July 2019 vol. 2
Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization
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Dairy Managers Institute
August 13-14 & December 10, 2019
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MANAGERS: CHALLENGE YOUR THINKING, RECHARGE YOUR MIND
PDPW Dairy Managers Institute™ is designed to empower managers who want
to take their teams to the next level. This high-level training will give you the tools you need to manage, engage and develop high-performing teams. If you want to learn strategies to increase productivity, decrease employee turnover, enhance cooperation, and discover the talents of team members, sign up today for the 3-day program. The program starts with a 2-day session Aug. 13-14, 2019 in Madison. A follow-up session will be held Dec. 10, 2019. Click
here
for details This program is open to dairy producers and allied agribusiness professionals.
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ACE On-Farm Twilight Meetings
August 26, 27, 28, 29, 2019
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ON-THE-FARM TWILIGHT MEETINGS BRING TOGETHER
local community leaders, educators, elected officials and dairy producers to discuss important issues that affect all of us. Plan to attend one of these free meetings, and invite your friends and neighbors to attend, too. This is the place to hear about issues your neighbors and elected officials are thinking about and engage with them. Developed with the understanding that decisions are made by those who show up, this program offers a forum to discuss issues impacting our roads, land use, right to farm and the shared future of rural and non-rural communities.
Meetings begin with a one-hour tour of the host dairy farm from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by ice cream, facilitated discussion and open dialogue.
Here’s a list of dates and locations of hosting dairies:
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Monday, Aug. 26
Manitowoc County
Soaring Eagle Dairy
10219 Cty Rd. F
Newton, Wis.
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Wednesday, Aug. 28
Pierce County
Son-Bow Farms
W2686 390th Ave.
Maiden Rock, Wis.
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Tuesday, Aug. 27
Marathon County
Night Hawk Dairy
118899 Eau Pleine Rd.
Stratford, Wis.
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Thursday, Aug. 29
Grant County
Stone-Front Farm
5027 Hwy 81 East
Lancaster, Wis.
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Agricultural Community Engagement® (ACE) On-Farm Twilight Meetings are hosted in partnership with Wisconsin Towns Association and Wisconsin Counties Association. Click
here
for more details.
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CHECK OUT DAIRY ADVANCE.
Find, track and report your Continuing Education (CEs). Take credit for the trainings you attend! Get more details at
www.DairyAdvance.org
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REMEMBER TO ASSESS HEALTH OF MILKING EQUIPMENT
as part of your milking routines. Ensuring proper airflow and milk flow in equipment can ward off significant quality and profitability issues. The “Look, Listen, Feel” model that is often used for first aid and CPR can also be applied to monitoring milking equipment:
- LOOK – to assess milk flow, cracked or worn hoses, or issues with gauges and monitors
- LISTEN – to assess proper airflow
- FEEL – using your fingers to assess proper unit function
Read the full article from the University of Kentucky Extension with a full list of issues to watch for
here
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HIGH-ENERGY DIET WITH RUMEN-PROTECTED LYSINE
fed to third-lactation cows during the transition period led to improved dry matter intake. It also lowered serum-free fatty acid and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. The study results are in the August 2019 issue of the Journal of Dairy Science. Researchers compared four diets (high energy with and without rumen-protected lysine supplementation, and low energy with and without rumen-protected lysine). One of those four diets was fed to each of 68 third-lactation cows. Neither energy nor rumen-protected lysine supplementation nor their interaction affected milk yield, fat or lactose yields. However, cows receiving the high-energy diet with bypass lysine tended to produce more milk and had a lower blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentration postpartum compared to other groups. Learn more
here
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BIGGER, CLEANER STORES WITH HIGHER-QUALITY PRODUCTS
is the trend for today’s convenience-store industry. According to a trend analyst in a recent
Food Business News
article, consumer demand for specialty and fresh-food options are driving convenience stores away from the “gas, Cokes and smokes” model of the past. About 75% of consumers say that convenience-store food service has improved in the past five years, with 56% of consumers purchasing meals at gas stations or convenience stores on at least a monthly basis. Read the full article
here
including examples from Kwik Trip store chain.
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WORK TO UPDATE 2020 U.S. DIETARY GUIDELINES
is underway, with the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee holding input meetings on key topics. The committee will make recommendations to the USDA and US Department of Health and Human Services for the final 2020 guidelines. Discussions during the testimony included the impact of plant-based meats in a diet, specifically additional levels of sodium and saturated fat in the products.
Read the
Feedstuffs
article
here
and learn more about the Dietary Guidelines process and opportunity to submit written comments
here
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DOES RAISING CROSSBRED DAIRY STEERS MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE
for your operation? Using beef semen to generate crossbred dairy steers is seen as an alternative to the low prices for cull cows and calves, but requires additional management and understanding of beef-production practices. An article from Penn State Extension examines the facility, labor and feed requirements necessary to make raising and selling crossbred steers a profitable option, and provides a budget calculator. A key step is understanding the beef market in your area and the quantity of steers required to cash flow the operation. Click
here
to learn more.
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ADDING A PERSONAL TOUCH TO MEETINGS
can build teamwork and boost productivity. Taking time for brief personal news like reports from vacations or updates on kids’ activities at the beginning of meetings can help team members build stronger connections. These connections can lead to better communications and the ability to handle more difficult challenges and decisions as the need arises. Learn more by reading the full article about the “People First, Numbers Second” strategy
here.
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TAKING STRATEGIC, PLANNED APPROACH
to hiring and onboarding new employees will pay dividends with increased safety, performance and retention. New-employee onboarding is the overall process that includes paperwork, safety training and job training. Developing a standard checklist and process for every new employee will ensure consistency and clarity for everyone on the farm. Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development has developed a series of templates and resources that can be tailored for each farm. Learn more and download
here.
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Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. --- Jack Welch
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RAISE YOUR GAME: HIGH PERFORMANCE SECRETS FROM THE BEST OF THE BEST
Alan Stein, Jr., is a performance coach who has worked with top athletes and business professionals. He shares the principles that world-class performers have used to achieve higher levels of success. The book examines the commitment, work habits, and focus on fundamentals that are the foundation of better performance. Learn more
here
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PDPW Educational Calendar
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August 13-14
Madison, Wis.
August 26, 27, 28, 29
September 14-27
Germany & Holland
October 30, 31
PDPW Herdsperson Workshop:
Arlington, Marshfield, Wis.
November 19, 20, 21
Calf Care Connection:
Chilton, Eau Claire, Fennimore
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December 4 & 5
PDPW Dairy Insights Forum (formerly Food & Policy Summit): Madison, Wis.
December 10
Madison, Wis
January 14-16
Corpus Christi, Texas
March 17-18, 2020
Cornerstone Dairy Academy:
Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis.
March 18-19, 2020
Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis.
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Thank you to these agribusiness leaders that stand alongside our nation's dairy farmers supporting your professional development organization. Their support allows PDPW to execute best-in-class producer training and has enabled us to become the go-to resource for outreach initiatives. See the full list of generous sponsors
here.
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