PDP Manager's Memo

July 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.

July 7 - Breed Smart, Raise Cheap: Winning with Heifers

Join an interactive conversation about strategies to improve heifer reproductive performance, with a focus on how dairy producers can reduce heifer rearing costs.

J.P. Martins, DVM, MS, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Sciences School of Veterinary Medicine, UW-Madison

July 9 - Market Update

What's ahead in dairy and agricultural markets for the second half of 2025? Tune in for the latest updates in export, weather, market and consumer trends that will impact the industry and your bottom line.

Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company

Access Now

Previously on The Dairy Signal

June 24

There are a variety of programs and resources for producers to access when adopting conservation programs on their farms but knowing which is the right fit for one’s acres and operation can be a challenge. Hear tips and strategies to navigate farm bill programs and how to best research non-government funding options.

Scott Stipetich, Precision Ag & Conservation Specialist, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever

June 26

As we near the halfway point of 2025, join in for the latest news in agriculture and dairy markets as well as the trends that will be impacting the dairy industry for the growing season and beyond.

Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company

Opportunities to Learn

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR 2025-26 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING! PDP is excited to share the schedule of learning opportunities beginning in July 2025, with a full range of hands-on, focused programming to ensure that everyone on your dairy team is future ready. Learn more.

PDP ACCELERATE WORKSHOP

July 22, 2025

Madison, Wis.

JUST AROUND THE CORNER - REGISTER YOUR INTERNS TODAY!

Your dairy and agriculture industry interns are reaching the mid-point of their summer experiences, with many thinking about the return to college and future career plans. Help them make the most of their internship and chart a course for career success by attending the 2025 PDP Accelerate Workshop.

Trainer Michael Hoffman will help attendees develop a commanding professional presence, elevate their communication, networking and interview skills, gain a network of peers in various agriculture careers and position themselves as a standout candidate.

Learn more and register today.

PDP BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & ADVANCED FINANCE WORKSHOP

October 29-30, 2025

Sun Prairie, Wis.

Learn more and register.

MANAGERS ACADEMY FOR DAIRY PROFESSIONALS®

January 20-22, 2026

Puerto Rico

Learn more and register.

2026 INTERNATIONAL TOUR - NEW ZEALAND

February 2-15, 2026

Learn more.

For Your Dairy

THE IMPACT OF ADDING COLOSTRUM REPLACEMENT POWDER to enrich low or moderate-quality colostrum was studied in research published in the Journal of Dairy Science. Researchers compared feeding calves medium-quality colostrum, high-quality colostrum, medium-quality colostrum mixed with dry colostrum replacement powder, or medium-quality colostrum with colostrum replacement powder reconstituted with water. They measured antibody (IgG) levels in the calves’ blood after 24 hours and watched their behavior, appetite and health for 3 days. They found that calves fed high-quality colostrum or dry colostrum replacement powder mixed directly into colostrum had the highest IgG levels, and that adding dry powder did not have negative health effects. Read more.

UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING STRESSORS TO KEEP CALVES HEALTHY AND STRONG. There are a number of potential stressful events from birth through weaning that can have both immediate and long-term impacts on the health and productivity of dairy calves. An article from UW-Extension highlights challenges including birth, climate and temperatures, transportation, management practices, housing and more that calves experience along with strategies to minimize potential stressors. Promoting gentle handling procedures when working with calves is essential. During the pre-weaned period, calm and gentle contact with them can reduce physical stress, help avoid psychological stress and prevent chronic stress that could suppress the immune system. Learn more.

Your Farm - Your Footprint

KNOW YOUR NUMBER

PDP's Your Farm - Your Footprint puts your farm at the forefront of sustainability as the dairy supply chain looks to reduce its carbon footprint. Through Tier 1, dairy producers can receive non-government grants up to $9,750 per farm (up to 2,500 acres) to get their carbon footprint scores. A confidential third party will gather your information and help you learn your farm’s environmental footprint score, how it's calculated and potential opportunities to reduce your score.

Discover your farm's environmental footprint score through nationally and globally recognized accounting programs Farm ES, Cool Farm Tool and COMET-Farm™.
It's your data! You own and are able to share this information, or not, with others as you so choose.
Receive a customizable roadmap of recommendations with practical steps to improve your farm's score.
You have the option to participate in peer groups with fellow producers to share ideas and best practices in a safe, confidential environment.

After completing Tier 1, producers who are a part of the Nestlé milk shed may be eligible for cost-share opportunities for farm improvement projects that reduce their carbon footprint. Want to learn more? Visit the website or email croy@pdpw.org.

Dairy Currents

U.S. DAIRY INDUSTRY GENERATES NEARLY $780 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT and supports more than 3 million jobs across the country, according to the new “Dairy Delivers” report from the International Dairy Foods Association. The dairy industry contributes to strong communities, with about $83 billion in federal, state and local taxes paid. Learn more about the impact at a national and state level, including downloading economic data and fact sheets for states here.

YOGURT SALES SURGE, GROWING AT 11% A YEAR, and closing in on the $12 billion annual sales mark, according to Dairy Foods magazine. Yogurt sales are driven by the combination of it being high protein, lower in sugar and a perception of being premium with health-conscious consumers. Hispanic yogurt brands including LaLa, El Mexicano, Nuestro and La Ricura are collectively responsible for approximately 31% of total yogurt sales. About 55% of yogurt sales are at supermarkets, followed by 30% at convenience stores and 15% from specialty stores, cafes and e-commerce. Read more.

PDP Member Profile: David Trimner

David Trimner, co-owner and general manager of Miltrim Farms near Athens, Wis., is part of the third generation of ownership of the dairy farm that has grown and changed over the years while staying true to their vision “to sustainably raise the bar in producing nature’s most powerful nutrition - Milk!”

Trimner grew up on the farm, helping raise heifers and working in a number of roles. He attended University of Wisconsin-River Falls and earned degrees in ag business and dairy science, then returned to Miltrim Farms full time in 2016. David and his wife, Jessica Pralle-Trimner, and Andy and Jenny Miller, completed the purchase of the farm in 2024. They milk 3,100 cows, split between robot and parlor-milking herds, and crop 5,100 acres used solely for the dairy.

The farm’s legacy dates back to 1931, when Walter and Esther Mueller first purchased 80 acres, 8 cows and 50 chickens during the Great Depression. One of their children, Martin, purchased the farm in 1956 and farmed with his son, Tom, until an opportunity arose in 1988. A new partnership between Tom and Lorene Mueller, Martin and Elaine Mueller, and Scott and Kathy Trimner purchased another farm with a small parlor and a free stall facility capable of milking 150 cows. A larger parlor was constructed along with a 600 cow free stall barn in 2000. Expansions continued and a new barn for dry cows and fresh cows was built in 2009, making way for the old site to become a home to all of the heifers for the dairy.

David was elected to the PDP board in March 2025. He enjoys attending Business Conference and has completed several financial training programs and is excited to be on the “other side” of programming, helping identify opportunities and creating new programs to benefit today’s dairy operations.