March 2025 Vol. 3

Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®

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.

March 18 - Make the most of her first day

March 19 - Risk management in a tariff environment

March 20 - Market update

Dairy Currents

INVESTMENT IN NEW U.S. BIOGAS SYSTEMS SET RECORD in 2024, with 125 new projects coming online, representing more than $3 billion, according to a report from the American Biogas Council. While landfill gas projects continue to produce the most biogas in the U.S., the agriculture sector created nearly four times the number of new projects – 93 farm projects vs. 24 landfill projects – and the total number of farm projects surpassed the total landfill gas projects for the first time. Biogas projects in the agriculture sector grew by almost 18%, from 522 to 615 total projects with new agriculture projects contributing 21,000 scfm of additional biogas output. Learn more.

THE RISE OF THE “SNACK GENERATION” is impacting how consumers and food companies are approaching the marketplace. A report from Mondelez found that 62% of consumers prefer grazing throughout the day instead of three big meals and one-third are replacing at least one daily meal with snacks. However, consumers want those snacks to work for them, with 60% saying they proactively choose snacks for health reasons. A Food Navigator article highlights the top 10 trends in snacking, including rise of TikTok in snack marketing, a boom in “bite-sized” snacks and a focus on sustainability. Learn more.

2025 Business Conference Recap

Thank you!

A huge thank you to everyone - attendees, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers and many more - who made the 2025 PDP Business Conference a tremendous success. Together, we "dialed it in" for our farms, businesses, and the entire dairy community for a productive and successful 2025.

Tier Two of Your Farm - Your Footprint now available

With the launch of the Your Farm - Your Footprint initiative at the 2024 PDP Business Conference, dairy producers have been able to secure a confidential carbon footprint assessment for their operation.

The second phase of the program announced at the 2025 Business Conference now offers financial incentives for implementing sustainability-focused farming practices. Cost-share funding is now available for eligible dairy farmers in specific milk sheds to receive financial assistance for adopting best practices that improve farm sustainability and operational efficiency. The program remains confidential and farmer-led, ensuring all farm data is private and producers have full control over their information. Participating producers have the opportunity to engage in peer groups to share insights and best practices.

The program is made possible by Dairy’s Foundation and sponsorship from Nestlé, furthering the commitment to achieving U.S. dairy’s sustainability goals. As a program sponsor, Nestlé’s involvement highlights the importance of industry-wide collaboration in achieving meaningful environmental progress.

Dairy farmers interested in Tier 2 Your Farm – Your Footprint opportunities can learn more by visiting PDP's website or calling 800-947-7379.

Three producers join PDP Board of Directors

Attendees were introduced to the new 2025-26 PDP board members at the close of the 2025 Business Conference. Newly elected members are Jordan Matthews, Rosy-Lane Holsteins, Watertown, Wis.; David Trimner, Miltrim Farms, Inc., Athens, Wis.; and Heather Moore, Moore Family Farms, Maquoketa, Iowa.

Three board members completed their terms and were recognized for their service and leadership. Thank you to John Haag, Corey Hodorff and Ken Feltz.

Kevin Griswold honored with Dean Strauss Leadership Award

Kevin Griswold was honored as the fifth recipient of the Dean Strauss Leadership Award. Griswold, who co-owns and operates Tag Lane Dairy, Ixonia, Wis., with his wife, Chris, was recognized for visionary thinking and servant leadership at his dairy, his community, across the dairy industry and beyond. Griswold served on the Board of Directors for PDP from 2002-2008 and as president of the Board from 2004-2007. He also served as a board member of Dairy's Foundation.

Auctions raise $50,000 for Dairy's Foundation

The dairy industry showed its support for education, outreach and programs to support the next generation of dairy leaders at the 2025 Business Conference. Together, the silent and live auctions raised a total of $50,000 during the event.

Thank you to everyone who placed bids and to all of the individuals and businesses who donated items for both silent and live auctions. The silent auction featured more than 80 offerings, including tickets and travel packages, a diamond ring, Wisconsin wine, beef and cheese baskets, and many other items. The live auction included a seat on the 2026 PDP New Zealand tour, a heifer donated by Sugar Creek Dairy, a Calf Cart Scale from Topcon and 40 eight-ounce blocks of 5 year aged cheddar from Mullins Cheese.

In addition to the silent auction, Dairy's Foundation continued to build awareness of the "Plant a Seed, Inspire a Dream" annual campaign. Contributions toward "Plant a Seed" will be taken through April 1, 2025, and can be made on the Dairy's Foundation website.

Pairing Tables provide tour of Wisconsin cheeses

A highlight of the "Evening on the Square" event on Wednesday was a set of tasting tables that paired Wisconsin cheeses with snacks, dressings and even cookies. Thank you to the team at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin for coordinating this fun and delicious tour! View the pairing table guide for inspiration for your next event.

Save the date for 2026

Mark your calendars now for the 2026 PDP Business Conference set for March 4-5, 2026, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis. With the theme of "Dairy's Blueprint: Drafing Tomorrow's Success," plans are already underway to showcase the latest information, innovations and educational resources for your dairy and business success.

For Your Business Mind

MAPPING OUT THE SUCCESSION PROCESS with key milestones can help prepare the next generation for both farm management and farm ownership, while also preparing the senior operators to transition to different on- or off-farm roles. In a presentation at the 2025 PDP Business Conference, Wesley Tucker, agricultural business field specialist from the University of Missouri outlined five phases where the successor:

• Phase 1 - Seeks experience and education away from the farm.
• Phase 2 - Works for a trial period on the farm.
• Phase 3 - Begins taking management and ownership responsibilities
• Phase 4 - Accepts advanced management and ownership responsibilities
• Phase 5 - Becomes majority manager and owner

Learn more about each phase in the extension publication.

ENCOURAGE POSITIVE DIALOGUE WITH “WHAT” QUESTIONS.  Leaders and managers know that asking questions is key to understanding what their team members are thinking and improving processes. Asking the right question can encourage conversation without sounding like a challenge. For example, asking “What concerns do you have about this approach?” can prompt more positive dialogue than “Why are you against this approach?” Questions starting with “Why” can lead to justifications rather than insights and trigger a personal response, while those starting with “What” can encourage more fact and solution-based responses. Learn more and see examples of questions in the full article.

PDP Podcast Weekly

Third Places

We welcome a new contributor to the PDP Podcast, Dr. Richard Kyte! Richard is Director of the D. B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership and Endowed Professor of Ethics at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin where he teaches a variety of courses dealing with ethical issues in business, health care, law, politics, and the environment. He has published and lectured widely on topics related to justice, forgiveness, virtue, and the meaning of life. You can learn more about Rick on his personal website. 

This week, Dr. Kyte shares finding your third place. At a time when our nation is facing an epidemic of loneliness and political polarization, what if the answer to many of our problems lies in a simple idea? What if we just need to pay attention to the places where we find ourselves?

"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation."

- Brian Tracy

Business Management & Advanced Finance Workshop

Oct 29-30, 2025

Managers Academy

Jan 20-21, 2026

2026 PDP Business Conference

March 4-5, 2026