DAIRY NEWS – Understanding the financials of a dairy business is fundamental to making sustainable operating decisions. The 2024-25 sessions of PDP Financial Literacy for Dairy® are designed to provide dairy farmers, veterinarians, nutritionists and other agribusiness professionals with the analytical and reporting tools to boost their operations and put them on course for generational profitability.
“As the only financial development program designed specifically for the dairy industry, this program is one of the best investments one can make in their business,” said John Haag, Dane, Wis., dairy producer and PDP board president. “Financial Literacy for Dairy is unique because the online assessment taken by participants when they register ensures they’re placed in the level most suited to their needs.”
Two levels of training are provided, with participants completing an online assessment at registration to determine the course level best suited to them. The online assessment must be taken before November 7.
Level One provides four days of training in two separate sessions – Nov. 12-13, 2024, and Dec. 4-5, 2024 – with all trainings held at PDP headquarters in Juneau, Wis. This level is taught by dairy financial experts David Coggins, senior financial leader and retired agricultural loan officer, and Dr. Kevin Bernhardt, PhD, Professor of Agribusiness at UW-Platteville. Level one participants will learn 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.
With the objective that Level One participants will move on to Level Two in the program, those sessions are scheduled in three separate trainings as follows: Jan. 22-23, 2025; Feb. 5-6, 2025; and Feb. 26-27, 2025.
Dairy producers who participate in the program are encouraged to check with partners involved in the “Count on Us” program, which affords attendees an opportunity for full or partial scholarships to the Financial Literacy for Dairy program. The agricultural partners involved in the Count on Us program recognize the value that comprehensive financial training provides to dairy producers and have committed to offering financial support to eligible registrants. In such cases, class attendees pay the training program fee to PDP upon registration, then consult with their “Count on Us” partners to determine the scholarship amount.
“Count on Us” partners include AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Bank of Brodhead, BMO, BouMatic, Bremer Bank, Citizens State Bank of Loyal, Compeer Financial, Dairy Business Consulting, Inc., Farmers & Merchants Union Bank, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Lake Ridge Bank, Nicolet Bank, and Rabo AgriFinance. Check the PDP website for updates.
To register, visit www.pdpw.org or contact PDP at 800-947-7379. Registered attendees will receive an email from PDP with a link to complete an online placement test to be properly placed into Level 1 or 2, and will receive notification of level placement immediately upon submission of test. Additionally, to suggest specific partners that might consider joining as a Count on Us partner, contact PDP by phone or via the website.
Follow along digitally in advance of and during the event by following @dairyPDPW and using #mypdpw on Facebook, X, Instagram, 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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