PDP Manager's Memo

November 2025 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!

November 11 - Audit Your Mix, Feed With Precision

How do you ensure that the ration you developed matches what your cows are actually eating? Tune in for a discussion on conducting TMR audits and strategies for precision feeding.

Austin Sears, Regional Sales Manager, Diamond V

November 13 - Market Update

Don’t miss an update on the market, export and weather news that will impact the dairy industry and your operation for the rest of 2025 and into 2026.

Ben Buckner, Chief Grains and Dairy Analyst, AgResource Company

Access Now

Previously on The Dairy Signal

November 4

An essential leadership skill is coaching your team members and providing meaningful feedback. Learn how to approach coaching conversations in a variety of situations and how to generate buy-in from team members.

Michael Hoffman, President, Igniting Performance

November 6

There are several options for structuring your business as you plan ahead for a farm transition. Tune in to learn what each business structure has to offer.

Troy Schneider, Shareholder and Attorney, Menn Law Firm

Tune in every Tuesday and Thursday live from noon to 1 p.m. CT, or catch previous episodes on demand here.

Opportunities to Learn

TRAVEL UPDATE: Two seats have become available for the Feb 2-16, 2026 PDP international tour to New Zealand.

Join fellow dairy producers in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit both islands with a combination of agriculture tours and tourist attractions.

Call PDP office at 800-947-7379 to register.

MANAGERS ACADEMY FOR DAIRY PROFESSIONALS®

January 20-22, 2026

Puerto Rico

READY TO TAKE YOUR BUSINESS FROM GOOD TO GREAT?

Make travel plans today to join fellow dairy executives in San Juan, Puerto Rico for three days of immersive training and out of industry tours.

Participants will:

Pressure-test management systems
Build governance structures that support growth and accountability
Align your leadership team around mission, vision and values
Shift from estate planning to intentional transition planning

Learn more and register.

DAIRY MANAGERS INSTITUTE®

Dec. 16-17, 2025

Green Bay, Wis.

REGISTER TODAY for the two-day management and leadership program that builds on the core communications skills critical to those who are or will be managing others - designed for dairy producers and industry professionals alike.

Each participant selects one of three training tiers: leadership styles, coaching techniques, business financials and negotiations.

Learn more and register.

FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR DAIRY

Kewaunee, Wis.

Level One -

Nov. 12-13, 2025

Dec. 3-4, 2025

Level Two -

Jan. 15-16, 2026

Feb. 4-5, 2026

Mar. 10-11, 2026

Learn more and register.

STRIDE™ YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Nov. 12, 2025

River Falls, Wis.

Learn more.

DAIRY WELLBEING WORKSHOP

Nov. 19, 20, 2025

Green Bay, Wis.

Learn more and register.

CORNERSTONE DAIRY ACADEMY®

March 3-4, 2026

Madison, Wis.

Applications due Jan. 15

Learn more and apply.

For Your Dairy Mind

IMPACT OF PAIR HOUSING BY SEASON was evaluated in a study published in the Journal of Dairy Science. Researchers in Florida evaluated Holstein heifer calves in individual and pair housing to determine how housing and season affect growth and health. Calves raised in pairs consumed more starter feed, gained weight faster, and were more active. Cool-season calves had fewer health challenges, including scours and fever, and pair housing provided the greatest benefits during this time. Read the full study to learn more.

UNDERSTAND WHAT DRIVES PROTEIN levels in milk to improve dairy farm income, cow performance and efficiency. A UW-Extension article outlines how cows convert dietary protein into milk protein via a multi‐step process involving rumen microbes and intestinal absorption. Management practices for boosting protein levels include:

· Be aware of seasonal trends

· Regularly test forages and feedstuffs

· Monitor milk urea nitrogen (MUN)

· Factor in economics

Learn more.

Your Farm - Your Footprint®

THE TIME IS NOW

Learn your baseline sustainability score today so that you can take credit for any projects that lower your carbon footprint score. Proof of your farm's progress is more important than ever and non-government grants are availalbe through Professional Dairy Producers® to help farms calculate their carbon footprint and emissions score.

“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 www.pdpw.org/your-farm-your-footprint/.

Dairy Currents

MORE THAN 260 PROJECTS have been funded over the past five years by the Dairy Innovation Hub, spanning three campuses and four priority areas. The program’s sixth annual report highlights that $7.8 million was allocated for new dairy initiatives during the 2025 fiscal year. The report also notes strong activity in publishing, presenting, and sharing findings; including 220 journal articles, abstracts, or posters accepted in FY25, along with 214 presentations delivered to live audiences. Learn more.

STAY ALERT, STAY INFORMED to avoid falling victim to scams targeting businesses. Because local businesses and farms don’t have cyber security support or established accounting processes of larger companies, they can be more vulnerable to scams. Read an alert from the Better Business Bureau reviewing 10 scams along with examples and tips on how to spot them. Top scams include phishing, phony invoices, tech support scams, stolen identity, overpayment scams and more. Read more.

Foundation Focus

HAVE A GREAT IDEA? Dairy’s Foundation is accepting grant applications to fund new programs to educate dairy farmers or share information about the dairy industry with the public.

The fall 2025 grant deadline is Dec. 1., 2025, for grants up to $10,000 for programs that build the skills of students or dairy producers or increase public trust in the people and products of dairy. Organizations across the country, including dairy associations, nonprofits, and educational organizations with a tax status of 501(c)(3) or (5) may apply.

Since 2010, Dairy’s Foundation has awarded more than $365,000 in grants to support programs nationwide. In recent years, grants have funded a variety of programs from dairy education exhibits at museums or events to distributing dairy-themed books, as well as supporting educational programs for FFA students and conferences for cheesemakers and dairy producers.

Please share the grant information with organizations that might benefit. Complete grant information is available here. Inquiries about Dairy’s Foundation grants can be sent to info@dairyfoundation.org.