To view the full list of PDPW programs, view the educational calendar here.

TOUR, LEARN AND CONNECT on the 2023 Innovation & Technology Farm Tours. Join us for one or both days of the tours. On Weds., Aug. 23, attendees should meet at JTP Dairy in Dorchester, Wis., at 1 pm, with the event concluding by 4 pm. On Thur., Aug. 24, the program at Minglewood Inc., in Deer Park, Wis., will begin at 9 am and wind up by noon. Learn from dairy producers who have implemented new technologies and share ideas with peers during the tours. Click here for registration information and more details.

On Weds., Aug. 23, attendees should meet at JTP Dairy in Dorchester, Wis., at 1 pm, with the event concluding by 4 pm. On Thur., Aug. 24, the program at Minglewood Inc., in Deer Park, Wis., will begin at 9 am and wind up by noon. Learn from dairy producers who have implemented new technologies and share ideas with peers during the tours. Click here for registration information and more details.

CONVERSATIONS, IDEAS AND ICE CREAM are on tap at the 2023 ACE Twilight meetings. Join community leaders, elected officials and neighbors for a farm tour and take part in the discussions about challenges and opportunities facing rural Wisconsin. Each evening includes a dairy farm tour starting at 6 p.m., followed by ice cream and conversation. Learn more here. 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR STRIDE YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE! Students ages 15-18 will want to be involved in this one-day program on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Through hands-on labs and conversations with experts, participants will explore food, animal and soil science, all while spending an unforgettable day learning how to step into leadership.

Pre-registration required. Learn more here.

DAIRY PRODUCERS WILL NEED TO PROVE in the not-so-distant future that they and their staff regularly engage in training and education programs. Dairy AdvanCE® is an online continuing education management tool for dairy farmers and other professionals that simplifies finding, tracking and managing continuing education units (CEUs). Examples of accredited training programs range from financial management to labor recruitment and retention, animal welfare, environmental sustainability and more. Dairy AdvanCE subscriptions are free to farmers and students; other professionals can subscribe for a one-time fee of $75.

Check out the information video here, or go to www.dairyadvance.org to learn more and get started today.

NUTRITION AND TRANSITION COW MANAGEMENT ARE KEY to preventing ketosis. This common metabolic disorder in high-producing dairy cows occurs when a cow is not consuming enough energy. An article from UW-Madison highlights management practices to help prevent the disorder, including the following protocols:

Learn more practices and a review of ketosis in the full article. 

IDENTIFYING COWS THAT EMIT LESS METHANE NATURALLY was the focus of research recently published in the Journal of Dairy Science. The study showed that cows that emitted less methane tended to be physically smaller and had different microbial communities. These differences were not associated with lower milk production or a change in milk composition. The small study of five low-methane-emitting cows and five high-methane-emitting cows from a herd of 130 lactating Holstein cows showed the low emitters produced approximately 22% less methane than high emitters, corresponding to 278 pounds of methane per year per cow instead of 354 pounds per year. Research continues regarding whether these traits can be passed on through selective breeding as well as if emissions can be further reduced with feed and management practices. Learn more here. 

CONTACT PREMIER DAIRY SUPPLIERS WITH PDPW PRIME® to find seasonal specials offered by leading dairy-industry companies and service providers and. PDPW Prime companies represent a multitude of allied industry organizations, including businesses representing animal health, artificial insemination, buildings and facilities, crops, feed and feed additives, implements and equipment, milk handling equipment and more.

Make pdpw.org/prime your one-stop shop to take the hassle out of finding an industry professional for the services and resources you need.

CAN OVERCOMMUNICATING HELP YOU BE MORE PRODUCTIVE? An article from Fast Company recommends more communication upfront to avoid multiple rounds of questions, status updates and confusion later. Five ways to proactively communicate include:

Learn more about each of these in the full article.

A POSITIVE NEW-HIRE EXPERIENCE STARTS AT THE INTERVIEW and even before the official first day, according to Don Tyler in a recent episode of The Dairy Signal®. The job interview is generally the first opportunity to build a relationship, so the candidate should be welcomed and valued. Another good practice is to have a friendly employee or manager reach out to the new hire a few days before the start date to answer questions and provide information that might not have been covered in the interview or job offer. Watch the full episode for the discussion and best practices for the entire onboarding experience. 

PATIENCE CAN PAY OFF AT WORK with better ideas, stronger organizations and more ethical conduct. A Kellogg Insight article looks at research on the impact of long-term thinking in organizations and highlights several situations where patience instead of short-term gratification delivers benefits. Taking your time for the right management hires, avoiding short-term cost-cutting that will have long-lasting negative impacts and tapping into experience for launching new products and ideas are just a few examples. Read more here.

INSIGHTS ON THE MOST TIMELY DAIRY TOPICS. Three days a week, The Dairy Signal® connects listeners with leading experts across dairy and agricultural industries to researchers at universities and government agencies to bring updates on the trends and topics that will affect your dairy business. 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.

DRIVERS FOR U.S. DAIRY EXPORTS FOR THE SECOND HALF of 2023 are the focus of a U.S. Dairy Export Council blog post. While total dairy exports in June were 13% lower than 2022, there was a rebound in cheese exports compared to May. Key trends from the first half of 2022 include lower cheese prices in Europe that led to a decline in U.S. exports, reduced pork prices in China which lowered sweet whey and permeate purchases and more competition combined with economic headwinds that slowed U.S. exports to southeast Asia. On the positive side, the demand for protein concentrate WPC80+ increased as prices rebalanced, and a strong peso and consumer demand led to Mexico’s import increase. Read details here. 

MANAGING BACK-TO-SCHOOL STRESS. After a summer of family activities and time on the farm, returning to school can be stressful for students of all ages. Help your children transition back to the school routine and manage challenges with the following tips from UW Extension:

Learn more in the full article.

CONSUMERS ARE DEMANDING VALUE-ADDED MEAT, POULTRY AND SEAFOOD products as they try to re-create restaurant experiences at home. The 2023 Power of Meat study found an increased number of customers frequently bought pre-marinated, pre-cut or pre-seasoned meat; 73% in 2023 – up from 60% in 2020. Consumers are looking to increase value in a number of ways, including buying larger cuts to use in multiple meals or buying blended products to make the most of both taste and price. Read an article from Progressive Grocer to learn more. 

UNREASONABLE HOSPITALITY: THE REMARKABLE POWER OF GIVING PEOPLE MORE THAN THEY EXPECT. A former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park shares how a focus on hospitality and collaboration between the kitchen and dining room transformed a two-star restaurant into one of the best in the world. The author gives examples of turning ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences and provides lessons to find magic in our own daily work and service. Learn more.

“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”

- Steve Maraboli

Roden Echo Valley, West Bend, Wis.,

Larson Acres, Evansville, Wis.,

Horse Creek Holsteins LLC, Star Prairie, Wis.,

Marti Farms, Vesper, Wis.