED WATERSHED GROUP?  
UW Discovery Farms has a new resource available on their website to help you get started. As a farmer-led program working in two watersheds in Wisconsin, they h ave some valuable insight and pointers to share so your group is prepared for success. And you can learn more by going to  www.uwdiscoveryfarms.org.  
For your business mind...
 
YOU CAN INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY IN ONE EASY STEP:
Eat right. According to the World Health Organization, "Adequate nutrition can raise your productivity levels by 20 percent on average." With glucose being the fuel that keeps our brains awake and alert, brain researcher Leigh Gibson points out that "the brain works best with about 25 grams of glucose circulating in the blood stream-about the amount found in a banana." While a donut and a small bowl of oats have about the same amount of glucose, think twice before reaching for that donut. A donut releases glucose into the blood very quickly and will give you about 20 minutes of alertness while oats will release their sugar as glucose much slower. You'll have a steady glucose level, better focus and attention levels. To learn more about "brain power foods" and increasing your productivity through your diet click here. 
 
MARK YOUR CALENDAR WITH INTENTIONAL TIMES. That's the advice of New York Times best-selling author and radio host Dave Ramsey, who explains that 'intentional time' is family time that can have a positive impact on all areas of your life, including your business. Ramsey adds that scheduling family time on your calendar will help you decline any last-minute invites and appointments that would otherwise steal your potential family memories. High on the list, Ramsey says, should be 'wife time.' This could mean a mini-trip to a bed and breakfast or simply cuddling on the couch with take-out. In addition, each child should have one-on-one time with you. "Show your spouse and kids they're the most important people in the world to you," Ramsey says. "When you do, you'll become a better person and can end up accomplishing more in every aspect of your life." Read more at  this site.   
 
TAKING TIME TO UNDERSTAND WORKERS' VALUES 
can result in a higher retention rate. And when it comes to your Hispanic workers, be aware that family ranks as the number one priority in their lives. Miguel Joey Aviles, founder and CEO of Virginia-based MJA International, a talent management consulting firm, stresses the Hispanic workers want to feel that their employer cares about them beyond the work they do. Aviles says that Hispanics also want to see that they have a future with the company, and they will leave if they feel they're under utilized at work. Aviles addresses myths about Hispanic workers and advises this three-pronged approach:1) develop workers through leadership programs, 2) mentor, 3) coach and train. He also advocates developing a high-touch relationship, learning to understand their drive for self-improvement, and caring about each worker and his/her family. 

BOOK REVIEW:  
BOOMERANG! LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES THAT BRING THE CUSTOMER BACK.
Skogen, chairman of the board of Festival Foods, is the driving force that transformed over six decades his parents' grocery store founded in 1946 to a thriving regional supermarket chain of 18 stores that employ more than 5,000 associates. One of his secrets: before a business decision is made, ask yourself "Will it bring the customer back?" Skogen shares his philosophy in Boomerang! and highlights elements that create the Festival Foods culture of success and explores the role of servant leadership in the boomerang effect. Readers will learn about the value of coaching vs. controlling, using recipes instead of rules, and clarity when speaking and encouraging people to be themselves. "Anyone can sign up to be a spouse, parent, boss, coach or teacher," Skogen says. "Execution requires associate engagement and commitment. It's about getting ordinary people to do extraordinary things." 
 
WORDS TO LIVE BY:  

"After every storm the sun will smile;  for every problem there is a solution, 
and the soul's indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer."   - William R Alger
A BIG Thank You...    
 
TO OUR PDPW SPONSORS who  support continuous improvement for the dairy industr y. T hey believe in producer leadership and place a high value on lifelong  education for those involved in the dairy industry. We deeply respect their commitment to PDPW and the members we have the honor to serve. It is by this partnership that we c ontinu e to build a strong industry filled with capable professionals. Click  HERE  to see a list of our sponsors. If you interact with any of these companies, please thank them for supporting PDPW! 

If you or a company you know is interested in participating as a sponsor, please contact our team member at [email protected] or call 800-947-7379.