Mid-West Farm Report is extending a limited number of producer registrations to the Business Conference to first-time attendees. Learn more at the bottom of the page.
As the Professional Dairy Producers Business Conference approaches, producers are looking for ways to navigate an increasingly volatile economic landscape. Professor Emeritus David Kohl, Virginia Tech, previews his upcoming sessions focused on building “nimble and agile” dairy operations.
Kohl, who attended the very first PDP conference, returns this year to tackle the complexities of diversification. He notes that the most resilient businesses are those moving away from a single revenue stream toward more diverse models. This includes value-added creameries, agritourism, and methane digesters.
According to Kohl, surviving the journey toward 2035 requires more than just knowing how to milk cows. He says it’s going to require a specific set of leadership traits: Business IQ, Business EQ, and Business AQ. Listen in to his explanation:
“One of the things that we’re finding is that businesses that seem to be resilient, nimble, and agile are more diversified,” Kohl says. “In other words, they’ll have three to six sources of revenue.”
In addition to his sessions on diversification, Kohl will moderate a panel of economists to discuss whether the current agricultural downturn is cyclical or structural. The discussion will dive into high-level factors such as long-term interest rates, inflation, and the future value of the dollar in export markets. Learn more about the panel: https://pdpw.org/businessconference/agenda_and_program.php
Kohl emphasizes that the most critical tool for any producer isn’t a piece of equipment, but a mindset.
“Dr. Kohl says one thing he wants to encourage attendees to do is be a lifelong learner,” reports Ben Jarboe of Mid-West Farm Report. “Be an active learner during these presentations.”
First-Timers Have An Opportunity For Free Admission!
The conference aims to provide producers with a roadmap for success as they look toward the next decade of dairy farming. Mid-West Farm Report and PDP share a commitment to advancing dairy producers and supporting strong farm businesses.
As part of that partnership, Mid-West Farm Report is extending a limited number of producer registrations to the Business Conference to first-time attendees. If you’ve never attended, this opportunity was designed with you in mind! Just text your name and email address to 877-301-3276.
