PDP Manager's Memo

September 2026 Vol. 2

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

The Dairy Signal^®

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

Sept. 15 - Stay sharp through harvest

Tune in for tips to keep your body fueled and your mind fresh during the busy harvest season. You’ll hear practical strategies for staying hydrated, managing caffeine, packing healthy snacks, fighting the afternoon energy crash and more.

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

Sept. 17 - Market update

Hear about the news and trends that will drive markets through fall harvest and the rest of 2026 and the potential impact on the dairy industry and your operation.

Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst at 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

Sept. 8 - Could your farm survive a cyberattack?

Hear why farms have become targets for cyberattacks, what could happen if cloud-based systems went offline and practical steps for producers.

Andrew Rose, Agricultural Advisor, BIO-ISAC

Sept. 10 - Carbon & LCFS markets: making sense of the opportunity

Learn about the current state of carbon and LCFS credit markets, including where value exists, where potential risks are emerging, how the economy is shaping markets and considerations for dairy farmers.

Patrick Wood, Founder, General Manager, Ag Methane Advisors, LLC

Opportunities to Learn

STARTER INTAKE, MANAGING MILK NUTRITION AND HOUSING OPTIONS are all on tap for the 2026 Calf Care Connection®. Sign up your team today to learn from Dr. Bethany Dado-Senn, Dr. Jill Soderstrom, Dr. Jennifer Van Os and a producer panel. Simultaneous Spanish translation of all sessions.

Oct. 14, 15, 2026

Learn more

Featured programs

Find the full list of upcoming programs on our website.

EXPLORE IDAHO DAIRY TOUR

Let PDP do the planning for you and go behind the scenes with exclusive tours of 5 dairies, 3 ag businesses and see Shoshone Falls, Perrine Bridge and more. Space is limited - register today!

October 19-23, 2026

Learn more.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & ADVANCED FINANCE WORKSHOP

Sharpen business, financial and HR skills at two-day workshop led by nationally-recognized expert Dick Wittman. Use case studies and real world scenarios to build strategies that will work for your business.

Sun Prairie, Wis.

Oct. 28-29, 2026

Learn more

STRIDE™ YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Nov. 17, 2026

Learn more

DAIRY WELLBEING WORKSHOP

Nov. 18, 19, 2026

Green Bay, Wis.

Learn more

FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR DAIRY®

Beaver Dam, Wis.

Level One:

Nov. 11-12, Dec. 1-2, 2026

Level Two:

Feb 2-3, 17-18, Mar. 9-10, 2027

Learn more

For Your Dairy

MASTITIS PREVENTION DOESN’T STOP when a cow leaves the milking herd. The dry period is one of the highest-risk times for new infections. Penn State Extension outlines practical steps to protect udder health, including maintaining teat-end condition, proper dry cow treatment, clean bedding, adequate space, heat abatement and balanced nutrition. A comprehensive dry cow program can pay dividends next lactation. Learn more.

WHEN IS IT WORTH ADDING WEIGHT TO CULL COWS? An article from UW-Extension reviews research on finish-feeding healthy cull cows and strategies to optimize value while maintaining health standards. Producers should remove animals from the herd before their health declines and only transport cows with high body condition scores to eliminate price discounts for visible physical defects. Learn more.

Your Farm - Your Footprint®

THE BIG FOUR

Your Farm - Your Footprint provides four key unbiased, data-protected components:

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

"Put simply, Your Farm-Your Footprint is one of the most cost-effective ways a dairy farm can stay ahead of the curve on the sustainability front."

-John Ruedinger, Ruedinger Farms, Inc.

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

Dairy Currents

UNDERSTANDING IMPACT OF TARIFFS for U.S. and Canadian dairy industry is the focus of an article from Leonard Polzin, UW-Extension. He reviews the key actions, dates, products and potential impact. Because tariffs land on cheese and whey made from cheese, Wisconsin is more exposed than other states. Read more.

COLLEGE AGGIES ONLINE IS PROVIDING $18,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS to college students who are interested in promoting agriculture by engaging with audiences online and on campus. Students will receive nine weeks of interactive training and guidance from industry and farm mentors, then compete for points throughout the program. Students can learn more and register.

Producer Profile

MITCH BREUNIG: FROM COVER CROPS TO CARBON SCORES

Nestled in the bluffs of Sauk City, Wisconsin, sits Mystic Valley Dairy. While many may know Mitch Breunig and Mystic Valley Dairy for their genetics, including the record-holding bull Toystory, Breunig also takes pride in caring for the land around him.

“Sustainability means a lot of things. As a dairy farmer, it means we’re going to do more with less. We’re going to use less water. We’re going to use less fuel. We’re going to have more milk production. And we’re going to leave the land better than we found it,” Breunig said.

When it comes to knowing his farm’s data, Breunig looks beyond production averages and field yields. He has taken a proactive approach to learn what his environmental footprint is. Whether it’s conversations with consumers or the sustainability director of a nongovernmental organization, Breunig has the insight to further share his farm’s story.

“To be able to have a conversation with them and say, ‘Hey, these are the things we are doing on the farm. This is what my score is,’ I think it allows you to have credibility because you’re talking the same language they are,” he said.

To learn more about Mitch and his approach to environmental stewardship, watch here.