Day One sessions kick off conference

The two-day programming lineup for the business conference features a range of topics –including animal care and food safety, business and financial acumen, and human resources and management. Other topics featured include those specific to transitioning to or working with the next generation as well as the dairy industry’s stewardship of its social license as it pertains to consumer trust, the environment and current policies. Visit bit.ly/ PDPWconf to see full biographies of the speakers.

Wednesday, Mar. 15 morning specialty sessions

Attendees can select one of four 75-minute sessions or one of two 75-minute Hands-on Hub sessions.

Strategies for success

Today’s farms are complex business entities increasingly reliant on excellent management practices. Maximizing all the farm’s resources requires sound business strategies and skillful ass et management. Brady Brewer will outline the implications of the many financial factors that impact how producers arrive at strategic-planning decisions. He’ll also outline the broad financial themes that come into play and highlight powerful insights into how to adjust an operation’s strategic-planning models to prepare for whatever lies ahead. Brewer is an assistant professor at Purdue University-Agricultural Economics.

This session qualifies for continuingeducation units – 1.25 DACE, 1 PD CCA

Dig into cover crops

Dairy farmers well-seasoned with cover-crop experience will share their original goals when they first incorporated ground cover into their nutrient-management objectives. In addition to outlining their initial goals –such as soil retention, water quality, spring forages and better nitrogen utilization – they’ll share their real-world results. Hailing from different regions of the state, the producers will discuss their individual goals and approaches to working with cover crops – and how they monitor and measure for success. Learn what worked, what didn’t and more.

Wisconsin panelists are dairy producer John Koepke of Oconomowoc, Duane and Derek Ducat of Deer Run Dairy near Kewaunee, and beef and crop producer Adam Baumann of Marathon. The session will be facilitated by Amber Radatz, water-quality-program manager with the University of WisconsinDiscovery Farms and UWDivision of Extension.

This session qualifies for continuingeducation units – 1.25 DACE, 1 CM CCA

Nutrition for the non-ruminant

Often focused more on dairy-cattle health than their own, dairy farmers commonly fall short of effectively taking care of their own nutrition and wellness. In a session designed to turn the tables on humans caring for cows and cal ves, we’ll cover practical nutrition tips even the busiest people can incorporate. Health and nutrition coach Morgan Ekovich will teach attendees how to plan nutrition without rescheduling their day – and be able to eat on the run, snack from the tractor cab and increase energy levels.

This session qualifies for continuingeducation units – 1.25 DACE

Up the transition-cow game

The changes occurring at three weeks pre- and post-fresh mark major turning points in a cow’s productive cycle. The complex physiological, metabolic and nutritional transformations cows undergo are further impacted by the way those changes occur and how they are managed. All the changes are closely linked to production, clinical and subclinical postpartum diseases, and reproductive performance. Connect the dots between day-to-day on-farm practices and recent research findings to dial in cow-management decisions.

Presenters are Laura Hernandez, professor, and Dr. Thiago Cunha, veterinarian and postdoctoral student, at UW-Animal & Dairy Sciences.

This session qualifies for continuingeducation units – 1.25 DACE, 1.25 ARPAS

Wednesday, Mar. 15 afternoon breakout sessions

Attendees can select three of four 60-minute sessions or one of two 75-minute Hands-on Hub sessions.

Managing finances amidst change

Wrap your mind around financial management and better understand the forces at play. How might a farm respond through rapid change, increasing interest rates, evolving technology and supply-chain pressures? This session will help you think on your feet and equip you to pivot business models so you’re poised for the next opportunity. It will be presented by Brady Brewer, assistant professor at Purdue UniversityAgricultural Economics

This session qualifies for continuingeducation units – 1 DACE, 1 SUS CCA

Dollars and sense in udder health

Take proper drug use and cow health a step forward. Gather new insights as we break down the interrelated topics of mastitis, cow health, culturing and a dairy’s bottom line. We’ll go beyondthebasics to cover the best ways to use drycow therapy and pathogen-based treatment options Learn how sound cow management can lead to positive financial outcomes.It will be presented by Dr. Daryl Nydam, veterinarian and professor at Cornell University-College of Veterinary Medicine.

This session qualifies for the following continuing-education units: 1 DACE, 1 ARPAS

Feeding out cost of production

Learn how a trio of U.S. dairy producers calculates cost of production with a heavy emphasis on forage. What types of feed ingredients and quality affect a herd’s production? What are their values for forage when calculating cost of production? How do they measure, manage and control shrink? All those questions and more will be answered in a panel discussion. Panelists are David Trimner, co-owner and general manager of Miltrim Farms near Athens, Wisconsin; Scott Brenner, dairy producer at Hunter Haven Farms near Pearl City, Illinois; and Shawn Kemp, Chief Financial Officer and consultant with Pico/Dos Pico Dairy near

Test tech tools that dial in the ration

Loveland, Colorado The discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Andrew Bohnhoff, veterinarian and nutrition consultant with Prairie Estate Genetics

This session qualifies for continuingeducation units – 1 DACE, 1 ARPAS, 1 CM CCA

Plan now for retirement later

Planning for retirement is often seen as something to consider later in life, but the sooner one starts, the better If you haven’t started yet, it’s not too late – no matter your age. The unexpected can happen; having a plan in place will guide you In this session we’ll explore options for setting aside dollars for retirement without banking entirely on the farm Discover steps you can take to be positioned to retire while the farm continues to prosper. It will be presented by Sarah Wiersma, Ameriprise financial adviser at Eventus Wealth Advisors.

This session qualifies for continuingeducation units – 1 DACE

Hands-on Hub sessions

Each 75-minute session occurs twice Wednesday and Thursday.

Knowing the changes and variability in your feed – from ration to bunker – means big numbers. New technologies monitor feed changes with ease and allow for a potentially new level of precision-ration adjustments. Try, test and learn about new tools without investing yet Chat with representatives from Rock River Labs as well as leading technology companies SCiO, trinamiX-BASF and Si-Ware Systems. It will be presented by Katie Raver, animal nutrition and field-support specialist at Rock River Laboratory

This session qualifies for continuingeducation units – 1.25 DACE, 1 CM CCA

Obstetrics and maternity care

Learn hands-on practical insights for managing close-up and maternity pens Dr Ryan Breuer,veterinarian,and Dr.Paul

Merkatoris, veterinarian, will cover first-rate maternity care.

•pre-,mid- and post-delivery signs to watch for

•distress signs using a hands-on simulation model

•protocols for safe, healthy calf deliveries

•birthing scenarios needing assistance

•safe handling practices for handlers and cows

BreuerisaclinicalassistantprofessoratUW-LargeAnimalInternal Medicine Merkatoris is assistant professor at the UW-School of Veterinary Medicine.

This session qualifies for continuingeducation units – 1.25 DACE, 1.25 ARPAS

Feeders

• Versatile Hook System

• Grow Me Teat & Connectors

• Easy to clean and carry

Revolution

Snap-On Nipple

• The Milk BarTM Revolution has five slits on a radius to control the flow

• Calves drink at the right speed and produce adequate amounts of saliva

• Extremely durable