Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW)
By Professional Dairy Producers
Last reviewed: December 2025
Complete guide to Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin education and networking. Learn about Business Conference, World Class events, and producer...
Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW), based in Wisconsin but serving producers nationally, is a producer-led organization focused on education, networking, and continuous improvement. The organization's mission is helping dairy producers achieve excellence through professional development.
The flagship event is the PDPW Business Conference, one of the premier dairy conferences in North America. Held annually in March in Wisconsin, the conference attracts 2,000+ attendees for two days of education, networking, and industry insights. World-class speakers, trade show, and peer connections make it essential for serious dairy producers.
Year-round programming includes Managers Academy (developing farm management skills), World Class Webinars, regional events, and specialty programs. Topics span business management, employee development, technology adoption, animal care, and personal development.
The organization's producer-led nature distinguishes it from university or industry programs. Farmers govern PDPW and shape programming priorities based on what producers actually need. This ensures practical, applicable content.
While based in Wisconsin, PDPW welcomes producers from anywhere. The Business Conference draws attendees from across the U.S. and internationally. Online programming extends reach regardless of location.
Membership provides access to enhanced benefits, but many events are open to all. The organization operates as nonprofit focused on producer success rather than advocacy or promotion.
Key Features
- Business Conference: Premier annual conference in March. 2,000+ attendees. World-class speakers. Trade show. Networking.
- Managers Academy: Multi-session management development program. Business skills. Leadership. Financial analysis.
- World Class Webinars: Online education throughout year. Convenient access. Expert speakers.
- Regional Events: Workshops and programs across Wisconsin and beyond. Local access to education.
- Peer Networking: Connecting producers with peers. Learning from fellow farmers. Best practice sharing.
- Producer-Led Governance: Farmer board and committees. Programming driven by producer needs.
Advanced Features
- Dairy's Visible Voice: Consumer engagement program. Telling dairy's story. Public relations.
- Young Producer Programs: Next-generation development. Emerging leader education. Networking.
- Dairy Signal Newsletter: Regular communications. Industry insights. Program updates.
- Continuous Improvement Focus: Culture of getting better. Benchmarking. Performance tracking.
- Industry Partnerships: Collaboration with universities, industry. Resource leverage.
- Awards and Recognition: Dairy Producer of the Year. Excellence recognition. Industry celebration.
Ideal For
Farm Types: All dairy farms seeking improvement, All production systems
Competitive Advantages
What sets Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW) apart from alternatives:
- Premier Business Conference
- Producer-led organization
- Continuous improvement focus
- Managers Academy depth
- World-class speaker access
- Peer networking opportunities
- Practical, applicable content
- Year-round programming
- Next-generation development
- National/international draw
Pricing Information
Here is the pricing information for Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW):
Events have individual registration fees. Membership provides discounts and additional benefits. Business Conference is primary annual investment.
Pricing Model: Event registration plus optional membership
Check pdpw.org for current pricing. Early registration discounts often available.
Pros & Considerations
- Producer-led education and networking
- World-class dairy business conferences
- Peer-to-peer learning opportunities
- Business management focus
- Strong Wisconsin dairy community connections
- Wisconsin headquarters though national membership available
- Conference attendance requires time and investment
- Primarily educational rather than advocacy focused
- Annual membership renewal required
Implementation & Setup
How to implement Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW) on your dairy operation:
Implementation Timeline: Ongoing—year-round programming. Business Conference each March.
Training & Support
Training and support options available for Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW):
Evaluation Questions
Key questions to consider when evaluating Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW):
- Would Business Conference benefit my management?
- Am I committed to continuous improvement?
- Would Managers Academy develop my skills?
- Do I have peers to learn from or should I find some?
- Is professional development a priority?