SEE NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR FEEDING, RUMINATION AND ACTIVITY MONITORING AND MORE on the 2023 Innovation & Technology Farm Tours hosted by PDPW. Join on one or both days of the tours at JTP Dairy in Dorchester, Wis., on Aug. 23 and Minglewood Inc., in Deer Park, Wis., on Aug. 24. Learn from dairy producers who have implemented new technologies and share ideas with peers during the tours. Click here for details and registration information.

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND THE 2023 ACE TWILIGHT MEETINGS to engage with community leaders, elected officials and neighbors about the opportunities and issues that are most important in your community. Each event starts with a dairy tour at 6 p.m., followed by ice cream and open dialogue. Meetings will conclude at 8:30 p.m. Learn more here. 

RSVP in advance by calling PDPW at 800.947.7379 or by registering here.

CONSUMER-PRODUCER RELATIONSHIPS ARE TIED WITH CONTINUING EDUCATION, and Dairy AdvanCE^® (DACE) is the answer to this growing demand.

Be future-ready by continuing your education regularly – and tracking it with Dairy AdvanCE. For more information on how to begin tracking CEs and a list of the other education providers through which credits can be earned, visit the Dairy AdvanCE website here. 

A FULL YEAR OF TOP-NOTCH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS is on tap for the 2023-24 program year presented by PDPW. The PDPW program calendar is developed by our producer-led board of directors with input from PDPW members based on the educational needs they feel are most urgent. Programs are designed for dairy farm owners, managers, employees and allied industry with a focus on building and strengthening the business and careers of the entire dairy community through elite training opportunities. See the asterisked programs to identify which will be simultaneously translated into Spanish.

Check out the full calendar here.

ESTABLISHING PROTOCOLS FOR CLEANING AND SANITIZING multi-dose syringes and transfer needles will reduce the risk of inactivating vaccines, tissue irritation and abscess formation that can happen when contaminated equipment is used. A fact sheet from UW-Madison Division of Extension outlines the process for cleaning, heat sanitizing and storage that will reduce contamination from many viruses, bacteria and fungi. Read here to download the factsheet to share with your teams.

PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTATION CAN PROVIDE HEALTH BENEFITS TO DAIRY CALVES, according to an article summarizing several research studies. While 25-30% of calves have at least one bout of diarrhea or digestive issue during preweaning, only a small amount of diarrhea requires antibiotic treatment. Ongoing research into a calf’s gut microbe and a review of existing research showed that probiotic supplementation improved calf growth and reduced diarrhea. There is significant variability based on the strain of bacteria or yeast used, if it is a live or dead probiotic and the disease pressure on a particular farm. Read the full article to learn more. 

HOW WILL VARIATION IN THE 2023 CORN CROP IMPACT FEED QUANTITY AND QUALITY? Scattered weather patterns in the Midwest and wide ranges in rainfall across the country have led to significant variations in the corn crop. In a recent episode of The Dairy Signal, Dr. John Goeser PhD, from Rock River Lab, Inc., and Adjunct Assistant Professor at UW-Madison, and Todd Schaumburg, from Tilth Agronomy shared insights on the crop so far and an outlook for silage harvest and feed quality. A key takeaway from the discussion was recording the tasseling dates for corn fields, with an approximate harvest date 45 days from when most corn was tasseling. Watch or listen to the full episode for more tips and insights here.

CONTACT PREMIER DAIRY SUPPLIERS WITH PDPW PRIME® and take the hassle out of finding an industry professional for the services and resources you need. PDPW Prime companies represent a wide swath of categories, including animal health, buildings, crops, feed and feed additives, implements and equipment, milk handling equipment and more.

Check pdpw.org/prime regularly to find updated specials offered by the leading dairy-industry companies and service providers listed. 

TIME FOR MID-YEAR FINANCIAL CHECK to review progress against the year’s goals and make plans for the rest of 2023. Taking time to update books and key financial statements, including your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement, will allow you to review progress against the year’s goals. A few questions to consider are:

Read more from Penn State Extension about questions and measurements for a mid-year check here.

INVESTING IN THE POTENTIAL OF HIDDEN LEADERS will pay off in dividends for a business. High-potential employees may be afraid to step into leadership roles for several reasons. Making adjustments to communications strategies and company culture may provide them with an opportunity to shine while tapping into the insight of experienced, capable team members. Look for team members who are afraid to disagree at work, are reluctant to express ideas in meetings, are hesitant to speak up, and are unsure how to be heard in chaotic environments. Read more about strategies to find and empower hidden leaders here.

RESISTING THE URGE TO “BE THE HERO” DURING CHALLENGING TIMES will ultimately build your team’s confidence and skills. An article from Kellogg Insight reviewed the instinct of leaders who immediately jump in to try and fix problems when they arise. They found this tactic often leads to frustration among the entire team. Instead, frequent training, learning opportunities and post-event reviews strengthen the entire team. Read the full article to learn more. 

CONNECT WITH LEADERS, RESEARCHERS, INNOVATORS. The Dairy Signal® continues to bring a wide array of valuable information to the dairy industry. From leading experts across dairy and agricultural industries to researchers at universities and government agencies, The Dairy Signal brings insights and the opportunity to interact on the most timely topics in the industry. The 60-minute sessions air every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with recorded episodes available at www.pdpw.org. Click here to tune in to archived sessions.

Healthy crops start with healthy soils. Join an interactive conversation about the ingredients in healthy soils and what producers can do to optimize their soils throughout the year.

July 27

WATCH FOR SIGNS OF HEAT ILLNESSES during the summer’s high temperatures. An article from Michigan State Extension outlines the symptoms and first response steps for most common heat illnesses, including heat rash, heat-related muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) and heat stroke. Employers can reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses by:

Learn more in the full article.

SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES LESSEN, INNOVATION TAKING CENTER STAGE for food retailers in 2023, according to a report by FMI – The Food Industry Association. Less than half of food retailers (44%) and 32% of suppliers believe supply chain disruptions will negatively impact their businesses this year, compared to 70% of food retailers and 83% of suppliers in 2022. Inflation continues to drive a focus on value to consumers, with nearly 70% of food retailers showcasing private brand programs as high-quality value alternatives. Learn more, including ten takeaways from the report in the full article.

SPECIALTY CHEESES ARE TAKING HOLD WITH TODAY’S CONSUMERS. New consumer research shows that 64% of American consumers purchased specialty cheeses in the past three months, highlighting the demand for these higher-priced products even during inflationary times. Gen Z was the most likely to buy specialty cheese, followed by Gen X, millennials, and baby boomers. According to an article in Supermarket Perimeter, increased sales can be contributed to increased access to social media highlighting how to serve specialty cheeses and the rise in the charcuterie board trend. Read more here.

"Before you are a leader, success is about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is about growing others." - Jack Welch

Roden Echo Valley, West Bend, Wis.,

Larson Acres, Evansville, Wis.,

Horse Creek Holsteins LLC, Star Prairie, Wis.,

Marti Farms, Vesper, Wis.