PDP Manager's Memo

April 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.

April 29 - Innovation Week with Nexus - Pathway Intermediates

Innovation Week kicks off with a deep dive into the inner workings of Lipidol®, a rumen-bypass lysophospholipid product designed to enhance nutrient absorption in the small intestine. Two representatives of Pathway Intermediates – a 2025 Nexus finalist – will serve as episode presenters:

Dr. Chansol Park, PhD, Producer Manager, Pathway Intermediates USA
Dr. Davy Brown, PhD, Independent Consulting Nutritionist

April 30 - Innovation Week with Nexus - CowManager

Tune in to learn about CowManager and how its Sort Gate technology can provide a stress-free and safer environment for sorting cows. This episode will be presented by another 2025 Nexus finalist representative:

Jared Krull, Vice President of Sales & Service, CowManager in North America

May 1 - Market Update

Hear the latest news and analysis for agricultural and dairy markets and a look ahead at the 2025 growing season.

Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company

Access Now

Previously on The Dairy Signal

April 22

Tune in for a discussion on whether farmers actually own and control electronic data provided to suppliers through smart devices, as well as how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in farm business without exposure to unnecessary risk.

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

April 23

To build soil health, boost yields, and sequester carbon, many promote cover crops and no-till farming. However, outcomes can be inconsistent. Learn about a project that is evaluating ecological intensification through the Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial, measuring yield, profitability and soil health over six years. Results aim to identify sustainable strategies for dairy-forage and cash grain systems.

Dr. Gregg Sanford, PhD, Assistant Professor, Soil and Environmental Sciences, UW-Madison
Gideon Fynaardt, master’s student, Department of Soil and Environmental Science, UW-Madison

April 24

Rising labor costs, hiring challenges and market volatility are driving Wisconsin dairy farmers to seek alternatives. Hear about a study that evaluates the feasibility of automated milking systems, focusing on financial impacts and operational efficiencies. Results, shared through workshops and bulletins, offer practical guidance for farmers navigating these critical decisions.

Dr. Charles Nicholson, Associate Professor, Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences and Agricultural & Applied Economics, UW-Madison
Jalyssa Beaudry, graduate student, Agriculture and Applied Economics, UW-River Falls

Opportunities to Learn

2025 PDP INTERNATIONAL TOUR: NEW ZEALAND

February 2-15, 2026

LEARN ABOUT THE COUNTRY, CULTURE AND COWS of New Zealand with fellow dairy producers on the 2026 PDP New Zealand tour.

The trip includes tours of dairy and kiwi farms, a breath-taking cruise through Milford Sound, iconic cities of Auckland, Queenstown and Christchurch, experience with the local culture of the Maori tribe, including a demonstration of a traditional haka and a final farewell tour on a historic steamboat cruise.

A non-refundable deposit of $1,000/person is required. Learn more and register.

PDP ACCELERATE™

July 22, 2025

Madison, Wis.

BOOST YOUR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE with a one-day program designed to build the skill sets critical for success in today's workforce.

Employers who register interns for Accelerate provide them with a unique opportunity for expert leadership training and professional development. Interns will return to the team with new skills and connections, improved communication and networking abilities, and a heightened ability to represent your organization with confidence and competence.

Click here to learn more and to register now.

Dairy Currents

IS YOUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST UP TO DATE? With the weather warming, activities on the farm and the risk of weather emergencies are both increasing. Take time to update your farm’s emergency preparedness checklist so that family members and employees know how to respond, and so first responders can safely and effectively provide support as needed.

Are emergency numbers, including the name and address of the nearest medical facility, posted where everyone can see them?
Are the directions to your farm posted by the phone or in a central location?
Is there at least one person trained in First Aid and CPR? Does this person speak the same language as your workers? Do all employees know who this is?
Are there designated safe places to go during a flood, tornado, thunderstorm or fire?

Find more tips and download checklist resources here.

CONSUMERS FACE CONFUSION WHEN NAVIGATING FOOD CHOICES. Today’s consumers face a constant stream of warnings and evolving concerns that challenge their ability to make informed choices when making food purchases. A recent study showed that more than 80% of consumers actively avoid or limit at least one ingredient or food attribute, and more than 30% of consumers have taken actions such as cutting back or avoiding items like high-fructose corn syrup, artificial coloring, etc. Consumers report placing the most confidence in familiar, personal sources like family members, friends and especially their primary-care physicians, with only about one-third saying they completely trust established public health institutions such as the CDC, WHO or FDA. Read more.

Your Farm - Your Footprint

How does it work? Answers to common questions about Your Farm - Your Footprint.

Curious about Your Farm - Your Footprint? Here are a few questions and answers that might help!

How much time does it take to get your score?

Farmers who participated in the pilot were shocked at how easy it was to get their scores, especially when they had field data, and nutrient management and production records available. Participants reported they had most of the needed data readily available. Once the third party receives all of the necessary data from the farm, it takes 45-60 business days to receive completed reports. They also found it interesting to learn how the Cool Farm Tool and FARM ES worked and how their current practices impacted their scores.

What data will I need to share?

The Cool Farm Tool modeling, for example, takes into consideration your farm location, soil type, crop rotation, energy use, nutrient management, milk production, cow numbers, field yields and other farm-specific data. Dairy farmers who participated in the first pilot found they had most of the data about current practices readily available in their routine recordkeeping. They were surprised how quickly they could provide the data and learn how their farm’s footprint was measured and know their score.

Will my data and farm footprint score be shared with anyone else?

Your data and reports are private and will not be shared unless you choose to do so. The only data shared will be aggregated data from all participants so that it can serve as a benchmark in the peer group discussions to help farmers see how their farm compares to similar dairies participating in the program.

What happens after I get my report?

A third-party expert will schedule a follow-up call to walk you through the report, answer any questions and discuss how specific management practices could be implemented to impact your score. You’ll also be invited to a peer group of fellow dairy producers for further discussion, brainstorming and learning about on-farm score improvements.

After completing Tier 1, producers who are a part of the Nestlé milk shed may be eligible for cost-share opportunities for farm improvement projects that reduce their carbon footprint.

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

For Your Business Mind

CAN MUSIC BOOST YOUR PRODUCTIVITY? Music is processed across multiple regions of the brain tied to attention, memory and emotion, so even what we consider “background music” can impact how we focus, feel and make decisions. Being mindful about how you listen to music can boost productivity and focus. A Fast Company article provided tips on using music intentionally at work:

Create 3 playlists – one for focus, one for a reset, one to energize
Pair a consistent song with a task you want to build into habit, like writing, prepping or unwinding
Avoid music with lyrics when doing language-based tasks like writing or reading
Use instrumental or ambient music to transition between meetings or block your day
Try “bookending” your day by using the same track to start and end and signal your brain into a productive rhythm.

Learn more in the full article.

LEADERS MUST UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THEIR FOLLOWERS, and even more so during volatile and challenging times. A new research study from Gallup polled people across 52 countries asking about the leaders that had positive influences on their daily life and for three words that positive leaders contributes to their lives. The most dominant response themes were hope (56%), trust (33%), compassion (7%) and stability (4%). Knowing the needs and concerns of their followers increased the likelihood of positive results. Leaders must also know themselves, including their talents, strengths and opportunities to learn, and have a deep understanding of the demands of their specific role and the expectations attached to it. Read more.

Book Review

REVENGE OF THE TIPPING POINT

Twenty-five years after publishing The Tipping Point, author Malcolm Gladwell revisits the lessons of social epidemics and tipping points, with a focus on explaining the dark side of contagious phenomena. He uses a combination of storytelling and social science to dive into new trends in social engineering, ranging from successful bank robbers to a forgotten television show that changed the world and much more. Learn more.

PDP Podcast Weekly

Garden Meditation

Our life is like a garden: some diversity, yet so much to be harvested. As we hear from servant leadership trainer Tom Thibodeau, if we're going to grow a great garden, we first have to create the proper environment.