JUNEAU — For generations, dairy producers have focused on animal care and other factors to increase milk production and profits on their farms, but with volatility in commodity and input pricing in recent years, an effective marketing strategy is critical to a farm’s profitability and sustainability.

A new course from Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW) will provide farm owners, managers and herdspersons, as well as dairy lenders, consultant and agribusiness professionals with the basics of marketing and how to put available risk management and marketing tools to work. The lead instructor for the course will be Carl Babler, commodity market consultant and senior hedge specialist with Atten Babler Commodities, Galena, Ill.

“Today’s dairy producers have a number of tools to protect against risk in the marketplace and capture profit opportunities,” said Babler. “Understanding how these tools complement one another and can be used in each operation is the key to successful marketing.”

An introductory session will be held on April 14 at PDPW Headquarters in Juneau. Following the introductory class, participants can register for the full six session course, which will be held through 2021. Up to two people from a registered entity can participate in the classes, with a registration limit of 30 entities.

Course sessions will focus on:

●  Understanding agricultural commodity markets and 

marketing

●  Developing an effective marketing plan

●  Analyzing the market for market activity

●  The futures market

●  Understanding and utilizing the cash market

●  The options market

●  Marketers and hedge checklist

More information and registrations for the introductory session and full course can be found at www.pdpw.org/programs. Walk-ins are welcome at the April 14 session. Contact PDPW at 800-947-7379 with questions.