The Professional Dairy Producers will have two new faces on its board of directors during the coming year. Members elected Paul Lippert of Pittsville, Wis., and Brady Weiland of Columbus, Wis., to a three-year term during the PDPW Business Conference in Wisconsin Dells on March 18. They also re-elected director Janet Clark of Rosendale, Wis., to a second term on the board. More than 900 dairy farmers and agribusiness people attended the two-day in-person conference held at the Kalahari in Wisconsin Dells.

Clark is an owner in Vision Aire Farms, LLC, along with her husband, Travis, her parents, Roger and Sandy Grade, and her brother and sister-in-law, David and Torrie Grade. They milk 140 Holsteins and farm 1,200 acres of owned and rented land.

Lippert owns Grass Ridge Farm LLC with his father, Matt Lippert and brother Carl Lippert. The dairy is home to 600 registered Holsteins and Jerseys as well as 500 head of youngstock.

Weiland owns and operates Weiland Dairy, LLC, with his parents, brothers, and seven employees. As dairy manager, he oversees the 600-cow dairy with a focus on management practice and quality genetics to achieve the farm’s goals.

Other PDPW Board members include Andy Buttles, Stone-Front Farm, Lancaster, Wis., Ken Feltz, Feltz Family Farms Inc. and Feltz’s Dairy Store Inc., Stevens Point, Wis.; John Haag, Haag Dairy, LLC, Dane, Wis.; Corey Hodorff, Second-Look Holsteins, LLC, Eden, Wis.; Steven Orth, Orthland Dairy Farm LLC, Cleveland, Wis., and Katy Schultz, Tri-Fecta Farms Inc., Fox Lake, Wis.

Dairy Calf and Heifer conference
to be held April 6-8 in Wisconsin

The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association will host its 2021 annual conference in Appleton, Wis. The event will be held April 6-8 at the Red Lion Hotel Paper Valley. The conference is designed to help heifer growers network and share ideas.

Attendees are welcome to attend an optional tour of Shiloh Dairy in Brillion on April 6. Afternoon sessions will focus on antibody protection for calves versus vaccination and the impact of fermentation products on calves’ immune response.

On April 7, Theresa Ollivet will present the DCHA Gold Standards. Matt Rush will be the keynote speaker on “Planting the Seeds of Greatness.” A trade show and breakout sessions round out the week.

Custom heifer growers, dairy producers, nutritionists and other agribusiness professionals are encouraged to attend. Register online at calfandheifer.org. More information is also available at 855-400-3242.

Organic Valley launches national
clean energy fund for its farmers

Advancing its commitment to regenerative farming systems, Organic Valley is partnering with Clean Energy Credit Union to launch the Powering the Good Loan Fund to provide the best loan terms for farmers seeking to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels with renewable energy and efficiencies. The program is first of its kind for both cooperatives, pioneering a unique clean energy loan fund for more than 1,700 farmers across the country.

To accelerate energy improvements, Organic Valley and Clean Energy CU will roll out a $1 million fund with plans to expand.

“Organic Valley leads on renewable energy. We have been 100% renewable powered in our owned facilities since 2019, and now we are going a step further,” said Bob Kirchoff, Organic Valley CEO.

Loans supplied to Organic Valley farmers through Clean Energy CU will be used for: