PDP Manager's Memo

December 2025 Vol. 4
Partner Perspectives Special Issue 1

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

Welcome to PDP Partner Perspectives

As we wrap up another year at PDP, one thing is clear: we don’t do this work alone. Our National Partners are essential to everything we accomplish, bringing ideas, resources and energy that help move the dairy industry forward.

The challenges facing dairy are real, but so are the opportunities. Preparing the next generation of leaders, strengthening farm businesses and building resilient teams all take collaboration. Our partners help ensure PDP programming stays relevant and future-focused, and that matters now more than ever.

To highlight that collaboration, we’re proud to introduce two special issues of Manager’s Memo, featuring articles contributed by our partners. These pieces offer valuable insight and spark important conversations for dairy leaders at every level. You can also view all articles on our website.

Thank you for your continued partnership and shared commitment to dairy’s future. We’re excited to keep moving forward together.

On behalf of the entire PDP team, best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season!

Shelly Mayer
PDP Executive Director

BREAKING NEWS - TOUR UPDATE

Up to two spots are now available for PDP's once-in-a-lifetime international trip to New Zealand in February 2026. If you were considering the trip before it sold out, now is the time to act! Learn more and contact Julie Gabris from the PDP team at 920-382-2012 for details and to reserve your space(s) now!

2025 Professional Dairy Producers® National Partners

For Your Dairy

THE IMPORTANCE OF HIGH QUALITY WATER for dairy production cannot be overstated. By ensuring access to clean, pathogen-free water, dairy producers can significantly enhance milk quality and promote the well-being of their herd. Read more.

Submitted by Acepsis.

PROACTIVELY MANAGING HOOF HEALTH is a team effort. Proper lesion identification and accurate record keeping provide a strong foundation for identifying trends, addressing issues and achieving a common goal of improved hoof health and productive cows. Learn more.

Submitted by Zinpro.

MASTITIS CONTROL STARTS IN THE MILKING PARLOR, not the treatment room. Strip foremilk, respect the 60-second prep-lag window, and wear clean gloves; these simple steps can cut bacterial spread by 50% and protect your herd's udder health. Dr. Angela Kinney breaks down the precise milking procedures that separate struggling dairies from successful ones. Read more.

Submitted by BouMatic.

For Your Business Mind

WHEN BUILDING A NEW BARN or milking parlor, each decision can impact your long-term costs. Incorporating energy-efficient lighting, ventilation systems, and dairy equipment can help farmers lower utility bills while improving productivity. The following sustainable strategies focus on creating facilities that are efficient and ready for the future. Read more.

Submitted by FOCUS ON ENERGY^®.

MARGINS ARE TIGHTENING AS INPUT COSTS RISE FASTER THAN MILK PRICES, making the old model of “just add more cows” increasingly unrealistic. Today’s most successful dairies are those leaning into strategic innovation to boost their own profitability and shape the future of the industry. Learn more.

Submitted by GreenStone Farm Credit.

FARMERS FREQUENTLY AVOID DISCUSSIONS ABOUT FARM SUCCESSION PLANNING because it requires acknowledging their own mortality, not to mention the reality that their own children lack the same love of farming as they hold. Putting off the conversation, though, only causes problems. Read more.

Submitted by Menn Law Firm.

Dairy Currents

SEVERAL KEY THEMES ARE EMERGING across farm and processor levels in the U.S. dairy industry, influencing profitability and strategy heading into 2026. These include strong beef demand, shifting margins, component-driven pricing and continued processor investment. Read more.

Submitted by Compeer Financial.

AS CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS EVOLVE, new opportunities are emerging for dairy farmers who are leading the way in quality, sustainability, and innovation. Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin’s 2026 Cheese Trends Report reveals how science, craftsmanship, and producer-driven progress are shaping the future of dairy. Here’s what these trends mean for your farm—and where the industry is headed next. Learn more.

Submitted by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.