DAIRY NEWS – Dairy producers will take conversations about sustainability outside the meeting room to see management practices at work in fields and barns during the 2026 Carbon, Crops + Cows program on July 28 and 30. Presented by Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP), the program will bring together dairy owners, managers, nutritionists, crop consultants and agronomists to learn the key elements of sustainability metrics and how management practices can impact a farm’s sustainability scores.
Workshops will be held on Tuesday, July 28, at Mystic Valley Dairy LLC in Sauk City, Wis., and Thursday, July 30, at Grass Ridge Farm LLC in Pittsville, Wis. Registration begins at 10:00 each day, with the program running from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lunch and program materials provided.
“Sustainability is at the heart of successful dairy businesses and we are always looking for ways to be more efficient, productive and resourceful,” said Paul Lippert, Pittsville, Wis., dairy producer and PDP board president. “The Carbon, Crops + Cows program is a great way for producers to understand the options and the process for measuring their sustainability and carbon scores, learn actionable steps to improve and know the opportunities ahead.”
The program will begin with interactive presentations and discussions during which attendees will use FARM-ES and other tools to evaluate the impact of cropping practices, feed strategies, manure management and energy use on sustainability metrics. Presenters will be:
- Kelsey Lichtenwalner, lead animal scientist at Eocene Environmental Group, who oversees data collection, verification and report development to support science-based outcomes. She brings expertise in livestock systems and works on her family’s North Carolina farm, raising farm-to-table beef, lamb and hay.
- Grace Moeller, manager of sustainability initiatives at National Milk Producers Federation, who leads implementation of the National Dairy FARM Program’s Environmental Stewardship and Workforce Development pillars. Her efforts support evaluator training, resource development and stakeholder engagement across the dairy industry.
Attendees will also hear from dairy producers who have participated in PDP’s Your Farm – Your Footprint® initiative, which empowers dairy farmers to know and understand their environmental footprint and offers solutions to shape the future of their farm.
- Mitch Breunig owns Mystic Valley Dairy near Sauk City, Wis., where he and his family milk 450 cows and farm 1,050 acres. The operation focuses on genetics, longevity and overall herd performance
- Paul Lippert co-owns Grass Ridge Farm, LLC, in Pittsville, Wis., managing 700 Holsteins and Jerseys as well as overseeing the farm’s agronomy.
A farmer-led initiative, Your Farm – Your Footprint provides an unbiased, data-protected approach that includes a comprehensive sustainability assessment, customized farm action plan, a peer-learning community and financial assistance.
To learn more and register for the program, visit www.pdpw.org or contact PDP at 800-947-7379. Carbon, Crops + Cows is accredited for up to 4.5 Dairy AdvanCE continuing education credits. Follow along digitally in advance of and during the event by following PDP on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) is the nation’s largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.”
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