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

Jan. 14 - Coaching Corner: Igniting Team Culture

Return to the “Coaching Corner” with a focus on igniting team culture, including how to build culture on purpose and setting goals for your team’s culture.



  • Michael Hoffman, President, Igniting Performance

Jan. 15 - 2024-25 Feed Inventory

Tune in for a review of 2024 silage and high moisture crop results, strategies for managing rations for 2025 and a discussion on managing feed inventories.


  • Dr. Luiz Ferraretto, Assistant Professor and Ruminant Nutrition Extension Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Jan. 16 - Raising Beef on Dairy

Join a discussion on raising beef on dairy with management practices and recommendations for raising these cattle from calf to carcass.



  • Dan Schaefer, Owner, Schaefer Beef Consulting LLC
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Previously on The Dairy Signal

January 7

Tune in for a discussion on virtual fencing and other technologies to improve management and performance of grazing dairy heifers.



  • Stephanie Bowers, MS, Regional Dairy Educator, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension


January 8

Learn about the use of aspirin for use in dairy cow inflammation, including the impacts of use and when aspirin can make a difference.


  • Dr. Adrian Barragan, DVM, MS, PhD, Extension Veterinarian and Assistant Clinical Professor, Veterinary and Biomedical Science Department, Pennsylvania State University


January 9

Prepare for the year ahead with a conversation on what dairy producers should be watching for in the dairy markets and what can help them prepare and manage through these volatile times.



  • Leonard Polzin, Dairy Markets and Policy Outreach Specialist, UW-Extension

For Your Dairy

WHAT EFFECT DOES PAIRING AGE HAVE on calf health, performance and behavior? A study published in the Journal of Dairy Science followed 140 Holstein calves who were paired at either 7 days (Early), 30 days (Intermediate) and 50 days (Late) and found no difference between disease prevalence. The study did find that early paired calves had higher initial calf starter intake and growth rates as well as exhibiting more exploration and play and less idle behavior than the other two groups. Learn more in the full study.

IMPACT OF ISOACIDS ON PERFORMANCE, DIGESTIBILITY AND MILK FATTY ACID PROFILE was the focus of research published in the Journal of Dairy Science. Researchers completed a 10 week trial with 64 Holstein cows assigned to treatments with isoacid supplementation in low or high forage diets. In high forage diets, isoacid supplementation increased nutrient digestibility and resulted in higher milk production, while in low forage diets, supplementation increased daily body weight gain while reducing milk urea nitrogen. At both levels, isoacids supplementation increased milk odd chain fatty acid profiles, which are considered beneficial for human health. Read the full study to learn more.

Opportunities to Learn

PDP Carbon Conference 3.0

January 28, 2025

Madison, Wis.



DAIRY PRODUCERS, DAIRY PROCESSORS, RESEARCHERS, CARBON INDUSTRY EXPERTS and more will be presenting and answering questions about the ever-evolving carbon marketplace at Carbon Conference 3.0. Don't miss your chance to assess your farm's current position and know what changes you can make to improve practices and capture the opportunities for your operation.


Learn more and register.

Financial Literacy for Dairy: Level Two

Jan. 22-23, 2025

Feb. 5-6, 2025

Feb. 26-27, 2025

Juneau, Wis.


TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO FINANCIAL TOOLS AND REPORTING METHODS with the multi-session Financial Literacy for Dairy program. Level Two program begins on Jan. 22 focused on profitability and cost-center tracking, enterprise budgets, balance sheet ratios, financial analysis, business planning and more. Sessions presented by Dr. Kevin Bernhardt and David Coggins.



Learn more and register.

Cornerstone Dairy Academy

March 11-12, 2025

Madison, Wis.


Don't wait - applications are due Jan. 31, 2025!


Learn more in English.

Learn more in Spanish.

PDP Dairy Wellbeing Workshop

Feb. 11 and Feb. 12

Green Bay, Wis.


Learn more and register.

PDP Business Conference

March 12-13, 2025

Madison, Wis.


On March 12-13, 2025, join the industry’s best as they zero in on the tools, insights and

connections that drive real results.


Save the date: March 12-13, 2025.


Learn more and register.

Dairy Currents

FOOD TRENDS IN 2025. After a volatile several years of inflation, pandemic and changing consumer preferences, food processors and companies are expected to focus on novel ingredients, nutrient-dense products and creative beverages in 2025. A FoodDive article highlights five trends to watch for this year:

  • Limited time offerings and unique brand collaborations will light up company portfolios. Think Sour Patch Kids flavored Oreo cookies.
  • Artificial intelligence has matured to become critical part of operations to manage data and trends, write copy, develop recipes and more.
  • The widespread use of GLP-1 drugs are causing consumers, and food companies to focus on protein, fiber, less sugar and convenience as top priorities.
  • Consumers are placing more value on food products that combine or “stack” multiple benefits, such as clean label, fiber, gut health, low sugar, sustainability and more.
  • Beverages are breaking category boundaries with new product lines that serve multiple purposes at the same time, with energy drinks, cocktails, coffee and soda overlapping.
  • Plant-based aquatic ingredients like sea moss, agar-agar, duckweed, and others are gaining attention as consumers look for more sustainable protein sources.

Read the full article to learn more about each trend.

ON-FARM PROCESSING ALSO ADDS BIOSECURITY CONSIDERATIONS for dairy farms, especially with urgency of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle. The additional handling steps with value-added or on-farm processing also bring potential for lapses in biosecurity with additional traffic to the farm and more employees and equipment. When reviewing biosecurity plans, include maps and contacts for the processing operation as well as creating a line of separation between the production, processing and retail spaces. An article from Penn State Extension outlines key questions to ask in shipping and receiving, waste streams, visitor education and management, food safety and communication. Learn more.

Your Farm Your Footprint

BUILD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE WITH YOUR FARM – YOUR FOOTPRINT.


Sustainability isn’t just about the environment—it’s about building a balanced, thriving farm.


Your Farm - Your Footprint (YFYF) helps you integrate all three pillars of sustainability into your operation:

  • Economic: Strengthen your bottom line by optimizing resources and improving efficiency.
  • Social: Foster a positive impact on your community and ensure a thriving workplace for generations to come.
  • Environmental: Reduce your footprint, conserve resources, and protect the land that supports your success.


YFYF brings together the tools, data, and expertise to help you measure your progress and take action. By balancing these three pillars, your farm can grow stronger today while planning for tomorrow. 

 

Learn more and sign up today at www. pdpw.org/your-farm-your-footprint/.

PDP Podcast Weekly

Being Positively Outrageous - Michael Hoffman

Michael Hoffman of Igniting Performance returns to the PDP Podcast to share a conversation he had with a special friend on the importance of being positively outrageous.

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 financial services 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.

Exhibit Here

Quote

"The essential part of creativity is not being afraid to fail."

- Edwin H. Land

Thank You, National Partners

Professional Dairy Producers
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