January 2025 Vol. 3
Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®
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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. 21 - Labor Trafficking Signs | |
Jan. 22 - Winter Sanitation Protocols | |
Previously on The Dairy Signal | |
January 14
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.
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Michael Hoffman, President, Igniting Performance
January 15
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.
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Dr. Luiz Ferraretto, Assistant Professor and Ruminant Nutrition Extension Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Madison
January 16
Join a discussion on raising beef on dairy with management practices and recommendations for raising these cattle from calf to carcass.
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Dan Schaefer, Owner, Schaefer Beef Consulting LLC
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ENROLLMENT DATES FOR 2025 USDA SAFETY NET PROGRAMS have been announced. Producers can submit applications to the USDA’s Farm Service Agency for Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for the 2025 coverage year from Jan. 29 through March 31, and for Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) from Jan. 21 through April 15 for the 2025 crop year. DMC offers different levels of coverage, even an option that is free to producers, minus a $100 administrative fee. The administrative fee is waived for dairy producers who are considered limited resource, beginning, socially disadvantaged or a military veteran. DMC payments are calculated using updated feed and premium hay costs, making the program more reflective of actual dairy producer expenses. These updated feed calculations use 100% premium alfalfa hay. Learn more.
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USE OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS to gather feedback and get input from team members on goals for the year ahead. Open-ended questions allow respondents to give more detailed and expansive answers in their own words, while closed-ended questions often require a simple “yes/no” response or provide a short list of possible answers. Examples of open-ended questions to start conversations include:
- What do you like most about your job today?
- Thinking back on your work over the last year, what are you most proud of and why?
- What’s one thing many people might not realize you do very well?
- If there’s one thing you could change about your work today, what would it be?
- Thinking about your future here, what’s one role you’d like to take on if given the opportunity and why do you think it would be a good fit for you?
Read the full article for more examples.
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PDP Carbon Conference 3.0
January 28, 2025
Madison, Wis.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR NUMBERS AND YOUR OPPORTUNITIES to make positive changes in your carbon footprint is critical for today's dairy producers. As conversations about sustainability and emission-reduction targets continue in corporate boardrooms and government halls around the world, the expectations for the dairy industry to be responsible and proactive will continue to grow stronger.
The conference will feature a full slate of presenters with deep expertise in the carbon arena including leaders in carbon market development, dairy processing, agricultural data and on-farm practices.
Learn more and register.
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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.
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PDP Dairy Wellbeing Workshop
Feb. 11 and Feb. 12
Green Bay, Wis.
Learn more and register.
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2025 Business Conference Corner | |
The countdown is on!
Today’s dairy industry demands grit, determination and an unwavering commitment to excellence. The 2025 PDP Business Conference will deliver two days of world-class programming, leading researchers, experts, and dairy suppliers and networking opportunities for dairy producers to “dial it in” for success.
Make plans to join us March 12-13 in Madison, and watch this section for sneak previews and tips to make the most of your Business Conference experience.
The 2025 Business Conference will deliver:
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50 precision-focused sessions with producer panels, hands-on labs, and simultaneous Spanish translation.
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High-impact networking with dairy’s top producers, decision-makers, and innovators.
- Five forward-thinking Nexus innovation-stage finalists showcasing the next big ideas in dairy.
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Breakthrough research from leading universities and the Dairy Innovation Hub.
- The Hall of Ideas Trade Show featuring today's premier suppliers with modern ideas, services and tools.
Learn more and register.
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EARLY DETECTION OF SICK FRESH COWS should be the focus point of any herd health program. With more than 35% of dairy cows having at least one clinical infectious disease or metabolic disorder in the first 90 days after calving, an article from UW-Extension highlights key questions and preparations for farms to examine and treat transition cows.
- Do you have a list or report of all fresh cows, with fresh dates, and milk production?
- Is your fresh cow cart or area clean and well organized and stocked with the appropriate treatments needed for the number of cows to be examined?
- Do you have all the tools needed to implement the treatment protocols?
- Is all the equipment being used in good repair?
- Do you have a system to clean and disinfect equipment between cows or uses?
Read the full article for more questions and tips for your entire team.
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QUALITY, QUANTITY, QUICKNESS AND CLEANLINESS are the keys to effective colostrum feeding for dairy calves. In a recent episode of The Dairy Signal, Dr. Michael Steele of the University of Guelph shared a number of studies on the impact of both postnatal and prenatal nutrition on the health and productive life of calves with a focus on colostrum. He reviewed the process for sampling calves to manage passive transfer, by comparing the impact of feeding colostrum by bottle or tube, the timing of colostrum feeding and the impact of extended colostrum feeding over the first days and weeks. Watch The Dairy Signal episode to learn more about ongoing research and questions that research teams are addressing to understand the critical impact of nutrition in the first week of life.
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Vote for 2025-26 PDP Board Members | |
AS A PRODUCER-LED GROUP, we invite active PDP farm members to vote for their PDP Board of Directors. Our grassroots, producer-led mission and vision equip PDP with a board of active dairy farmers who serve up to two 3-year terms.
The PDP Board has three available positions and each PDP farm member (one official ballot per farm entity) can vote for up to three candidates, according to our bylaws.
View the sample ballot on our website to learn more about each candidate.
You can cast your ballot in one of two manners:
- In person - attend and submit at PDP’s Business Conference, March 12-13, 2025, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI.
- By mail - postmarked by Feb. 17, mail to PDPW at 820 N. Main, Suite D, Juneau, WI 53039
Learn more here.
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Your Farm - Your Footprint | |
YOUR FARM – YOUR FOOTPRINT: YOUR SUSTAINABILITY STORY
Modern consumers value sustainably produced food, and your farm is already doing its part. With Your Farm - Your Footprint (YFYF), you can highlight your sustainability efforts—without having to share your data with anyone.
YFYF helps you measure the impact of your practices, so you can confidently showcase your farm’s commitment to sustainability. The data stays with you, but the story of your farm’s positive environmental and resource management practices is yours to tell.
Your sustainability efforts matter, and with YFYF, you control how you share that story. Learn more and sign up today at www. pdpw.org/your-farm-your-footprint/.
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Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. - Tom Thibodeau
Servant leadership trainer Tom Thibodeau joins us to remember a man widely regarded as one of the greatest nonviolent leaders in world history. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood under the voice of moral authority. He preached for non violence and peace. He preached for understanding and compassion. He was steadfast in believing we are all God's children; that everybody is worthy of dignity and respect. He was articulate, thoughtful and his words still ring with us today.
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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 milk handling equipment 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. | |
"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit." The essential part of creativity is not being afraid."
- Conrad Hilton
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Thank You, National Partners | |
Professional Dairy Producers
820 North Main St.
Juneau, WI 53039
800-947-7379
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