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May 2026 Vol. 2
Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®
| | Check out what's coming this week on The Dairy Signal! | | May 12 - Drones in Agriculture | | May 7 - Colostrum, Gut Health and Long-Term Outcomes | | 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 | | |
May 5
Hoof health records are key to recognizing trends and making decisions on your dairy. Tune in for tips and a look ahead at PDP’s Hoof Management Workshop planned for June.
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Roger Olson, Dairy Account Manager, Zinpro Corporation
May 7
Don’t miss expert analysis of the news and trends that will be impacting agriculture and dairy markets and your operation now and for the rest of 2026.
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Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company
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HOOF MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
June 16, Plattsburgh, NY
June 18, Athens, Wis.
THE MUST-ATTEND EVENT for hoof trimmer, herdsperson, veterinarian, nutritionist and dairy cow managers is an on-farm case study to understand risk factors, use health records and more to create practical strategies for your operation.
Learn more and register.
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PDP ACCELERATE™
July 28, 2026
Madison, Wis.
A STRONG INTERNSHIP TEACHES TECHNICAL SKILLS; a great one builds professionals. PDP Accelerate will enhance your organization's internship program, helping interns elevate their presence on the job, in conversations and in future opportunities. Learn more and register.
| | | Opportunities to Give Back | |
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2026 PDP BLOOD DRIVE!
For the third year, the PDP team will celebrate June Dairy Month by hosting a Community Blood Drive to recognize the work of dairy producers. Dairy industry professionals and community members are invited to donate blood during the drive from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 22, at 820 N. Main Street in Juneau. The blood drive will be overseen by the American Red Cross. Donors can registered for a preferred time slot here.
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THE “SWISS CHEESE PRINCIPLE” IS A PRACTICAL APPROACH to strengthening farm biosecurity, according to a Michigan State Extension article. The concept recognizes that no single practice fully protects a herd, but layering multiple defenses such as vaccinations, colostrum management, sanitation, visitor protocols and wildlife control can significantly reduce disease risk. Learn more.
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FEEDING HIGH-OLEIC SOYBEANS to dairy cattle may improve milk fat concentration and support production when properly processed and incorporated into balanced rations, according to research reviewed in an article from UW-Extension. The article also outlines important considerations for roasting, grinding, feeding rates and evaluating the economic fit for individual dairy operations. Learn more.
| | Your Farm - Your Footprint® | | |
YOUR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS MATTER
With Your Farm - Your Footprint (YFYF), you can measure the impact of your sustainability efforts, without having to share your data with anyone.
"Having our carbon score puts us ahead of the game. Now that we have this information, we can act on it — and that gives us a new data point to enhance our business."
David Trimner, Miltrim Farms, Inc.
Learn more and sign up today at www.pdpw.org/your-farm-your-footprint/.
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2026-27 ADOPT A COW PROGRAM IS OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT. Please share with teachers you know! The free program through Discover Dairy is open for families and teachers to be paired with a calf from a dairy farm that they can watch grow all year long. Anyone who signs up before Sept. 1 can receive a mailed welcome packet and adoption certificate. More than 48,000 classrooms participated last year, impacting more than 2.1 million students. Learn more.
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CHOCOLATE RETURNS TO THE TOP SPOT as America’s favorite ice cream flavor, according to a 2026 survey from the International Dairy Foods Association. Butter pecan, vanilla, cookies and cream and caramel round out the top five flavors. An incredible 97 percent of Americans say they love or like ice cream, with flavor as the top driver of ice cream purchases. Learn more.
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BUILT ON PARTNERSHIP, FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
For nearly 25 years, Dairy’s Foundation has created a lasting legacy of partnership and progress across the dairy industry. Established by PDP in 2002, the Foundation has united producers, agribusiness leaders and supporters around a shared commitment to education, leadership development and industry innovation.
Dairy's Foundation has supported programs and initiatives of all sizes across the nation, with a focus on building a stronger, more connected dairy community. Many continue today, while others were a launching pad for the next generation of programs and ideas. A few notable milestones:
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Provided more than $373,000 to non-profit organizations nationwide through the grant program
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Supported the PDP Mentor Program, which has connected more than 1,100 students with progressive dairy farms.
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Funded more than $680,000 in environmental initiatives to support dairy producers and the industry.
Click here for a more detailed timeline of programs and milestones.
In 2025, Dairy’s Foundation was designated a PDP Legacy Partner to represent the next chapter in this journey. It serves as a cornerstone to deepen partnerships, expand reach, and ensure that the Foundation’s work continues to evolve alongside the needs of the dairy industry.
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“Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.”
— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
| | Thank You, National Partners | | Thank You, Legacy Partner | | |
Professional Dairy Producers
820 North Main St.
Juneau, WI 53039
800-947-7379
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