SET UP INTERNS FOR CAREER SUCCESS WITH EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM designed to help them make the most of their experience and prepare for the future. Michael Hoffman will bring his interactive, high-energy style to facilitate this one-day workshop to help participants learn valuable skills including starting a conversation and connecting with others, employing confident body language, delivering and receiving feedback and more. Watch the PDPW website for more details soon, including the program flier and registration information. 

DAIRY’S FOUNDATION: FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE. As the Professional Dairy Producers Foundation – Dairy’s Foundation – celebrates its 20^th year of supporting dairy industry initiatives and programs, a look back shows its reach has grown exponentially. The foundation works to ensure funding for educational programs in three key areas: raising up the next generation of professional dairy producers, growing and maintaining public trust in dairy’s people and products, and building the skills of dairy producers.

Two decades running, Dairy’s Foundation has made an impact in rural and urban settings across all demographics from coast to coast. Some of the core giving campaign donors contribute through the annual Plant A Seed campaign, Two Cents for Tomorrow, I Believe, planned giving and more, as listed here on their website. The foundation also awards grants up to $5,000 to projects that will build producer professionalism and maintain public trust through programs that educate and engage both the dairy community and the public.

To learn more about Dairy’s Foundation, visit their website and follow them on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

PROPER FOOTBATH MANAGEMENT IN AUTOMATED MILKING SYSTEMS can deliver returns for animal health and production. An article from UW Extension highlights the challenges lameness can present in automated milking systems, since lame cows make fewer visits to the robot, have reduced milk yields and are at a higher risk for being on the fetch list. Recommendations for proper design and use of footbath in AMS herds include:

Read the full article for more details and resources.

INCREASING SEROTONIN-SIGNALING HASTENS MAMMARY GLAND involution and redevelopment in dairy cows, according to research published in the Journal of Dairy Science. Researchers administered an intramammary infusion of sterile water and 5-HTP, a precursor of serotonin, to cows once daily five days before dry-off. Cows receiving the treatment appeared to have a more efficient involution, evidenced by increased cell death, epithelial tight junction permeability, and downregulation of milk-protein genes. Further studies will evaluate a higher dosage of 5-HTP on the day of dry-off as a practical approach for on-farm use. Read the full study to learn more.

ANTIBIOTIC STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON DAIRY CALVES can help reduce sources of resistant bacteria on dairies, improve animal health and reduce antibiotic expenses. A Penn State Extension article highlights research and protocols that show a positive return, including the implementation of a strong colostrum management protocol to reduce the number of failure of passive transfer (FPT) incidents on a dairy. The cost of one FPT case is estimated at nearly $70. In addition, developing a protocol to manage treatment of calf diarrhea in a more targeted way can also reduce antibiotic expenses and improve health outcomes. Learn more here.

REDUCING VARIABILITY IN FEED REFUSALS can benefit bottom line and reduce feed loss as feed costs continue to tighten margins for dairy farms. An article from University of Minnesota Extension shares recommendations dairy farmers can use to target intakes of cows more precisely and limit feed refusals:

Read more here. 

TREATING EMPLOYEES WITH RESPECT EVEN IN DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, is a key element in building trust and a positive culture. An article from Inc. magazine cautions leaders about “scolding” employees instead of treating them like adults. The author suggests replacing negative language with solution-oriented conversations, including examples such as:

Read more in the full article. 

INNOVATIONS TAKE CENTER STAGE ON THE DAIRY SIGNAL. The Dairy Signal always provides opportunities for interactive discussions with leading researchers, farmers and innovators. To that end, the Dairy Signal has been featuring the next generation of dairy ideas by facilitating discussions with the 2023 Nexus Stage presenters. Be sure to tune in to the special Innovation Week sessions, as well as all the others. The 60-minute sessions air every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with recorded episodes available for free at pdpw.org. Click here to find archived recordings of sessions.

Lucas Schmidt of New Holstein, Wis., is one of 22 dairy producers and other industry professionals who graduated from the 2023 class of Cornerstone Dairy Academy®. Lucas is Maintenance Manager at Breeze Dairy Group LLC and has worked at Lake Breeze Dairy in Malone, Wis., for over 16 years, serving in multiple positions.

Cornerstone Dairy Academy is an application-based program designed to equip producers and industry professionals with the tools to effectively communicate and more proficiently collaborate and lead others. The two-day program is held in conjunction with the PDPW Business Conference. Applications for the 2024 program will soon be available at www.pdpw.org. 

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY for agricultural producers and rural small business owners. Those considering improvements or adding equipment to make their farm or business more energy efficient should check out guaranteed loan and grant opportunities available through the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). There are six application deadlines open through September 2024. Learn more about the program including requirements, deadlines and state contacts here and here. 

DRINK MILK TO HELP PROTECT BRAIN FROM DAMAGE OF AGING and age-related diseases. According to research conducted at University of Kansas Medical Center, researchers found that adults aged 60-89 who drink three cups of dairy milk a day can boost their brains’ levels of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH). GSH helps stave off oxidative stress which is believed to be a major mechanism of brain aging as well as many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that adults drink three cups of milk a day. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, the typical American over age 60 drinks fewer than two. Read more here.

LEARN ABOUT USDA REVENUE-BASED PROGRAMS. In January, USDA’s Farm Service Agency announced two new revenue-based programs designed to assist producers who experienced revenue losses from 2020 and 2021 natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications for both the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two and the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) are due June 2, 2023. The agency has shared details on how to apply, which documents are required for participation and insurance requirements. They’ve also shared communications to help clarify misinformation making its way across the countryside. Learn more on the USDA website.