PDP Manager's Memo

March 2026 Vol. 5

Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization^®

The Dairy Signal^®

Check out what's coming this week on The Dairy Signal!

Mar. 31 - Mastering Manure Management

Learn how to manage manure to retain valuable nutrients, minimize losses and protect water quality, turning a necessary task into a resource for your farm. Presenter will be:

Laura Paletta, UW-Extension outreach specialist, agriculture water quality program

Apr. 2 - Corn Silage, Cover Crops and Nitrogen

Hear the results of a multi-year study at Arlington Agricultural Research Station that reviewed the impact of a winter rye cover crop in corn silage systems. Researchers will also discuss nitrogen recommendations for silage when cover crops and manure are used. Presenters will be:

Dr. Matt Ruark, PhD, professor, department of soil science, UW-Madison, and extension specialist
Hannah Francis, PhD student, UW-Madison

Access Now

Thank you to DLF for sponsoring The Dairy Signal in April. Success starts with the seed. That’s why farmers trust DLF, the world’s forage seed leader. Backed by cutting-edge research, DLF delivers high-yielding forage products with the traits you need to drive profit on your farm. Ask your retailer about high-performance alfalfa brands like Forage First, 5 Series and Alforex Seeds. Learn more at lacrosseseed.com.

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 24

Learn strategies to build and maintain a culture where your team feels supported, valued and engaged – creating a stronger, more productive workplace.

Michael Hoffman, President, Igniting Performance

March 26

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

Opportunities to Learn

PDP SMART DAIRY WORKSHOP

April 15, 16, 2026

Chippewa Falls, Manitowoc, Wis.

ONE DAY. TWO INDUSTRY EXPERTS. UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES. Artificial Intelligence is embedded in technologies and systems across your farm. The Smart Dairy Workshop is a hands-on, interactive opportunity to learn from Dr. Jeffrey Bewley and Dr. Miel Hostens strategies to evaluate AI-enabled tools, integrate data from multiple sources and create actionable plans that improve performance and manage risk.

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

PDP ACCELERATE™

July 28, 2026

Madison, Wis.

STEP UP YOUR INTERNS' EXPERIENCE! Make sure the PDP Accelerate workshop is on their calendar for the summer. Trainer Michael Hoffman will help participants build knowledge and confidence to step up their game as they pursue careers in the agriculture industry. Learn more here.

For Your Dairy

FEEDING SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCES OF FATTY ACIDS can be an effective tool for improving a dairy cow’s energy supply, milk production, and milk fat yield. However, responses vary by fatty acid type, stage of lactation, and cow performance level. An article from UW-Extension reviews the types of fatty acid and recommendations to ensure that supplements are used effectively and economically. Learn more.

IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN MATERNITY PEN MANAGEMENT and the risk of contracting Salmonella Dublin. Research conducted with dairy herds in British Columbia and published in JDS Communications examined farm-level risk factors. One finding was that farms that kept more than one cow in the maternity pen at the same time were more than four times as likely to test positive for Salmonella Dublin. Learn more in the full article.

Your Farm - Your Footprint®

THINKING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS?

PDP's Your Farm - Your Footprint can help identify opportunities and connect dairy producers with potential funding sources for improvements that boost sustainability. Get started today by getting your baseline score.

“Loading my data into the system was surprisingly simple. Not too difficult or time consuming. They asked for typical, on-farm data we already had available.”

Janet Clark, Rosendale, Wis.

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

Dairy Currents

AS SPRING WORK RAMPS UP, don’t overlook electrical safety. The Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center provides resources for producers to identify hidden electrical hazards before work begins. Make sure everyone understands where power lines are, how tall equipment is and what to do in an emergency. Posting shutoffs and reviewing safety plans with your team helps protect workers, family and visitors during one of the busiest times of year. Learn more and find safety checklists in English and Spanish here.

HOT WEATHER CAN POSE SERIOUS RISKS for farm and ranch workers. A free virtual training from the High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety at Colorado State University provides practical guidance to help employers prevent heat-related illness. The session covers recognizing warning signs, encouraging hydration, and creating safer work routines that include rest breaks and shade. Participants will also receive resources and tools to help implement a heat-illness prevention plan on their operation. Learn more and register.

Industry Impact: Dairy Innovation Hub

The Dairy Innovation Hub is a $7.8M-per-year state-funded effort to support the success of Wisconsin’s dairy community by advancing science, developing talent, and leveraging collaboration at UW-Madison, UW-Platteville, and UW-River Falls.

At the 2026 PDP Business Conference, research from the Dairy Innovation Hub was presented on posters in the “Innovation Lane” as well as four presentations on the Preview Stage:

Dr. Bret Shaw and Grace Kahn presented "Communicating dairy sustainability,” highlighting three key themes for successful outreach to dairy producers, including economic viability, tailoring messages and building trust through consistent messaging and shared values.
In “Corn silage, cover crops and nitrogen,” Dr. Matt Ruark and Hannah Francis reviewed research with winter rye in corn silage systems. Current nitrogen recommendations are based on corn grain systems, not silage system or with manure use.
Dr. Joseph Pierre presented “Colostrum, gut health and long-term outcomes,” reviewing research testing if bovine colostrum could help restore healthy gut bacteria after early antibiotic use.
In “Effects of processing colostrum on calf health,” Dr. Lautaro Rostoli-Cangiano studied how freezing colostrum impacts immune cells and calf health outcomes with a goal of refining management guidelines.