February 2025 Vol. 3

Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®

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.

Feb. 18 - Understanding Farm Insurance

Feb. 19 - Are Cover Crops Right for You? 

Feb. 20 - Market Update

Previously on The Dairy Signal

February 11

Tune in to learn how we can best prepare the next generation of employees, managers and leaders for success by developing their leadership skills and managing everyone’s expectations.

• Nicole Bettinger Zeidler, Consultant, Family Business Consulting Group

February 12

Learn about bovine leukemia virus, with a focus on how it is transmitted, protocols to prevent and manage it in a herd, and how the virus can impact a dairy’s bottom line.

• Dr. Keith Poulsen, PhD, Director, Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL), University of Wisconsin

February 13

Questions about the carbon marketplace? Tune in to learn about the basics of greenhouse gases and emissions, how they are calculated on dairy farms and the terms you need to know.

• Carson Dugger, Agronomist, Eocene Environmental Group
• Courtney Titus, M.S., Technical Services Manager, Eocene Environmental Group

SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION by understanding the science and program specifics of methane reduction programs and feed additive claims. Dr. John Goeser and Patrick Wood will present “Decoding enteric methane programs and feed additives,” as a breakfast breakout session on Day Two of the 2025 PDP Business Conference. Producers who understand the science and program requests, pose better questions and identify practical solutions to cut carbon footprint. Learn more in Business Conference flier.

DAIRY MILK SALES ON THE INCREASE. Over the 52-week period ending Dec. 1, 2024, the dairy milk category saw a 2% increase in dollar sales and a 0.2% increase in unit sales, according to research firm Circana. A Dairy Foods article reported that private labels were the leading sellers in the white milk subcategory during the period, with Coca-Cola’s Fairlife seeing a 28% increase in dollar sales and a 21% increase in unit sales, placing it in third place. Learn more.

MILK CHOCOLATE IS THE TOP CHOICE for Americans, with 40% choosing it as their favorite, with 28% selecting dark chocolate. Even though chocolate is a top choice for seasonal gifts — Americans are expected to purchase 75 million pounds of chocolate for the Valentines Day holiday — it is a year-round favorite across the country. Nearly 90% of Americans consume chocolate at least once a week, with almost 40% eating it daily. Learn more in this Tasting Table article.

2025 Business Conference Corner

Cutting edge technology, sustainability, leadership strategies and more ...

The 2025 PDP Business Conference will feature 50 precision-focused sessions in a variety of formats for every learning style - all with a goal of equipping dairy producers with the tools and connections you need to thrive in an ever-changing industry.

Don't miss dairy's premiere educational event, set for March 12-13 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis.

Visit the 2025 Business Conference website for a full listing of producer panels, Hands-on Hub, and other sessions, all with simultaneous Spanish translation. The Preview Stage, Nexus Innovation Stage, and the Hall of Ideas Trade Show provide an early look at the next generation of dairy ideas and technologies and networking with the top minds in the industry.

Discounted hotel rates are available at several Madison hotels with deadlines throughout February. Learn more and register.

Dairy is the answer: Are you ready for the question?

As global food companies come to dairy producers to help meet their pledges toward worldwide environmental initiatives, it is critical to understand how these efforts impact the supply chain and what dairy farmers can do to stay ahead.

The Thursday general session will give attendees the opportunity to learn from leaders who are designing and implementing partnerships to advance sustainability across the global food supply chain. Panelists will include Dr. Jason Clay, PhD, senior vice president, markets, and executive director, Markets Institute, at World Wildlife Fund; Emily Johannes, director of sustainability and recycling, Nestle USA; and Alisha Staggs, dairy program director, The Nature Conservancy's North America Agriculture Program.

Where innovation meets opportunity: Hall of Ideas and Equipment trade show

It's not your typical trade show! The Hall of Ideas is a vibrant hub for exchanging ideas, networking with industry leaders and discovering what's next in dairy.

The 2025 Business Conference will feature an expanded layout along with new relaxing lounge spaces for networking. On Wednesday evening, the Hall of Ideas will host "Evening on the Square" from 6pm to midnight with complimentary food and drinks, live music, live auction, a taste of Wisconsin cheese and much more!

Don't forget: TalentConnect Reverse Career Fair applications due Feb. 18!

We're excited to host the first-ever reverse career fair at the 2025 Business Conference, giving students the opportunity to share their skills, experiences, and career aspirations with forward-thinking employers.

All students - technical, undergraduate, graduate - are welcome to apply for the event which will be held Thursday, March 13, in the Hall of Ideas Trade Show. Learn more and apply by Feb. 18 by visiting the PDP website.

For Your Business Mind

FREQUENT, SMALL DOSES CAN BE THE KEY to employee development without overloading leaders and their teams. Adding short, meaningful conversations to routine interactions can help foster discussion about employee’s future and feedback in a manageable way. Add the following to your routines:

1. Ask one powerful question each week
2. Give bite-sized feedback in the moment
3. Encourage small, low-stakes experiments
4. Connect the dots between daily work and future growth
5. Celebrate progress

Learn more in the full article.

BEING PROACTIVE AND PREPARED for potential immigration enforcement is the focus of several recent articles amid new federal immigration mandates. An article from Michigan State Extension reviews steps to ensure your farm business is compliant with I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, including:

• Form I-9 is required for all new employees.
• I-9 forms must be kept on file for 3 years after hiring or 1 year after the worker’s last day of work, whichever is later.
• Do not ask worker to fill out Form I-9 more than once unless his or her work permit is about to expire, or there is another valid, legal reason.
• Employers do not have to keep copies of a worker’s ID or work authorization documents.

Learn more in full article or additional guidance for workers from Cornell University.

Vote for 2025-26 PDP Board Members

Your Farm - Your Footprint

Your farm is your livelihood, and Your Farm – Your Footprint™, the first-of-its-kind, farmer-led sustainability initiative that empowers dairy farmers to know and understand their environmental footprint, offers solutions to shape the future of your farm. Dairy’s Foundation is the initiative’s first sponsor, with Nestlé sponsoring in part.

Identifying your farm’s carbon and greenhouse gas metrics is a critical first step, and with Your Farm – Your Footprint, participants have access to:

• Easy-to-understand reporting accompanied by technical consulting during which one of our experts personally reviews your farm’s report with you and offers customized improvement recommendations. Your data is protected and won’t be shared with anyone else without your consent.
• Opportunity to test-drive three sustainability measurement platforms, including FARM ES (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management - Environmental Stewardship), Cool Farm Tool, and COMET (CarbOn Management & Emissions Tool).
• Ongoing practical learning and idea-sharing through a peer networking group specific to Your Farm – Your Footprint. 

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

PDP Podcast Weekly

Being a Valentine Every Day

Another Valentine's Day has come and gone, but as we hear from servant leadership trainer Tom Thibodeau, every day should be Valentine's Day!

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. See below to learn more about some of our farm and livestock supply exhibitors.

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.

"Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength."

-Theodore Roosevelt

Business Management & Advanced Finance Workshop

Oct 29-30, 2025

Managers Academy

Jan 20-21, 2026