The 2021 Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW) Business Conference is packed with ideas and innovations for forward-thinking dairy producers and other industry professionals. The two-day conference will be held March 17-18, 2021, at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

With 42 sessions and 44 speakers, the conference agenda features a combination of educational sessions covering critical issues in today’s dairy industry. In addition, the all-new Nexus stage, hosted by Progressive Dairy, will include TED Talk-style presentations introducing the next generation of dairy innovations.

“We are really looking forward to bringing the dairy community together in a positive, energizing environment where we can learn, recharge and inspire one another,” said Katy Schultz, PDPW board president and dairy producer from Fox Lake, Illinois. “It has been a year of uncertainty for many of us, and PDPW Business Conference is the perfect opportunity for world-class learning, networking with our peers and taking just a little time away in a relaxing location.”

And, given the Kalahari resort as the backdrop, PDPW is introducing a four-part youth-leadership program to provide high-energy 75-minute sessions for 15- to 18-year-olds.

“Where else can you go to get the amount of information PDPW Business Conference offers in just 48 hours,” said Corey Hodorff, PDPW board member and dairy producer from Eden, Wisconsin. “It is by far the best return on our time and financial investment for our team. We always leave the conference with practical ideas we can put to work right away.”

Advertisement

Highlights from the conference agenda include:

New technologies and trends in water quality, soil health, nutrient management and conservation practices

Leading experts will provide insights and practical recommendations to improve sustainability, productivity and profitability.

  • “Understand your land” will bring the outdoors indoors to show how ground cover, topography and land management impacts the water quality and soil health of your land with a water runoff simulator demonstration. Hands-on Hub, offered twice both days
  • “Transporting nutrients” will highlight new techniques being used to optimize the complete cycle from cow to soil and back to the cow. This panel will provide insights into new and diverse techniques currently happening within dairy while also offering a glimpse at methods other industries are using. Specialty session, Wednesday morning
  • “Phosphorus harvesting” will share how this practice is being used in the public sector and explore the potential for dairy farms to reduce phosphorus loading and potentially generate additional revenue streams. Specialty session, Thursday morning
  • “Capitalize on carbon credits” will provide an update on how your dairy can cash in on carbon credits by creating revenue from the manure being created on your farm. Learning lounge, Thursday afternoon

Industry-leading market insights and risk-management strategies

Today’s volatile commodity markets and input prices require a focused approach to managing every aspect of your operation. Learn from the experiences of global experts and fellow dairy farmers.

  • “Ag policy and trade – where’s the bull” presented by leading economist Dan Basse who will take a deep dive into U.S. and worldwide dairy markets and the economic forces we can expect to be at play throughout the remainder of 2021. Keynote session, Thursday morning
  • “Risk Management” will include a panel of three dairy farmers who have each taken a different journey to risk-management programs. These producers will share their strategies, pitfalls and priorities in tailoring a program to their farm’s needs. Breakout session, Wednesday afternoon
  • “Collecting your data” will feature attorney Todd Janzen to provide an overview of current laws affecting ownership and control of data streaming off your farm. Breakout session, Thursday afternoon

Building positive teams and keeping people safe

A series of sessions are designed to help employees, leaders and managers bring their A-game every day to build positive, effective teams and ensure everyone is protected in crisis situations.

  • “People management that works” will help managers build teams that understand and own their roles and deliver more effective feedback and coaching. Specialty session, Wednesday morning
  • “Stayin’ alive: First response” will include interactive demonstrations of first-response techniques that can save lives before paramedics or other first responders arrive at an emergency situation. Hands-on Hub, offered twice both days
  • “Active shooter!” will introduce attendees to lifesaving preventative measures and response alternatives for life-threatening situations, presented by Mike Bolender, Oak Creek Police Department. Specialty session, Thursday morning

All sessions are approved for continuing education units (CEU) through PDPW’s Dairy AdVanCE (DACE). Several sessions are also approved for CEUs through American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) and Certified Crop Advisor (CCA). All told, 790 minutes of continuing education will be available through the conference.

The program and location have been adapted to meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic; the health and safety of attendees is of highest priority for PDPW and the Kalahari staff.

Click here for the full program and registration information, including the PDPW Business Conference flier. You can also call (800) 947-7379. Reduced rates for students will apply, including for teens attending youth leadership sessions and full-time students 19 and older.

—From a PDPW press release