January 2025 Vol. 4
Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®
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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. | |
Jan. 28 - Design Feed Centers for Success | |
Jan. 29 - Latest in Microbiome Research | |
Jan. 30 - Preventing Injuries while Working Outdoors | |
Previously on The Dairy Signal | |
January 21
Join a discussion on labor and human trafficking, including walking through the warning signs of trafficking and how to protect your workers and team members.
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Mariana Rodriquez, Director, Latina Resource Center, UMOS, Inc.
January 22
Hear about winter sanitation protocols, including cleaning and sanitizing calf housing and equipment and understanding how protocols may need to shift during freezing temperatures and winter weather.
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Dr. Donald Sockett, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D., Diplomate ACVIM, Veterinary Microbiologist/Epidemiologist, Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Wisconsin
January 23
With 2025 underway, tune in for the latest news in dairy markets, policies, exports and trends that will impact dairy producers and the agricultural industry.
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Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company
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DRINKING WHOLE MILK ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER BODY WEIGHT and lower risk of obesity in a large national study published in Nutrition Research journal. Researchers studied responses from more than 40,000 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that whole milk intake was inversely associated with weight, BMI, and prevalence of obesity, and these findings may provide additional evidence to support dietary recommendations for whole milk. These findings are consistent with other studies that have examined the relationship between dairy fat intake and body weight outcomes in adults as well as in children. Another recent study. Learn more.
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GRANTS TO SUPPORT LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS were announced by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service in partnership with Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Thirty infrastructure grants will receive $23.2 million through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program designed to diversify agricultural markets, create new revenue streams for small and mid-sized producers and provide economic opportunities for local communities. Read more and see list of grant recipients in the program news release.
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Cornerstone Dairy Academy
March 11-12, 2025
Madison, Wis.
THREE PILLARS OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT all led by world class experts are on tap for the 2025 Cornerstone Dairy Academy.
Whether you are a college student, recent graduate or at a crossroad in your dairy career, there will never be a better time to invest in your leadership and communications skills. Simultaneous Spanish translation provides an opportunity for everyone on your team.
DON'T HESITATE --
Applications are due JANUARY 31!
Learn more in English.
Learn more in Spanish.
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PDP Carbon Conference 3.0
January 28, 2025
Madison, Wis.
Walk-ins welcome!
Learn more and register.
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PDP Dairy Wellbeing Workshop
Feb. 11 and Feb. 12
Green Bay, Wis.
Learn more and register.
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2025 Business Conference Corner | |
Spend two days with the best minds in the business.
From cutting-edge technology to sustainability and leadership strategies, the 2025 PDP Business Conference will equip you with the tools and connections you need to thrive in an ever-changing industry. Join us March 12-13 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madision, Wis. to "Dial It In" for success in today's dairy business.
Visit the 2025 Business Conference website for a preview of 50 precision-focused sessions with producer panels, hands-on labs, and simultaneous Spanish translation along with breakthrough research on the Preview Stage, the next big ideas in dairy on the Nexus Innovation Stage, and the Hall of Ideas Trade Show with the industry's premier suppliers.
And, don't forget to check out discounted hotel rates at several Madison hotels.
Learn more and register.
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AVOID A COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH TO LEADING YOUR TEAM. Each team member’s preferences and personalities can influence how your attempts to recognize and communicate with them are received. For example, for someone who doesn’t like the spotlight, a handwritten thank you note for a job well done may be appreciated more than being celebrated at a staff meeting. A SmartBrief article notes 5 mistakes leaders make:
1. Showing appreciation generically rather than specifically
2. Using the wrong channel of communication
3. Giving feedback the same way to everyone
4. Missing the broader context of someone’s life
5. Assuming you know how someone wants to grow
Read the full article to learn more and find thoughtful questions to ask to better understand each employee’s preferences.
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BOOK REVIEW: POSSIBLE: HOW WE SURVIVE (AND THRIVE) IN AN AGE OF CONFLICT. As conflict increases everywhere, it seems that every aspect of society is fighting more and collaborating less. Leading negotiation expert shares time-tested practices that will help readers unlock their power to constructively engage and break through the toughest conflicts in their workplace, family, community and world. Author William Ury shares his “Path to Possible” methods and frameworks to unleash new and unexpected possibilities from conflict. Learn more.
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Vote for 2025-26 PDP Board Members | |
PRODUCER-LED AND PRODUCER-FOCUSED is the heart of everything we do at PDP. We invite active PDP farm members to vote for their PDP Board of Directors. Our grassroots, producer-led mission and vision equip PDP with a board of active dairy farmers who serve up to two 3-year terms.
The PDP Board has three available positions and each PDP farm member (one official ballot per farm entity) can vote for up to three candidates, according to our bylaws.
View the sample ballot on our website to learn more about each candidate.
You can cast your ballot in one of two manners:
- In person - attend and submit at PDP’s Business Conference, March 12-13, 2025, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI.
- By mail - postmarked by Feb. 17, mail to PDPW at 820 N. Main, Suite D, Juneau, WI 53039
Learn more here.
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Your Farm - Your Footprint | |
MEASURE, MANAGE AND IMPROVE WITH YOUR FARM — YOUR FOOTPRINT.
Advisory teams including nutritionists, agronomists, financial advisors and more are all part of your dairy's team to keep things running smoothly and plan for the future. Now, with Your Farm - Your Footprint (YFYF), you can add a sustainability consultant to the team.
YFYF is a hands-on program designed to help you measure, manage and improve your farm’s sustainability. From optimizing resource use to building a more sustainable future, YFYF provides the tools and expertise you need.
Your sustainability efforts matter, and with YFYF, you control how you share that story. Learn more and sign up today at www. pdpw.org/your-farm-your-footprint/.
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Event + Response = Outcome
E+R=O means Event + Response = Outcome. There are many different types of mindsets a person can choose. Servant leadership trainer Tom Thibodeau explains the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset by using the E+R=O method.
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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 learn more about some of our farm implement and equipment 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. | |
"A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work."
- Colin Powell
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Business Management & Advanced Finance Workshop
Oct 29-30, 2025
Managers Academy
Jan 20-21, 2026
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Thank You, National Partners | |
Professional Dairy Producers
820 North Main St.
Juneau, WI 53039
800-947-7379
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