December 2024 Vol. 3

Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®

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.

Dec. 17 - Dairy Industry Shaping Wisconsin’s Economy 

Dec. 18 - Prenatal and Neonatal Calf Nutrition

Dec. 19 - Edge of Field Practices

Thank you to Zinpro Corporation for their featured sponsorship of the Dairy Signal. For over 50 years, Zinpro has pioneered the research and development of performance trace minerals and innovative solutions that improve the health and wellbeing of animals. Discover their industry-leading tools & solutions at www.zinpro.com.

Previously on The Dairy Signal

December 10

A cow’s health during the transition from late gestation to lactation is critical to the herd’s productivity, longevity and profitability. Learn about select dietary formulations and management practices that are shown to reduce the incidence of disease during this time.



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

December 11

Staying on track with fitness and health goals can be challenging during the holiday season. Hear about strategies to stay committed to your health into the New Year and beyond.

• Morgan Ekovich, Owner and Head Trainer, Get Fit with ME LLC

December 12

As we close out 2024, hear about the economic trends and market news that will impact the dairy industry and your operation into 2025.



• Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES CAN ENHANCE CONSUMER TRUST in today’s food system, according to an article in Food Safety Tech newsletter. As interest in farm-to-table dining increases, so has consumer demand for transparency in their food supply. Technologies such as RFID tags, blockchain, advanced data analytics, automated and mobile-powered labeling and more are providing more tools to deliver the information customers are looking for. Learn more.

RECORD CHEESE EXPORTS IN 2024 and a record amount of new U.S. cheese plant capacity expected to go online in the fourth quarter of 2024 and first half of 2025, have built momentum for strong cheese exports into 2025. A Dairy Foods article reviews outlooks for the 2025 export potential for cheese, whey products and butter, with an overall positive outlook as U.S. pricing looks relatively competitive on a number of products and global demand at better-than-expected levels throughout 2024. Learn more.

UNDERSTANDING THE SCIENCE OF METHANE EMISSIONS is key to developing new technologies and practices to reduce emission levels. A printed report developed from the 2024 State of the Science Summit at UC-Davis highlights range of topics related to methane reduction, including new technologies for detection and capture, improvements in agricultural practices, innovations in waste management, and policy solutions. Experts from universities, environmental organizations, and industry leaders presented their latest findings and case studies, providing insights into both the challenges and opportunities for reducing methane emissions. Read a summary of presentations in the report.

Opportunities to Learn

For Your Business

BUILDING GRATITUDE INTO YOUR APPROACH to life and business can help build resilience and maintain focus on priorities during challenging times. An Inc. magazine article highlights five ways to incorporate gratitude into daily activities at work and home:

1.     Start with personal gratitude

2.     Infuse into team culture

3.     Practice gratitude in the face of challenges

4.     Build gratitude into business strategy

5.     Reflect and celebrate progress.

Learn more about each of the steps in the full article.

ENCOURAGE AND ENGAGE “QUIET” TEAM MEMBERS in meetings and discussions to ensure that everyone’s input is included. Often, quiet team members are the most reflective, thoughtful contributors, but need the right environment to share their insights. Rethinking meeting dynamics, providing opportunities for everyone to gather thoughts and formulate answers, and asking open-ended questions are just a few effective strategies. Learn more and find example questions in the full article.

Your Farm Your Footprint

YOUR FARM IS YOUR LIVELIHOOD, and Your Farm – Your Footprint™, the first-of-its-kind, farmer-led sustainability initiative that empowers dairy farmers to know and understand their environmental footprint, offers solutions to shape the future of your farm. Dairy’s Foundation is the initiative’s first sponsor, with Nestlé sponsoring in part.

Identifying your farm’s carbon and greenhouse gas metrics is a critical first step, and with Your Farm – Your Footprint, participants have access to:

•  Easy-to-understand reporting accompanied by technical consulting during which one of our experts personally reviews your farm’s report with you and offers customized improvement recommendations. Your data is protected and won’t be shared with anyone else without your consent.
• Opportunity to test-drive three sustainability measurement platforms, including FARM ES (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management - Environmental Stewardship), Cool Farm Tool, and COMET (CarbOn Management & Emissions Tool).
• Ongoing practical learning and idea-sharing through a peer networking group specific to Your Farm – Your Footprint. 

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

PDP Podcast Weekly

Being Present - Jeff Ditzenberger

The holidays bring us bright lights and presents under the tree, but this is also the time when depression and suicide rates increase. 

Jeff "Ditz" Ditzenberger is back with a special holiday message. Nearly 30 years ago, Ditz survived his own suicide attempt. In 2015, he founded TUGS to promote mental wellness in rural communities. Today, he is a certified mental health life coach and peer specialist in mental health and addiction recovery and is a qualified Question Persuade Refer (QPR) instructor. 

Premier Suppliers and Supporters

Thank you to the partners and premier suppliers who support your professional development organization. Dairy's Premier Suppliers are those who faithfully exhibit and support PDP's Business Conference and are trusted, leading providers of high-quality products, services and solutions essential to the dairy industry. See below to see some of our education, organization and government suppliers.

Interested in becoming a part of dairy's premier suppliers? Submit your trade show contract for the 2025 Hall of Ideas and Equipment Show at the PDP Business Conference, March 12-13, 2025.

"Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible"

- Anthony Robbins