New Line-up of Speakers Announced for Week 32 of The Dairy Signal™

Free online episodes offer insights to help producers make informed decisions

Professional Dairy Producers® (PDPW), announces the line-up of speakers for week 32 of The Dairy Signal™  educational programs.  This week’s line-up features a diverse group of farmers, economists and industry professionals.  One panel discussion will feature Paul Lippert of Grass Ridge Farm and Katie Mrdutt, DVM, MBA Candidate, Executive Director, Food Armor® Foundation discussing the protocols farms are implementing to reduce the need for treatment. Another session will feature Sherrie Tussler, Executive Director of the Milwaukee Hunger Task Force who will share the role of dairy products in meeting food security needs in Wisconsin.

Returning to The Dairy Signal is Dan Basse, Economist and President of AgResource Company.

Developed by fellow dairy farmers from the PDPW Board of Directors, The Dairy Signal is a weekly series of free educational episodes offering insights and resources for fellow dairy farmers and other food system professionals throughout the value chain. The episodes air live from 12:00-1:00 PM CT each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; recorded sessions are available later in the day.

On Tuesday’s Dairy Signal, Dr. Nigel Cook, DVM, Professor in Food Animal Production Medicine at UW-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine and Chair of the Department of Medical Sciences shared priorities for barn ventilation design for cows and practical recommendations for air quality during the winter.  He also talked about the potential health issues that can be caused by airborne bacterial contamination and how to mitigate these concerns.

On Wednesday’s episode, Kara Kasten-Olson, owner of Little Farmer Meats and Ag Program Supervisor at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection shared insights on starting a direct-to-consumer meat business. Lolly Lesher, owner/partner in Way-Har Farms, LLC and Way-Har Farm Market, LLC in Bernville, Pennsylvania was also on and provided perspective from her family’s dairy farm, on-farm processing facility and retail store that has been in operation for 50 years.  Both panelists shared insights on the business side of diversifying a farm business, including setting prices, regulatory requirements, as well as how to manage amid changing consumer demand before and after the pandemic.

 Ken Feltz, of Feltz Family Farms, Inc., and Feltz’s Dairy Store Inc., and Marty Hallock and Jonathon Hallock, owners of Mar-Bec Dairy, discussed their approach and processes for farm succession on Thursday’s Dairy Signal episode. They emphasized the importance of regular communication with family members and employees. In addition, they recommended finding and working with the right consulting, accounting and legal teams to implement the intentions of family members.

Each live session offers attendees the opportunity to engage in open Q&A and interact with the speakers through www.slido.com and entering the code #myPDPW.

Our dairy industry and lives are changing daily and our need for accurate business information is vital. Content on The Dairy Signal is updated as new information becomes available.

Here is a look at the upcoming presenters and topics:

Tuesday, November 10

Topic: Responsible antibiotic management is a top priority for both dairy farmers and consumers. Learn about the Food Armor program and hear about on-farm processes that can be used to improve antibiotic treatment efficacy. Episode presenters include:

• Paul Lippert, farmer, Grass Ridge Farm
• Katie Mrdutt, DVM, MBA Candidate, Executive Director, Food Armor® Foundation

Wednesday, November 11

Topic: Hear about the hunger disparity in Wisconsin and the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on food supplies for families across the state. Learn about the Dairy Recovery Program and how programs are using CARES funds from DATCP to purchase Wisconsin products. Episode presenter includes:

• Sherrie Tussler, Executive Director of Milwaukee Hunger Task Force

Thursday, November 12

Topic: Learn the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets, current trends and what to expect for the rest of this year and into 2021. Episode presenter includes:

• Dan Basse, Economist and President of AgResource Company.

All Dairy Signal episodes are free and open to the public, accessible through www.pdpw.org. For more information, contact PDPW at 800-947-7379 or by emailing mail@pdpw.org. Follow along digitally in advance of and during the sessions by following @dairyPDPW and using #TheDairySignal on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW) is the nation’s largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources, and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.