DAIRY NEWS – As today’s dairy industry continues to change and evolve at an increasing pace, a solid financial foundation is more critical than ever. A series of programs from Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP) will provide dairy producers and other dairy business owners with the understanding and skills to transform how they approach their business finances.
“There is no better investment that a farm or dairy business can make than in building a strong financial foundation,” said Paul Lippert, dairy farmer from Pittsville, Wis., and PDP board president. “That starts with understanding the numbers, financial reports and concepts, then taking a deeper dive into using those tools to analyze business opportunities and make decisions that will make your farm more resilient and profitable for years to come.”
The only financial development program designed specifically for the dairy industry, Financial Literacy for Dairy® was created by PDP in 2017. The multi-level, multi-session format is unique because it ensures that participants are enrolled in the level that best fits their skills and needs. It also allows them to put the concepts they learn in sessions to work at their farm or business before returning for the next round of training. All Financial Literacy for Dairy sessions are facilitated by Dr. Kevin Bernhardt, Professor of Agribusiness at UW-Platteville and UW-Extension Farm Management Specialist, and David Coggins, senior financial leader and retired agricultural loan officer.
“These programs provide the best combination of conceptual learning, interactive discussions and real-world applications,” said Lippert. “Class sizes are limited to ensure interaction with facilitators and each other, and everyone leaves with a blueprint to improve financial management and decision making at their business.”
The PDP Business Management & Advanced Finance Workshop™ was introduced in 2024 as a two-day capstone program that provides the skills and strategies to transform operations into professionally managed, high-performing enterprises. The program incorporates interactive case studies and real-world applications to deepen understanding of financial, human resources and family-business-governance topics. The workshop is facilitated by Dick Wittman, a globally recognized expert and owner of Wittman Consulting.
Scheduled dates and locations for these programs are:
- Financial Literacy for Dairy, Level One
Nov. 12-13 and Dec. 3-4, 2025
The four-day course is held over two sessions with a focus on core financial concepts such as the balance sheet, cash income statement and cash flow budgeting. This level sets the stage for practical, on-farm application and helps producers set up systems for improved business management and more effective lender relationships.
All sessions will be held at Pagel’s Ponderosa, N4893 County Road C, Kewaunee, Wis.
- Financial Literacy for Dairy, Level Two
Jan. 15-16, Feb. 4-5, and Mar. 10-11, 2026
Six days of training in three sessions will take a deeper dive into using financial analysis, planning and budgeting to make informed decisions that will enhance business planning and developing a dashboard of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
All sessions will be held at Pagel’s Ponderosa, N4893 County Road C, Kewaunee, Wis.
- Business Management & Advanced Finance Workshop
October 29-30, 2025
This high-impact, two-day course will take business and financial acumen to the next level through interactive case studies and class discussion with a focus on implementing best practices in today’s high-performing dairy businesses.
All sessions will be held at Compeer Financial, 2600 Jenny Wren Trail, Sun Prairie, Wis.
Following registration, Financial Literacy for Dairy participants will receive an email from PDP with a link to complete an online placement test for proper placement into Level 1 or Level 2. Business Management & Advanced Finance Workshop attendees will also receive assignments prior to the course to assess their current level of comprehension of the workshop principles.
The Financial Literacy for Dairy program includes a “Count on Us” partnership that provides attendees an opportunity for full or partial scholarship into the program when financial lenders contribute toward the attendee’s registration fees. Partners and more details are available on the program website.
Registration is now open for all programs; find more details and register today at www.pdpw.org or by contacting PDP at 800-947-7379. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available from Dairy AdvanCE for each program; see the corresponding flyers for the specific amounts.
Follow along digitally in advance of and during the event by following @dairyPDPW on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP) 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.
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