Economist and president of AgResource Company, Dan Basse, will explain how global markets influence milk and feed prices as he helps dairy producers avoid basing marketing decisions on crystal ball prognostications. Basse joins an exceptional roster of speakers assembled to help producers achieve real results on their dairies at the 2010 PDPW Business Conference, March 16 -17, in Madison, Wis.
 
Created by dairy producers for dairy producers, the Business Conference is widely considered the nation’s premier educational event. Five highly regarded keynote speakers, 15 specialty sessions, and 25-plus resources are on tap for the Conference. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network and exchange insider information with fellow producers and fill their minds with new ideas at the Hall of Ideas tradeshow.
 
Dr. David Kohl from Virginia Tech is the opening keynote and also the emcee of this dynamic two-day event.  Kohl has spoke around the globe on dairy business and will get dairy producers thinking about opportunities ahead and focused on ways to reposition their businesses in 2010 and beyond.  His presentation alone will provide the guidance and perspective needed to push forward with optimism and real direction.
 
A former college basketball coach, Dr. Kohl’s presentations are action-packed, entertaining and geared to get your mind running and conditioned for game-winning business management. The highly credentialed and sought-after Dr. Kohl has conducted more than 5,000 workshops and seminars for agricultural groups, published four books and more than 1,000 articles on financial and business-related topics, received 11 major teaching awards, received 15 major Extension and Public Service awards, and traveled more than 7 million miles during his career.
 
 
“Attending PDPW’s Business Conference lets me get away from the farm and learn while I’m away. I particularly appreciate the sessions about the financial end of the business. The conference may be a six-hour drive one way, but these two days are well worth it,” said Tejo Willemsen of Willemsen Dairy in Indiana.
 
Dr. Kevin Bernhardt of the UW-Extension and Center for Dairy Profitability will explore how to bridge management of costs with marketing of products and explain how to a change one’s mindset from being impressed with $19 milk to one that is impressed with a double-digit rate of return on assets.
 
Dr. Jan Shearer of Iowa State University will address metabolic and mechanical factors that predispose dairy cattle to some of the most serious of lameness disorders in his informational breakout session titled, “End Lame Profits with Keen Hoof Care.”
 
Producers attend the PDPW Business Conference to network and exchange information with fellow producers; discover new ideas, products and services among the booths in the Hall of Ideas tradeshow; and gather valuable business information and strategies provided by dynamic speakers who are experts in their fields. The Business Conference is also an ideal opportunity for business people who rely on the dairy industry to interact and engage one-on-one with the best and brightest professional dairy producers.
 
The PDPW Business Conference, which typically gathers producers and industry leaders from across the nation, is open to all dairy producers and industry agribusiness people.
 
To learn more about PDPW’s 2010 Business Conference and Hall of Ideas tradeshow, or to register for the conference, visit www.pdpw.org.
 
Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin is a dairy producer-founded organization that provides educational programs and services to fellow dairy producers. PDPW’s mission is “to share ideas, solutions, resources, and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.”