PDP Manager's Memo

July 2026 Vol. 2

Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization^®

The Dairy Signal^®

Check out what's coming this week on The Dairy Signal!

July 14 - Farm Smart, Stay Covered

The right insurance coverage is a critical piece of protecting your farm and employees. Bring your questions to this interactive conversation focused on assessing your operation, recommended coverage, what should be in place if an employee is injured and more.

Mike Immel, LUTCF, Rural Mutual Insurance Company

July 16 - Measuring Lost Earnings for Injured Farmers

Tune in for a discussion about the process involved in damages claims when farmers are involved in accidents and how to determine “lost earnings” in those claims.

Patrick Coffey, shareholder and attorney, Menn Law Firm, Ltd

Access Now

Tune in every Tuesday and Thursday live from noon to 1 p.m. CT, or catch previous episodes on demand here.

Previously on The Dairy Signal

July 7

Tap into the knowledge of experienced calf managers for practical, cost-effective improvements in raising calves to boost performance without breaking the bank, including seasonal adjustments in colostrum management, TMR audits, lung ultrasounds and more.

Jim Van Patter, Dairy Manager, Nehls Bros Farms
Sherry Arnold, Co-Owner, Busse’s Barron Acres

July 9

As we start the second half of 2026, tune in for the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets and insights on the trends that will impact your farm, the dairy industry and agriculture.

Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company

Opportunities to Learn

Three chances to go on-farm and learn with your peers!

CARBON, CROPS + COWS

July 28 - Sauk City, Wis.

July 30 - Pittsville, Wis.

Industry experts will break down how sustainability metrics are calculated and what factors have the greatest impact. Then see examples of those practices in action through farm tours and producer discussions. Learn more and register.

CALF FACILITY TOURS

Aug. 11 - Blanchardville, Wis.

Aug. 12 - De Pere, Wis.

Aug. 13 - Watertown, Wis.

Three days, three ways to strengthen your calf care program. Bring your calf care team and plenty of questions for the hosts during these interactive visits across Wisconsin. Learn more.

ACE ON-THE-FARM TWILIGHT MEETINGS

August 24, 25, 26, 27

Enjoy a dairy tour and be a part of the idea-sharing and productive conversations with elected officials and community members.
Learn more.

The countdown is on - make sure your interns are registered!

PDP ACCELERATE™

July 28, 2026

Madison, Wis.

A one-day, fast-paced workshop for interns to build the professional, communication and leadership skills to thrive now and after graduation. Learn more and register.

Make plans now to step up management and financial skills

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & ADVANCED FINANCE WORKSHOP

Sun Prairie, Wis.

Oct. 28-29, 2026

Learn more

FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR DAIRY®

Beaver Dam, Wis.

Level One:

Nov. 11-12, Dec. 1-2, 2026

Level Two:

Feb 2-3, 17-18, Mar. 9-10, 2027

Learn more

DAIRY MANAGERS INSTITUTE®

Green Bay, Wis.

Dec. 15-16, 2026

Learn more

For Your Dairy

WHAT ROLE DOES FAT PLAY IN DIETARY PROGRAM? An article from UW-Extension outlines how supplemental fat can provide a source of energy and play a critical role in supporting milk production when used appropriately. Read the article to learn what fatty acids are, what happens when cows consume them and situations when cows can benefit from an increase in dietary fat.

THE IMPACT OF VENTILATION ON CALF HEALTH during summer heat was the focus of research published in JDS Communications. Researchers compared two groups of calves in outdoor hutches during the summer – one with passive ventilation and the other with active ventilation with solar-powered fans – from birth to 28 days of life, finding that the active ventilation improved immune response. Read the full study.

Your Farm - Your Footprint®

YOUR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS MATTER

With Your Farm - Your Footprint (YFYF), you can measure the impact of your sustainability efforts, without having to share your data with anyone.

"Having our carbon score puts us ahead of the game. Now that we have this information, we can act on it — and that gives us a new data point to enhance our business."

David Trimner, Miltrim Farms, Inc.

Learn more and sign up today at www.pdpw.org/your-farm-your-footprint/.

Dairy Currents

A DAILY DAIRY HABIT COULD HELP IMPROVE SLEEP, according to new research. A study of U.S. adults found that people who consumed about three servings of dairy each day were more likely to get healthy, consistent sleep and less likely to report sleep problems. Researchers say nutrients such as tryptophan, magnesium and zinc, along with fermented dairy foods like yogurt and cheese, may help support better sleep patterns. Learn more in the Dairy Foods article.

LONG HOURS, HIGH TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY can create dangerous working conditions on the farm during the summer. A Michigan State Extension article reminds farmers and farm employees that heat illness can develop quickly, especially early in the season before workers have acclimated to the heat. Planning ahead with hydration, rest breaks, shade and emergency response procedures can help prevent heat-related illness and save lives during the busiest days of summer. Read more.

PDP Members Shine During June Dairy Month

June Dairy Month has wrapped up, but we’re still celebrating all the great work that PDP member dairies did to share their stories and the impact of the dairy industry. Follow @dairyfarmersofwisconsin for more.

Kristin Metcalf of Glacier Edge Dairy in Milton, Wis., talks about the technologies they use to keep animals healthy and produce quality products.

Katy Schultz of Tri-Fecta Farms in Fox Lake, Wis., shares her family's story of dairy farming over multiple generations.