PDP Manager's Memo

August 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 and Thursday live from noon to 1 p.m. CT, or catch previous episodes on demand here.

August 26 - Optimizing Breeding Time: New Insights

Don’t miss this session with new research results on optimizing breeding times. Researchers assessed the optimal timing of insemination relative to increased activity using an activity monitoring system or after a synchronized ovulation.

Dr. Paul Fricke, PhD, Professor and Extension Specialist – Dairy Cattle Reproduction, University of Wisconsin-Madison

August 28 - Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are evolving quickly and offer a number of potential benefits. Tune in to learn how these tools can be used in your farm business without exposing your farm to unnecessary risk.

Bill Oemichen, JD, Professor of Practice Law and Local Government Law Educator, UW-Madison Extension

Access Now

Thank you to Dairy Management Inc. for their sponsorship of The Dairy Signal. Funded by America’s dairy farm families and dairy importers, the checkoff works to grow sales and build trust in dairy. Your dairy checkoff works through restaurant, retail and foodservice partners; youth outreach, research and product development and more. Connect and learn how we’re making every drop count at dairycheckoff.com.

Previously on The Dairy Signal

August 19

Learn about the FARM program in 2025, including updates and what is coming next. The conversation will also explore how producers can take the next step with the Environmental Stewardship component of the program. Presenters will be:

Meggan Hain, DVM, Chief Veterinary Officer, National Milk Producers Federation
Sage Saffran, Manager, Sustainability Initiatives, National Milk Producers Federation

August 21

With summer winding down, tune in for a discussion of industry and market news that will impact the dairy industry and your operation. Presenter will be:

Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company

Opportunities to Learn

ACE® ON-THE-FARM TWILIGHT MEETINGS

August 25, 26, 27, 28

Durand, Tomah, Newton, Watertown, WI

SEE YOU THIS WEEK! There are four opportunities to connect with local officials, community members and leaders at the ACE Twilight Meetings. Make plans to attend, and invite friends and neighbors to come together for a farm tour, ice cream and conversations about important issues impacting your community.

Learn more and register.

PDP BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & ADVANCED FINANCE WORKSHOP

October 29-30, 2025

Sun Prairie, WI

TAKE YOUR BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ACUMEN TO THE NEXT LEVEL with two days of focused interactive training led by Dick Wittman.

Specifically tailored for agriculture, participants will focus on key topics to make their farms and businesses more resilient:

Farm management proficiency
Financial statements
Cash flow budgeting
Financial metrics and simulation
Cost and managerial accounting
Family business governance
Growth management

Learn more and register.

FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR DAIRY®

Level One -

Nov. 12-13, 2025

Dec. 3-4, 2025

Level Two -

Jan. 15-16, 2026

Feb. 4-5, 2026

Mar. 10-11, 2026

Learn more and register.

MANAGERS ACADEMY FOR DAIRY PROFESSIONALS®

January 20-22, 2026

Puerto Rico

Learn more and register.

For Your Business Mind

MULTITASKING CAN COST TIME, FOCUS AND CLARITY. Many of us have too many “tabs open” at work, whether on an internet browser or in our brains as we switch from one topic to another. A Fast Company article highlights research that shifting between tasks can result in a loss of up to 40% of productive time due to the “switch cost” of reorienting to new topics. Strategies for focusing on one task include:

Take a tab audit by closing every browser tab and reopen only what you need.
Group similar work together.
Before switching tasks, take 60 seconds to write down where you left off.

Learn more in the full article.

DEVELOPMENT IS NO LONGER OPTIONAL in today’s fast-paced world. A Smart Brief article provides recommendations for working with employees who say they are contented and aren’t interested in additional training or development programs. Understanding what is driving resistance to development – confusion, burnout, failure to see the value, lack of confidence or other concerns – will help leaders work with team members to create a plan and path for growth that will benefit each employee and the business. Learn more.

Your Farm - Your Footprint

ADD A SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT TO YOUR DAIRY TEAM.

On your farm, you rely on your nutritionist and agronomist to help keep things running smoothly. Now, with Your Farm - Your Footprint (YFYF), you can add a sustainability consultant to the team.

YFYF is a hands-on program designed to help you measure, manage and improve your farm’s sustainability. From optimizing resource use to building a more sustainable future, YFYF provides the tools and expertise you need.

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

For Your Dairy

WHEN DAIRY PRODUCERS SEEK COST-SAVINGS, one option is using whole milk to feed calves instead of milk replacers, especially in situations where non-salable milk is available and shipping surplus milk results in fees. Whole milk is nearly 100% digestible for calves, compared to some milk replacers that have substituted plant-based proteins to reduce costs. However, transitioning to whole milk requires focus to ensure nutritional requirements are met and bacteria levels in milk are under control. An article from Penn State Extension outlines do’s and don’ts to consider. Read more.

SALMONELLA DUBLIN HAS BECOME MORE PREVALENT IN DAIRY AND CALF FACILITIES since 2012, with farms commonly showing multi-drug resistant characteristics. Research at Michigan State University focused on vaccinating S. Dublin latent carrier cows at dry-off with a commercial live culture vaccine, finding that vaccinations reduced intrauterine transmission to calves by 81%. Further research is needed into the role of vertical transmission on disease dynamics and the role of latent carriers in infecting newborn calves through the fecal-oral route in the maternity area at birth. Read a summary and the full study to learn more.

Book Review

RADICAL RESPECT: HOW TO WORK BETTER TOGETHER.

Radical respect happens in workplaces that do two things at once:

Optimize for collaboration, not coercion
Honor individuality, don't demand conformity.

Author Kim Scott shares a simple framework that helps team members identify what gets in the way of a positive work environment, and provides practical, tactical tips for getting back on track. Learn more.