|
May 2026 Vol. 1
Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®
| | Check out what's coming this week on The Dairy Signal! | | May 5 - Hoof Health Records & Trends | | 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 | | |
April 28
A spring pasture inventory is key to making the most of grazing season. Learn how to take a forage inventory and use it to decide when to start grazing and manage pastures through the spring flush.
-
Michael Geissinger, grazing and nutrient management outreach specialist, UW-Extension
April 30
Take a fresh look at one of your largest input costs: feed. In this discussion originally presented at 2026 PDP Business Conference, explore strategies to optimize seed selection, agronomic decisions and other key inputs for corn silage production.
-
Dr. John Goeser, PhD, dairy nutrition and management consultant, Progressive Dairy Solutions
-
Dr. Luiz Ferraretto, PhD, associate professor and ruminant nutrition extension specialist, UW-Madison
| | |
PDP ACCELERATE™
July 28, 2026
Madison, Wis.
A STRONG INTERNSHIP TEACHES TECHNICAL SKILLS; a great one builds professionals. PDP Accelerate will enhance your organization's internship program, helping interns elevate their presence on the job, in conversations and in future opportunities Learn more.
| | |
“COW VISION” GOGGLES are giving farmers a new way to understand cattle behavior by simulating how cows see the world. Using augmented reality, the technology replicates cattle’s wide field of view, limited color range and sensitivity to light and shadows. Early use in research and training at University of Wisconsin-River Falls' Humane Handling Institute has helped identify facility design improvements and handling practices that reduce stress. Researchers say the tool could enhance animal welfare, improve worker safety and make livestock operations more efficient. Learn more.
| | |
SAVE THE DATE AND SHARE WITH YOUR TEAMS! Spanish Day at Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center is set for Saturday, July 11. The event will feature Spanish-speaking agricultural experts on site to translate Farm Wisconsin exhibits, the birthing barn experience and a driving tour of Grotegut Dairy Farm. Farm owners are encouraged to buy tickets for their employees and family members to attend! Learn more.
| | Your Farm - Your Footprint® | | |
STAY IN THE DRIVERS SEAT.
PDP's Your Farm – Your FootprintTM initiative puts dairy farmers in complete control of their farm’s environmental score, providing a confidential space to understand their farm’s environmental footprint. This includes learning their farm’s score as confirmed by three different tools, understanding how the tools calculated and identified the highest-impact practices, as well as practical recommendations to improve their score. Equipped with their score, farmers can then decide how best to use that information on their farm – and with whom to share their results.
“Your Farm – Your Footprint lets me decide what’s best for my operation. As dairy producers, we’re the ones with skin in the game. We know our dairies inside and out. Farmer-led initiatives like this are just what our industry needs.”
John Haag, Dane, Wis.
Learn more and sign up today at www.pdpw.org/your-farm-your-footprint/.
| | |
MANAGING FIXED COSTS is critical for dairy profitability, especially during times of tight margins. A Penn State Extension article outlines strategies such as refinancing debt, evaluating capital investments and improving asset utilization. Regularly reviewing expenses and matching infrastructure to herd needs helps improve efficiency and maintain stronger margins over time, while options like custom work, leasing or delaying capital purchases can lower financial pressure. Read more.
| | |
MIDDLE MANAGERS CAN MAKE OR BREAK workplace culture, which is why leadership development matters. A Big Think article highlights four essential capabilities for modern managers to create an environment where people can thrive:
1. Building authentic relationships
2. Engagement through influence, not command
3. Building collective momentum
4. Creating shared purpose: advanced problem solving
Learn more about each in the full article.
|
| |
DAN BRICK OF BRICSTEAD DAIRY KNEW FROM A YOUNG AGE THAT DAIRY farming was his path in life. With the farm’s history tracing back to 1849, Brick returned home after graduation to work alongside his father, helping guide the dairy through modernization and growth. Those changes came with careful decision-making and a focus on continual improvement. For Brick, progress is not about perfection but about steady, thoughtful change. “I think the biggest thing we have here is knowing that we will never be perfect but knowing that a little bit better is better than the day before,” Brick says, a perspective that shapes both short-term decisions and long-term goals.
That philosophy is especially evident in Brickstead Dairy’s approach to sustainability. Protecting the soil is at the heart of how the farm operates, with the understanding that healthy ground is the foundation of a sustainable future. “When we talk about sustainability, the key is that we’ve got to keep our dirt there,” Brick explains. From reducing runoff to managing water more efficiently, each practice is designed to keep soil in place and productive for years to come.
One of the most impactful changes came more than a decade ago. “One of the big things we implemented back in 2009 was our cover crop practices,” Brick notes. Combined with no-till farming and the use of the Rain360 system for direct irrigation, these practices help improve soil health, minimize erosion, and make the most of natural rainfall, reflecting Brickstead Dairy’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.
To watch the entire interview with Dan Brick, view here.
| | |
“Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.”
— William Pollard
| | Thank You, National Partners | | Thank You, Legacy Partner | | |
Professional Dairy Producers
820 North Main St.
Juneau, WI 53039
800-947-7379
| |
| | | |
