PDP Manager's Memo

May 2025 Vol. 4

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

The Dairy Signal^®

Check out what's coming this week on The Dairy Signal. Tune in every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday live from noon to 1 p.m. CT, or catch previous episodes on demand here.

May 27 - Mental Health and Healthy Regiments

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Tune in to learn how farmers can reduce stress to combat mental health issues and why a healthy diet and plenty of rest play a role in overall mental health.

Amy Myrdal Miller, MS, RDN, FAND, Founder and President, Farmer’s Daughter Consulting

May 28 - Unravel Phosphorus

Hear about the work that the University of Wisconsin-Extension Ag Water Quality Team is doing to survey the prevalence of phosphorus stratification in no-till systems with a focus of mitigating the risk to surface water of dissolved phosphorus loss.

Sheri Schwert, Ag Water Quality Outreach Specialist, UW-Extension

May 29 - Market Update

Join in for a timely update and analysis of the agricultural markets and trends that will impact dairy producers and the ag industry this growing season and beyond.

Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company

Access Now

Previously on The Dairy Signal

May 20

Tune in for an update on what is happening in the realm of dairy markets and policy and what dairy producers should be thinking about and watching out for during these volatile times.

Leonard Polzin, Dairy Markets and Policy Outreach Specialist, UW-Extension

May 21

Methane reduction is a hot topic in today’s dairy industry. Hear the latest news and research around methane-reducing feed additives.

Joanne Knapp, PhD, PAS, Innovator and President, Fox Hollow Consulting LLC

May 22

With the school year ending, children of all ages will be spending more time on the farm. Join a conversation about safety concerns for young people working on farms or potential distractions that could lead children to unsafe situations.

Melissa Ploeckelman, Outreach Specialist, National Farm Medicine Center at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute

Opportunities to Learn

2025 PDP INTERNATIONAL TOUR: NEW ZEALAND

February 2-15, 2026

JUST A FEW SEATS LEFT for trip of a lifetime with fellow dairy producers. You can look forward to:

Roundtrip airfare
14 days/12 nights accommodations
Tour kiwi and dairy farms
Cruise through the Milford Sound with towering mountains, virgin forest and waterfalls
Explore Auckland, Queenstown, Christchurch
Discover the local culture of the native Maori tribe
Historic steamboat cruise

Learn more and register.

PDP ACCELERATE™

July 22, 2025

Madison, Wis.

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD with skills you learn at the one-day session designed for ag industry interns.

Trainer Michael Hoffman will help attendees:

Develop a commanding professional presence
Elevate communication, networking and interview skills
Gain real-world insights from top industry leaders
Learn how to skillfully showcase experiences
Position yourself as a standout candidate

Learn more and register interns..

For Your Dairy

WHEN MILK YIELD AND OTHER COMPONENTS STAY THE SAME, but milk fat yield drops, there are several places to begin troubleshooting. A UW-Extension article reviews the two primary factors causing diet-induced milk fat depression – alteration in rumen pH and dietary source of polyunsaturated fatty acids – and management practices. Troubleshooting questions include:

Does my ration contain high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids?
What is my starch concentration? How digestible is the starch in my ration?
Does my ration provide enough physically effective fiber?
Am I providing adequate amounts of buffer in the ration?
Is my ration sortable? Is the ration being uniformly and consistently mixed?
Are my cows experiencing stressors that may affect feed intake? Are they overcrowded, heat stressed or running out of feed?

Learn more in the full article.

MANAGE CALF HUTCH MICROCLIMATES to boost the health and welfare of the youngest members of your herd. Calf hutches provide important protection for calves, but if not properly managed, can also trap heat or not buffer against cold. Understanding how factors like temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction and solar radiation impact calves is key, and using monitoring tools with real-time insights can alert to possible stressors. During warmer temperatures, ensure that hutches are adequately ventilated and consider adjusting placement to align with wind patterns and using shade strategically. Milk feedings can also be split to avoid the hottest parts of the day, along with providing additional water and offering electrolytes before heat stress sets in. Learn more.

June Dairy Month Community Blood Drive

GIVING BACK IN HONOR OF JUNE DAIRY MONTH. For the second year, PDP will host a community blood drive to honor our hardworking dairy producer members and their commitment to feeding the world. Donate at our Juneau, Wis., headquarters from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18. Donors can look forward to receiving a $15 gift card from the American Red Cross, as well as delicious dairy treats provided by the PDP staff (think mac & cheese, ice cream and cheese) after their donation. Learn more and schedule your donation time.

Your Farm - Your Footprint

EVERY FARM HAS A FOOTPRINT: UNDERSTAND YOURS

PDP's Your Farm - Your Footprint puts your farm at the forefront of sustainability as the dairy supply chain looks to reduce its carbon footprint. Through Tier 1, dairy producers can receive non-government grants up to $9,750 per farm (up to 2,500 acres) to get their carbon footprint scores. A confidential third party will gather your information and help you learn your farm’s environmental footprint score, how it's calculated and potential opportunities to reduce your score.

Discover your farm's environmental footprint score through nationally and globally recognized accounting programs FARM ES, Cool Farm Tool and COMET-Farm™.
It's your data! You own and are able to share this information, or not, with others as you so choose.
Receive a customizable roadmap of recommendations with practical steps to improve your farm's score.
You have the option to participate in peer groups with fellow producers to share ideas and best practices in a safe, confidential environment.

Visit the website or email croy@pdpw.org to learn more.

Dairy Currents

BREAKFAST CEREAL COMPANIES LEANING INTO CONSUMER DEMAND for healthier foods to try to turn around what has been a declining product category. Shifts in morning routines, rising costs and a sugar-laden image have led to lower sales for years, but industry leaders are moving to re-launch brands with higher protein or lower sugar options. They are also focusing on marketing and redesigns to emphasize healthy and “better for you” attributes. Learn more in the article from FoodDive.

STAY SAFE ON THE FARM THIS SUMMER with resources from the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety. The center has created a wealth of resources for building safe play areas on the farm, as well as checklists and posters for keeping kids away from farm machinery and other potential hazards. The highest rate of child injuries on U.S. farms involved children younger than 10 years old who were playing on the worksite. Access resources here and watch the Dairy Signal episode focused on youth safety on the farm here.

Book Review

FINDING YOUR THIRD PLACE: BUILDING HAPPIER COMMUNITIES (AND MAKING GREAT FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY)

Do you have a third place? In his new book, Dr. Richard Kyte, Director of the DB Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership and Endowed Professor of Ethics at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis., outlines the concept of a third place and its critical role in today's society.

Your first place is home, your second place is work, and your third place is where you go to socialize and build friendships. Dr. Kyte combines storytelling, social science and philosophy to explore factors that create and support vibrant communities and what it takes to find a create a third place of your own. Learn more.

PDP Podcast Weekly

A Farmer's Life

Tom Thibodeau is back with a special message about the American farmer. It is the farm economy that keeps this nation strong, and we praise every farmer's effort to provide the food and nutrition we need every day.