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December 2025 Vol. 2
Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®
| | Check out what's coming this week on The Dairy Signal! | | December 9 - Calf Respiratory Health: What's New and How to Protect Them | | December 11 - Market Update | | Previously on The Dairy Signal | | |
December 2
Tune in to hear about the major drivers of changing margins in dairy markets and practical hedging solutions. The focus will be on milk supply and production trends, feed supply and review of cattle markets.
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Will Babler, Principal, Pinion Risk Management LLC & Atten Babler Risk Management LLC
December 4
With the holiday season officially underway, learn about the branding and current media efforts underway to promote Wisconsin dairy industry along with trends in consumer food interests.
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Suzanne Fanning, Executive Vice President, CMO, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin
Tune in every Tuesday and Thursday live from noon to 1 p.m. CT, or catch previous episodes on demand here.
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DAIRY INSIGHTS SUMMIT
Dec. 11, 2025
Madison, Wis.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION THIS WEEK! Farmers, industry leaders, and policy-makers will come together on Thursday for a full day focused on understanding today's dairy industry challenges and building tomorrow's opportunities. Spaces are still available and walk-ins are welcome. Learn more and register.
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MANAGERS ACADEMY FOR DAIRY PROFESSIONALS®
January 20-22, 2026
San Juan, Puerto Rico
STEP AWAY FROM THE DAY-TO-DAY and sharpen your edge as a business leader.
Join fellow progressive dairy owners and managers in San Juan for three days of advanced learning, inspiration, and collaboration with facilitators Marissa Nehlsen and Dick Wittman.
You will:
- Get practical financial and leadership tools to drive ROI and lead with confidence
- Explore innovative business systems and leadership models beyond dairy
- Work alongside top dairy minds to craft your next-step strategy for growth and succession.
Reserve your seat today.
Learn more and register.
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DAIRY MANAGERS INSTITUTE
Dec. 16-17, 2025
Green Bay, Wis.
Learn more and register.
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FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR DAIRY
Kewaunee, Wis.
Level Two -
Jan. 15-16, 2026
Feb. 4-5, 2026
Mar. 10-11, 2026
Learn more and register.
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CORNERSTONE DAIRY ACADEMY®
March 3-4, 2026
Madison, Wis.
Applications due Jan. 15
Learn more and apply.
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CLEAR JOB DESCRIPTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL building blocks for any organization. An article from Penn State Extension outlines how clear, well-structured descriptions help align expectations, guide hiring and training, and support fair performance evaluation. Every job description should include job title, summary, qualifications, duties and reporting relationships, and should be reviewed regularly to reflect changing duties and keep teams aligned. Learn more.
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FEELING STRESSED WITH YEAR-END PERFORMANCE REVIEWS? Plan ahead for 2026 with a proactive strategy to enhance feedback and prepare for employee reviews all year long, including:
1. Schedule monthly time to record observations
2. Embed two-way feedback into regular check-ins
3. Encourage positive peer-to-peer feedback
4. Put the entire review process on the calendar in advance.
5. Enlist an accountability partner to help you stay on course.
Learn more in the blog post from Chatsworth Consulting Group here.
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| 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. You own and are able to share this information, or not, with others as you so choose.
Learn more and sign up today at www.pdpw.org/your-farm-your-footprint/.
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MEANINGFUL DATA DRIVES SMART DECISIONS, but only if it’s entered correctly. A UW-Extension article highlights how “dirty” data like inaccurate weights, missing IDs, inconsistent labeling or duplicate entries can make analysis unreliable or impossible. Dairy teams should focus on four data-quality pillars: accuracy, completeness, consistency, and uniqueness. Simple practices like calibrating scales, training staff carefully, using standard formats and terms, organizing records, and double-checking entries, can help prevent data errors at the source. Read more.
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NEW WORLD SCREWWORM FLIES have captured headlines as the insect that was eradicated from the U.S. in 1960 is now in Mexico and moving closer to the U.S. southern border. A recent episode of The Dairy Signal featured Dr. Keith Poulson, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, reviewing the history of the pest, the damage it can cause, what to look for and what prevention measures are in place. All producers should take time to educate themselves, review the USDA action plan and talk to their veterinarian about preparing their operation as a precaution. Learn more by watching the episode.
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REFLECTING AND LOOKING AHEAD. For more than 20 years, Dairy’s Foundation has turned ideas into real-world impact for the dairy industry and 2025 was no different. This year, the Foundation supported a variety of programs to support and grow dairy producers including Dairy Managers Institute®, Dairy Insights Summit, Financial Literacy for Dairy®, Cornerstone Dairy Academy®, STRIDE® Youth Leadership Conference and more, and offered up to $10,000 grant opportunities for non-profit organizations across the country. Dozens of students participated in the PDP Mentor Program, spending a day learning from forward-thinking dairy producers.
The Foundation also invests in educational efforts that teach stewardship, promote conservation and equip producers to care for the environment with the same dedication they bring to their animals and communities.
Over the last two decades, Dairy’s Foundation has enhanced the dairy sector through education for producers and consumers to the tune of more than $2.4 million – all made possible by the unwavering support of dairy producers and the dairy industry. Learn more about Dairy’s Foundation and opportunities to show your support at www.DairyFoundation.org.
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"The secret of a leader lies in the tests he has faced over the course of his life and the habit of action he develops in meeting those tests.”
Gail Sheehy
| | Thank You, National Partners | | Thank You, Legacy Partner | | |
Professional Dairy Producers
820 North Main St.
Juneau, WI 53039
800-947-7379
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