PDP Manager's Memo

March 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!

Mar. 24 - Colostrum, Gut Health and Long Term Outcomes

Hear the results of research on the effects of processing colostrum on calf health. Learn how freezing colostrum impacts these cells and calf health outcomes with the goal of refining colostrum-management guidelines to strengthen immunity, improve animal welfare and reduce disease and antibiotic use.

Dr. Lautaro Rostoll-Cangiano, PhD, Assistant Professor, Bovine Immunology, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, UW-Madison

Mar. 26 - Market Update

With 2026 spring planting season on the horizon, tune in for a market update with the latest news and analysis of markets, weather, industry trends, exports and more.

Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company

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

March 17

Learn about steps for negotiating lease agreements for farm buildings and livestock facilities, including important resources, tools and considerations.

Kelly Wilfert, Farm Law Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison

March 19

Hear the latest on Farm Service Agency programs, policies and deadlines, and learn how to use and stay informed of available resources. Director Chalmers will share information originally presented at the 2026 PDP Business Conference.

Sandy Chalmers, State Executive Director, USDA Wisconsin Farm Service Agency

Opportunities to Learn

PDP SMART DAIRY WORKSHOP

April 15, 16, 2026

Chippewa Falls, Manitowoc, Wis.

Space is limited for this interactive workshop for dairy owners and management teams who want to understand how AI is currently being used in dairy operations and where it delivers the greatest value.

Attendees will:

Combine data from multiple systems for more comprehensive farm-level analysis
Use AI-driven insights to support management decisions that can improve herd performance, efﬁciency and risk mitigation
Evaluate AI tools and technologies with conﬁdence and clarity
Develop action plans

Space is limited at each session. Learn more and register today.

PDP ACCELERATE™

July 28, 2026

Madison, Wis.

Planning your 2026 summer internship program? Make sure that the PDP Accelerate training is on the list for your interns to build the skill sets needed to be successful in today's workforce. Learn more here.

Dairy Currents

LACTOSE-FREE MILK COULD BOOST DAIRY CONSUMPTION in coffee shop settings according to research published in the Journal of Dairy Science. A recent study found that while 77% of coffee drinkers use milk or creamer, many avoid dairy due to digestibility concerns. Offering lactose-free milk may attract these consumers, with more than one-third saying they would increase coffee shop visits if it was available. Read a summary and the full study to learn more.

NATIONAL AG WEEK IS HERE and Focus on Energy is celebrating farms making a difference in Wisconsin. Share a comment or a photo of a change you’ve made that saves energy or cuts costs on social media platforms for a chance to win a $100 Fleet Farm gift card. Tag Focus on Energy and use #FocusOnAg. The drawing closes on March 24 at 11:59 p.m. Learn more here.

Your Farm - Your Footprint®

THE BIG FOUR

Your Farm - Your Footprint (YFYF) provides four key unbiased, data-protected components to help you confidentially measure, manage and improve your farm’s sustainability.

Comprehensive sustainability assessment
Customized action plan for your farm
Peer learning network
Financial assistance

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

For Your Business Mind

SUCCESS ISN’T BUILT ON BIG MOMENTS ALONE. According to leadership coach Marshall Goldsmith, real change comes from micro-measurements — small, daily check-ins that hold you accountable. Asking simple questions like “Did I show appreciation” or “Did I take a small step toward the next big opportunity” and tracking efforts each day builds awareness into action. These small, steady steps may seem simple, but they are the foundation for lasting improvement and meaningful personal and professional growth. Read the full article.

DAIRY PRODUCERS SHOULD REPORT BLIZZARD RELATED DAMAGES TO FSA following the recent winter storm and inquire about available disaster recovery assistance. Learn more about programs such as Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm Raised Fish Program (ELAP), Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFL) as well as a variety of resources from U.S. Department of Agriculture in the news release from Wisconsin FSA here.

Book Review

WHO NOT HOW: THE FORMULA TO ACHIEVE BIGGER GOALS THROUGH ACCELERATING TEAMWORK. This book provides strategies and insights to make a mindset shift that will allow you to build stronger connections and teams to achieve your business and personal goals.

Making this shift involves retraining your brain to stop limiting your potential based on what you solely can do and instead focus on the nearly infinite and endless connections between yourself and other people as well as the limitless transformation possible through those connections. Learn more.