DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO GO BEHIND THE SCENES at the newly remodeled and expanded American Foods Group facility to trace cull cow quality backward from the cooler to the harvest floor. While there, see how animal wellbeing and worker safety and efficiency are prioritized at each step. The workshop will be presented with two repeating one-day programs on Feb. 21 and 22. In addition to the tour, participants will hear from animal welfare experts in two sessions focused on improving well-being at every stage of the animal’s life, with the goal of keeping her in the herd as long as possible. Learn more and register here.

VOTE FOR 2023 PDPW BOARD CANDIDATES. As an organization founded by dairy farmers, led by dairy farmers and serving dairy farmers, the election of the Board of Directors is critical to our organization’s success. Board members help plan and facilitate the development of programs that bring cutting-edge research, world-class training, peer-networking events and hands-on educational opportunities to the dairy industry.

Ballots can be cast in person at the 2023 PDPW Business Conference or mailed to PDPW. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 20. View the ballot here. 

TAKE DAIRY FINANCIALS TO THE NEXT LEVEL at the PDPW Financial Literacy for Dairy - Level Three training set for March 22-23 in Juneau, Wis. This final step in the program is facilitated by Dick Wittman of Wittman Consulting and TEPAP Ag Executive Program faculty, and explores advanced concepts in several critical financial-management areas, including budgeting tools for planning, trend analysis and benchmarking, optimizing capital purchases, managing family business investments, and more. To complete the online placement test, register, and learn more here.

ARE YOU READY? ONE MONTH TO GO BEFORE THE 2023 BUSINESS CONFERENCE! Plans are in place for dairy’s premier educational event, March 15-16, at Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. A variety of keynote, break-out, hands-on and other sessions are on tap for forward-thinking dairy producers to learn, connect and empower your business for success. Sessions will be simultaneously translated into Spanish. 

The Nexus stage will return with five companies highlighting the next generation of ideas, technologies and innovations for the dairy industry. The Preview stage will feature the latest research from university researchers, graduate students and the Dairy Innovation Hub.

The Hall of Ideas will feature an updated layout with more exhibitors and networking opportunities, and the Youth Leadership program returns with two leadership sessions facilitated by conference emcee, speaker and author Michael Hoffman.

Visit the 2023 conference website for the conference flier, hotel and registration details, as well as information on exhibiting at the event. For a discounted rate on lodging at the Kalahari, book your rooms through the PDPW website by Feb. 18.

BEST PRACTICES FOR USE OF NSAIDS AROUND CALVING are outlined in an article from UW Extension. It is believed that using an NSAID can help reduce the inflammation associated with calving and thus decrease the incidence of disease. The article reviews three NSAID options – flunixin meglumine, meloxicam, and acetylsalicylic acid – and potential uses for dairy cattle around calving. Learn more here. 

WHICH ACTIVITY SYSTEM IS THE BEST FIT FOR YOUR OPERATION? A desire to improve reproductive performance, reduce labor, and reduce the cost of production is driving demand for activity systems on dairy farms. An article from Penn State Extension shares key questions to ask when reviewing options:

Read the full article to learn more.

BUSINESS SUCCESS DEPENDS ON SOUND FINANCIAL STRATEGIES, especially for today’s complex business entities. Dr. Brady Brewer, assistant professor in the Agricultural Economics Department at Purdue University, will present two Business Conference sessions to help achieve business goals. “Strategies for success” will explore broad financial themes and insights on adjusting planning models to prepare for the future, while “Managing finances amidst change” will provide tools to pivot business models through rapid changes, evolving technologies and supply chain pressures. Day One Morning Specialty Session, Day One Afternoon Breakout Session.

BEST PRACTICES FOR MANAGING TRANSITION COWS will take center stage at two Business Conference sessions.

Dr. Laura Hernandez, professor, Animal & Dairy Sciences, UW-Madison, and Dr. Thiago Cunha, UW-Madison PhD student, will connect the dots between on-farm practices and the latest academic research on transition cow management in their “Up the transition cow game” session.

“Transition cows: can choline help?” presented by Dr. Heather White, professor, Animal & Dairy Sciences, UW-Madison, and Dr. Henry Holdorf, dairy nutrition consultant, Purina Animal Nutrition, will share the latest research on the impact of supplementing rumen-protected choline in a transition cow program.

CALIBRATION ISN’T JUST FOR EQUIPMENT; calibrating your communications to your team’s needs is also key to business success. Research suggests that a common complaint in leaders’ 360-degree assessments is not communicating enough. Instead of making assumptions about communication needs, talk with team members about their preferences for how often and the best format for receiving information. Read the full article to learn more. 

WHAT IN THE WORLD? LIVING AND DOING BUSINESS IN A MULTIPOLAR WORLD. Jacob Shapiro, partner and director of geopolitical analysis for Cognitive Investments, and Dan Basse, president of AgResource Company, will present the first keynote session at the 2023 PDPW Business Conference focused on the geopolitical forces that will impact our economy and markets over the next five years. Learn how trade protectionism, conflicts, and coming macro developments will affect dairy and other agricultural commodities. Day One Opening Session.

FINE-TUNE YOUR THINKING and be inspired to make positive changes in your professional and personal life in a Learning Lounge session led by Tom Thibodeau, associate professor at Viterbo University. In the “Time with Tom” session, he will share strategies to better respond to challenging situations and focus on new options and opportunities. Day One Learning Lounge, 10:15 am, Red Lounge.

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY OR TOO LATE to begin planning and setting aside dollars for retirement. Sarah Wiersma, Ameriprise financial advisor at Eventus Wealth Advisors, will share options for retirement planning at every age so that you can be well-positioned for retirement while the farm continues to prosper. Day One Afternoon Breakout Session.

KEEP TUNING IN TO THE DAIRY SIGNAL. If you haven’t made a habit of it yet, now’s a great time to take advantage of the valuable information available to listeners of The Dairy Signal™. The three-times-weekly program continues to bring together leading experts across dairy and agricultural industries, universities, and government and regulatory associations for insights on the most pressing issues in today’s marketplace. The 60-minute sessions air every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with recorded episodes available for free at pdpw.org. Click here to find archived recordings of sessions.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS’ SENTIMENTS ROSE AGAIN in January, in the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index. The survey rose slightly above the 2022 year-end value and marked a 34% increase over its 2022 low point in June 2022. In addition, 22% of respondents in this month’s survey said they expect to have a larger farm operating loan than in 2022, with the majority saying that an increased loan was due to input cost increases. Learn more here.

SNACKS TOOK THE LEAD IN SUPER BOWL. No matter which team you cheer for, the star of most Super Bowl parties is the food, with nearly half (49%) of respondents in a survey sponsored by Frito-Lay saying that running out of snacks is worse than their team losing. The Wells Fargo Super Bowl Food report showed that the cost of food for a Super Bowl party in 2023 was up 8 to 14% over 2022, with the greatest increase in items for the grill, such as chicken wings, pork chops and burgers. Learn more here.

PDPW PREVIEW STAGE BRINGS CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH to the Business Conference Hall of Ideas and Equipment show. Dr. Gerard Cramer and Dr. Elise Shepley from the University Minnesota will highlight opportunities for data from automated technology to address lameness in dairy cattle in the 10:15 a.m. session on Day One. At 1:45 p.m. on Day One, Dr. Xia Zhu-Barker from UW-Madison will review a variety of manure-treatment technologies and management practices to reduce methane, nitrous-oxide emissions and nitrate leaching.

THE POWER OF POTENTIAL: HOW A NON-TRADITIONAL WORKFORCE CAN LEAD YOU TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS BETTER. Author and business owner Tom D’Eri shares the story of Rising Tide car wash in Florida and how hiring a non-traditional workforce helped them take a new look at their business, improve customer service, employee retention, and discover new ways to approach problems. He shares insights on tapping into the hidden potential of your team that will result in unexpected wins for the business and employees, including making employees feel safe, using accountability as a tool for growth, and ensuring that work has a purpose. Learn more.

Dairy Wellbeing Workshop

Green Bay, WI

Cornerstone Dairy Academy®

Wisconsin Dells, WI

Financial Literacy®

Juneau, WI