PDP Manager's Memo

October 2025 Vol. 3

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.

October 21 - Probiotic Research

Join an interactive conversation about the probiotics available for dairy cows and what criteria to consider when deciding which is best for your cows and operation.

Dr. Isaac Salfer, PhD, Assistant Professor, Animal Science, University of Minnesota

October 23 - Soil Testing 101

Tune in for a discussion on the basics of soil testing, including why it matters, when to do it, how the process works and how to interpret results.

Todd Schaumburg, Part Owner and Agronomist, Tilth Agronomy

Access Now

Previously on The Dairy Signal

October 14

What makes some family farms thrive for generations while others fade away? Learn about the importance of intentional planning and practical strategies to build a resilient, future-ready dairy business family.

Tim Schaefer, CFP, Certified Family Business Advisor, Certified Professional Business Coach, Encore Consultants

October 16

With fall harvest in full swing, tune in for the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets and trends. Hear about the export, weather and industry events that could impact dairy markets and your operation.

Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company

Opportunities to Learn

CALF CARE CONNECTION®

October 22, 23, 2025

Arlington, Green Bay, Wis.

WALK-INS ARE WELCOME!

Not registered yet? No problem.

Whether you are an experienced farm owner or manager, or a new calf care employee, the 2025 PDP Calf Care Connection workshop will provide practical tools and strategies to take your calf care skills to the next level.

Join leading experts for hands-on sessions focused on:

Preventing transportation-related stresses
Calf necropsies to understand how stress and management decisions impact internal health
Proper vaccination and treatment protocols and practices
Real-world case studies of calf stress events

This program includes simultaneous Spanish translation for all sessions.

Learn more and register.

PDP BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & ADVANCED FINANCE WORKSHOP

October 29-30, 2025

Sun Prairie, Wis.

THERE'S NO BETTER TIME to invest in yourself, your team and your business by spending two days focused on building your financial, HR and management skills.

Facilitator Dick Wittman will use his decades of experience working with dairy farms and businesses to develop interactive case studies showing how other operations put strategies and management practices to work. The course will cover:

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

Kewaunee, Wis.

Level One -

Nov. 12-13, 2025

Dec. 3-4, 2025

Level Two -

Jan. 15-16, 2026

Feb. 4-5, 2026

Mar. 10-11, 2026

SMALL CLASS SIZE.

FOCUSED TRAINING.

ACTIONABLE STRATEGIES.

The Financial Literacy for Dairy program was designed by renowned experts specifically for dairy producers. Class sizes are limited to 30 participants to ensure individual attention and interaction with facilitators.

The online assessment taken after registration also ensures that each participant is placed at the right level for their knowledge and experience.

Learn more and register.

STRIDE™ YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Nov. 12, 2025

River Falls, Wis.

Stride also qualifies as an “above the chapter level” activity for FFA students pursuing state and American degrees.

Learn more and register.

DAIRY WELLBEING WORKSHOP

Nov. 19, 20, 2025

Green Bay, Wis.

Learn more and register.

DAIRY MANAGERS INSTITUTE

Dec. 16-17, 2025

Green Bay, Wis.

Learn more and register.

MANAGERS ACADEMY FOR DAIRY PROFESSIONALS®

January 20-22, 2026

Puerto Rico

Learn more and register.

CORNERSTONE DAIRY ACADEMY®

March 3-4, 2026

Madison, Wis.

Applications due Jan. 15

Learn more and apply.

For Your Dairy

ENSURE THAT RUMEN IS PROPERLY DEVELOPED before weaning to support calf health and growth. An article from Penn State Extension reviews the process of rumen development and recommends that calves begin consuming starter grain by about two weeks of age (in early‐weaning systems) and reach target grain intakes before milk removal. Gradual step-down of milk, over at least 12–14 days, helps increase starter intake and gives the rumen time to adapt. Calves weaned before their rumen is ready often suffer slowed growth and increased risk of illness. Read the full article and view photos of rumen developme n t.

UNDERSTANDING AND MINIMIZING EARLY PREGNANCY LOSS. In a recent episode of The Dairy Signal, Dr. Paul Fricke reviewed key factors that affect pregnancy loss in dairy cattle. He highlighted research on the impact of infectious agents, mastitis, change in body condition score, twinning and IVP embryo transfer as well as timing for diagnosis of pregnancy. Watch the episode to learn more.

Your Farm - Your Footprint

PRODUCER INSIGHTS ON "YOUR FARM - YOUR FOOTPRINT."

David Trimner

Miltrim Farms, Athens, Wis.

"Your Farm - Your Footprint is one of the most cost-effective ways a dairy farm can “stay ahead of the curve” on the sustainability front. The program provides three different measurements of our carbon footprint and sustainability, giving us benchmarks from a third party to understand where we stand now and opportunities to improve.

Knowing this information before being forced by regulatory, consumer or supplier demands puts us in the driver’s seat to make decisions on our farm and make way for potential premiums in the future. It also gives us meaningful information to share with lenders, landlords and community members to demonstrate how we’re caring for the land, water and animals while also focusing on continuous improvement."

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

Dairy Currents

TURNING DAIRY PROTEINS INTO 3D PRINTING MATERIAL has been the focus of research at UW-Platteville, supported by the Dairy Innovation Hub. Dr. Joseph Wu and Dr. John Obielodan, have developed a patented process to convert casein and whey into durable, flexible materials that can be used in 3D printing to replace petroleum-based plastics with a renewable, eco-friendly alternative. Looking ahead, the patent opens the door for commercialization, and future products could range from 3D printer filaments to biodegradable containers, custom tools, and even medical devices, all derived from dairy. Learn more.

EVEN DURING THE BUSIEST OF TIMES ON THE FARM, getting enough sleep is important for your health, safety and business. Operating machinery while tired can be dangerous, and drowsiness can make it harder to pay attention to the road and make safe, quick decisions. Ongoing sleep problems can increase the likelihood of developing health conditions like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mental health symptoms. Tips for getting a good night’s sleep include:

Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed.
Clear your mind.
Create a regular bedtime routine to train your brain to expect sleep.
Avoid screen time 30 minutes before bedtime.
Avoid bright lights
Make your sleeping space as relaxing as possible.

Read more in the sleep toolkit from Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety & Health Center.

On the Road: Feltz's Dairy Store

September and October are some of the best times to visit Feltz’s Dairy Store in Steven’s Point, Wis., as it transforms into a celebration of fall, complete with pumpkin patch, corn mazes and much more.

Feltz’s Dairy Store was opened in 2017 as part of Feltz Family Farms, a fifth-generation dairy farm owned and operated by Ken and Jackie Feltz. Their children Taryn, Jared, and Jake, along with Jared's wife, Jenna, and Jake's wife, Amanda, will carry the farm and dairy store into the sixth generation. A farmstead cheese plant was opened in 2021, and Jake Feltz is a licensed cheesemaker.

Inside the store, customers will find a wide range of Wisconsin products: cheeses, ice cream, chocolates, wines, spirits, and local specialty goods. Each morning, fresh cheese curds are made on-site in the creamery, and a viewing window into the robotic milking barn provides visitors with look at modern dairy technology.

Fall activities include a pick-your-own pumpkin patch with more than 40 varieties of pumpkins and gourds along with mums, corn stalks and fall décor available for purchase. The annual corn maze features an annual theme and 6.4 miles of paths in three mazes along with a “fun farm” of kids activities and play areas. For five nights in October, it becomes “Feltz’s Fear Farm” with the corn maze and haunted shed taken over by ghosts, ghouls and goblins!

Learn more on website and Facebook.