November 2024 Vol. 1

Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®

We know your inbox is sacred – and that’s why we’re changing things up. Your team at Professional Dairy Producers has refreshed its Manager's Memo to give you more streamlined content every Monday. In each edition, you’ll find the PDP Podcast, Dairy Signal, upcoming PDP programs, dairy news and more. Start your Mondays off right by scrolling through your weekly edition of Manager's Memo!

Intentional Movement with Morgan Ekovich

In this episode, personal trainer, nutrition and accountability coach Morgan Ekovich dives into the far-reaching benefits of intentional movement beyond the physical. Learn how daily movement strengthens your body and boosts mental clarity, emotional well-being, and stress relief. I’ll share practical ways to incorporate movement into your busy life, helping you improve overall health and balance. Whether you're a fitness enthusiast or just getting started, this episode will inspire you to embrace movement as a powerful tool for holistic wellness.

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.

Nov. 5 - Coaching Corner: Creating Anchors and Traditions

Join the conversation in the “Coaching Corner” to learn about the importance of building anchors and traditions within your team and practical strategies to make it happen.

• Michael Hoffman, President, Igniting Performance

Nov. 6 - Preparing Fields for Spring Planting

With silage and fall harvest wrapping up, what can you be doing to prepare fields for spring planting? Hear about soil testing, cover crop planting and more.

• Todd Schaumburg, Part Owner and Agronomist, Tilth Agronomy

Nov. 7 - Winter Proof Your Ventilation System

Make sure that your facilities are ready for the colder weather that is just around the corner! The discussion will focus on maintaining proper ventilation in calf, heifer and cow barns during winter months.

• Courtney Halbach, MBA, Outreach Specialist, The Dairyland Initiative

Previously on The Dairy Signal

October 29

Join the conversation about 2024 corn silage harvest results and how early test results should impact feed and ration planning this winter.

• Dr. John Goeser, PhD, Director of Nutritional Research & Innovation, Rock River Lab, Inc., and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Dairy Science Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison

October 30

With year-end holiday season on the horizon, stress levels may be on the rise. Learn strategies to juggle family life, farm responsibilities, team member safety and how to communicate with employees, managers and owners.

• Monica McConkey, Rural Mental Health Counselor, Eyes on the Horizon Consulting

October 31

Tune in for the latest market, export and weather news with a special focus on what dairy producers should be watching for in the final two months of 2024.

• Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company

Opportunities to Learn

Financial Literacy for Dairy®

Level One - Nov. 12-13 and Dec. 4-5

Level Two - Jan. 22-23, Feb. 5-6 and Feb. 26-27

Juneau, Wis.

Start 2025 with a new financial perspective by joining the Financial Literacy for Dairy program, designed for the dairy industry. This training helps farmers and agribusiness professionals make informed decisions. Level One begins in November, covering essential topics like goal setting and cash income statements. View the flyer and register here.  

Carbon, Crops + Cows

November 12, 13, 14

Athens, Little Chute, Arlington, Wis.

Got questions about carbon markets? Join the Carbon, Crops + Cows workshop for a day of expert insights on measuring and managing your farm's sustainability, helping you prepare for a more sustainable and profitable future. Attendees will also learn about the Your Farm – Your Footprint™ initiative with opportunities to compile your own farm’s numbers in three sustainability measurement platforms and tap into peer learning groups and improvement plans. Learn more and register here.

Dairy Managers Institute®

December 10-11

Juneau, Wis.

Enhance your leadership, coaching, and negotiation skills at the 2024 Dairy Managers Institute, featuring three programming tiers over two days. Led by top trainers, participants will gain practical tools for effective team leadership, with simultaneous Spanish translation available for all tiers. Learn more and register here.

Managers Academy for Dairy Professionals®

January 7-9, 2025

Dallas, Texas

Enhance your leadership, coaching, and negotiation skills at the 2024 Dairy Managers Institute, featuring three programming tiers over two days. Led by top trainers, participants will gain practical tools for effective team leadership, with simultaneous Spanish translation available for all tiers. Learn more and register here.

Cornerstone Dairy Academy®

March 11-12, 2024

Madison, Wis. 

Join industry members from across the country as you build your leadership skills at this dynamic professional development training. Applications are due January 31, 2025, for the March 11-12, 2025 program. The event will be held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis.

STAYING ALERT AND FOCUSED ON BIOSECURITY PRACTICES is still critical for preventing and detecting HPAI in dairy herds, according to an update article from Michigan State Extension. The article reviews the unknowns that still remain about the virus that was first detected in spring 2024, including how it spreads on a dairy, whether animals develop a robust immune response, and how asymptomatic carriers impact spread. It also provides updates on vaccine and testing developments. Learn more here.

 USDA ISSUED VETERINARIAN LETTER REGARDING USE OF ASPIRIN PRODUCTS in lactating dairy cattle earlier this month. The letter clarifies that the use of aspirin for treating dairy cattle with pyrexia and pain is not approved. According to the letter, there are FDA-approved products for controlling pyrexia and pain in lactating dairy cattle that are safe, effective, and have established milk and meat withdrawal periods. All FDA-approved animal products are required to carry one of the following statements on the label: “Approved by FDA under NADA # XXX-XXX” (for brand name animal drugs), or “Approved by FDA under ANADA # XXX-XXX” (for generic animal drugs). Click here to read the full letter.

PREPARE NOW FOR WINTER WEATHER with a written checklist with tasks and deadlines that the entire team can review and tackle. An article from Penn State Extension highlights key barn, equipment, and barnyard maintenance tasks as well as reminders for animal care during cold weather and having a two-week supply of essentials for animals, equipment and humans in case weather conditions limit deliveries and transportation. Review the list here and tailor it to meet your farm’s needs

Your Farm Your Footprint

NEW GRANT AVAILABILITY -

COVERS UP TO 2,500 ACRES.

Your Farm – Your Footprint™ is a pioneering, farmer-led initiative designed to help dairy farmers understand and manage their environmental impact, with Dairy’s Foundation and partial sponsorship from Nestlé. This program enables farmers to assess carbon and greenhouse gas metrics, offering access to simple, personalized reports and expert consultations to identify tailored improvement strategies. Participants can explore three sustainability measurement tools—FARM ES, Cool Farm Tool, and COMET—and engage in ongoing peer networking for shared learning. Farmers’ data is confidential, shared only with their consent. Learn more and sign up at www.pdpw.org/your-farm-your-footprint/.

Premier Suppliers and Supporters

Thank you to the partners and premier suppliers who support your professional development organization. Dairy's Premier Suppliers are those who faithfully exhibit and support PDP's Business Conference and are trusted, leading providers of high-quality products, services and solutions essential to the dairy industry.

Interested in becoming a part of dairy's premier suppliers? Submit your trade show contract for the 2025 Hall of Ideas and Equipment Show at the PDP Business Conference, March 12-13, 2025.

“We all have battles to fight. And it's often in those battles that we are most alive: it's on the frontlines of our lives that we earn wisdom, create joy, forge friendships, discover happiness, find love, and do purposeful work.”

 - Eric Greitens