Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers (WSBDF)

Emphasizing Business Planning and Pasture-Based Farm Management

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Online Course Outline

Below is an outline of the online course.  The course is divided into three terms, and under each term there are several topics.  Each topic has its own web page which includes background information on the speaker and topic, a video of the speaker’s presentation, a PDF of the speaker’s presentation, and links to additional information and useful resources related to the topic.  For students who want to receive a certificate of completion, each term ends with an exam that can be completed online and submitted to the instructors for review.  In addition to the terms and topics outlined below, the course also includes the option for students to develop a business plan using tools, templates, and tips provided by WSBDF.  Students can discuss their business plans with WSBDF instructors, and all submitted business plans will be reviewed by our staff and returned with comments and suggestions.  Additional information about the course is available here, and interested students can register here.

 

Pasture-Based Dairy and Livestock Seminar Outline


Term I – Business Startup


Topic 1 – Principles and Opportunities for Starting a Dairy or Livestock Business

Presenter:  Dick Cates, UW-Madison CIAS/Dept. Soil Science; Beef Steer and Diary Heifer grazier


Gary and Holly Stankowski Thumbnail

Topic 2 – Successful Dairy Farm Startup

Presenter:  Gary and Holly Stankowski, Dairy Farmers, Mosinee, WI


Tom Cadwallader Thumbnail

Topic 3 – Setting Realistic Goals for your Start-up Farm Business

Presenter: Tom Cadwallader, retired UW-Extension Agent for Lincoln and Marathon Counties, Sheep Grazier, and current financial consultant for the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program


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Topic 4 – The GrassWorks Inc Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Program

Presenter: Joe Tomandl, Dairy Grazier, Medford, WI and Executive Director of the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Program


Gene Schriefer Thumbnail

Topic 5 – Sheep Production and Marketing

Presenter:  Gene Schriefer, UW-Extension Agriculture Agent for Iowa County and Sheep Grazier


Larry Hedrich Thumbnail 2

Topic 6 – Basics of Goat Business Startups

Presenter:  Larry Hedrich, Dairy Goat Farmer, Chilton, WI


Bert Paris Thumbnail

Topic 7 – Feeding the Dairy Cow on Pasture: Part 1

Presenter:  Bert Paris, Dairy Grazier, Belleville, WI


Rhonda Gildersleeve Thumbnail

Topic 8 – Feeding the Dairy Cow on Pasture:  Part 2

Presenter:  Rhonda Gildersleeve, UW Extension Grazing Specialist


Paul Daigle Thumbnail

Topic 9 – Farm Selection and Grazing System Layout

Presenter:  Paul Daigle, Conservation Specialist, Marathon County Land Conservation Department


We Energies Thumbnail

Topic 10 – Stray Voltage and Infrastructure Considerations

Presenters:  Jason Kollwelter, Agricultural Program Manager, and Chuck De Nardo, Principle Engineer, We Energies


Dan Schaefer Thumbnail

Topic 11 – Pasture-Based Beef Production

Presenter:  Dan Schaefer, Professor and Dept. Chair, Animal Science, UW-Madison


Jim Munsch Thumbnail

Topic 12 – Niche Markets for Beef

Presenter: Jim Munsch, Financial Consultant and Beef Grazier, Coon Valley, WI


Exam Thumbnail

Term I Exam

 

 


Term II – Developing a Business Plan


Dan O'Brian Thumbnail

Topic 1 – USDA FSA Beginning Farmer Loan Opportunities

Presenter:  Dan O’Brian, Farm Loan Officer, USDA Farm Service Agency, Monroe, WI


Sara-Mumm-2007

Topic 2 – Farm Startup Financial Record Keeping

Presenter: Sarah Mumm, Dairy Farmer, Lancaster, WI


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Topic 3 – Farmer-driven Marketing Strategies: Local and Grass-fed

Presenter: Lois Federman, Director, Something Special from Wisconsin Program, and Direct- Market Beef Producer, Mineral Point, WI


Tim Rehbein Thumbnail

Topic 4 – Locker Plant Logistics

Presenter:  Tim Rehbein, Owner, Driftless Meats and More, Viroqua, WI


Dan Smith Thumbnail

Topic 5 – Shifting Gears: Managing Agriculture’s New Realities

Presenter: Dan Smith, Division Administrator, Division of Agricultural Development, DATCP, Madison, WI


Andy Jaworski Thumbnail

Topic 6 – Farm Business Start-up Lessons Learned

Presenter:  Andy Jaworski, Dairy Grazier, Green Bay, WI


Exam Thumbnail

Term II Exam

 

 


Term III – Managing the Business


Vance Haugen Thumbnail

Topic 1 – Low Cost Milking Parlor Design Part 1

Presenter:  Vance Haugen, UW Extension – Crawford County and Dairy Grazier, Canton, MN


Suzy Konichek Thumbnail

Topic 2 – Low Cost Milking Parlor Design Part 2

Presenters: Roger Dahlberg and Suzy Konicheck, Dairy Graziers, Seneca, WI


Sarah Slaby Thumbnail

Topic 3 – Livestock Health and Treating Disease in Organic Systems

Presenter:  Sarah Slaby, DVM, Slaby’s Veterinary Services, Arcadia, WI


Sam and Don Frei Thumbnail

Topic 4 – Principles of Organic Dairying and Herd Health from a Farmer’s Perspective

Presenter:  Samantha Frei, Organic Dairy Graziers, Mineral Point, WI


Arriaga thumbnail2

Topic 5 – Pasture and Soil Nutrient Management

Presenter: Francisco Arriaga, Assistant Professor, Department of Soil Science, UW-Madison


David Vetrano Thumbnail

Topic 6 – Grazing and Natural Resource Management

Presenter: Dave Vetrano, WI Department of Natural Resources Basin fisheries manager, Professor Emeritus, La Crosse


Meuer Farm Thumbnail

Topic 7 – Emerging Markets and Value Added Food Products

Presenters:  Leslie and David Meuer, Owners, Meuer Farms LLC

Cherrie Nolden Thumbnail

Topic 8 – Ecological Restoration with Livestock

Presenter:  Cherrie Nolden, Agroecology M.S. Candidate and Farmer, Prairie du Sac, WI


Klussendorf Thumbnail

Topic 9 – Bringing it All Together

Presenters: Ryan and Cherri Klussendorf, Dairy Graziers, Medford, WI


Exam Thumbnail

Term III Exam

Support WSBDF:

Support WSBDF

The support of our many sponsors is what makes our work possible. Click the logo above to learn more about how you can support WSBDF.

Student Testimonials

"The quality and depth of the presenters for the WSBDF has given our family a top notch how-to manual for entering into a grazing based business and life."

“I really enjoyed all the speakers we had and all the real life experiences they were able to share.”

"We came away with a barn-full of inspiration, and the solid ground-under-our-feet feeling of having been shown 'how it is' with all the beauty and the sweat right there."

“The School made me think outside of the box…and look at the many ways to approach a farm business.”

“You have the opportunity to make lifelong friends; you have so many people there that have the same interests and the same drive.”

“My fears were primarily financial. The WSBDF showed me that there were different institutions…to loan me money and that is what really got me started."

“I took the grazing courses [with WSBDF]…and this is the best crash course I’m ever going to get.”

“The most beneficial thing by far was…the network of people I met – classmates and mentors – that are actively farming…to learn from what they are doing and compare [these things] to what I’m doing.”

“The business plan put it all into reality. It gave me confidence."

"I can sincerely say that the WSBDF course was everything I had hoped for, and then some. I met a lot of great people, learned an incredible amount, and came out of the experience feeling inspired"

"I'm by nature a cynic who doesn't often run into programs, meetings, or groups that truly embody optimism and change, but WSBDF manages to accomplish that in a humble and practical way."

“The School opened my eyes up to a different direction of farming that has worked out very well for me. WSBDF was very important in my decision to start a grass-based dairy farm.”

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Read more about

  • Pasture Management Course Now Available Online!
  • Now Available Online!
  • Learning from the Experts
  • A Business Planning Emphasis

Ride to Farm

Link to Ride to Farm Website

Each year the WSBDF hosts Ride to Farm, a 100K bike ride with rest stops at local farms. All proceeds from this amazing event support the WSBDF endowment. Click the Ride to Farm logo above to learn more.

Barn Dance

Barn Dance

The Partnering for Progress’s Barn Dance & Chautauqua celebrates Wisconsin’s working lands, and raises funds to support the important work of the nonprofit partner organizations, including WSBDF. And it's a lot of fun! Click on the image above to learn more!

WSBDF

Sponsored by the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems and the Farm and Industry Short Course, both within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and by Badgerland Financial, Culver’s Restaurants, Organic Valley, Wisconsin Cattleman’s Association, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, and Wisconsin Farmers Union; with additional support from the NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and individual and corporate contributions to the UW Foundation WSBDF Endowment Fund. A full list of each year's contributors is available in our newsletter, available through the link below:

2018 Newsletter

Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers

The WSBDF office is located in the Soil Science Building on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus.

Mailing Address:

1535 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Phone:

608-265-6437

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