PDP Manager's Memo

October 2025 Vol. 1

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

The Dairy Signal^®

Check out what's coming this week on The Dairy Signal. Tune in every Tuesday and Thursday live from noon to 1 p.m. CT, or catch previous episodes on demand here.

October 7 - Early Pregnancy Loss in Cattle: Key Contributing Factors

Tune in for an interactive discussion of the factors that impact early pregnancy loss in dairy cattle and strategies for your dairy operation.

Dr. Paul Fricke, PhD, Dairy Reproduction Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Madison

October 9 - Corn Silage: Production & Management

Join the conversation about corn silage production and management with a focus on the unavoidable and avoidable losses that happen throughout production, harvest, storage and feeding processes.

Dr. Luiz Ferraretto, Assistant Professor and Ruminant Nutrition Extension Specialist, UW-Madison

Access Now

Previously on The Dairy Signal

September 30

Be prepared with healthy meals and snacks during the busy harvest season with tips for simple meal prep and planning.

Morgan Ekovich, Health and Nutrition Coach, Founder, Get Fit With ME

October 2

Tune in for the latest news and analysis of ag markets and learn about the trends that will impact your farm and the dairy industry.

Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company

Opportunities to Learn

CARBON, CROPS + COWS

October 14, 15, 2025

Van Dyne, Stratford, Wis.

Join us next week to take the first step on your sustainability journey.

At the 2025 Carbon, Crops + Cows workshop and farm tour, learn from industry experts and farmers who have participated in the Your Farm – Your Footprint™ initiative. Bring your questions about carbon markets, carbon intensity scores and how measurement and reporting work.

Learn more and register.

FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR DAIRY

Kewaunee, Wis.

Level One -

Nov. 12-13, 2025

Dec. 3-4, 2025

Level Two -

Jan. 15-16, 2026

Feb. 4-5, 2026

Mar. 10-11, 2026

Make plans to attend the only financial development course created specifically for the needs and unique aspects of the dairy industry. The multi-level, multi-session program gives dairy farmers, veterinarians, nutritionists and other agribusiness professionals the understanding, tools and strategies to chart a course for financial success and make the most of interactions with their advisory team.

Learn more and register.

PDP BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & ADVANCED FINANCE WORKSHOP

October 29-30, 2025

Sun Prairie, Wis.

There’s no better time to invest in yourself, your team and your business by spending two days focused on building your financial, HR and management skills. The Business Management & Advanced Finance Workshop combines interactive case studies, real-world applications and expert insights from facilitator Dick Witman. It is the perfect opportunity to advance your current practices or learn new strategies to boost your operation’s success.

Learn more and register.

CALF CARE CONNECTION®

October 22, 23, 2025

Arlington, Green Bay, Wis.

Learn more and register.

STRIDE™ YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Nov. 12, 2025

River Falls, Wis.

Learn more and register.

DAIRY WELLBEING WORKSHOP

Nov. 19, 20, 2025

Green Bay, Wis.

Learn more and register.

DAIRY MANAGERS INSTITUTE

Dec. 16-17, 2025

Green Bay, Wis.

Learn more and register.

MANAGERS ACADEMY FOR DAIRY PROFESSIONALS®

January 20-22, 2026

Puerto Rico

Learn more and register.

CORNERSTONE DAIRY ACADEMY®

March 3-4, 2026

Madison, Wis.

Applications due Jan. 15

Learn more and apply.

For Your Business Mind

WHAT WOULD YOU ASK A DAIRY LENDER? A recent episode of The Dairy Signal provided an opportunity for producers to get a perspective from a dairy lender on how to build stronger relationships, and what lenders are looking for in new applications, renewals and more. In financials, attention to detail is key, including detailed lists of assets, liabilities and projected revenue and expenses for a new investment. Consistency in how items are categorized each year in ledgers and financial statements is also important. Learn more in the full Dairy Signal episode featuring Curtis Gerrits, senior dairy lending specialist at Compeer Financial.

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS can lead to new ideas, clarify business focus and ensure that projects are aligned with an organization’s goals. An article from SmartBrief provides tips for questions that will deliver productive feedback:

Be clear about your purpose.
Prepare in advance.
Ask one question at a time.
Challenge assumptions.
Connect ideas.
Be comfortable with silence.
Encourage broad participation.
Capture notes promptly.

Learn more.

Your Farm - Your Footprint

NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP

to understanding your dairy's environmental footprint. With the Your Farm – Your Footprint intiative, participants have access to:

Easy-to-understand reporting accompanied by technical consulting and 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.
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/.

For Your Dairy

UNDERSTANDING RUMEN BUFFERS AND DIETARY CATION-ANION DIFFERENCE (DCAD) can help enhance milkfat production and have a positive impact on milk check. An article from Ohio State Extension reviews how supplementing diets with buffers like sodium bicarbonate or potassium carbonate, and by increasing DCAD, producers can stabilize rumen pH. That healthier rumen environment supports fiber digestion, acetate production, and ultimately higher milk fat concentration and yield. Using buffers plus DCAD manipulation can be an effective tool to counter negative effects from challenging feed ingredients and to enhance milk fat production in dairy herds. Read more.

IMPACT OF PROCESSING METHODS FOR RECYCLED MANURE SOLIDS on the level of nonmastitis pathogen levels was the focus of research published in JDS Communications. Twenty-seven dairies in Minnesota and Wisconsin with various RMS processing systems were visited to collect slurry and postprocessed RMS samples before and after each processing step. They found that the single-step treatments—digester only and secondary processing only—could reduce bacterial levels of both mastitis and nonmastitis pathogens compared with raw or green solids, but both were still detectable in the final bedding product in many cases. Instead, the clearest improvements came from farms that combined anaerobic digestion with a secondary treatment step, such as composting or drying. Read a summary and the full study.

Producer Profile

For more than 40 years, Joan and Tom Oberhaus have operated Cozy Nook Farm in Waukesha County, where they milk about 80 cows, along with a thriving agri-tourism business featuring pumpkins and Christmas trees. “Everyone wants an important job in life, and we feel we have an important job producing food and fiber for America,” Tom said.

Their greatest impact, however, may be through their work with youth. For about 25 years, the Oberhauses have mentored many students each year, from urban or non-farm backgrounds. “We’re in Waukesha County with not many farms left,” Joan said. “People once worried we wouldn’t have kids showing dairy at the county fair. I said, I think there are kids out there, you just have to let them know there are opportunities.”

Through hands-on learning, the couple has introduced young people to dairy farming, with some going on to careers as veterinarians and dairy professionals. Even families with no prior connection to agriculture have become strong supporters, helping show cows and advocate for the industry at local events.

When the Oberhauses began farming, there were about 300 dairy farms in Waukesha County. Today, there are less than 20. Yet at Cozy Nook Farm, they continue to create opportunities for the next generation, proving that learning by doing still plays a vital role in keeping dairy’s future strong.

To view the full interview with Tom and Joan Oberhaus of Cozy Nook Farm, click here.

Inspiration

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired and success achieved."

Helen Keller