PDP Manager's Memo

July 2026 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!

July 28 - Burnout Awareness and Support Strategies

Burnout doesn't happen overnight and recognizing it early can make all the difference. Tune in for tips on identifying and handling burnout.

Monica Kramer McConkey, LPC, Rural Behavioral Health Counselor & Consultant, Eyes on the Horizon Consulting, LLC

July 30 - Waterways: A Timely Conservation Tool

Grassed waterways are effective tools for reducing soil erosion and protecting water quality, yet they're often overlooked. Learn why they're more important than ever and why fall is the ideal time to evaluate, install and maintain waterways.

Todd Prill, Northwest Region Outreach Specialist, Ag Water Quality Program, UW Extension

Access Now

Tune in every Tuesday and Thursday live from noon to 1 p.m. CT, or catch previous episodes on demand here.

Previously on The Dairy Signal

July 21

Learn about wills and estate plans and why it is important to have both in place.

Troy Schneider, Shareholder and Attorney, Menn Law Firm

July 23

Gain insights on the latest news and trends that will impact commodity and dairy markets and your farm.

Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company

Opportunities to Learn

Walk-ins welcome at this week's events!

CARBON, CROPS + COWS

July 28 - Sauk City, Wis.

July 30 - Pittsville, Wis.

Thinking about sustainability projects on your farm? Don't miss the chance to learn about carbon scores and opportunities from experts, then hear from producers about their experiences. Learn more and register.

PDP ACCELERATE™

July 28 - Madison, Wis.

Help your interns finish their summer strong and build the professional, communication and leadership skills to thrive now and after graduation. Learn more and register.

Join us on-farm in August

CALF FACILITY TOURS

Aug. 11 - Blanchardville, Wis.

Aug. 12 - De Pere, Wis.

Aug. 13 - Watertown, Wis.

Learn more

ACE TWILIGHT MEETINGS

August 24, 25, 26, 27

Learn more

Make plans now to step up management and financial skills

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & ADVANCED FINANCE WORKSHOP

Sun Prairie, Wis.

Oct. 28-29, 2026

Learn more

FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR DAIRY®

Beaver Dam, Wis.

Level One:

Nov. 11-12, Dec. 1-2, 2026

Level Two:

Feb 2-3, 17-18, Mar. 9-10, 2027

Learn more

DAIRY MANAGERS INSTITUTE®

Green Bay, Wis.

Dec. 15-16, 2026

Learn more

Dairy Currents

AS CONSUMERS REACH FOR HIGH PROTEIN FOODS, two dairy products are stealing the spotlight: whey protein and cottage cheese. A UW-Extension article explains why they share the same protein trend but face very different market realities. While high-protein whey is limited by specialized processing capacity, cottage cheese is benefiting from renewed consumer interest and social media popularity. Learn more.

GLOBAL DEMAND FOR U.S. DAIRY remained strong in May, pushing exports up 14% from a year ago and extending the industry's growth streak to eight consecutive months. Cheese and butterfat led the way, with strong gains in key markets including Mexico, South Korea and the Middle East. While high prices slowed nonfat dry milk exports and tight supplies limited some whey shipments, overall export value climbed 12%. Read more.

Your Farm - Your Footprint®

STAY IN THE DRIVERS SEAT.

PDP's Your Farm – Your Footprint^TM initiative puts dairy farmers in complete control of their farm’s environmental score, providing a confidential space to understand their farm’s environmental footprint, decide how best to use that information on their farm and with whom to share their results.

“Your Farm – Your Footprint lets me decide what’s best for my operation. As dairy producers, we’re the ones with skin in the game. We know our dairies inside and out. Farmer-led initiatives like this are just what our industry needs.”

John Haag, Dane, Wis.

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

For Your Business Mind

WHAT YOU LEAVE OUT CAN BE AS POWERFUL as what you include when it comes to communication. A Smart Brief article highlights the value of focused messaging in writing, conversation and leadership instead of over-explaining. Strategies include:

Get clear on your goal before you open your mouth or hit send.
Pay attention to the signals.
Trust the gaps.

Learn more about each in the full article.

AS FARMS EVOLVE, INSURANCE COVERAGE SHOULD KEEP PACE. A recent PDP The Dairy Signal^® webinar emphasized the importance of conducting an annual insurance review to ensure policies reflect current buildings, equipment, employees and business risks. Key areas include replacement-cost coverage, business income protection, liability limits, workers' compensation, cyber risk and pollution coverage. Regular communication with your insurance agent can help identify coverage gaps before they become costly problems. Watch the episode to learn more.

Foundation Focus: College Aggies Online

The next generation of dairy advocates is gaining the skills to share agriculture's story with confidence with help from a grant from Dairy’s Foundation. The grant supported the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2025 College Aggies Online program, a nine-week initiative that combined science-based education, mentorship from farmers and industry professionals, and hands-on advocacy experiences.

The program engaged 265 college students and eight collegiate clubs from across the country, empowering participants to communicate about dairy production, sustainability and animal agriculture both online and in person. Students created more than 1,660 agriculture-related social media posts and organized 22 campus and community events that reached more than 8,160 people. View the impact report.

By investing in future agricultural leaders, Dairy’s Foundation is helping strengthen public understanding and trust in dairy for years to come.

Applications for the 2026 College Aggies Online program are now open, please share with college students and clubs who might be interested!