November 2024 Vol. 3

Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®

The Power of Community with Tom Thibodeau

The importance of social and community participation cannot be overstated. In this week's PDP Podcast, Tom Thibodeau shares why joining a community serves as a solution for the overall well-being and sustainability of individuals. Being a part of your community fosters a sense of belonging, enhances personal well-being and is a place where we all should feel protected, respected and connected.

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.

Nov. 19 - Herd Economics and Genetic Reproductive Strategies

Nov. 20 - Shelf Stable Cheese Snacks

Nov. 21 - Steps to Set up Farm Transition - Part 2

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

November 12

Hear a discussion of pre-weaned calf transportation, with a focus on both dairy and dairy x beef calves and a review of national and Wisconsin-based data.

• Catie Cramer, PhD, Assistant Professor of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University

November 13

Why is having a vision crucial for organizations of all sizes? Discover how to effectively define and communicate your vision, along with the key components or pillars that support an organization.

•  Tim Schaefer, CFP, Certified Family Business Advisor, Certified Professional Business Coach, Encore Consultants

November 14

Hear the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets and trends that will impact your farm and the dairy industry through 2024 and into 2025.

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

Opportunities to Learn

USDA RELEASED FINAL DECISION ON FMMO AMENDMENTS on Nov. 12. The final decision, which proposes to amend the uniform pricing formulas applicable in all 11 Federal milk marketing orders, can be reviewed here. Before any changes take effect, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will conduct producer referendums in each of the 11 FMMOs. Producers whose milk was pooled on an FMMO in January 2024 are eligible to participate in the referendum. They will have the opportunity to vote in favor of or opposition to the FMMOs as proposed to be amended in the final decision.

AMS will mail ballots to eligible independent producers and qualified cooperative associations. Ballots must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2024, and returned by Jan. 15, 2025, to be counted.

AMS will host three public webinars on Nov. 19 and Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. ET, and Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. ET. A link to access the webinars will be provided in advance on the AMS hearing website.

Learn more from USDA news release.

USE THE 10-MINUTE RULE WHEN FACING A TOUGH PROBLEM. Have a mental problem you can’t solve? An article from Inc.com suggests that if you can’t solve a challenge after 10 minutes of trying, stand up and go for a walk. Heads-down focus is good for busywork and powering through emails, but a new idea or solution often requires a more open mental state that can be triggered by a walk. Read more.

S.I.M.P.L.E. TOOLS CAN BE USED TO COMMUNICATE complex ideas and connect with audiences. Instead of using too much jargon and technical language, a Fast Company article suggests using the following tools in conversations and presentations.

• S – Slogans
• I – Images
• M – Metaphors
• P – Parables
• L – Lists
• E – Examples

Read about each and how they can be used effectively in the full article.

Your Farm Your Footprint

LEARN YOUR SCORE, WHILE KEEPING DATA CONFIDENTIAL; GRANTS UP TO $9,750 PER FARM AVAILABLE FOR DAIRY FARMERS.

Effective Nov. 1, a limited amount of grants are available through the Your Farm – Your Footprint™ for dairy producers to confidentially learn their farm's environmental footprint and understand how it is calculated.

The grants will cover up to 2,500 acres in the program, with sponsorship from Dairy’s Foundation and partial sponsorship from Nestlé. This program enables farmers to assess carbon and greenhouse gas metrics, offering access to simple, personalized reports and expert consultations to identify tailored improvement strategies. Participants can explore three sustainability measurement tools—FARM ES, Cool Farm Tool, and COMET—and engage in ongoing peer networking for shared learning. Learn more and sign up at www.pdpw.org/your-farm-your-footprint/.

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 animal health premier 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.

"Leadership is doing what is right when no one is watching"

-- George Van Valkenburg