PDP Manager's Memo

January 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!

Jan. 27 - A Fresh Start: Trying New Ideas with Purpose and Measurable Impact

A new year is a natural opportunity to try a new approach, process or idea with your team. Tune in for strategies to define success, measure impact and set clear timelines.

Michael Hoffman, President, Igniting Performance

Jan. 29 - The Perfect Storm ... Why Health Span Matters

Join a conversation about how to retain the top 10% of mature cows in the herd, including strategies for developing and maintaining mature cows for longer productive lifespans.

Dr. Gavin Staley, Technical Services Specialist, Diamond V

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

Jan. 20

We’ve heard a lot about the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that was passed in Washington. Join this interactive conversation that digs into the legislation and elements that can impact the dairy industry and your business.

Kevin Block, CPA, Partner, MBE CPAs

Jan. 22

Tune in for a discussion on building accountability into your goal setting process to ensure that you accomplish your health and wellness goals without feeling overwhelmed and going off course.

Morgan Ekovich, Health and Nutrition Coach, Founder, Get Fit with ME

Opportunities to Learn

2026 BUSINESS CONFERENCE

March 4-5, 2026

Madison, Wis.

BUILT BY DAIRY, FOR DAIRY. The 2026 PDP Business Conference is where Dairy’s Blueprint comes to life with practical strategies for your operation.

Every session, conversation and resource will provide insights to strengthen margins and sharpen decision-making. You’ll leave equipped to navigate volatility, capture opportunity, control costs, and drive your business forward with a fresh bank of ideas. And woven through it all is the spark that recharges your dairy enthusiasm and fuels the confidence and momentum you need to succeed.

2026 Flyer

Learn More and Register

For Your Dairy

DAIRY COWS HAVE COMPLEX COGNITIVE ABILITIES that shape how they respond to their environment, people, and routines, according to a short communication article in JDS Communications. The authors stated that by recognizing how cattle learn and remember, producers can fine-tune training, handling, and housing practices to reduce fear and stress. They suggest future research on factors like cognitive flexibility, individual differences, sleep, and advanced cognitive processes to guide even better welfare-focused management. Learn more in the full article.

ON-FARM FEED EFFICIENCY may be affected by more than ration and bunk space. In a short communication article in JDS Communications, researchers looked at data from 6 million bunk visits from 1,770 mid-lactation Holstein cows. The findings suggest that cows with longer latencies to first meal after fresh feed delivery had fewer but longer bunk visits, greater intake per visit, and ate at a faster rate. Results also showed that latency to first meal is heritable and repeatable across weeks, and it is not correlated with feed efficiency in lactating Holstein cows. Learn more.

Your Farm - Your Footprint®

PRODUCER PERSPECTIVE: PAUL LIPPERT

Around the world, dairy buyers and consumers are demanding transparency. While our dairies are already among the most sustainable on the planet, we’ve been slow to gather the data that shows it.

The Your Farm – Your Footprint^® initiative was built to fix that. It’s the first-of-its-kind, farmer-led program that helps you calculate your environmental footprint and gives you a customized roadmap for the future.

Here’s what matters most:

✅ This is NOT government money.

✅ Your processor is NOT requiring it.

✅ YOU control your data.

✅ A grant will COVER up to $9,750 per farm (covering up to 2,500 acres).

Learn more in my message to fellow dairy producers or visit the Your Farm – Your Footprint website for details.

Dairy Currents

WHEY PROTEIN SUPPLIERS are planning expansions of processing facilities in the U.S., Europe and New Zealand amid increased demand and tightening supplies of ingredients such as whey protein concentrates and whey protein isolates. These products are supporting the growth of high-protein food and beverages. Read more.

BRING READING BACK INTO YOUR ROUTINE by adopting small, flexible habits. An AP article highlights practical strategies if reading more is a goal for 2026:

Choose books you genuinely enjoy
Start with short, daily reading time
Let go of “should” books
Read in multiple formats like e-books and audio books
Join reading challenges or online communities

Learn more.

Book Review

THE SEVEN RULES OF TRUST: A BLUEPRINT FOR BUILDING THINGS THAT LAST. The founder of Wikipedia shares how the “Internet’s encyclopedia” overcame its greatest challenge: getting strangers on the Internet to trust each other. Along the way, Wikipedia became a global authority at a time when the public’s trust in everything else, from government to social media, has trended backwards. The book shares candid lessons and insights on kickstarting a positive loop of accountability and creativity and building things that stand the test of time. Learn more.