PDP Manager's Memo

April 2025 Vol. 2

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 15 - Modeling a Path Forward for Expanding U.S. Dairy Farms

As U.S. dairy farms grow larger while declining in number, producers face crucial decisions about their operations’ future. This research, paired with an innovative extension tool, guides farmers on profitable, efficient and low-risk expansion strategies. Originally presented on the Preview Stage at the 2025 PDP Business Conference, the analysis factors in economic, biological and environmental constraints aim to help producers make wise, forward-looking choices.

Lynn Olthof, PhD student, Dairy Management, Michigan State University

April 16 - 2025 Weather Outlook

Tune in for an interactive conversation about the topic on every farmer’s mind this time of year – weather! The discussion will focus on spring planting conditions and the forecast into the growing season.

Daryl Ritchison, NDAWN Director and Climatologist, North Dakota State University

April 10 - Business Conference Recap: Unpacking Global Markets & Dairy with Basse & Shapiro

There's never enough time to fully dive into the complexities of global markets, let alone the ever-evolving trends in dairy. In this episode, we bring together industry experts Dan Basse and Jacob Shapiro to continue the conversation from the March Business Conference. They'll address lingering questions, unpack critical global developments, and tackle more of your most pressing inquiries. Don’t miss out on this timely and insightful episode!

Dan Basse, President, AgResource Company
Jacob Shapiro, Partner and Director of Geopolitical Analysis, Cognitive Investments

Access Now

Previously on The Dairy Signal

April 8

Hear about optimizing crop rotations to prevent soil degradation and manage pests and diseases. The interactive conversation will also address the early-season pest and disease risks that crop producers should be aware of.

Todd Schaumburg, Part Owner and Agronomist, Tilth Agronomy

April 9

Learn tips and tricks for using yield monitor data, air photos, field observations and other techniques to locate old drainage tile in fields, find broken tile, and map tile outfalls for monitoring during and after manure application.

Kevin Erb, CCA, Program Manager, Conservation Professional Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison

April 10

As temperatures warm and field and farm work ramp up, avoid the temptation of junk food with mindful eating strategies and fresh approaches to nutrition. Leave with practical tips and resources to make healthy eating enjoyable, sustainable and effective.

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

Opportunities to Learn

Dairy's Visible Voice - Spokesperson Training

April 15

Athens, Wis.

YOU HAVE AN IMPACTFUL STORY to share. Join PDP and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin for this focused one-day training program to practice skills, craft your message and and build confidence to more effectively communicate with consumers and community members.

Only one session left - walk-ins welcome!

Learn more and register

2026 PDP International Tour

February 2-15, 2026

New Zealand

ICONIC CITIES, NATURAL WONDERS AND UNIQUE DAIRY SECTOR are all on tap for the 2026 PDP New Zealand tour. The 14 day/12 night tour will include stops on both islands including Auckland, Queenstown, Christchuch and a cruise through Milford Sound.

A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 is required.

Learn more and register.

For Your Dairy

DON’T OVERLOOK THE ROLE OF DRY COW DIETS in preventing mastitis and other diseases in fresh cows. An article from Penn State Extension highlights the role of nutrients in boosting a cow’s immune response against inflammation and potential diseases. Current nutrient requirement recommendations for dry cows don’t always account for the additional immune cell nutritional needs during the transition period. Working with a nutritionist to properly supplement a dry cow diet and with a veterinarian to evaluate the cows' response to supplementation to ensure they are achieving the desired concentrations associated with lowered mastitis risk are key steps to get the most from nutrition during the dry cow period. Learn more.

BENEFITS OF PRE-WEANING NUTRIENT INTAKE EXTEND through second lactation. In a study published in the Journal of Dairy Science, researchers followed 86 female calves from birth through two lactations to study the impact of preweaning nutrient intake on milk production, risk of culling and metabolomic profiles in dairy cows. Groups were fed either a restricted or elevated milk supply preweaning and found that increasing the milk allowance from 600 to 1200 g "21 oz to 2.65 pounds" of milk powder daily for the first 49 days of life improved milk performance and reduced the risk of culling. In the first lactation, cows fed the higher milk allowance in preweaning showed greater voluntary feed consumption and higher fat-protein corrected milk yield. In second lactation, they also showed higher milk fat yield and improved feed efficiency. Learn more in the full study.

Your Farm - Your Footprint

Cost share opportunities available in Tier 2

Dairy farmers who have completed the first phase of the Your Farm-Your Footprint program and received their baseline scores are eligible for possible participation in cost share programs to make improvements on their operations. Funding is now available for eligible dairy farmers in specific milk sheds to receive financial assistance for adopting best practices that improve farm sustainability and operational efficiency.

Producers can receive grants for up to $9,750 (covering up to 2,500 acres) to confidentially learn their farm's environmental footprint score and understand how the score is calculated. Dairy farmers interested in Your Farm – Your Footprint opportunities can learn more by visiting PDP's website or calling 800-947-7379.

The program is made possible by Dairy’s Foundation and sponsorship from Nestlé, furthering the commitment to achieving U.S. dairy’s sustainability goals. By their involvement as a program sponsor, Nestlé showcases the importance of industry-wide collaboration in achieving meaningful environmental progress.

Get started and learn your farm's environmental footprint today.

Dairy Currents

OPPORTUNITIES FOR DAIRY IN SPORTS NUTRITION are important and growing, according to an article in Dairy Foods magazine. Dairy foods are a great choice for athletes of all ages, with a full package of benefits:

Carbohydrates as an energy source
Protein to repair and rebuild muscles and maintain steady blood sugar levels
Water for hydration
Calcium and phosphorous to build and maintain strong bone and muscles
Vitamins to help the body utilize the carbohydrates, proteins and fats as fuel

As younger generations are focused on sports performance, and the increasing adoption of wearable tracking devices and customized fitness and nutrition plans, dairy’s benefits make it a great option for pre- and post- workout fuel. Learn more.

PLAN AHEAD FOR SAFE FIELD TRIPS AND TOURS with agritourism and safety resources from the National Farm Medicine Center. From sending a pre-event list to tour participants with recommendations for appropriate clothing and footwear to posting safety signage at farms and agritourism attractions, preparation is key to hosting safe events. As tour season approaches, review the checklists and walkthrough scenarios on the Center’s Safe Agritourism website and download resources such as signage and template forms to tailor to your farm’s needs. Learn more.

FARMLAND PROTECTION INFORMATION SESSION. American Farmland Trust will co-host an information session on Farmland Protection with state representative Travis Tranel. The session will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Finance Committee Room (412E) at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Learn more about the Wisconsin Farmland Protection Partnership and American Farmland Trust on their website. The organization will also host a series of webinars on key topics, including Buy Protect Sell, Strategies for Affordable Farmland, Subdivision of Easements, and Conservation Finance. Click on each link to learn more and register.

PDP Podcast Weekly

The Act of Kindness

The perception in our society is we value freedom and independence over other virtues like kindness. While kindness can appear to be a sign of weakness, genuine kindness is not weak. Kindess considers others first and takes strength in character by requiring integrity, patience and above all self-sacrifice.

Dr. Richard Kyte, Director Endowed Professor, Servant Leadership at Viterbo University shares how small acts of kindness can be very powerful.

Quote

"Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson