Uplevel Dairy Podcast: Recent Episodes
Peggy Coffeen
What does it take to be a successful, profitable and competitive dairy farm business? This is the podcast for dairy owners, managers and advisors who are after their next level of success. Join Uplevel Dairy host Peggy Coffeen each week as she sits down with the industry’s leading dairy producers and thought leaders for real conversations about management, culture, leadership, family business, finance and human resources.
In this episode of our special Showbox Stories series, sponsored by CowManager, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott delve into the life and career of Larry Schirm, an industry icon in the dairy world. The conversation touches on pivotal moments, influential mentors, and the evolution of genetic tools like genomics in the industry. Larry also emphasizes the importance of consistency in breeding and cow families. The episode wraps up with heartfelt reflections on family and the cherished connections Larry has made throughout his career.
This series is brought to you by CowManager.
CowManager delivers 24/7 real-time data to help producers enhance herd health, fertility and nutrition. At World Dairy Expo, the company unveiled its latest innovation — Find My Cow Flash — designed to help producers save time, reduce labor costs, and increase daily efficiency. To learn more, contact your CowManager Specialist at Select Sires or visit CowManager.com.
- Website: https://www.cowmanager.com/
- Contact: https://www.cowmanager.com/contact/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowManager
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowmanagers/#
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowmanager-bv/posts/?feedView=all
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cowmanager
This episode of Showbox Stories, recorded at World Dairy Expo and presented by CowManager, features Denton Ross, Hadley Ross, and Justin Stewart from Arizona Dairy Company as they share their journey in dairy farming and show cattle, highlighting their focus on genetics, dairy management, and the importance of cultivating a culture of respect and excellence within their operations. The Ross family also reflects on some memorable moments, including Hadley’s achievement of winning the Supreme Champion of the junior show at World Dairy Expo 2021.
This series is brought to you by CowManager.
CowManager delivers 24/7 real-time data to help producers enhance herd health, fertility and nutrition. At World Dairy Expo, the company unveiled its latest innovation — Find My Cow Flash — designed to help producers save time, reduce labor costs, and increase daily efficiency. To learn more, contact your CowManager Specialist at Select Sires or visit CowManager.com.
- Website: https://www.cowmanager.com/
- Contact: https://www.cowmanager.com/contact/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowManager
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowmanagers/#
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowmanager-bv/posts/?feedView=all
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cowmanager
In this episode, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott sit down at the World Dairy Expo for their Showbox Stories Series. Featured guest Jeff Butler from Butlerview Farms discusses his journey in the dairy industry, from his early days in 4H to his successes with show cattle. He shares memorable experiences, mentors who shaped his career, and insights into modern dairy practices with tools like CowManager. The conversation reflects on the importance of heritage, vision, and technology in dairy farming and showcases Butler's commitment to mentoring the next generation of dairy farmers.
This series is brought to you by CowManager.
CowManager delivers 24/7 real-time data to help producers enhance herd health, fertility and nutrition. At World Dairy Expo, the company unveiled its latest innovation — Find My Cow Flash — designed to help producers save time, reduce labor costs, and increase daily efficiency. To learn more, contact your CowManager Specialist at Select Sires or visit CowManager.com.
- Website: https://www.cowmanager.com/
- Contact: https://www.cowmanager.com/contact/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowManager
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowmanagers/#
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowmanager-bv/posts/?feedView=all
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cowmanager
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Amber Horn-Leiterman of Hornstead Dairy Farm delves into how innovative data collection and technology have transformed their dairy farm's management. She recounts overcoming a challenging reproductive issue through meticulous data tracking and nutrition adjustments.
The episode also explores the integration of smaXtec’s monitoring system, which tracks crucial health metrics like temperature and rumination, leading to significant improvements in herd health, reproduction rates, and overall efficiency. Amber highlights the importance of adaptive management, learning from real-time data, and continuous improvement to ensure the farm's sustainability and success.
This episode is brought to you by smaXtec.
smaXtec is the internal health management system for dairy cows. The unique bolus technology measures internal temperature, rumination, drinking cycles, activity and more.
smaXtec helps dairy farmers of any size make confident, data-driven decisions that lead to healthier cows, fewer treatments and better performance. With early detection and 24/7 monitoring, dairies can stay ahead of herd health issues and focus on long-term herd success. Find out more: https://smaxtec.com/us/
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Danielle Ware, a longtime team member at Shiloh Dairy, to discuss her journey from managing the office to leading a team.
Over the years, she transitioned from handling administrative tasks to becoming the parlor manager, significantly improving milk quality and expanding the team while growing the herd. Danielle emphasizes the importance of respect, protocol-driven operations, and personal connections with employees. She discusses her approach to building a strong team culture, recognizing potential, and making tough decisions.
Throughout the episode, Danielle highlights several success stories of team members who have grown and excelled under her leadership.
This Episode is Brought to you by AdisseoThis episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Casey Treloar, an Australian dairy farmer's daughter turned news journalist. Casey shares her journey of combining her passion for dairy farming and journalism, leading to her coverage of dairy shows like World Dairy Expo.
They discuss Casey's impactful experiences, including her viral social media campaign for Australian dairy farmers and her work with Cosmopolitan's live Expo coverage. The episode highlights upcoming events at World Dairy Expo and underscores the importance of saying 'yes' to opportunities in the dairy industry.
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Cowsmo Publications
Find “Cowsmo on Cue” during World Dairy Expo week here: https://www.facebook.com/cowsmo
Catch up with us at World Dairy Expo:
National Dairy Shrine Young Professionals Luncheon
Monday, Sept. 29, Noon-2 p.m. – Sign up here
Tanbark Talk: No-Feed, Successful Results: A New Era in Robotic Milking
Thursday, Oct. 2, 8-10 a.m.
Hosted by: DeLaval
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Pauly Paul is back and sits down to discuss recent challenges and solutions in dairy farm management.
Focusing on employee training, Pauly addresses common inefficiencies in farm operations and provides strategies for improving labor productivity. Additionally, he highlights the critical issue of fluctuating milk prices and shares methods to manage cash flow under these conditions. Pauly also delves into the importance of detailed management audits, illustrating how these reviews can uncover key areas for improvement across financials, feeding practices, and breeding protocols. The episode emphasizes the value of continual training and re-training to achieve optimal farm performance.
This Episode is Sponsored by Complete Management Consulting
Contact Pauly Paul
- www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com
- completemanagementconsulting@gmail.com 920-418-3135
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy provides an updated market report for September, outlining significant movements impacting milk, feed, and beef sectors. He explains the recent decline in dairy futures, the record-breaking cheese production and exports, and the persistent high milk production rates. Curtis discusses the elevated beef prices as a crucial revenue driver for dairy farmers, especially as milk prices decline, and highlights how global milk supply trends and grain commodity updates are influencing the market. The episode concludes with strategic advice on margin management and the importance of proactive decision-making for dairy producers.
Grab your market report here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/september-2025-producer-market-update
This episode is brought to you by:
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of September 17 at 12pm CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, High Plains Ponderosa Dairy COO, Will Basham, discusses the importance of cultivating a positive culture and adapting technology in the dairy industry to enhance efficiency and performance.
He emphasizes the significance of data-driven management in identifying issues before they become critical and highlights tools for improving operational efficiency. Basham also shares his experiences in managing people and processes during an expansion project, focusing on the integration of milking speed and breeding strategies to optimize productivity.
Additionally, he explores the value of understanding communication and learning styles to foster a more effective work environment.
In the final installment of the Country Aire Farms series, brothers Craig and Nick Gerrits reflect on stepping into leadership roles within their family’s dairy operation. They discuss the challenges of earning respect, building trust with employees, and maintaining a healthy leadership mindset, even during tough times.
The episode highlights the importance of confidence, open communication, and continuous learning, as well as the legacy and values passed down through generations. Both brothers share advice they would give their younger selves, emphasizing the need for self-trust, motivation, and a focus on personal well-being to lead effectively. The story of Country Aire Farms is ultimately one of family, tradition, and progressive growth in the dairy industry.
This episode is brought to you by DeLaval. DeLaval provides integrated solutions designed to improve dairy producers’ production, animal welfare, and overall quality of life. To learn more, visit Delaval.com/en-us/.
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are back with the third episode of the Country Aire Series, brought to you by Delaval.
Today, Peggy Coffeen is back with the Gerrits to explore how technology is transforming modern dairy operations. Cousins Craig and Matt Gerrits share their experiences implementing advanced tools—from automated rotary parlors and precision cow sorting systems to biosolid bedding management and high-tech dashboards—that have improved cow comfort, milk quality, and labor efficiency.
The discussion highlights the farm’s transition to biosolids, the challenges and solutions in maintaining milk quality, and the importance of consistent management. On the cropping side, Matt describes how data-driven decision-making and innovations like GPS-guided planting and variable rate technology are optimizing fieldwork and margins. The episode underscores the value of embracing new technology while balancing tradition, teamwork, and a forward-thinking mindset to ensure the farm’s continued success.
This episode is brought to you by DeLaval. DeLaval provides integrated solutions designed to improve dairy producers’ production, animal welfare, and overall quality of life. To learn more, visit Delaval.com/en-us/.
In this next episode of the Uplevel Dairy Country Aire Series, the focus shifts to the next generation at Country Aire Farms, where four cousins—Matt, John, Nick, and Craig—each find their way back to the family dairy after exploring different career paths. Influenced by family values and the encouragement of their grandfather, the cousins embrace the challenges and opportunities of running a modern dairy operation.
The conversation delves into their unique roles, from crop management and finance to equipment and employee relations, highlighting how their diverse skills contribute to the farm’s success. The cousins share candid reflections on the difficulties of stepping into leadership at a young age, earning respect from employees, and balancing family dynamics with business responsibilities. Mentorship from the older generation, a strong workplace culture, and a commitment to sustainability and community involvement emerge as central themes.
As they navigate the complexities of a family-run business, the cousins emphasize the importance of trust, communication, and adaptability. The episode concludes with a sense of gratitude for the foundation laid by previous generations and a shared commitment to carrying the family legacy forward, blending tradition with innovation at Country Aire Farms.
This episode is brought to you by DeLaval. DeLaval provides integrated solutions designed to improve dairy producers’ production, animal welfare, and overall quality of life. To learn more, visit Delaval.com/en-us/.
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen launches a four-part series in partnership with De Laval, spotlighting the multi-generational story of Country Aire Farms in Greenleaf, Wisconsin. Brothers Mike and Tom Gerrits share their journey from growing up on a small 80-cow dairy to leading a thriving, innovative operation.
The episode explores how their father, Bud, instilled a strong work ethic and forward-thinking mindset, guiding the family through pivotal decisions—like building the area’s first rotary parlor in 1998—that set the stage for major growth. Mike and Tom discuss the division of responsibilities (cows vs. crops), the importance of embracing new technology, and the challenges and rewards of bringing the next generation into the business.
Listeners hear about the transition of leadership, the value of learning from mistakes, and the family’s commitment to core values, community, and continuous improvement. The episode closes with reflections on legacy, pride in the next generation, and optimism for the future of Country Aire Farms.
This episode is brought to you by DeLaval. DeLaval provides integrated solutions designed to improve dairy producers’ production, animal welfare, and overall quality of life. To learn more, visit Delaval.com/en-us/.
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen engages with Elsie Gonzalez-Leach of Motiva Consulting to discuss her inspiring journey from Puerto Rico to the United States. Elsie shares how her experiences have fueled her mission to support Spanish-speaking dairy farm employees through leadership development and tailored Dairy English language courses.
With a focus on personal growth, leadership training, and communication, Elsie’s programs have helped numerous farm workers progress in their careers and contribute positively to their farms and communities. The episode delves into her motivations, challenges, and the impact she aims to achieve, making it a must-listen for those interested in elevating their dairy farming operations and cultivating a motivated workforce.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview
00:40 Elsie's Journey to the US
03:41 Starting Motiva Consulting
12:26 Leadership and Personal Development
23:37 Mentors and Inspirations
34:35 The Impact of Danielle's Leadership
38:21 Elsie's Leadership Program Explained
41:26 Personal Development and Overcoming Challenges
48:58 The Launch of Dairy English Academy
58:59 Future Goals and Reflections
01:02:23 Elsie's Journey and Lessons Learned
01:13:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Learn more about the Dairy English Academy here: https://www.motivadairy.com/dairy-english-academy
Contact Elsie González-Leach
Motiva Consulting
Cell: 262.388.9096
Email: elsie.gonzalez@motiva.consulting
Visit Motiva Consulting on Facebook!
This Episode is Brought to you by Adisseo
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
This collaboration episode between Uplevel Dairy and World Dairy Expo features the McCarty Brothers—Mike, David, Ken, and Clay—as they discuss their family's legacy and milestones that led to being named World Dairy Expo's Dairy Producers of the Year. They reflect on their family's history from northeastern Pennsylvania to their significant growth in Kansas, their partnerships with large companies like Danone, and their commitment to sustainability and innovation in dairy farming. They share insights into working as a family, their passion for sustainable practices, and their excitement for the future. The episode also offers advice to aspiring young farmers, underscoring the importance of hard work, taking risks, and maintaining a forward-thinking vision. The McCarty family's story is one of resilience, innovation, and community impact.
Be sure to start planning your trip to World Dairy Expo, September 30th through October 3rd. Get your passes now worlddairyexpo.com.
This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Dairy Show and World Dairy Expo.
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:37 The McCarty Family History
03:36 The Move to Kansas
07:59 Partnerships and Growth
11:47 Sustainability Efforts
18:38 Community Outreach and Learning Centers
23:54 Technological Advancements and Cow Comfort
28:27 Reflections on the Recognition Award
53:26 Advice for the Next Generation
57:48 Final Thoughts and Future Vision
In this special episode, Peggy Coffeen, host of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, partners with World Dairy Expo to interview Juan Moreno, CEO and Founder of STgenetics and recipient of the 2025 International Person of the Year award. Juan shares his inspiring journey from growing up on a dairy farm in Colombia to pioneering reproductive technologies that have transformed dairy cattle breeding. He discusses his motivations, the pivotal moments in his career, and the importance of individual animal care in modern dairy farming. Juan also reflects on the role of artificial insemination technology in advancing the global dairy industry and emphasizes the collective effort required to feed the world. Be sure to start planning your trip to World Dairy Expo, September 30th through October 3rd. Get your passes now worlddairyexpo.com. This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Dairy Show and World Dairy Expo. 00:00 Introduction to the Dairy Show Special Edition00:47 Juan Moreno's Early Life and Career Beginnings04:27 Pivotal Moments and Academic Pursuits07:32 The Birth and Growth of STgenetics10:40 Challenges and Breakthroughs in Sexed Semen Technology20:36 Global Impact and Future Vision26:36 Reflections and Personal Insights44:29 Conclusion and Upcoming Events
This collaboration episode between Uplevel Dairy and World Dairy Expo features Jim Mulhern, a seasoned dairy policy expert, who shares his journey from growing up in small town Wisconsin to leading the National Milk Producers Federation. Jim talks about his early exposure to politics and policy in seventh grade, which led to his interest in agricultural policy during his college years. He also discusses his career trajectory, significant industry challenges, such as workforce and trade policy, and the major changes in the dairy sector over the last four decades.
Jim reflects on the importance of staying connected to the people he serves, the value of meaningful work, and his philosophy of balancing change with core values. As he receives the World Dairy Expo's Industry Person of the Year award, Jim fondly remembers the people who've impacted his career and offers advice for young professionals in the dairy industry.
Be sure to start planning your trip to World Dairy Expo, September 30th through October 3rd. Get your passes now worlddairyexpo.com.
This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Dairy Show and World Dairy Expo.
00:00 Introduction to Jim's Journey in Dairy
00:57 Early Influences and Education
02:30 First Steps in Dairy Policy
03:43 Internship and Early Career Challenges
05:29 Balancing Supply and Demand in Dairy
07:23 Realizing the Impact of Policy Work
10:04 Career Growth and National Milk Producers Federation
18:40 Changes and Challenges in the Dairy Industry
28:09 Future Challenges for Dairy Producers
34:27 The Importance of Middle Ground in Politics
38:22 Engaging in Industry Organizations
41:09 Advice for Young Professionals
43:41 Receiving the World Dairy Expo Honor
45:54 Reflecting on a Career in Dairy
49:17 Personal Reflections and Future Plans
01:01:40 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude
In this live episode from Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, Will McKinley of Men Law Firm delves into the legal intricacies of managing and transitioning family dairy farms.
From partnership structures to succession planning, Will shares essential strategies for ensuring the longevity and success of dairy operations. He also highlights common challenges, such as finding interested successors and managing financial transitions, while sharing examples of creative solutions for keeping family farms thriving.
This conversation emphasizes the importance of clear planning, family discussions, and understanding legal tools like revocable and irrevocable trusts. Tune in for expert advice and practical insights on upleveling your dairy.
Contact Will McKinley at Menn Law:
William-McKinley@mennlaw.com
(920) 731-6631
https://mennlaw.com/
Do you have a question on succession and farm transition you would like to hear Will answer on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast?
Send your questions to peggy@upleveldairy.com
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen and Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy provide an extensive market update for August 2025. The discussion covers key areas such as the continual year-over-year growth in US milk production, including a 3.3% increase reported in June, which is attributed to genetic improvements and enhanced cow comfort. The podcast also highlights a record-breaking corn crop forecast, favorable for dairy producers in terms of feed costs. Additionally, the episode explores the state of cattle markets, emphasizing the impacts of past droughts and current efforts to rebuild herds.
Further insights are provided into dairy commodity markets, particularly cheese and butter, with projections on future pricing and supply-demand balances. The episode wraps up with strategic advice for dairy producers on planning and managing margins for a profitable future.
Grab your own monthly market update here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/august-2025-producer-market-update
This episode is brought to you by: HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of August, at 1 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Jordan Leak, Vice President at High Plains Ponderosa in Kansas. Jordan shares his journey from growing up in Idaho as a fourth-generation dairyman to discovering his greater purpose of developing people. He discusses his defining moments, the importance of humility and gratitude in leadership, and his efforts to build an inclusive and opportunity-rich workplace culture. Additionally, Jordan highlights how the dairy's mission of creating infinite business opportunities extends beyond profits to positively impact employees and the community.
Sponsored by Micro Technologies, this episode delves into leadership, growth, and the values that drive the dairy industry.
Micro Technologies innovates advanced, comprehensive & integrated technologies to help dairies produce a safe, wholesome product more efficiently and profitably.
For more information, visit:Microtechnologies.com
00:00 Introduction to Jordan Leak's Journey
01:07 Early Life and Family Background
02:54 First Steps in the Dairy Business
04:53 Realizing a New Passion
06:43 Transition to Management
08:30 Joining High Plains Ponderosa
12:49 Leadership Philosophy and Development
29:15 Personal Growth and Reflections
33:04 Books That Shaped Jordan's Leadership
38:12 Final Thoughts and Future Aspirations
41:07 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up
This episode is sponsored by Micro Technologies
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, hosted by Peggy Coffeen, financial expert Steve Schwoerer from Compeer Financial shares nearly four decades of lending experience to provide insights on maximizing returns from beef on dairy cattle and strategic long-term herd planning. Discussions include short-term strategies to take advantage of high beef prices, the long-term outlook for dairy operations, and key considerations such as labor, facilities, and manure management.
The conversation also broaches risk management and the potential for leveraging lower commodity prices. Steve offers practical advice for both immediate income opportunities and sustainable operational growth in the dairy industry.
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy continues the conversation with Manuel Soares, CEO of Milc Group, diving into the mindset and mission driving one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the dairy industry. Manuel discusses the importance of creating a culture of trust, accountability, and innovation, and reveals his three key virtues for team building: character, passion, and faith. The episode also explores Milc Group's pioneering dairy software, which integrates real-time actionable data to enhance dairy farm operations globally. Manuel shares lessons learned from his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizes the importance of hiring and empowering good people, and describes Milc Group's approach to continuously innovating and adapting to meet the needs of the dairy industry.
00:00 Introduction to Future-Proofing Dairy Business
00:52 Sponsorship and Company Overview
01:25 Leadership Principles and Hiring Philosophy
03:06 Faith and Personal Beliefs in Business
03:54 Early Team and Company Evolution
06:07 Innovation and Product Development
15:05 Challenges and Lessons Learned
20:32 Empowering Teams and Leadership Advice
26:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
In this power-packed episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen dives into the challenges and strategies behind successfully transitioning family farms through multiple generations. With only 3% making it from the third to the fourth generation, guests Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritus from Virginia Tech, and Lynn Paulson, Vice President of Agribusiness Development at Bell Bank, share actionable insights to beat the odds.
From the 2025 Ag Views Live event, they discuss the critical role of understanding financials, balance sheets, working capital, and asset valuation, alongside the importance of a business management mindset. Discover why involving the next generation in decision-making, setting deliberate goals, and having a trusted advisory team are essential for long-term profitability.
You’ll also hear lessons from history, including the economic challenges of the 1980s, and practical tips for managing family living expenses. Whether you’re planning a farm transition or aiming to strengthen your operation’s financial foundation, this episode offers the tools to secure both your legacy and your bottom line.
This Episode is brought to you by Adisseo
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
Genetics, Reproductive Technology and Family Farm Transition
At the 2025 National Holstein Convention, we caught up with 6th-generation Minnesota dairy farmer and veterinarian Dr. Ashley Swenson.
As a vet specializing in embryo transfer, Ashley owns Midwest Embryo Transfer Service and also has a seat on the Holstein Association’s International Marketing Committee.
This conversation includes her tips for making genetic investment decisions, and we go beyond repro technology to talk about a topic near and dear to her heart: family farm transition and what it took for Ashley and her husband to make her home farm an opportunity for the seventh generation.
This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit DairyWellness.com.
As excitement builds for this year’s World Dairy Expo, we're bringing back a crowd favorite recorded live at the Showbox Sires showbox during last year’s event.
In this episode, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott sit down with industry icons Tom Morris and Ernie Kueffner. Together, they revisit the early days of Expo, reminisce about unforgettable cows, and unlock stories that have lived inside their showboxes for decades.
Whether you're a longtime show ring veteran or gearing up for your first trip to Madison, this episode captures the history, heart, and humor that make World Dairy Expo so special.
Make sure to check out Part 2 with Jim Ostrom, John Vosters, and Steve Briggs for even more Expo storytelling.
To nominate the dairy story you’d like us to share, you can contact Peggy at peggy@upleveldairy.com, 608-558-1876 or Tim at tim@timabbottcows.com, (802) 238-1142.
As we gear up for this year’s World Dairy Expo, we’re resharing one of our favorite conversations recorded live from last year’s event at the Showbox Sires showbox. This episode is full of legacy, leadership, and lessons from some of the most respected voices in the dairy cattle show world.
Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott sit down with Jim Ostrom and John Vosters of Milk Source to talk show ring memories and the evolution of their multi-site dairy, dairy goat, and cheese enterprise. Then, Steve Briggs of Brigeen Farms shares his heart for mentorship and how the next generation continues to inspire him.
If you missed it the first time—or just want to relive the moment—now’s the perfect time to listen in. And don’t forget to catch our other rerun next week with Tom Morris and Ernie Kueffner for more behind-the-scenes stories from the show.
To nominate the dairy story you’d like us to share, you can contact Peggy at peggy@upleveldairy.com, 608-558-1876 or Tim at tim@timabbottcows.com, (802) 238-1142.
Thanks to Tim Abbott and Showbox Sires for this collaboration.
Learn more about Showbox Sires here:
https://www.showboxsires.com/
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen welcomes back Tim Abbott for an insightful conversation about their upcoming plans for the World Dairy Expo 2025. The duo revisits Tim's commitment to his word of the year, 'focus', discussing personal and professional growth.
They also reflect on the value of capturing and sharing legacy stories within the dairy industry. Listeners are encouraged to nominate outstanding dairy figures for the Showbox stories series, highlighting how these narratives foster connections and preserve the industry's rich heritage. This episode underscores the significance of stewardship, legacy, and community in advancing the dairy industry.
To nominate the dairy story you’d like us to share, you can contact Peggy at peggy@upleveldairy.com, 608-558-1876 or Tim at tim@timabbottcows.com, (802) 238-1142.
00:00 Introduction and Special Announcement
00:29 Mid-Year Check-In: Focus and Stewardship
02:16 The Importance of Focus in Dairy Farming
05:08 Showbox Stories: A Look Back and Forward
06:52 Call for Nominations: Share Your Showbox Stories
09:46 Legacy and Mentorship in Dairy
16:02 Personal Showbox Stories and Reflections
19:11 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes
In the latest episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is joined by Curtis Bosma from High Ground Dairy as he provides a comprehensive update on the current state of the dairy markets amid trade tensions and significant crop developments.
Curtis discusses the steady dairy markets, the slight decrease in cheese prices, and the robust butter market. He also delves into the dynamics of non-fat dry milk and whey markets, along with the impacts of an excellent US corn crop and record soybean meal production.
Additionally, Curtis offers insights into strategic risk management approaches, including the use of futures, options, and Livestock Risk Protection programs. The episode emphasizes the importance of holistic financial strategies to ensure long-term profitability for dairy producers.
Grab your market report here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-july-2025
This episode is brought to you by: HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities.
Opinions expressed are current opinions as of July 16 at 12 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
THE MILC GROUP ORIGINS STORY
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Manuel Soares, CEO and founder of Milc Group.
Manuel shares his journey from growing up on a family dairy farm to creating game-changing dairy technology. The discussion delves into his early experiences in the dairy industry, a brief stint dealing blackjack, and the significant milestones that led him to create Milc Group. Manuel explains how his hands-on farm experience and technological insights helped him identify key industry problems and develop innovative solutions.
This conversation also explores the origins and future vision of Milc Group, emphasizing the importance of real-time data for making informed decisions in dairy farming.
00:00 Introduction to Manuel Soares' Journey
01:18 Early Life and Dairy Beginnings
03:53 A Detour in Tahoe
05:11 Lessons from Blackjack Dealing
07:16 Challenges in Dairy Management
15:04 Transition to Dairy Software
25:00 Founding Milc Group
29:35 Conclusion and Future Insights
This Episode is Brought to you by Milc Group
Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with the tools they need to succeed.
- ONETM Feed: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/feed
- ONETM Scale: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/scale
What You Need to Know about Livestock Risk Protection (LRP)
Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy joins us to cover the commonly asked questions he hears from dairy producers regarding new risk management programs aimed at day-old beef-on-dairy calves and dairy cull cows.
About HighGround Dairy
This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Get the new LRP Guide here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/lrp-guide
Learn more at https://highgrounddairy.com/ or email them at info@highgrounddairy.com
In this special episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is joined by Jim Ostrom, CEO of Milk Source, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Dairy Cares of Wisconsin. Jim shares the origin and growth of Dairy Cares, a charitable initiative that started as a garden party among friends and is on pace to raise a cumulative total of more than $4 million for Children's Wisconsin.
The candid discussion with Jim reveals the heart behind Dairy Cares, highlighting families and their stories, as well as honoring the legacy of generosity set forth by the late Annette Ostrom. The episode underscores the importance of community, visionary leadership, and generosity.
Jim also calls on listeners to support Dairy Cares through donations, participation in a virtual auction, or attending the annual garden party.
Contribute to Dairy Cares of Wisconsin
Three ways to give back and support families in their greatest times of medical need:
- Corporate or individual donation
- Virtual auction
- Attend the annual Garden Party on July 27
Find details and donate here: www.dairycaresofwisconsin.org
This Episode is Brought to you by Adisseo
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
At the end of 2024, I sat down with Katie Coyne to catch up and reflect on how her year had gone and to see what she had hoped to bring in for 2025. Today, we share this re-release in remembrance of Katie’s life, her incredible impact, and the legacy she leaves behind.
In this episode, Katie opened up about her roots in the dairy industry and her passion for mentoring the next generation. She believed deeply in paying it forward, and her words and actions reflected that commitment every day.
Katie also courageously shared her personal journey with cancer, including the prognosis she received in late 2024. Despite the challenges, she continued to live with remarkable hope and unwavering purpose—anchored by one guiding word she chose to live by in 2025.
This conversation is a tribute to a life well-lived and a reminder of the strength, generosity, and spirit Katie embodied. Her voice and vision will continue to inspire all who listen.
Have you ever stopped to think about the people who didn’t have to help you—but did anyway? The ones who showed up with encouragement, opened doors for you, and believed in you long before you believed in yourself?
Katie Coyne was one of those people—for me, and for so many others in the dairy community.
In this special episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are joined by Katie’s daughter, Kelly Reynolds, to reflect on Katie’s life and legacy, followed by the conversation Katie and I had one year ago, called “Leading with Courage and Confidence.”
Katie was a steadfast mentor, a voice for youth in agriculture, and a woman who gave freely of her time, wisdom, and spirit.
This episode was recorded during the final chapter of Katie’s journey here on earth. I knew it was time to sit down with her—not just to thank her, but to honor her story. To let her share in her own words the values she stood for, the lessons she learned, and why pouring into others always mattered most.
Katie’s impact will live on in every life she touched.This episode is a celebration of that legacy.
And tune into our next episode to hear the last conversation we had with Katie on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Preston Fernandes shares his extraordinary journey from California's Central Valley to managing multiple distressed dairies. Rooted in his family's legacy, Preston's story highlights his innovative lean management style, risk-taking appetite, and the tough lessons learned about leadership and growth.
Listeners will gain insights into scaling a dairy business sustainably in today’s competitive industry and marvel at Preston's bold vision for the future, including the potential use of bipedal robots.
Sponsored by AHV, this episode offers valuable lessons in resilience, strategic thinking, and the relentless pursuit of opportunity.
This Episode is Brought to you by AHV
AHV (Animal Health Vision) helps empower their customers as entrepreneurs that embrace innovations in animal health. As a knowledge center, they are a leader in the field of quorum sensing innovations and advisory services for optimal animal health, with programs that focus on improving key areas such as udder health, uterine health, reproduction, and more. AHV celebrates the health and success of the dairy cow and is also proud to honor and celebrate dairy farm moms who are making a difference, today and every day.
Find more information at: https://ahvint.com/
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Gabe Smith, a Zoetis territory business manager with a unique career path in the dairy industry. Gabe shares his journey from managing a small dairy herd, working with top genetic herds, to his role at Zoetis.
He discusses the significance of saying yes to new opportunities, the importance of taking care of people and animals, and the valuable lessons learned from mentors in the dairy community. Gabe also reflects on personal challenges and successes, emphasizing the importance of trust, perseverance, and listening in professional growth. The episode underscores Gabe's commitment to the dairy industry and his continuous development as a leader.
This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit DairyWellness.com.
In this June 2025 market update from High Ground Dairy, Curtis Bosma reviews significant movements in the dairy industry, including milk, feed, and cattle markets:
The dairy segment sees strong cheese and butter production with rising domestic demand and favorable export conditions.
Economic fluctuations and Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) changes impact producer payments.
The feed market focuses on corn and soybean meal dynamics, highlighting crop conditions and biofuel policy impacts.
Record-high feeder cattle prices are driving dairymen to emphasize revenue management strategies, including the new Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) for dairies.
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Adam Westenbroek of Westwind Farms in Bakersfield, California. Adam shares how cutting-edge technology is empowering him to be both the dairyman and the dad he wants to be.
He emphasizes the importance of implementing technological advancements, such as activity monitoring and sort gates, to improve cow comfort and efficiency, which in turn has allowed him to spend more time with his family. Adam also talks about the personal and professional growth he's experienced and his ongoing commitment to constantly improve his dairy operations. This episode highlights the intersection of traditional hard work with modern innovations to achieve sustainable and successful dairy farming.
The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2025
00:00 Introduction to Adam Westenbroek and Westwind Farms
01:03 Adam's Journey into Dairy Farming
03:21 Challenges and Innovations in Dairy Farming
08:48 Family Life and Work Balance
13:32 Embracing Technology for Better Dairy Management
16:38 Letting Go of the Old Ways
17:06 Embracing Technology in Dairy Farming
17:40 Impact of Technology on Daily Operations
18:38 Improving Cow Handling and Health
20:26 Reproductive Goals and Challenges
21:36 Breeding Program Strategies
22:40 Future Plans for Dairy Optimization
24:18 Personal Growth and Leadership
25:28 Uplevel 5: Getting to Know Adam
29:09 Final Thoughts and Reflections
About Nedap
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Doug DeGroff, a seasoned dairy professional who brings the rare perspective of having lived and worked in three of the most prominent dairy regions in the U.S.—New York, Wisconsin, and California. Doug shares his expansive career in the dairy industry, from milking cows on one of New York's most progressive dairies, managing a dairy in Wisconsin, to settling in California's Central Valley.
Now with Progressive Dairy Solutions, Doug recounts his growth in the industry, his role as a mentor, and the resilience it took to overcome life-threatening accidents, including being buried under 20 tons of silage.
Doug also discusses the evolution of large-scale dairies, advancements in genetics and technology, and the importance of family and gratitude. This episode highlights Doug's journey through grit, growth, and a drive to improve both the dairy industry and his personal life.
This Episode is Brought to you by Milc Group
Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with the tools they need to succeed.
- ONETM Feed: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/feed
- ONETM Scale: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/scale
00:00 Introduction to Doug DeGroff's Dairy Journey
02:06 Early Life and Career Beginnings
03:37 Transition to California
05:25 Experiences in Dairy Management
13:38 Nutrition Consultancy and Feeder Training
19:05 Silage Avalanche Survivor
22:03 The Significance of Back Braces
23:42 Impact of the First Injury
24:57 The Second Injury and Recovery
27:24 Lessons from Adversity
30:49 Technological Advancements in Dairying
35:13 Future of the Dairy Industry
40:50 Personal Reflections and Career Motivation
42:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Welcome to Uplevel Dairy's #1 Most Downloaded Episode!
Over five years ago, dairy farmer Tom Oesch and his partners at Swiss Lane Farms in Michigan defined their vision: To grow to 7,000 cows in seven years. Find out how they are putting that vision into action, transitioning the business from one generation to the next, and growing leaders within their team. And walk away with a renewed motivation from Tom to live life to its fullest NOW.
What you’ll learn:
- The decision to double down on dairying and expand to multiple sites
- Determining core values and using them to make decisions
- Transitioning the business from third to fourth generation
- Living his golden years now
- Growing leaders from within
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen speaks with Mikayla McGee of Jon-De Farms in Baldwin, Wisconsin. With dairy farming roots at Jon-De dating back to 1912, Mikayla shares her journey of returning to her family farm, challenging traditions, and making bold decisions to optimize operations. From right-sizing their dairy herd and adopting a rotary parlor to navigating human resources and maintaining the legacy, Mikayla discusses the blend of innovation and tradition that drives the farm today.
This Episode is Brought to you by Compeer Financial.
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts.
Dairy Industry Articles: Gain knowledge from subject matter experts
- 00:00 Introduction to Bold Decisions at Jon-De Farms
- 01:15 Mikayla McGee's Return and Leadership Challenges
- 01:49 Historical Insights and Family Legacy
- 03:57 Transitioning and Finding Her Place
- 08:44 Innovative Changes and Right-Sizing the Dairy
- 14:40 Implementing the Rotary Parlor
- 16:57 Employee Well-being and Work Schedule Adjustments
- 18:29 Technology and Innovations in Dairy Farming
- 20:22 Right-Sizing Philosophy and Financial Decisions
- 22:45 Human Resource Management and Employee Relations
- 27:30 Future Plans and Personal Reflections
- 28:47 Rapid-Fire Questions and Final Thoughts
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen is joined by David Moser, Operations Manager of Oakridge Dairy. David recently attended the 2025 Entre-Leadership Summit in Denver, Colorado, featuring renowned leadership experts such as John Maxwell, Patrick Lencioni, and Jim Collins. He shares highlights from the summit, emphasizing the importance of personal growth, leadership, and effective team management through tools like Working Genius. Additionally, David discusses how leadership principles are applied at Oakridge Dairy, from community involvement to internal team development. The episode underscores the significance of leadership in driving both personal and organizational success.
Learn more about the Entre-Leadership Summit here: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/shows/summit
00:00 Introduction to the Uplevel Dairy Podcast
01:51 Meet David Moser: Operations Manager at Oak Ridge Dairy
02:27 Overview of Oak Ridge Dairy
04:22 Leadership and Personal Growth Insights from Entree Leadership Summit
06:52 Key Takeaways from Top Leadership Speakers
10:29 Implementing Leadership Lessons at Oak Ridge Dairy
13:34 The Importance of Team Dynamics and Working Genius
21:03 Empathy and Culture in Leadership
30:02 Balancing Personal and Professional Growth
38:56 Final Thoughts and Conclusion
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast, I am joined for part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Don Niles, a veterinarian turned dairyman, to talk more about his significant contributions to dairy farming and sustainability in Northeast Wisconsin.
Dr. Niles shares his passionate journey from city life to dairy farming, emphasizing the importance of innovative practices, cow comfort, and environmental sustainability, with particular focus on how Peninsula Pride Farms—a farmer-led watershed initiative—reinvented local dairy farming by fostering a cooperative and environmentally responsible community.
Throughout the discussion, Dr. Niles provides valuable insights on
- The future of dairy farming
- Addressing key challenges such as attracting the next generation of dairy farmers
- Maintaining high-quality practices amidst environmental scrutiny.
He underscores the necessity of being open to change, fostering community relations, and trusting in new methods and technologies to sustain the dairy industry’s growth and excellence. As he transitions into retirement, Dr. Niles reflects on the impact of his career and the ongoing journey of innovation and improvement in dairy farming.
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
Enjoy this listener favorite rerun on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
Join me on this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast as I sit down with the groundbreaking Dr. Don Niles. From his humble beginnings as a veterinarian in Wisconsin to transforming the dairy world, Dr. Niles shares his incredible journey.
This episode delves into the experiences that shaped his career, his partnership with visionary dairyman John Pagel, and the innovative practices they implemented at Dairy Dreams that set new standards in cow comfort and dairy management.
In this episode, Dr. Niles discusses
- the evolution of dairy farming practices with everything from the introduction of advanced barn designs to the adoption of sand bedding for enhanced cow comfort.
- The strategic decisions that paved the way for modern dairy operations.
- And shares personal anecdotes from his travels and collaborations with other dairymen from around the country.
The episode also touches on the legacy of John Pagel and the impact of their joint efforts on the dairy industry. Don’t miss this insightful conversation that offers a deep dive into the technological advancements and high-performance mindsets driving the future of dairying.
The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2024 or catch past episodes in this series below!
- Listen to Episode 36 with Megan Schrupp here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/6H45sTWc4Ib
- 4 High-Impact Actions to Create a Winning Farm Culture with Travis Speirs, Shiloh Dairy
- Dairy Tech in Texas: Managing 8,000 Cows with Activity Monitors featuring Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy
- Protecting His Price and Managing Risk with Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy
- Managing More Cows, More People and More Data with Derrick Josi
- Full-Potential Farming: Reaching the Highest Level of Performance with Cows and People through Technology with Megan Schrupp, NexGen Dairy
- Olympic-level Business, Management and Mindset with Elle Purrier-St. Pierre and Jamie St. Pierre
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
Want to get new episodes in your inbox? Subscribe here: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy visits Plum Creek Dairy in Fox Lake, Wisconsin, to speak with owners Abe and Mandy, and consultant Pauly Paul from Complete Management Consulting. The episode delves into the history of Plum Creek Dairy, from its origins in custom harvesting and manure handling to its transformation into a thriving dairy farm. Featuring insights on efficiency improvements, a major transition in herd management, and the benefits of cross-training employees, the episode showcases how Abe and Mandy, with Pauly's guidance, successfully expanded their operations and enhanced staff morale.
Listeners will learn about the challenges and triumphs of running an innovative dairy farm, the importance of teamwork, and the value of being open to change and continuous learning.
- 00:00 Introduction to Plum Creek Dairy
- 00:40 Abe and Mandy's Journey into Dairy Farming
- 01:52 Challenges and Transition at Plum Creek Dairy
- 06:39 Reorganizing and Empowering the Team
- 13:35 Expanding Operations and Future Plans
- 21:38 Advice for Aspiring Dairy Farmers
- 25:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
This Episode is Sponsored by Complete Management Consulting
Contact Pauly Paul
- www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com
- completemanagementconsulting@gmail.com
- 920-418-3135
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen welcomes Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy for the May market update. The discussion covers significant changes in Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) programs, including updated rules and new protections for beef cross calves and cull cows. Curtis provides insights into trends in milk production, the cheese market, butter market, and milk powder exports.
Additionally, they cover key points about the current state of commodity markets, particularly in corn and soybeans, offering strategic advice for dairy producers on margin management.
Grab your May Monthly Market Update here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-may-2025
This episode is brought to you by
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of May 16, 2025 at 1 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
Recognized as one of the most progressive dairy farms in Wisconsin since the mid 1960s, Norm-E-Lane Farms in Chili, Wisconsin, has a long history of not only leading in the business of dairy farming, but also of leading an entire industry forward. From engaging with the community to advocating for policy, the value of relationships is one that the late Jerry Meissner passed on to his children and grandchildren.
And today we are sitting down with the third and fourth generation of the Meissner family - Josh Meissner and his son Emmett Meissner - to learn about the legacy and resilience that drives the next generation of leadership and growth at Norm-E-Lane.
About Nedap
This episode is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes from Nedap below!
- Listen to Episode 36 with Megan Schrupp here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/6H45sTWc4Ib
- 4 High-Impact Actions to Create a Winning Farm Culture with Travis Speirs, Shiloh Dairy
- Dairy Tech in Texas: Managing 8,000 Cows with Activity Monitors featuring Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy
- Protecting His Price and Managing Risk with Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy
- Managing More Cows, More People and More Data with Derrick Josi
- Full-Potential Farming: Reaching the Highest Level of Performance with Cows and People through Technology with Megan Schrupp, NexGen Dairy
- Olympic-level Business, Management and Mindset with Elle Purrier-St. Pierre and Jamie St. Pierre
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Jerod Henrickson, a dedicated dairyman from Bella Holsteins in Platteville, Colorado, shares his journey from growing up on his family's dairy farm to taking on a leadership role. After his father’s motorcycle accident in 2005, Jerod was thrust into managing the expanding operation, a challenge that taught him invaluable lessons in resilience and decision-making.
Throughout the discussion, Jerod highlights the technological advancements that have revolutionized dairy farming, such as monitoring collars and data integration systems, enhancing efficiency and animal welfare. He also emphasizes the importance of consistent leadership, motivating employees, and maintaining a passion for hard work.
As Jerod looks toward the future, he remains focused on growth opportunities and navigating industry challenges, all while upholding the values of dedication, innovation, and care for both his team and his cows.
This Episode is Brought to you by Milc Group
Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with the tools they need to succeed.
- ONETM Feed: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/feed
- ONETM Scale: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/scale
Chapters
- 00:00 A Sudden Responsibility
- 00:31 Expanding the Dairy
- 01:22 Growing Up in the Dairy Business
- 04:30 Innovations and Technological Advancements
- 14:32 Challenges and Decisions
- 21:29 Managing People and Building a Team
- 25:14 Team Approach to Management
- 25:34 Effective Team Meetings
- 26:31 Motivating Employees
- 27:52 Lessons in People Management
- 31:28 Influence of Family
- 32:52 Current Role and Responsibilities
- 35:30 Challenges and Opportunities
- 40:55 Podcast Wrap-Up Questions
- 48:40 Final Thoughts and Advice
In this heartfelt second part of the Special Mother's Day edition of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy sits down with three inspiring dairy farm moms—Nicole Barlass, Katie Grinstead, and Katy Katzman. They dive deep into the health impacts of their dual roles in managing family and farm, addressing topics such as farm mom guilt, emotional boundaries, and the importance of self-care. These women share personal anecdotes highlighting their struggles and triumphs, emphasizing the necessity of support and balance. This episode also celebrates the mental and physical resilience required in their profession, underlining the significant roles they play in their families and communities. Sponsored by AHV Animal Health Visions, this episode is a powerful reminder of the strength and dedication of dairy farm moms.
This episode is brought to you by AHV
AHV (Animal Health Vision) helps empower their customers as entrepreneurs that embrace innovations in animal health. As a knowledge center, they are a leader in the field of quorum sensing innovations and advisory services for optimal animal health, with programs that focus on improving key areas such as udder health, uterine health, reproduction, and more. AHV celebrates the health and success of the dairy cow and is also proud to honor and celebrate dairy farm moms who are making a difference, today and every day.
Find more information at: https://ahvint.com/
In this special Mother's Day edition of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, hosted in partnership with Animal Health Visions (AHV), we honor the influential women who balance motherhood, farming, and agricultural advocacy. Peggy interviews three inspiring dairy farm moms—Nicole Barlas, Katie Grinstead, and Katy Katzman—who share their journeys, challenges, and the passion that drives them. Each mom reflects on their path back to the family farm, their involvement in volunteering and community projects, and the balancing act of managing both family and farm responsibilities. They discuss the importance of support systems, communication, and the powerful lessons they impart to their children about resilience and commitment to agriculture.
Make sure to come back for Part 2 tomorrow!
This episode is brought to you by AHV
AHV (Animal Health Vision) helps empower their customers as entrepreneurs that embrace innovations in animal health. As a knowledge center, they are a leader in the field of quorum sensing innovations and advisory services for optimal animal health, with programs that focus on improving key areas such as udder health, uterine health, reproduction, and more. AHV celebrates the health and success of the dairy cow and is also proud to honor and celebrate dairy farm moms who are making a difference, today and every day.
Find more information at: https://ahvint.com/
- 00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast
- 01:22 Meet the Dairy Farm Moms
- 02:48 Nicole Barlas: From FFA to Family Farm
- 04:08 Katie Grinstead: A Lifelong Passion for Dairy
- 05:10 Katy Katzman: Balancing Family and Farm
- 06:31 Paths Back to the Family Farm
- 09:31 Challenges and Rewards of Dairy Farming
- 15:47 Advocacy and Community Involvement
- 20:39 Charity Ball and Community Impact
- 21:37 Balancing Passion and Personal Life
- 22:26 Blending Family and Farm Life
- 24:24 Teaching Kids Through Involvement
- 26:45 Challenges of Letting Go and Asking for Help
- 30:11 Navigating Family Dynamics on the Farm
- 37:55 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions
In this special Mother’s Day episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Danielle Volles, a dairy farm mom who transitioned from a banking career to running a dairy farm in Marietta, NY. Danielle discusses her journey of trading high heels for work boots, managing 4,000 livestock, and raising five children, including two adopted nieces. She shares insightful perspectives on parenting, balancing family life with farm responsibilities, and recognizing the invaluable contributions of farm moms. Danielle also highlights the importance of holistic health for cows and how AHV's natural treatments have transformed their animal health management. This episode, filled with honest and inspiring conversations, recognizes the incredible efforts of dairy farm moms making a difference.
This episode is brought to you by AHV
AHV (Animal Health Vision) helps empower their customers as entrepreneurs that embrace innovations in animal health. As a knowledge center, they are a leader in the field of quorum sensing innovations and advisory services for optimal animal health, with programs that focus on improving key areas such as udder health, uterine health, reproduction, and more. AHV celebrates the health and success of the dairy cow and is also proud to honor and celebrate dairy farm moms who are making a difference, today and every day.
Find more information at: https://ahvint.com/
We’re picking up where we left off with the Abbott brothers, the two farm boys from Vermont who went on to achieve high levels of success in two different parts of the dairy business: Tim Abbott and David Abbott.
We talk about tough decisions, taking risks and what it takes to be successful as a leader. Dave reflects on his experiences as CEO at Purina Mills, as well as stepping outside of the agriculture industry and into various other leadership roles, and Tim talks about taking the leap from corporate to entrepreneurship in dairy cattle breeding with St. Jacobs, and now, Showbox Sires.
There’s more than 130 years combined of wisdom and lives well-lived in this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
This Episode is Brought to you by Adisseo
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
We're talking country music, career paths, and most importantly, courage, character, and the common bond of two brothers from Cabot, Vermont, here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
Tim Abbott is back, and he’s brought his big brother David Abbott onto the show.
We get to hear David’s story, from graduating in the top third of his high school class of 10, to his 25-year career with Purina Mills, where he eventually became CEO, before stepping out of ag to grow and consult across other industries.
Through the brotherly banter, you will hear a story of pursuing your dreams, perseverance and staying true to your path and your purpose.
This Episode is Brought to you by Adisseo
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Steven Landwehr, CEO of United Dairies in Minnesota, part of the PACE Group. Steven shares his journey from growing up on a dairy farm to leading a multi-partner, multi-site enterprise. He discusses the key role of transformational leadership, accountability, and decision-making in the success of their operations.
Steven talks about the importance of growing and empowering his team members, instilling confidence, and professionalizing processes.
The episode also highlights the technological advancements brought by Milc Group’s software, which has streamlined feed and animal management and improved operational efficiency.
This episode is sponsored in partnership with the Milc Group.
Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with the tools they need to succeed.
- ONETM Feed: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/feed
- ONETM Scale: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/scale
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast's Young Leaders series, Peggy and Kiley Pagel from Pagel’s Family Businesses welcome Dr. Megan Abeyta, an independent dairy nutritionist with GPS Dairy Consulting. Dr. Abeyta shares her unique journey from growing up in a non-agricultural background in Fort Collins, Colorado, her unforgettable experiences with sheep during lambing season, and landing in her role today, helping dairy cows and farmers be their best. Listeners will hear about her work at Pagel Family Businesses and her role as a nutritionist servicing farms across Wisconsin. Megan offers insights into the challenges and rewards of her career, the importance of mentorship, and valuable advice for young professionals entering the agriculture sector.or.
Episode Sponsor: Quali-T | Branding Solutions
Learn more about how Quali-T | Branding Solutions provides branding solutions, work wear, reflective gear and other customized merchandise for farms and agribusinesses: https://qualitinc.espwebsite.com/
- 00:00 Introduction to the Young Leaders Series
- 00:40 Meet Kiley and Her Role at PS Ponderosa
- 01:41 Introducing Dr. Megan Abeyta
- 02:43 Dr. Megan's Journey into Dairy Nutrition
- 07:00 Challenges and Triumphs in the Dairy Industry
- 08:47 Advice for Aspiring Dairy Professionals
- 12:25 Resources and Mentorship
- 17:00 Final Thoughts and Farewell
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen and Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy are catching up on the monthly market updates for April. In this conversation, you can hear about the impact of tariffs on dairy exports such as whey protein and non-fat dry milk, and how planting projections for corn and soybeans in 2025 might affect the dairy industry. The episode also delves into the volatility of the markets influenced by recent announcements from the Trump administration.
Curtis shares insights into the broader implications for the dairy market, focusing on export reliance and the potential effects on U.S. dairy products, particularly regarding trade tensions between the U.S. and China. The episode further covers milk production trends amidst rising costs and the benefits of beef cross calves, as well as the importance of strategic and agile risk management in navigating market changes. Curtis emphasizes the necessity for dairy producers to stay proactive and flexible in their risk management strategies to optimize margins amid market uncertainties.
Get your monthly market update here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-april-2025
- 00:00 Introduction to Tariffs and Dairy Exports
- 01:12 Market Reactions to Tariff Announcements
- 04:12 Impact on Dairy Markets
- 08:48 Milk Production Trends and Challenges
- 12:04 Corn and Soybean Planting Projections
- 17:04 Risk Management Strategies
- 20:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
This episode is brought to you by:
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of April 16 p.m.12:30 CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
In the latest episode, hosted at the 2025 Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Annual Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, Peggy converses with Will McKinley from Menn Law, a legal advisor and General Counsel for the PDP, about the intricate challenges of managing family-run multimillion-dollar dairy farms.
The discussion focuses on common issues such as the 'Cousin Eddie' scenario, where less competent family members may pose risks to farm management and decision-making. Will emphasizes the importance of strategic planning and legal tools, like setting up trusts and involving non-family management to address these complexities while ensuring the farm's longevity and the financial security of all family members.
He also highlights the necessity of open communication, candor, and psychological insight to navigate these sensitive family dynamics effectively. Will shares real-life examples and stresses the importance of detailed, one-on-one conversations with family members to craft tailored solutions that balance individual desires with the best interests of the farm.
Contact Will McKinley at Menn Law:
William-McKinley@mennlaw.com
(920) 731-6631
https://mennlaw.com/
Do you have a question on succession and farm transition you would like to hear Will answer on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast?
Send your questions to peggy@upleveldairy.com
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy and Pauly Paul from Complete Management Consulting at the Central Plains Dairy Expo. They discuss strategies to enhance profitability and efficiency on dairy farms as we progress through 2025.
Curtis shares insights on the importance of financial planning and risk management in the dairy markets, while Pauly emphasizes the value of operational efficiency audits.
Both experts underscore the significance of proactive business practices and accurate financial assessments to navigate market volatility and achieve sustained success in the dairy industry. This episode is sponsored by HighGround Dairy, which offers a range of services including market intelligence, insurance, and advisory programs for dairy market participants.
About HighGround Dairy
This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Learn more at https://highgrounddairy.com/ or email them at info@highgrounddairy.com
- 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
- 01:55 Curtis Bosma's Background and Role
- 06:40 Pauly Paul's Background and Role
- 08:33 Efficiency and Profitability Strategies
- 17:17 Risk Management Insights
- 24:42 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up
Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is joined by Alltech’s Jorge Delgado and Compeer’s Brad Herkenhoff to chat about the challenges and strategies related to improving dairy farm culture.
The discussion dives into the importance of identifying and fostering a strong culture on dairy farms, emphasizing the significance of communication and understanding employee motivations. Jorge Delgado shares actionable steps and success stories, highlighting the need for mission statements and continuous engagement to create a cohesive and dedicated workforce. This episode is packed with practical insights tailored for dairy farm owners and managers aiming to enhance their team's performance and engagement.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts
- 00:00 Introduction: Overcoming Stalled Progress in Dairy Farms
- 00:23 Meet the our sponsor: Brad Herkenhoff, Compeer Financial
- 02:13 The Importance of Culture in Dairy Farms
- 03:26 Insights from Jorge Delgado: Building a Strong Dairy Culture
- 05:17 Defining and Identifying Culture
- 08:25 Creating a Mission Statement: A Case Study
- 17:39 Effective Communication: The Key to Culture
- 18:55 Challenges and Solutions in Dairy Farm Management
- 26:24 Final Thoughts: Leadership and Adaptability
- 27:39 Conclusion: Keep Growing and Upleveling Your Dairy
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Tommy Oesch from Swiss Lane Farms at the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Tommy discusses his transition into the role of visionary at Swiss Lane Farms, key wins and challenges in the first quarter of 2025, and the importance of labor solutions and team culture. They also cover the personal aspects of balancing family life, including the recent wrestling season and the impact of losing a valued team member.
Tommy shares insights into the evolving vision statement of Swiss Lane Farms and the importance of team alignment and leadership development. The episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast's founding partner, Adisseo.
00:00 Welcome to the Uplevel Dairy Podcast
00:52 Catching Up with Tommy Oesch
01:26 Q1 Recap and Labor Challenges
06:20 Vision and Leadership at Swiss Lane Farms
15:47 Family and Personal Insights
18:33 Wrestling and Team Dynamics
22:38 Leadership and Employee Development
24:57 Concluding Thoughts and Future Questions
26:48 Sponsor Message
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Doug Hubby, general manager of Shamrock Farms. Doug manages 12,000 cows and over a hundred employees, emphasizing his role as a professional problem solver.
The conversation with Doug highlights three key technological advancements implemented to save water, time, and money while improving cow health and performance: a micro machine for precise nutrient delivery, a custom teat dip mixing system, and advanced cooling techniques.
Doug also shares his management philosophy, which is focused on valuing team members and fostering a culture of respect and family. The episode delves into Doug's background, the challenges faced in dairy farming, and his vision for future innovations in the industry.
This episode is sponsored by Micro Technologies
Micro Technologies innovates advanced, comprehensive & integrated technologies to help dairies produce a safe, wholesome product more efficiently and profitably.
For more information, visit: Microtechnologies.com
This episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, hosted by Peggy Coffeen, delves into the story of the McCarty family and the establishment of the Judy McCarty Learning Center.
The episode features insights from Ken, Clay, Mike, and Tom McCarty as they honor Judy McCarty’s impact on their family and the dairy industry. It includes a special recording of Judy McCarty from 2020 and highlights the family’s commitment to sustainable dairy farming, education, and community engagement.
The episode also discusses the McCarty family’s move from Pennsylvania to Kansas and their focus on transparency and innovation in dairy farming, underscored by world-leading milking technology provided by sponsor De LaVal.
- 00:00 Introduction to the Uplevel Dairy Podcast
- 00:19 The McCarty Family Legacy
- 00:30 Judy McCarty Learning Center: A Tribute
- 00:39 Voices from the McCarty Family
- 02:03 The Move to Kansas
- 03:06 Sustainability and Innovation
- 03:49 Roles within the McCarty Family
- 04:57 Judy McCarty's Influence on Education
- 06:22 The Purpose of the Learning Center
- 07:31 Emotional Reflections
- 08:58 Community Impact and Future Vision
- 15:55 Modern Dairy Farming Practices
- 19:20 The Mural: A Family Story
- 20:58 Conclusion and Farewell
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen wraps up Women's History Month by engaging in a heartfelt conversation with Lindsey Worden, the newly appointed CEO of Holstein Association USA. Lindsey, the 10th CEO in the association's 140-year history, shares her inspirational journey from her beginnings in New York and New Mexico to becoming a key leader in the dairy industry. She discusses her vision for the future of the Holstein Association, focusing on partnerships, individual animal identification, and innovation in programs and services. Lindsey also reflects on her personal experiences, including fond memories of dairy camp, her professional development, and her active role in breeding genetics on her family's farm. The discussion highlights the importance of youth and leadership programs offered by the Holstein Foundation, emphasizing the value of inspiring and educating the next generation of dairy industry advocates. Lindsey concludes by sharing her commitment to lead with intention, authenticity, and gratitude, aiming to maintain the association's rich legacy while steering it towards a promising future.
This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit DairyWellness.com.
International Women in Dairy Series: Ysabel Jacobs, Ferme Jacobs, Quebec, Canada
We’ve been celebrating women around the world this month with the International Women in Dairy Series here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, and today I’m joined by a Canadian dairy woman who knows a thing or two about what it takes to win.
Ysabel Jacobs has stood center of the ring at the world’s most competitive cows shows and with her family at Ferme Jacobs in Quebec, developed iconic cows with household names like Shakira. But when I sat down with this mother of 3, what I discovered was that while raising the next World Dairy Expo champions in the barn certainly excites her, what drives her passion more than anything these days is raising the next generation of her family with the mindset it takes to be champions far beyond the show ring.
Join us at Central Plains Dairy Expo for Happy Hour!
If you are heading to Sioux Falls, stop by the Sheraton Hotel Atrium (party deck) on Wednesday, March 26 from 4-7 p.m. Enjoy a complimentary cocktail with some of the familiar faces and voices from Uplevel Dairy Podcast and chat with the sponsors that make this podcast possible including:
- Adisseo
- Compeer
- Complete Management Consulting
- HighGround Dairy
- Milc Group
- Nedap
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is joined for the Monthly Market Update by Curtis Bosma from High Ground Dairy to chat about current trends and forecasts in the global dairy market for March.
They discuss the decline in dairy farm profitability and the impact of varying regional conditions on milk production. The episode also covers key products affecting milk pricing such as cheese, butter, and milk powders, highlighting concerns over domestic and export demand, especially with potential tariffs. The conversation is rounded off with winter crop forecasts affecting the market outlook for 2025 and risk management strategies for producers.
Catch the March Market Update Here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-march-2025
This episode is brought to you by: HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of March 17 at 3 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
International Women in Dairy Series: Jan Winke
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen sits down with Jan Winke, a dairy farmer and professional with Nedap, who moved from Iowa to New Zealand 17 years ago. She discusses her family’s transition from struggling on a small farm in Iowa to today being proud owners of their own dairy farm in New Zealand.
Jan shares her compelling journey of relocating with her husband Chad and young family halfway around the world to take advantage of better opportunities in the dairy industry.
Jan also touches upon the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry, the differences in dairy farming practices between the US and New Zealand, and the importance of establishing work-life boundaries.
Tune in to this inspiring conversation about resilience, adaptation, and the pursuit of dreams in unfamiliar territory.
Episode Sponsor: Quali-T | Branding Solutions
Learn more about how Quali-T | Branding Solutions provides branding solutions, work wear, reflective gear and other customized merchandise for farms and agribusinesses: https://qualitinc.espwebsite.com/
- 00:00 Introduction to the International Women in Dairy Series
- 01:07 Meet Jan Winke: From Iowa to New Zealand
- 02:23 The Big Move: Challenges and Opportunities
- 06:28 Navigating the New Zealand Dairy Industry
- 12:26 Differences Between US and New Zealand Dairy Farming
- 20:46 Overcoming Gender Barriers in the Dairy Industry
- 28:06 Presenting Our Business: A Team Effort
- 29:03 Milestones in Our Farming Journey
- 30:19 Learning to Code for Work
- 31:29 Reflecting on Our Progress
- 32:44 Implementing Effective Farming Processes
- 35:05 Balancing Work, Family, and Personal Growth
- 49:31 Encouraging Youth in Dairy Farming
- 53:23 Final Thoughts and Reflections
International Women in Dairy: Erica Rijneveld, Livestock Show Equipment, Netherlands
We are celebrating International Women's Day and Women's History Month by sharing stories from women around the world who are making a difference in the dairy business, and today’s guest is a one-woman powerhouse who has paved her own path with hard work, perseverance and a commitment to excellence as a European-based livestock show supplies business, not to mention clipping and fitting with some of the best show strings in the world.
Erica Rijenveld reflects on ordering her first case of Orvus in her 20s and growing Livestock Show Equipment over the past two decades to what is now a successful online store with more than 450 different products for both farmers and fitters.
And she’s also made it her mission to teach and encourage the next generation of dairy enthusiasts through the acclaimed Young Breeders School - a Belgium-based experience for young people from around the world who want to learn and grow their network, their skills and their love for competition through dairy cattle fitting and showing.
- 00:00 Introduction and Background
- 00:28 Starting the Business
- 02:30 Current Business Operations
- 03:50 Team and Business Scale
- 06:34 Youth Involvement and Mentorship
- 18:39 Challenges and Adaptations
- 24:19 Reflections and Future Goals
- 37:58 Advice for Young Women in Dairy
- 44:26 Closing Thoughts and Final Question
Livestock Show Equipment:
https://www.showequip.com/
Follow the Young Breeders School here:
https://www.facebook.com/YoungBreedersSchool
International Women in Dairy: Fernanda Lopes, Global Ruminant Strategy Manager, Adisseo
We are celebrating International Women's Day and Women's History Month by bringing on global dairy industry leader Fernanda Lopes. Originally from Brazil, she first found her passion for dairy at 12 years old, spending Saturday mornings with a local embryo transfer veterinarian..
Her pursuit of personal challenge brought her to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned her master's and doctorate and also met one of her greatest mentors, Dr. David Combs.
Today, as Global Ruminant Strategy Manager with Adisseo, Fernanda discusses her professional challenges and achievements, and the cultural adaptability required in her global role. She emphasizes the importance of believing in oneself, continuous learning, and advice for younger women in their dairy careers.
This Episode is Brought to you by Adisseo
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
Kritzia López Arvelo, a third-generation dairy farmer from Puerto Rico, shares her life journey, encompassing her roles as a lawyer, a dairy farmer, and a new mother. She discusses the challenges faced by dairy farmers in Puerto Rico, including high costs, the impact of hurricanes, and the struggle for sustainability.
Kris reflects on the resilience built during Hurricane Maria and its aftermath, which taught her valuable lessons in self-assurance and adaptability. She emphasizes the importance of family, her profound faith, and the balance between professional and personal life.
Kris also highlights her involvement in leadership roles within the Puerto Rican dairy and legal communities and shares insights for young women pursuing similar multifaceted career paths.
Episode Sponsor: Quali-T | Branding Solutions
Learn more about how Quali-T | Branding Solutions provides branding solutions, work wear, reflective gear and other customized merchandise for farms and agribusinesses: https://qualitinc.espwebsite.com/
Join the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) for the Annual Conference in Westminster, Colorado, April 8-10. Visit dairycalfandheifer.org
Two heifer growers from two different parts of the country join us today: TJ McClure joins us from southwest Kansas, and Kendall Wassenaar from northwest Iowa, to chat about the strategies they have been using to overcome challenges on their heifer development operations, including:
Recruiting labor in a county with only 1,200 people,
Problem-solving pink eye in heifers
Strategies for increasing operational efficiency and reducing man hours
And the organization through which these two connected a few years back, the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association.
As current DCHA President, Kendall gives highlights for the 2025 annual conference, set for April 8-10 in Westminster, Colorado, and TJ, a past president and current DCHA board member, shares what he is looking forward to at this year’s premier event.
This episode is sponsored by the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association and Zoetis.
Register for the DCHA Annual Conference: https://calfandheifer.org/
Zoetis' Calf Wellness solutions are pivotal in ensuring your calves receive the best start possible. By focusing on prediction, prevention, treatment, and expertise, Zoetis helps you raise healthy, productive cows, securing a prosperous future for our herds.
Visit www.calfwellness.com
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
Want to get new episodes in your inbox? Subscribe here: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, hosted by Peggy Coffeen, Curtis Bosma from High Ground Dairy provides a comprehensive February monthly market update. Key topics include:
- The current state of tariffs and their potential impact on the dairy industry
- Insights from the World Ag Expo
- Trends in milk production across various U.S. states
- And the global dairy supply
Catch your own February Market Report here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-february-2025
- 00:00 Introduction to Tariffs and Market Update
- 00:38 Insights from the World Ag Expo
- 01:30 The Impact of Tariffs on Dairy Markets
- 05:58 US Milk Production Trends
- 08:09 Global Dairy Market Overview
- 10:39 Commodity Price Movements
- 16:48 Producer Conversations and Future Outlook
- 23:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Curtis also discusses the significance of understanding true production costs and effective risk management strategies while highlighting recent price movements in the futures market for whey, butter, cheese, and nonfat dry milk.
This episode is brought to you by:
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of February 21 at 2:30 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
“Where quality and service meet” was the brand promise Ideal Dairy was founded upon more than 100 years ago, as not only a dairy farm but a local supply of door-to-door fresh milk delivery in Hudson Falls, New York.
Well, fast forward to today, and this dairy farm and the families who operate it continue to live out that motto with their 3,800-cow herd, known widely for excellence in their genetics program, Cookie Cutter Holsteins.
And while there are many people behind the scenes of Ideal Dairy’s success, today we visit with a woman who is intensely passionate about people, connecting with the community and creating opportunities for the next generation of this multi-family dairy operation, while honoring the traditions of the past: Crystal Grimaldi, along with her father, John Dickinson.
BONUS: Sponsor Spotlight featuring Steve Chuhta from Zoetis
Meet Steve and hear why he nominated Ideal Dairy to be featured in Zoetis’s celebrated Born of the Bond video series.
Watch Season 2, Episode 1 here:
https://www.zoetisus.com/cattle/born-of-the-bond/
This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit DairyWellness.com.
We just dropped episode number 200 of the Uplevel Dairy podcast, that’s 200 conversations with dairy leaders - from CEOs to high-performing managers, immigrants, industry icons, entrepreneurs, influencers, and even an Olympian.
Today I’m summarizing for you the top 7 lessons from these incredible leaders, 7 key themes you can apply today at work and at home to increase your energy, clarify your focus, and amplify your impact.
When you take yourself to a higher level, you bring those around you to a higher version of success and service too.
Let’s get into it today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
$18,000 an acre for farmland? Today, we talk about hot trends in land values and rental prices with Jade Kruschke from Compeer Financial.
And from Compeer’s dairy team, Senior Ag Lending Specialist Curtis Gerrits shines some light on land acquisition strategies he sees dairy farmers implementing to gain access to acres for feed, cropping and manure without paying premium prices.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact theCompeer Dairy Industry Experts.
“There’s nothing more painful than having to watch a farmer go to an auction to bid on their own land.” - Will McKinley, Menn Law
Today we talk with Will about farming partnerships:
- What to know before you get into a partnership
- How to protect yourself and the farm should one party want to get out
- Buy-sell agreements
- Operating agreements
- Shareholder agreements
Contact Will McKinley at Menn Law:
William-McKinley@mennlaw.com
(920) 731-6631
https://mennlaw.com/
Do you have a question on succession and farm transition you would like to hear Will answer on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast?
Send your questions topeggy@upleveldairy.com
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast Young Leader Series, Sarah Thomas shares her journey from growing up in North Carolina to her current role at Select Sires in Ohio. Sarah discusses her involvement in dairy judging and mentorship, emphasizing mental health and the importance of advocating for oneself. She reflects on the significant impact of mentors in her life and how she's now giving back by guiding and inspiring the next generation through the Ohio Junior Holstein Association.
Make sure to tune in to catch all her tips on dairy judging and career development for young leaders in the dairy industry!
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
Want to get new episodes in your inbox? Subscribe here: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe
You may know Dr. Marissa Hake from her online following as the @Calfvet, but what you may not know are the big dreams, bold prayers, and brave actions that led to her career of now five years with Fairlife and the recent opening of their direct-to-consumer farm store for Black Label Beef.
Get ready to laugh with us, cry with us and be inspired on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
Connect with Marissa Online
- https://www.blacklabelfarms2020.com/
- https://www.instagram.com/blacklabelfarmmarket/
- https://www.instagram.com/calfvet_/
- https://www.drhakecalfvet.com/
This Episode is Brought to you by Adisseo
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
Want to get new episodes in your inbox? Subscribe here: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe
25 years ago, a twenty-year-old Dutchman left his homeland in pursuit of a dream - the American dream - and a dairy farm that would allow him to live out his passion.
This quest led Sander Penterman to Jon-De Farms in northern Wisconsin, where he met who would be some of his greatest mentors, Dean and Todd Doorninck. This became a stepping stone to eventually owning his own dairy farm in Thorp, Wisconsin, Dutch Dairy.
This 15th-generation dairyman shares with us today a journey of starting from scratch, optimizing efficiency and being an early adapter to technology - and also heartbreaking challenges - including the tragic loss of a child.
This is a story of hard work, dedication and the positive attitude that has persevered and continues to keep Sander looking forward to each new day, right here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
This Episode is Brought to you by Milc Group
Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with the tools they need to succeed.
- ONETM Feed: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/feed
- ONETM Scale: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/scale
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
Want to get new episodes in your inbox? Subscribe here: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen interviews Greg Bethard, CEO of High Plains Ponderosa Dairy, who shares his unconventional journey into the dairy industry.
Greg discusses the challenges he faced transitioning from a consultant and CFO to managing and owning a dairy farm in Kansas.
Despite initial hardships and the unexpected loss of a key partner and friend, John Pagel, he pushed through to establish a successful business and master the role of CEO.
This conversation also delves into Greg's upbringing, career choices, and the importance of hard work, passion, and the infinite business model that emphasizes sustainability in profitability, cow comfort, people, community, and the environment.
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
Want to get new episodes in your inbox? Subscribe here: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe
Today, we’re talking about managing your heifer inventory, cutting down your cull rate, and making more milk and more money without purchasing pricey replacements as we sit down with Pauly Paul from Complete Management Consulting on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
This Episode is Sponsored by Complete Management Consulting
Contact Pauly Paul
- www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com
- completemanagementconsulting@gmail.com
- 920-418-3135
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
Want to get new episodes in your inbox? Subscribe here: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy provides an in-depth analysis of key market factors affecting the dairy industry in 2025. Topics covered include:
- The finalized rulings on Federal Milk Marketing Orders
- Supply and demand shifts
- And inventory trends in dairy commodities like cheese and butter.
Curtis also emphasizes the importance of financial management for dairy farmers, highlighting the significance of balance sheets, cash flow statements, and margin management systems to maintain profitability and prepare for future industry changes.
Grab your own copy of the January Market Report here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-january-2025.
This episode is brought to you by:
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of January 17, 2025 at 1 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is sitting down with Will McKinley, President of Menn Law Firm, to discuss the importance of trust and estate planning for farm families.
Will explains three different types of trusts, including Medicaid, revocable, and irrevocable trusts, and their relevance in asset protection, probate avoidance, and tax planning for farms.
He shares insights into the legal and practical aspects of transition planning and succession for agribusiness, emphasizing the importance of updating and funding the trust. Real-life stories illustrate successful trust implementations and the challenges of equitable asset distribution among family members. The episode underscores the necessity of early planning and communication to ensure a smooth transition of farm operations to the next generation.
- 00:00 Introduction and Welcome
- 00:14 Menn Law's Legacy and Services
- 02:01 Will McKinley's Background
- 02:45 Understanding Trusts: An Overview
- 04:11 Medicaid Trusts Explained
- 05:10 Revocable Trusts: Essential for Farms
- 06:57 Irrevocable Trusts: Advanced Planning
- 16:19 Practical Applications and Case Studies
- 25:46 Challenges in Trust Planning
- 28:57 Success Stories and Final Advice
- 35:23 Conclusion and Contact Information
This Episode is Brought to you by Menn Law Firm
Contact Will McKinley at Menn Law, Appleton, Wisconsin:
- William-McKinley@mennlaw.com
- (920) 731-6631
- https://mennlaw.com/
Do you have a question on succession and farm transition you would like to hear Will answer on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast?
Send your questions to peggy@upleveldairy.com
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy is sitting down with Tom McCarty to hear about his journey as the patriarch of McCarty Family Farms. Moving his family from Pennsylvania to Northwest Kansas nearly 25 years ago, Tom discusses the strategic steps they took to grow their dairy business.
He emphasizes the values of hard work, forward-thinking, and resilience that have guided his family's success. Tom also reflects on the future growth opportunities for the farm and offers advice to younger generations entering the dairy industry.
Make sure to tune in to catch this conversation with Tom!
Meet fourth-generation Pennsylvania dairyman Jared Kurtz, and listen alongside as I help him put his “why” into words.
I’ll be opening the morning session of the Pennsylvania Dairy Summit on Feb. 5, with a conversation inspired by the book “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” by Simon Simek.
Get a preview here as find out Jared’s “why” - why he chose to come back to the dairy after seeking to get away from it, why he and his wife wanted farm life for their six children, why the transition planning has been challenging but worth it, why he takes his responsibility seriously to engage with his community and educate others about their farming practices, and why he believes his farm serves a greater purpose.
Register for the Pennsylvania Dairy Summit:
https://center-for-dairy-excellence.mailchimpsites.com/
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Want to end 2025 better than you started it? Ever struggle with New Year’s resolutions that stick?
Today I’m walking you through three steps that I do at the beginning of each year to gain the clarity and momentum to make each year better than the last, while creating more margin in your day to make room for habits that will get you where you want to be.
- 00:00 Welcome and Recap of 2024
- 00:35 Struggles with New Year's Resolutions
- 01:53 Step 1: Creating a Vision
- 06:39 Step 2: Subtracting to Add Value
- 10:11 Step 3: Adding Positive Habits
- 11:12 Recommended Reading for 2025
- 13:31 Final Thoughts and Recap
- 15:22 Closing Remarks and Contact Information
Are you implementing these steps? Let me know! Send an email to peggy@upleveldairy.com or DM Uplevel Dairy on Facebook or Instagram!
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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Impact Farming Podcast host Tracy Burnet jumps on from Manitoba to join Uplevel Dairy Podcast host Peggy Coffeen as they reflect on the one word they each chose to live by in 2024, and how they are preparing to uplevel and creating an impact in 2025!
Check out the Impact Farming Podcast:
https://www.farmmarketer.com/impact_farming_show/season-one-episodes
Impact Farming Podcast on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@farmmarketer3270
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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Best of 2024: We are catching back up with some of our top guests from the past year, and today we chat with Idaho dairyman Hans Nederend, Nederend Dairies.
In Episode 92, Hans shared his secrets to achieving world-class milk quality, and then expanded upon that as we talked about his roles as not only a dairyman, but also a dad and a leader.
In this episode, Hans talks about the challenge of dealing with avian influenza on his dairies, how it impacted his herd and also how it brought out the dedication of his team.
And find out the word that he is choosing to live by in the coming year.
See more from Hans in episode 92 Part 1: https://pod.link/1687111792/episode/96bd60b7365b6ffd01d1a618a16163f4
Part 2: https://pod.link/1687111792/episode/c61c5c6b1462e6f7cb6f2fc77ac5d3ee
Best of 2024: We are catching back up with some of our top guests from the past year and are so grateful to welcome Katie Coyne.
Earlier this year, Katie shared her personal story of growing up in the dairy industry and how she has made it her mission to pay it back to the next in line through mentoring and encouraging youth.
Katie also shared her personal journey with cancer and the prognosis given to her in late 2024.
Find out how Katie has continued to find hope and purpose each and every day, and the word she is choosing to live by in 2025.
More from Katie Coyne: https://pod.link/1687111792/episode/362107c1893d057d399daef877ef3ff0
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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Best of 2024: We are catching back up with some of our top guests from the past year, including Tim Abbott, who joined us back in Ep. 143: Sitting on the Showbox with Tim Abbott.
We pull up a seat again today to hear how 2024 challenged him changed him, his greatest wins and the word he has chosen to live by in 2025.
More from Tim Abbott:
- 165 | Showbox Stories with Tim Abbott, featuring Jim Ostrom, John Vosters and Steve Briggs: https://pod.link/1687111792/episode/a27e08505ee234f6417366d1d8df038f
- 164 | Showbox Stories with Tim Abbott, featuring Tom Morris and Ernie Kueffner: https://pod.link/1687111792/episode/a27e08505ee234f6417366d1d8df038f
- 143 | Sitting on the Showbox with Tim Abbott: https://pod.link/1687111792/episode/969acac6456d7268546f30174f3e00d4
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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We sit down with Manuel Soares, CEO of Milc Group, to discuss how applying manufacturing principles to dairy farming can identify and eliminate bottlenecks to improve revenue.
Manuel highlights the importance of real-time data for making quick, informed decisions, and the need for an integrated system like ERP to connect all aspects of dairy operations.
He emphasizes the role of accurate data, proper data entry, and data ownership in ensuring financial success in the dairy industry.
Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with the tools they need to succeed.
- ONETM Feed: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/feed
- ONETM Scale: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/scale
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast's Young Leader Series, co-host Kiley Pagel leads a conversation with Emily McGowty from 2020 Consulting. Emily transitioned from an equine background to the dairy industry, where she focuses on financial consulting and building trust with dairy farm clients.
The conversatio covers Emily's journey, the importance of trust and flexibility in her role in the finance sector, and the mentorship and support she has received along the way.
You will also hear about the challenges Emily faced and the strategies she used to overcome them, helping her become a trusted advisor in the dairy industry.
Make sure to share this episode with a Young Dairy Leader you know!
This episode is sponsored by Quali T | Branding Solutions.Learn more about how Quali T | Branding Solutions. provides branding solutions, work wear, reflective gear and other customized merchandise for farms and agribusinesses: https://qualitinc.espwebsite.com/
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In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast, Peggy Coffeen is back for a monthly market update with Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy.
This month they discuss the current state of dairy markets, including price volatility and the impacts of political headlines such as the bird flu on milk production in states like California versus expansion in others.
Curtis highlights butter and cheese markets' dynamics, touching on trends in butterfat production and export opportunities for cheese due to price adjustments. The conversation also covers economic challenges like consumer credit card debt impacting consumer spending and food service traffic, and policy discussions surrounding the Farm Bill and programs such as cooperatives working together (CWT) and USDA purchasing assistance.
The episode dives into the importance of managing margins and choosing the right advisors for dairy producers while reflecting on market intelligence insights and the critical role of merchandisers in the supply chain.
Snag your own December Market Update here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-december-2024.
This episode is brought to you by:
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of December 18, 2024 at 12 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
Ted Jacoby III, CEO of TC Jacoby Inc., is back to talk about what he has learned over the past 35 years as the third-generation at the helm of his family’s St. Louis-based dairy marketing business.
In this episode, Ted shares his experiences as a leader of the family dairy business, including:
- Succession
- Culture
- Leadership
Communication
- Hear more from Ted Jacoby on Ep. 182:
https://pod.link/1687111792/episode/8033bc3f933b282b83e7961d4c11eefb
Today we venture into the middle ground of what happens to milk when it leaves your dairy and before it lands on a restaurant table or store shelf.
And who better to share these insights than the third-generation leader of St. Louis-based dairy marketing company T.C. Jacoby, Ted Jacoby, III.
Ted discusses the significant milestones in dairy marketing over his 35 years in the business, from the advent of refrigerated bulk tanks post-WWII to the skyrocketing international demand for U.S. dairy products. Discover the biggest opportunities and challenges facing dairy farmers today, the pivotal role of risk management, and how the industry is adapting to changes in sustainability and labor markets.
This episode is brought to you by:
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
One thing I love about the dairy industry is that we are always looking for ways to improve on what we are already doing…
And the McCartys are no different.
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are heading back to McCarty Family Farms to explore the significant role of genetic advancements in their dairy operations.
Ken McCarty shares insights on how the partnership with Zoetis and the use of genetic evaluations from Zoetis Clarifide Plus have helped the farm enhance productivity, sustainability, and genetic progress.
The discussion covers the farm's focus on traits like feed efficiency, reproductive efficiency, and health while addressing parentage accuracy and the long-term importance of sustainability in dairy farming.
This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit DairyWellness.com and Clarifideplus.com.
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Why do family farm transition plans stall before they are completed?
Today, we uncover two root reasons that hold families back from taking the next step with attorney Will McKinley, president of Menn Law in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Will, who grew up on the farm fields of Illinois, has been spending his time in the field with well-known agriculture attorney George Twohig since the principal office of Twohig Rietbrock Schneider Halbach S.C. affiliated with Menn Law last year.
Today, Will shares stories and expertise on navigating the early stages of transition planning and how to keep the process moving forward.
Contact Will McKinley at Menn Law:
William-McKinley@mennlaw.com
(920) 731-6631
https://mennlaw.com/
Do you have a question on succession and farm transition you would like to hear Will answer on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast?
Send your questions to peggy@upleveldairy.com
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Tommy Oesch from Swiss Lane Farms in Michigan is back with us today, and we are going to hear about a transition he has personally made in the past 6 months. The transition from operations manager to full-time visionary for Swiss Lane Farms.
And find out how that original vision has scaled from 7,000 cows to a 10,000 cow business model by 2032, and how Swiss Lane plans to get there.
Listen to past episodes with Tommy Oesch here:
- Ep 35 | https://pod.link/1687111792/episode/4289e434864d0a31682ebbcc894c7a55
- Ep 55 | https://pod.link/1687111792/episode/4e0a13795d769abad852b9592cc66c39
-
Ep 54 | https://pod.link/1687111792/episode/8bbf69c14c287f7960044b792ad5f3bc
-
- Ep 101 | https://pod.link/1687111792/episode/b690cf3193efb046a08fa5e3b44dc175
This Episode is Brought to you by Adisseo This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
- Ep 101 | https://pod.link/1687111792/episode/b690cf3193efb046a08fa5e3b44dc175
Make sure to join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
- Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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In this special 3-part series, we are bringing you the Tanbark Talk held at World Dairy Expo, where we delved into the complexities of transitioning a farm to the next generation.
Part 3: This discussion includes:
- Detailed Operating and Buy-Sell Agreements
- Addressing Housing Policies
- Compensation and Roles in Family Farms
- Involving Spouses and Significant Others
- Bringing in Non-Family Members
Meet the Panelists:
· Dennis, Jeni & Alan Oechscner, Oechsner Farms: This seventh-generation dairy farm is currently navigating a 10-year ownership transition plan. The Oechsners will share their firsthand experience managing multi-generational dynamics while embracing modern technologies.
· Jared Holt, President & CEO, Ascent Financial: Jared brings deep financial expertise to the discussion, offering insights on estate planning, debt management and financial strategies for long-term success.
· Steve Schwoerer, VP of Dairy Lending, Compeer Financial: With over 31 years in dairy lending, Steve will share his knowledge on financial planning for transitions and how Compeer supports dairy clients through the process.
This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial.
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact:
- Compeer Dairy Industry Experts
- Dairy Industry Articles: Gain knowledge from subject matter experts
- Navigating the Dairy Industry Today: On-Demand Webinar Series
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
Want to get new episodes in your inbox? Subscribe here: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe
In this special 3-part series, we are bringing you the Tanbark Talk held at World Dairy Expo, where we delved into the complexities of transitioning a farm to the next generation.
Part 2: This discussion includes:
- Buying out the senior generation while bringing in the junior generation
- Tax strategies
- Business planning
Meet the Panelists:
· Dennis, Jeni & Alan Oechscner, Oechsner Farms: This seventh-generation dairy farm is currently navigating a 10-year ownership transition plan. The Oechsners will share their firsthand experience managing multi-generational dynamics while embracing modern technologies.
· Jared Holt, President & CEO, Ascent Financial: Jared brings deep financial expertise to the discussion, offering insights on estate planning, debt management and financial strategies for long-term success.
· Steve Schwoerer, VP of Dairy Lending, Compeer Financial: With over 31 years in dairy lending, Steve will share his knowledge on financial planning for transitions and how Compeer supports dairy clients through the process.
This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial.
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact:
- Compeer Dairy Industry Experts
- Dairy Industry Articles: Gain knowledge from subject matter experts
- Navigating the Dairy Industry Today: On-Demand Webinar Series
In this special 3-part series, we are bringing you the Tanbark Talk held at World Dairy Expo, where we delved into the complexities of transitioning a farm to the next generation.
Part 1: This discussion includes:
- How and why the Oechscners started their 10-year plan to transition their farm to the seventh generation
- Building a transition team
- Defining roles in the business
- Assessing financial feasibility
Meet the Panelists:
- Dennis, Jeni & Alan Oechscner, Oechsner Farms: This seventh-generation dairy farm is currently navigating a 10-year ownership transition plan. The Oechsners will share their firsthand experience managing multi-generational dynamics while embracing modern technologies.
- Jared Holt, President & CEO, Ascent Financial: Jared brings deep financial expertise to the discussion, offering insights on estate planning, debt management and financial strategies for long-term success.
- Steve Schwoerer, VP of Dairy Lending, Compeer Financial: With over 31 years in dairy lending, Steve will share his knowledge on financial planning for transitions and how Compeer supports dairy clients through the process.
This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial.
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact:
- Compeer Dairy Industry Experts
- Dairy Industry Articles: Gain knowledge from subject matter experts
- Navigating the Dairy Industry Today: On-Demand Webinar Series
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
Want to get new episodes in your inbox? Subscribe here: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe
The good, the bad and the uncertain.
That’s what you will be hearing about in the November monthly market update from Curtis Bosma with HighGround Dairy, and we also bring you an update on the Federal Milk Marketing Order with HighGround’s Alex Gambonini - what has happened, what the final decision means and where we go from here.
Grab your November Market Report here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-november-2024.
This episode is brought to you by:
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of Nov 19, 2024 at 10 a.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
Are you looking for ways to up your management skill set, better understand your team members and what motivates them, and better understand yourself?
In this episode, Dustin Wirt, site manager for Silver Streak’s dairy in Cottonwood, Minnesota. Cottonwood Dairy is the first stop for first-lactation cows that calve in Kansas and then make their way to Minnesota. Dustin, who has a background as a dairy herd analyst and repro consultant, cut his teeth managing dairies in Kansas, South Dakota and Colorado, before joining the Silver Streak group about three years ago.
He tells us today about a tool that has not only helped him to further develop his own skills, but also how he is incorporating strengths-based leadership and management within his team of 20 employees to push for their next level of performance - whether it’s setting somatic cell count goals or covering the bunker in record time.
Listen in for a bonus conversation at the end of this episode!
Nedap Power Play featuring Steve Pavleski, large herd specialist with Nedap, talking about the latest advancements in dairy technology and large dairy management.
This episode is part of the High Performance mindset series powered by Nedap, The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification.
Learn more:
https://nedap-livestockmanagement.com/
Other resources:
CliftonStrengths© Online Talent Assessment
https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx
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When their bank laid out the challenge to McCarty Family Farms to become a price maker, not a price taker, the McCartys were determined to find a way to market their milk differently.
Two years later, the family came back with a plan to expand their dairy, build an on-site milk condensing plant and enter into a direct marketing agreement with Danone.
The eldest of the four McCarty brothers, Mike, shares the story of leaving their century farm in Pennsylvania nearly 25 years ago for a bare ground site in northwest Kansas that has served as a canvas from which the family could paint a vision for their future, and how they are continuing to make those strides forward , together, today.
This episode is brought to you by the Milc Group.
Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with tools they need to succeed.
ONETM Feed
https://www.milcgroup.com/product/feed
ONETM Scale
https://www.milcgroup.com/product/scale
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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In this episode, Jordan Matthews from Rosy-Lane Holsteins shares how his brother's battle with stage four colon cancer motivated him to take on ultra-endurance running to support cancer research. He highlights the mindset, discipline, and structure required for managing a dairy farm and pushing personal limits to optimize his time, his health and his influence on those around him.
Jordan's upcoming fundraising run, 'A Day in the Park,' aims to support the Carbone Cancer Center by running for 13 continuous hours and raising $10,000, showcasing his dedication not only to his career in dairy farming but also to meaningful causes.
Make your gift to the “A Day in the Park” fundraiser for Carbone Cancer Center here: https://give.wiscmedicine.org/fundraiser/5896507
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In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen and guest Susan Heim discuss pivotal steps to elevate your dairy farm into a professional business through strategic branding.
Peggy and Susan outline five key steps to create and sustain a brand that resonates with your employees, community, and consumers.
With real-life examples from local farms like the Eberts and Pagel's Ponderosa, they illustrate how effective branding fosters community engagement, employee loyalty, and an impactful market presence. Whether you're a dairy farmer looking to transform your business or maintain employee retention, this episode provides actionable insights and strategies designed to uplevel your dairy farm.
Connect with Susan Hiem, owner and president of Quali-T:
920-845-1010 ext. 101
sheim@qualitinc.com
Learn more about how Quali-T provides branding solutions, work wear, reflective gear and other customized merchandise for farms and agribusinesses:
https://qualitinc.espwebsite.com/
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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I can't believe it's been two years since hitting "publish" on my very first episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
I'm resharing that very podcast with you today, so enjoy!
Jared Dueppengiesser has worked his way up through the Milk Source organization, from a herdsman to now manager of Rosendale Dairy. He leads a team of 52 employees on one of Wisconsin’s largest dairies. In this podcast, Jared shares how he took on the challenge of upleveling the culture of this dairy to be a place where people want to work and want to stay … with nearly zero employee turnover for the past half year. And he’s done all this at just 26 years old.What you’ll learn:- Jared’s vision for the culture he wanted to create at Rosendale Dairy- What he does every day to create that culture- Who is the most important employee?- The tools that empowered him to take action- The results of culture on employee turnover- Jared’s best advice to others managing both cows and peopleMeet the guest: Jared Dueppengiesser has worked his way up through the Milk Source organization, from an intern to a herdsman to now herd manager of one of Wisconsin’s largest dairies. He leads a team of 52 employees at Milk Source’s Rosendale Dairy.A New York native, Jared grew up on his family’s 900-cow dairy before heading off to Cornell University. A natural leader and “people person,” he is proving his management skills at the young age of 26 years old. While people and building a culture for his team to thrive are his passion, Jared has never strayed from his love for being hands-on with cows. In fact, he and his family, along with partners Milk Source Genetics and Fischer, exhibited the Grand Champion Red & White cow at the 2022 World Dairy Expo, MS Ransom Rail Beth.This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.
Join me on a journey today as a Dutch dairyman shares his story of starting out with 34 cows on a rented farm in Germany and building from scratch what is a 1,600-cow dairy farm today in Indiana.
Tony Golstine from Union-Go Dairy has faced extreme challenges with fierce determination and a “never give up” attitude, and you are about to find out why … even through times of financial hardship and fighting cancer … he continues to say he is the happiest guy in the world
And hear why he believes investing in tools from Micro Technologies like Cubex and activity monitoring will position his dairy for the next generation of young, tech-savvy dairy farm employees.
This episode is sponsored by Micro Technologies
Micro Technologies innovates advanced, comprehensive & integrated technologies to help dairies produce a safe, wholesome product more efficiently and profitably.
Learn more about Cubex QBud Health Inventory Management here:
https://www.microtechnologies.com/dairy/cubex-qbud
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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In this episode, Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy shares an update on the bird flu from California’s dairy-dense Central Valley, and distills these market movements:
- Huge Crops Keeping Feed Costs Lower
- Cheese Exports Holding Steady
- Butter Prices Slip
Grab your Monthly Market Update Here: https://www.highgrounddairy.com/october-2024-dairy-producer-market-update/
This episode is brought to you by:
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as Oct. 21 2024 at 3 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
From World Dairy Expo 2024: If you missed this session live, get up to speed now on H5N1 as we hear from Dr. Jason Lombard from Colorado State University, who has been studying this virus since its early findings, Dr. Keith Poulson from the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, Miquela Hanselman, who leads the FARM program’s Biosecurity efforts and dairy producers Brent Wilson from Michigan who opens up on how H5N1 impacted his herd and what others can learn from this experience, alongside California producer Brian Pacheco, as he strategizes to protect his herd from the outbreak in his area that has not yet touched his dairy.
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We gathered around the Showbox Sires showbox at World Dairy Expo to share with you stories from some of the most notable and influential people in the dairy cattle show business.
In this episode, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott sit down with Jim Ostrom and John Vosters from Milk Source to hear about their show ring memories, as well as their story of building a multi-site dairy, dairy goat and cheese business.
Then, Steve Briggs from Brigeen Farms talks about the best mentors he has had in his lifetime - the next generation of dairy youth.
If you enjoy this episode, head back in our list to Part 1, featuring guests Tom Morris and Ernie Kueffner.
Thanks to Tim Abbott and Showbox Sires for this collaboration.
Learn more about Showbox Sires here:
https://www.showboxsires.com/
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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We gathered around the Showbox Sires showbox at World Dairy Expo to share with you stories from some of the most notable and influential people in the dairy cattle show business.
In this episode, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott sit down with Tom Morris and Ernie Kueffner, as they recount the early days of World Dairy Expo, the cows they will never forget and the stories that have stayed locked away inside their showboxes for years.
And this is only Part 1! Join us on the next episode to hear from three more industry greats!
Thanks to Tim Abbott and Showbox Sires for this collaboration.
Learn more about Showbox Sires here: https://www.showboxsires.com/
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Nearly 25 years ago, the McCarty family picked up from Pennsylvania and planted new roots in northwest Kansas. Now a multi-site dairy business, the most recent addition to McCarty Family Farms includes two adjoining 5,000-cow facilities. Clay McCarty talks about the technologies he believes will take this operation 25 years into the future.
Clay delves into the strategic decisions that have shaped this family business, from adopting dairy management software solutions by Milc Group to optimizing feeding systems with innovative technology. He reflects on the dynamic environment that encourages growth and innovation while maintaining a strong focus on animal welfare and community ties in this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
This episode is brought to you by the Milc Group.
Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with tools they need to succeed.
ONETM Feed
https://www.milcgroup.com/product/feed
ONETM Scale
https://www.milcgroup.com/product/scale
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In this episode, we bring you our panel and session from the National Dairy Shrine’s Young Professionals Luncheon at World Dairy Expo, held on Sept. 30, 2024.
This panel includes three individuals who will share their personal career journeys, from when they were once college students themselves to the roles in which they serve the dairy industry today:
Panelists:
- Rachel (Coyne) Kurth – MILC Group
- Jared Dueppengiesser-Acepsis
- Nick Randle - Zoetis
Learn how to build your own professional network, seek out personal development, make big job decisions and step into leadership roles both at work and within the dairy community from this trio of dairy professionals.
Today we are catching up with a member of Team USA - the 2x Olympian who just placed 8th in the women’s 1500 m at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, France. Olympic runner isn’t her only title. She is also a dairy farmer, alongside her husband Jamie, and his family at Pleasant Valley Farms in Vermont, where they are raising their little farm boy, Ivan.
We’re catching up with Elle Purrier St. Pierre on setting records after becoming a mom, her most unforgettable moments from Paris, and life after the Olympics, back on the farm.
This Episode is Brought to you by Adisseo
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
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In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast, host Peggy Coffeen sits down with Chris Szydel, the Herd Manager at Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy. Chris shares his journey and insights into how advanced technologies are revolutionizing dairy farming. From automated systems to track cow health and performance to integration tools that streamline operations, the episode delves into how these technologies are not only improving cow care but also enhancing efficiency and profitability.
The conversation covers a range of dairy technologies, including DairyComp, Nedap cow collars, and Valley Ag Software, emphasizing how these tools collectively contribute to a more organized and efficient dairy operation. Chris highlights the benefits of the Nedap Smart Sort Gate, which has drastically improved labor efficiency and cow care by automating the identification and sorting of cows. This episode is a must-listen for dairy farm owners, managers, and advisors aiming to adopt a high-performance mindset and leverage cutting-edge technologies to propel their operations forward.
The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering, and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2024 or catch past episodes in this series below!
- Listen to Episode 36 with Megan Schrupp
- 4 High-Impact Actions to Create a Winning Farm Culture with Travis Speirs, Shiloh Dairy
- Dairy Tech in Texas: Managing 8,000 Cows with Activity Monitors featuring Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy
- Protecting His Price and Managing Risk with Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy
- Managing More Cows, More People and More Data with Derrick Josi
- Full-Potential Farming: Reaching the Highest Level of Performance with Cows and People through Technology with Megan Schrupp, NexGen Dairy
- Olympic-level Business, Management and Mindset with Elle Purrier-St. Pierre and Jamie St. Pierre
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If you are heading to the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, next week, I want to invite you to a few Uplevel Dairy LIVE events!
For a little sneak peek behind the scenes of this and more at WDE, make sure to follow UPlevel Dairy on FB or IG to see my stories!
Here's a complete rundown of all the must-attend sessions and panels we're hosting:
National Dairy Shrine Young Professionals Luncheon
- Monday, Sept. 30
Join me as I chat with Nick Randle, Rachel (Coyne) Kurth, and Jared Duppengiesser about Taking the Next Steps in Your Professional Dairy Career.
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfM2XjqPTbJjwjKzMdqvzieCOCxCZL1j-xnyuc7EHpHzNAidw/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawFassRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVP0hJEWgwm_UayuzSEL0OaMr8Ohh_m3cyNYpFel9MT5hjnEK9hUxHU46g_aem_hMul91SeqqV9FHN8YABu5g
Tanbark Talk with Compeer
- October 1st, 9 a.m. to 11 am in the Tanbark
Securing the Future: A candid conversation about dairy farm transition planning.
Sponsored by: Compeer Financial
Panelists: The Oeschner Family; Steve Schweoer, Compeer Financial; Jared Holt, Ascent Financial.
Join us live or virtually here: https://compeer.com/WorldDairyExpo2024.html
Bonus: Attendees at the Tandbark will receive a free grilled cheese coupon courtesy of Compeer!
Exclusive Insights: H5N1 Biosecurity and Management Strategies for Dairy Farms
- Thursday, October 3rd | 10:30 a.m.
In this session, we are exploring how to address current H5N1 challenges to the industry with best practices for mitigating risk and preparing for the future.
In partnership with FARM.
Virtual Farm Tour of Woldt Farms
- Friday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. in the Exhibition Hall, or tune in to Expo TV
Featuring Woldt Family Farms & Sponsored by Complete Management Consulting LLC.
Good to Great: How This Dairy Crushed Their Goals for Improved Efficiency and Profitability with the assistance of Complete Management Consulting.
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In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen dives into the current landscape of dairy markets with Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy. The episode starts by giving listeners an overview of recent trends in dairy futures, including notable gains in Class III and Class IV prices and the implications for dairy producers. Curtis shares insights on the influence of managed money in the commodity markets and what this indicates about future market movements.Throughout the episode, Curtis discusses the critical impact of diseases such as the Blue Tongue virus in Europe and the H5N1 avian influenza in California. He highlights how these events affect global and local dairy production and what dairy farmers need to watch for regarding their milk supply and pricing. Curtis also offers advice on how dairy producers can navigate these tumultuous times by leveraging risk management strategies.The episode wraps up with an in-depth conversation about valuing corn silage, especially during the current harvest season. Curtis breaks down the various factors that should be considered, from managing shrinkage to understanding the financial implications of either growing or purchasing corn silage. This timely discussion is aimed at helping dairy farmers make informed decisions about their feed strategy to ensure financial stability and operational efficiency.
Grab your September Market Report Here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-september-2024.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of September 18, 2024 at 10 a.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
World Dairy Expo Sneak Peak! This episode is a preview of the Tanbark Talk, “Securing the Future: A candid conversation about dairy farm transition planning”, coming up Oct. 1, 9-11 a.m.
Sponsored by Compeer Financial, you can join us live in the Tanbark, or join us through the virtual live stream, to hear from the Oeschner family, as well as Steve Schweoer from Compeer and Jared Holt from Ascent Financial.
Business consultant Jared Holt joins us today to share stories and strategies from the field, from working with the Oeschners and other farm families to successfully transition their businesses from one generation to the next.
Join us at World Dairy Expo for this Tanbark Talk:
“Securing the Future: A candid conversation about dairy farm transition planning”
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m. to 11 am., in the Tanbark
Hosted by: Peggy Coffeen, Uplevel Dairy Podcast
Sponsored by: Compeer Financial
Panelists: The Oeschner Family; Steve Schweoer, Compeer Financial; Jared Holt, Ascent Financial.
Tune in LIVE virtually!
Register now: Compeer.com/WDE2024
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If you are wondering how proposed changes to the Federal Milk Marketing Order could impact your milk check, or perhaps you have asked yourself, would we be better off without a federal order system altogether?
Well, today we are taking an in-depth look at making allowances, component changes, and the logistical and financial implications of these recommendations.
Our guest today is Sara Dorland. As managing partner with Ceres Risk Management, she joins us to share her insights on the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) hearings, emphasizing five priority items impacting milk markets and your future milk check.
Based in Sun Valley, Idaho, Sara brings 25 years of studying milk markets and assisting dairy producers and manufacturers with market education, forecasts, and risk management. Her background includes serving as the director of risk management for Darigold, Inc. the fourth-largest dairy cooperative in the United States.
In fact, she has lived through the dissolution of the federal order system in parts of Utah and Idaho.
Get ready to hear about this and more with Sara Dorland.
Show Notes:
- 00:00 Introduction to FMMO and Priority Items
- 00:32 Understanding the Make Allowance
- 01:21 Class One Differential Changes
- 02:59 Impact of Recommendations on Milk Pricing
- 12:25 USDA's Role and Producer Involvement
- 14:46 Voting and Future Implications
- 16:59 Life Without FMMO
- 21:20 Risk Management and Final Thoughts
Join us at World Dairy Expo for this Tanbark Talk:
“Securing the Future: A candid conversation about dairy farm transition planning”
- Tuesday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m. to 11 am., in the Tanbark
- Hosted by: Peggy Coffeen, Uplevel Dairy Podcast
Sponsored by: Compeer Financial
Panelists: The Oeschner Family; Steve Schweoer, Compeer Financial; Jared Holt, Ascent Financial.
Tune in LIVE virtually! Register now: Compeer.com/WDE2024
Featured guest:
- Sara Dorland, managing partner, Ceres DRM
- sara.dorland@ceresdrm.com
- www.ceresdrm.com
The 60-day comment period ends on September 13th. Make your comments and find more information here.
This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial.
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts .
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In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast, host Peggy Coffeen sits down with Lexie Nunes, a dynamic young professional in the dairy industry, for the Young Leaders series. Lexie shares her journey from her beginnings on a family dairy farm in Central California to her role as a Customer Support Specialist at Milc Group. Lexie’s story began as a reluctant participant in dairy judging, pushed by her mother, which eventually led to her becoming an All-American dairy judge at World Dairy Expo. Throughout her career, Lexie has gathered extensive experience from working in hands-on roles at ST Genetics to now supporting dairy producers with advanced herd management systems.
Lexie recounts her adventures that have taken her from California to Ohio, then Texas, and back, noting how dairy judging opened doors to various opportunities. She emphasizes the importance of communication skills developed through judging and the invaluable experiences she gained during her collegiate and professional life. Lexie also highlights the major challenges she faced, particularly the intimidation of entering the dairy industry as a young professional and the importance of seeking help and staying open to growth. This episode offers rich insights into the career of a young professional making significant contributions to the dairy industry.
Are you a young professional or college student who is looking to make connections and hear stories of others and their paths to successful careers in dairy? If so, I have a special invitation for you:
Join me at World Dairy Expo in Madison WI on Monday, Sept 30 for the National Dairy Shrine and Young Professionals Luncheon and Career Connection to hear a panel of three young professionals who will share their experiences and how you can prepare for your next steps in the dairy industry. This panel features Rachel Kurth, MILC Group, Jared Dueppengiesser, Acepsis and Nick Randle, Zoetis.
Reserve your spot here:
https://forms.gle/nrvTQDpn91my6Vgb6
Freedom. Who doesn’t want more of that?
A phone that rings less.
Fewer fires to put out.
A team you can trust to take care of things as if it were their own, so that you can focus on the tasks and plans that move your business forward.
My guest today not only values freedom, but fights for it, as a major in the South Dakota National Guard. And he’s taken what he has learned about leadership to empower his team to solve problems, make sound decisions and take ownership of the operation.
I met up with Nick Vander Weerd, CFO of Pleasant Dutch Dairy in Brookings, South Dakota, to find out how he relates his 25 years of military experience to the leadership strategies implemented at the dairy, hear it right here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
Nick shares how he empowers employees by training them to be decision-makers at all levels and giving them the tools to solve problems that save time and money - in fact, one you will hear him talk about is ,Milc Pulse from the Milc Group - a pulsation monitoring technology that changed the game at Pleasant Dutch Dairy.
And,Nick discusses the future of the dairy industry in South Dakota, how he manages risk, and his personal philosophy of resilience, positivity, and continuous improvement.
This episode is sponsored in partnership with the Milc Group.
Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world by revolutionizing the dairy industry with user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is the all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy in one place.
Heading to WDE? Learn what the future of dairy software looks like with Milc Group at World Dairy Expo. Milc Group will be in the Exhibition Hall all week long at booth 4323. Go see for yourself all the solutions they have to offer when it comes to managing your dairy. Their cloud-based software brings all the important aspects of your dairy into ONE easy-to-use app.
- Milc Group: https://www.milcgroup.com/
- Milc Pulse: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/facility
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We catch up with Young Leader Brianna Meyer at Siemers Holsteins in Newton, Wis., just days after completing her summer internship at this newly built facility.
Find out how she expanded her skills from the 130-cow robot dairy she grew up on in Chilton, Wis., to integrating with a high-performing team on a 5,500-cow dairy, and how these experiences have prompted this aspiring large animal veterinarian to head into her sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a burning desire to grasp every opportunity to learn, grow and push herself to bring the highest value to her future veterinary clients.
This Episode is Brought to you by Adisseo
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
If you are someone who is looking to gain confidence for yourself or help build confidence in people you manage or coach, or maybe even the kids you are raising, there are some nuggets in this book that I believe you will find valuable and useful. And that’s why I’m sharing with you on this bonus Uplevel Dairy Podcast today the cliff notes and my own key takeaways from the book, The Confident Mind by Nate Zinsser.
This book was suggested to me by Clare Alderink, he really found value in it as he prepared for his marathons, and I picked it up and not only found that it helped me personally but has been an excellent teaching tool, as a marathon runner, a mom and a coach in my favorite competitive sport: Dairy Quiz Bowl.
Mindset Mini-Series: This week on Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we’re bringing back a few of your favorite conversations from top performers in the dairy business.
Everyone has two lives. The second one starts when you realize you only have one.A positive mindset is easy, when things in our lives our easy. But when we realize we are facing the battle of our lives, for our lives, there is no greater test of faith, perseverance and hope,And our guest today shares his personal journey over the course of the past year. At 39 years old, Jerome Meyer, area business manager for Zoetis, was at the top of his game. Leading his team as they helped dairy clients achieve their goals, an avid runner … and from the outside, every indication would say he was the pillar of health. Until an unexpected cancer diagnosis last year.While his health may have had its ups and downs, what remained steadfast was his positive mindset. In fact, this experience has connected Jerome to a faith he hadn’t found before, a magnified appreciation for his colleagues and the dairy community and given him an even stronger purpose in how he lives each and every day.It’s with great honor and gratitude that Jerome has allowed me to share his journey with you, right here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit DairyWellness.com. Guest:Jerome Meyer Area Business Manager, ZoetisCell: 262.949.5854jerome.meyer@zoetis.comSubscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJAWant to get new episodes in your inbox? Subscribe here: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe
Mindset Mini-Series: This week on Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we’re bringing back a few of your favorite conversations from top performers in the dairy business.
Back on Episode 100, Clare Alderink, manager at Ryzebol Dairy in Michigan, joined Tommy Oesch from Swiss Lane Farms to talk about doing hard things, like running 4 miles every 4 hours in 48 hours, the 75 hard challenge … and if you recall, Clare also mentioned he was training for an upcoming marathon. Well, I caught up with Clare just days after he crossed the finish line of the Kalamazoo Marathon. When I asked Clare how the race went, his simple response was this: It was hard.Clare had been training for months to not only condition his body with the miles, but as you will find out, more importantly, strengthen his mindset … and that is what got him through an unexpected challenge, all the way to the finish.Listen to find out how this dairy manager-turned-marathon runner views running in much the same way as managing the dairy:- From developing discipline and consistency- To defining which data points really improve performance in the barn and on the road- And practicing patience for the long run … no pun intended. Recommended read: The Confident Mind by Dr. Nate ZinsserHear more from Clare on Ep. 100: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/nC8xDGc0OJb
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Mindset Mini-Series: This week on Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we’re bringing back a few of your favorite conversations from top performers in the dairy business.
Dairy manager Scott Blevins shares the habits, routines and principles that build his resilience and endurance to stay on top of his game while managing 6,500 cows, 6,600 youngstock and a team of people at Wiese Bros. Farms in Greenleaf, Wisconsin.What you’ll learn:- Staying physically, mentally and spiritually strong- Finding balance in a non-stop business- What Scott wishes he would have known 17 years ago when he started a career as a dairy manager- Scott’s core principles that create the culture at Wiese Bros. Farms
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- Record-high yields in the fields for grain corn & beans
- Soybean meal is soft
- And could the best year yet be ahead for dairy farmers?
- Let’s find out on the UPlevel Dairy Podcast, with our guest Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy.
Get your August Market Report Here: https://www.highgrounddairy.com/august-2024-dairy-producer-market-update/
Grab your copy of the FMMO Whitepaper here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/fmmo-recommended-decision-analysis-white-paper
Curtis from High Ground Dairy joins Peggy for the August market update, focusing on the latest trends and shifts in grain and dairy markets. Key updates include the WASDE report’s impact on corn and soybean projections, tight milk supplies driving up cheese prices, and the continued orderly rally in butter. Curtis also discusses insights on risk management, margin optimization, and how dairy producers can remain resilient amidst market volatility. Alex's detailed resources on federal milk marketing orders are highlighted, offering valuable tools for producers to navigate complex market dynamics.
This episode is brought to you by:
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of Aug. 19 at 4 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
Do you ever stop and think about those people that never had to help you along the way? But they did. The ones that reached out with encouragement, that advocated for you when they didn't have to. The ones that believed in you at times when you didn't even yet know believe in yourself.
Well, my guest today is one of those people. She is a woman who has done exactly that for so many youth in the dairy industry. And at one point in time, I was one of those, and that's why it's my greatest pleasure and greatest honor to welcome to the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Katie Coyne.
And not too long ago, I had heard that she was in her final stages of her time on this side of heaven and I realized that now was the time for me to pay that back. To sit down with someone who had been a part of so many other people's dairy stories and to tell her own dairy story. And to capture the wisdom of a woman who has been a tireless advocate for dairy youth
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Join me for this bonus feature with Mike and Ben Jones from Trillium Hill Dairy in Wisconsin, who have revolutionized feed pad design by creating a system that efficiently separates rainwater from manure leachate. This innovation helps dairy farms reduce hauling costs, minimize environmental impact, and significantly cut down on infrastructure expenses. Let's dive into this conversation to discover how their design could benefit dairy operations around the country.
In this episode, Mike and Ben Jones discuss the inception of their innovative feed pad design, crafted to keep clean rainwater out of manure pits. They detail how their system uses plastic barriers and a unique manhole cover solution to channel rainwater separately, achieving up to 95% discharge rate directly into road ditches without additional permits. This efficient system not only saves on manure pumping costs but also allows dairy farmers to optimize their existing manure storage facilities, fostering both economic and environmental sustainability.
Learn more about this system by contacting Mike and Ben with Dairy Nutrient Reclamation at DairyNutrientReclamation@gmail.com
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In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen visits Trillium Hill Dairy, where she sits down with owners Mike and Ben Jones. They delve into their journey of incorporating a manure digester and innovative sand separation system while maintaining their preferred sand bedding.
The Jones brothers explain the problems they encountered, the solutions they developed, and how these advancements have revolutionized their dairy operations.
Mike and Ben recount their expansion from a 400-cow dairy to a 1,900-cow operation, highlighting key projects such as the development of a feed center and feed pad designed for efficiency and reduced waste.
They discuss implementing a unique sand separation system in conjunction with their RNG digester, enabling significant sand reclamation and cost savings. The episode also explores their modernized calf barn designed for optimal calf health and employee comfort, emphasizing the importance of management innovation in sustaining a profitable and efficient dairy farm.
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Often here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we talk about business, management and challenges that dairy producers are overcoming every day, but today, we’re taking a little turn down a different path, to a side of the dairy business that’s built upon pedigrees that are deeper than the valleys of northern Vermont, carefully curated cow families and spirited competition, and our guide on this journey is a man who has dedicated his career to developing and marketing dairy cattle genetics - who took a risk to leave the comfort of the corporate world in order to step into a vision for a niche business with elite genetics, and to redefine what it means to sell, show, market and breed great cows.
From St. Jacobs to Showbox Sires to the Music City Celebration, and not to mention a “voice” on the Dairy Voice Podcast, this is a story of passion, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and going all in with Tim Abbott, right here today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
Get ready to laugh, cry and think with Tim Abbott.
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Are you ready for an economic downturn? In this episode, we visit with a banker who cut his teeth during the 1980s farm crisis, as he shares what the most profitable farmers are doing right now to bullet-proof their balance sheets.
Lynn Paulson, director of agribusiness development with Bell Bank, walks us through the key indicators he is keeping a pulse on, including:
- Farmland values and sales trends
- Why he’s watching the machinery market
- U.S. debt and the global economy
And he shares a couple of lessons we can all learn from his 40 years in agriculture banking.
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In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast, I am joined for part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Don Niles, a veterinarian turned dairyman, to talk more about his significant contributions to dairy farming and sustainability in Northeast Wisconsin.
Dr. Niles shares his passionate journey from city life to dairy farming, emphasizing the importance of innovative practices, cow comfort, and environmental sustainability, with particular focus on how Peninsula Pride Farms—a farmer-led watershed initiative—reinvented local dairy farming by fostering a cooperative and environmentally responsible community.
Throughout the discussion, Dr. Niles provides valuable insights on
- The future of dairy farming
- Addressing key challenges such as attracting the next generation of dairy farmers
- Maintaining high-quality practices amidst environmental scrutiny.
He underscores the necessity of being open to change, fostering community relations, and trusting in new methods and technologies to sustain the dairy industry’s growth and excellence. As he transitions into retirement, Dr. Niles reflects on the impact of his career and the ongoing journey of innovation and improvement in dairy farming.
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Join me on this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast as I sit down with the groundbreaking, Dr. Don Niles. From his humble beginnings as a veterinarian in Wisconsin to transforming the dairy world, Dr. Niles shares his incredible journey.
This episode delves into the experiences that shaped his career, his partnership with visionary dairyman John Pagel, and the innovative practices they implemented at Dairy Dreams that set new standards in cow comfort and dairy management.
In this episode, Dr. Niles discusses
- the evolution of dairy farming practices with everything from the introduction of advanced barn designs to the adoption of sand bedding for enhanced cow comfort.
- The strategic decisions that paved the way for modern dairy operations.
- And shares personal anecdotes from his travels and collaborations with other dairymen from around the country.
The episode also touches on the legacy of John Pagel and the impact of their joint efforts on the dairy industry. Don’t miss this insightful conversation that offers a deep dive into the technological advancements and high-performance mindsets driving the future of dairying.
The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering, and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2024 or catch past episodes in this series below!
- Listen to Episode 36 with Megan Schrupp here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/6H45sTWc4Ib
- 4 High-Impact Actions to Create a Winning Farm Culture with Travis Speirs, Shiloh Dairy
- Dairy Tech in Texas: Managing 8,000 Cows with Activity Monitors featuring Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy
- Protecting His Price and Managing Risk with Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy
- Managing More Cows, More People and More Data with Derrick Josi
- Full-Potential Farming: Reaching the Highest Level of Performance with Cows and People through Technology with Megan Schrupp, NexGen Dairy
- Olympic-level Business, Management and Mindset with Elle Purrier-St. Pierre and Jamie St. Pierre
How do you define your purpose? Your “why” for what gets you out of bed every day?
In this episode, we pick up where we left off with Jack Pirtle, the dairyman from Roswell, New Mexico, in a conversation that cuts deep for anyone who has ever hit rock bottom, anyone who has struggled with their faith, anyone who realized they were the ones who needed to change. Jack shares with us his very personal journey to define his own purpose, connect with his faith, and become the man God is calling him to be.
That’s what I’ve got for you today on the Uplevel Dairy podcast.
Contact Jack Pirtle:
jpirtleandsons@yahoo.com
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So much of dairying is built upon legacy - a history of families that have milked cows for generations. But our guest today is not one of them.
In fact, this New Mexico crop farmer literally became a dairyman overnight … and you’ve got to hear the story of how it all happened and how Jack Pirtle from P-7 Dairy has continued to innovate and adapt in an ever-changing marketplace - like changing over his entire herd from Holstein to Jersey, and some of the technologies that are saving him time and money on the feed pad and far beyond.
That’s what I’ve got for you today on the Uplevel Dairy podcast.
This episode is sponsored by Micro Technologies
Micro Technologies innovates advanced, comprehensive & integrated technologies to help dairies produce a safe, wholesome product more efficiently and profitably.
Check this out the Feed Management System Jack talked about: Feed Management System (microtechnologies.com)
For more, visit Microtechnologies.com
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- 11 months of lower milk production, yet making it up in protein and fat.
- The perfect storm that’s brewing in the grain market.
- And how to get a grip on your true profitability by managing your margins.
That’s what we are covering today with Curtis Bosma in the HighGround Dairy July Monthly Market Insights on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy:
Find out how the markets are moving and how it could impact your bottom line.
HighGround Dairy offers comprehensive insurance solutions from dairy market experts, ensuring your operation makes informed decisions to navigate market volatility.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of July 18, 2024, at 12 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-july-2024.
Dairy management consultant Pauly Paul has been getting more calls than ever from dairy farmers facing this challenge:
They just received notice from their bank that they have 90 days to find a new lender, and they don’t know what to do.
Whether you are in this situation yourself, or you want to position yourself to stay out of it, Pauly is here today to walk you through the action steps he is helping producers take to put together a plan and walk them through financially trying times.
This episode is brought to you by: HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Looking for the most recent market updates? Make sure to check out https://www.highgrounddairy.com/ to catch their latest reports.
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are discussing the complexities of family farm transitions with Jay Retzer, with Compeer Financial.
Join Jay and me as we explore both successful and challenging scenarios of passing down farm ownership, management, and leadership across generations.
Jay shares his wealth of experience working with dairy farm families, shedding light on the importance of early planning, effective communication, and involvement of the next generation in management.
This conversation emphasizes the significance of continual adaptation in transition plans and offers actionable advice for those grappling with these critical decisions.
Make sure to tune in to catch all of the details of this conversation including Jay’s insights on how to:
- Start early and develop a comprehensive succession Plan
- Be clear in your communication and expectations
- Balance both emotional and financial considerations
- Build a Strong Advisory Team
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts .
If you listened to Ep. 134 with New Mexico dairyman Eric Palla, you got a glimpse inside the strategies and decisions that have guided growth, expansion and diversification of Palla Dairies, from consolidating facilities to hiring a key manager, to raising all of their own replacements, combined with genomic testing to optimize their beef x dairy strategy.
Eric’s back with us today, and we get a glimpse of how this forward-thinking dairyman and businessman views the future of his dairies and the industry, and what he is doing to level up his own leadership.
And stick around to the end of this episode to hear from Nick Randle, U.S. senior marketing lead for dairy productivity and milk quality with Zoetis, to talk about how today’s dairy producers are putting genomic testing innovations to work as a means of raising healthy, productive dairy cows that will help them thrive in today’s ever-changing dairy climate, and achieve dairy goals well into the future.
This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit DairyWellness.com or ClarifidePlus.com
Long before New Mexico ever made it on the map as a top 10 dairy state, one family packed their bags like pioneers and headed East - from California to Clovis.
Eric Palla was just a small boy at the time, as his father Wayne staked out a dairy and a dream that today includes 11,000 cows across three facilities, with two located in New Mexico and one in west Texas.
And that ‘s not all.
In addition to the dairy, the family also farms 15,000 acres and operates a 1,300-head cow-calf herd.
What were the 3 best business decisions for Palla Dairies in the past 10 years? We sit down with Eric Palla today to find out on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
We are talking growth, scaling and diversification with Eric Palla, including core business philosophies and high-impact actions, like:
- Consolidating operations for efficiency
- Hiring an operations manager
- Raising their own replacements on site, combined with using genomic selection to drive their beef-on-dairy breeding strategy
This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit DairyWellness.com.
It’s July 4, independence day, and if you’ve been following the US Olympic trials, you may know that one of our own – a dairy farmer – has made TEAM USA once again.
Ellie Purrier St. Pierre who grew up on a Vermont dairy farm, clenched her spot last week in the 5000 m race and will be heading to Paris later this month.
But Ellie is so much more than an athlete. Working alongside her husband Jamie, she lives and breathes dairy farming as much as she does running, and together, the couple support each other’s dreams.
On one of our very first episodes of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, I sat down with both Ellie and Jamie to talk about dairy farming, competing and the mindset of an Olympian.
Even if you heard it before, it’s worth a listen once again. Enjoy this conversation with Ellie and Jamie.
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From growing up on a dairy farm to leading the efforts for Wisconsin’s pivotal livestock siting law, Laurie Fischer, founder of the American Dairy Coalition, began her lobbying career as a grassroots voice for dairy farm growth and expansion. Her relentless efforts to serve dairy producers have taken her all the way to Capitol Hill.
Hear how this unwavering advocate for dairy farmers and former executive director of the Dairy Business Association has led change, navigated the political process, and never backed down on speaking passionately and articulately for policies that position dairy farms for the future.
And what you may not know is Laurie is also a co-founder of Dairy Cares of Wisconsin. She shares her personal story and how you too can rally around the campaign that is set to raise more than $3 million for Children’s Wisconsin (formerly Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin).
Contribute to Dairy Cares of Wisconsin
Three ways to give back and support families in their greatest times of medical need:
- Corporate or individual donation
- Virtual auction
- Attend the annual Garden Party on July 27
Find details and donate here:
www.dairycaresofwisconsin.org
Contact Laurie Fischer:
laurie@lauriefischergroup.net
https://www.americandairycoalitioninc.com/
This Episode is Brought to you by Adisseo
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, I am continuing the conversation with Tommy Oesch from Swisslane Farms to discuss the intricacies of transitioning ownership, management, and leadership from the senior generation to the current generation on the farm.
This episode provides valuable insights into maintaining a clear vision, aligning generational goals, and the continuous process of improving leadership and team management in the dairy farming business.
Tune in to hear more on:
- How Tommy shares valuable lessons learned from his most painful mistakes
- The importance of surrounding oneself with a strong advisory team
- And how Swiss Lane Farms has evolved in its approach to leadership and consultancy
Make sure to check some previous conversations with Tommy Oesch Below!
- 130 |
- 101 | Mental Toughness: The 75-Day Transformation: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/6fBLEQstHKb
- 100 | 4 Miles, Every 4 Hours for 48 Hours with Tommy Oesch, Swisslane Farms and Clare Alderink, Ryzebol Dairy :https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/jinDYkDtHKb
- 54 | Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 1: Faith, Family and Dairy Farming with Tommy Oesch, Swiss Lane Farms: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/LkCtfFItHKb
- 55 | Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 2: Health, Relationships and Accountability with Tommy Oesch, Swiss Lane Farms: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/NIrmuEItHKb
-
35 - The 7,000 Cows in Seven Years Vision - Tom Oesch: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/ftQRMbRtHKb
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, I am sitting down with Tommy Oesch, a partner at Swisslane Farms in Michigan. This conversation was so good, that I am breaking it down into two parts for you. Today, you will hear Tommy as he discusses the complexities and challenges of transitioning ownership and management of a dairy farm from one generation to the next.
Tune in to hear more on:
- The necessity for critical family conversations,
- The importance of working elsewhere before returning to the family farm
- The strategic planning needed for succession
- And the valuable lessons learned from both successes and mistakes during the transition process
Don’t forget to tune back in on Thursday for part two of this conversation with Tommy to find out some of the painful mistakes he’s made, what he learned from them, and how it helped him and his partners to up-level their advisory team.
Make sure to check some previous conversations with Tommy Oesch Below!
- 101 | Mental Toughness: The 75-Day Transformation: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/6fBLEQstHKb
- 100 | 4 Miles, Every 4 Hours for 48 Hours with Tommy Oesch, Swisslane Farms and Clare Alderink, Ryzebol Dairy :https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/jinDYkDtHKb
- 54 | Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 1: Faith, Family and Dairy Farming with Tommy Oesch, Swiss Lane Farms: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/LkCtfFItHKb
- 55 | Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 2: Health, Relationships and Accountability with Tommy Oesch, Swiss Lane Farms: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/NIrmuEItHKb
-
35 - The 7,000 Cows in Seven Years Vision - Tom Oesch: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/ftQRMbRtHKb
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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- US milk production declines,
- The influence of heat stress and bird flu on supply,
- Significant shifts in the CME futures market for Class 3 and Class 4 milk.
And … the risk management you don’t want to miss.
That’s what we are covering today with Curtis Bosma in the HighGround Dairy Monthly Market Insights.
June 30th marks the application deadline for a Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) policy with a new agency.
Find out how the markets are moving and how it could impact your bottom line and grab your copy of the June Market Report here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-june-2024
HighGround Dairy offers comprehensive insurance solutions from dairy market experts, ensuring your operation makes informed decisions to navigate market volatility.
This episode is brought to you by: HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of June 18, 2024 at 1 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
Back in Ep. 123 of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we visited with California dairyman Steve Shehadey, as he shared the innovations in renewable energy and sustainability that have earned Bar 20 Dairy in the San Joaquin Valley the 2023 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year award and positioned this family business for the future.
Well, today, we are going to meet the future of Bar 20: Steve’s daughter, Bonney - who represents the fourth generation of this family business, and who plans to make her own mark in the dairy sustainability arena.
How did this young leader, who actually didn’t grow up, right on the dairy, take it upon herself to learn the ground-level work, from milking to backing up a mixer wagon?
How did being an athlete with asthma impact her own views on air quality and her dedication to sustainability?
And how does this fresh Cal Poly graduate view the dairy industry and her own future?
Find out on this episode today!
Listen to Bonney’s father, Steve Shehadey, talk about pioneering the energy sector, including Bar 20’s partnership with BMW North America and California Bioenergy:
Listen to Episode 123 here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Dvmr2AmPd14Wb1aTOvLvX?si=48guRZP1S5OwQT1sqh60Cw
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For going on five generations, the King family in New York has been known for dairy farming excellence as Kings-Ransom Farm. Just over a decade ago, they diversified their business to bring back bottled milk to serve their local consumer with not just a great-tasting product, but also a high-value connection to their farm. Hear from Jan King how they have grown from 40 to now more than 400 bottled milk customers, and what it’s been like to enter the processing sector and build Kings Brothers Dairy direct-to-consumer brand.
From retail to restaurants, dairy is finding its way into more menu options and consumer products than every before, and it’s not by accident. Behind the scenes, Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) is at the table with the leading fast-food chains and food service providers, striking wins that result in strategic and incremental marketplace growth for dairy products and ingredients. If you’ve ever had a “Grimace Shake” or a Taco Bell cheese shell, you can thank our guest, Paul Zieminsky, group executive vice president of health & wellness, insights and innovation, and his team at DMI.
Running the race of her life, Rachel Eslick was minutes away from achieving her dream of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. With a traumatic change in her race, Rachel was forced to pick herself up and reevaluate what her next steps were. Reflecting on her dairy farming family values of resilience, determination, and hard work, she leaned into this to shift her mindset and become her favorite self. Rachel has taken a setback to an incredible comeback, not only in her running ambitions but through her business, health, and mindset.
This Episode is Brought to you in Collaboration with STtalks and STgenetics
Connect with STtalk to follow along in this six part series below!
- Listen to STtalks here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sttalks/
- Learn more about ST Genetics: https://www.stgen.com/
Make sure to join the Uplevel Dairy email list below to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
- Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
- Want to get new episodes in your inbox? Subscribe here: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe
Milk has a whole new story to tell. Eve Pollet, senior vice president of strategic intelligence at Dairy Managment Inc. (DMI) joins us to share the consumer trends that are creating a hunger for health and wellness solutions, the emerging research around milk’s super-food characteristics and how she and her team are positioning dairy to capture more dollars in the marketplace and add more value back to the dairy farmer.
This Episode is Brought to you in Collaboration with STtalks and STgenetics
- Listen to STtalks here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sttalks/
- Learn more about ST Genetics: https://www.stgen.com/
Make sure to join the Uplevel Dairy email list below to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
- Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
- Want to get new episodes in your inbox? Subscribe here: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, for Steve Shehadey of Bar 20 Dairy, life gave his family cow manure, and with that they make energy. For the 4th generation dairy farm, capturing the power of sustainability came naturally to them, since 2007 they have been pioneering the way within the energy sector of the dairy industry. Bar 20’s efforts have led to incredible industry achievements, in 2023 they were named Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and have now partnered with BMW North America and California Bioenergy to harness the energy their 25-million-gallon methane digester produces.
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When Jones Dairy near Spencer, Iowa, expanded their Jersey herd and built a 64-stall rotary parlor last year, they not only sought to optimize efficiency and cow comfort, but they also designed their new facility with a flair of hospitality, to accommodate the many visitors that stop by their farm each year.
Aaron Titterington, one of the farm’s partners, joins us to explain how they have incorporated a self-guided experience with education and a viewing window for passers-by, as well as formalized larger group tours to accommodate everyone from school children to retirees, in Jones Dairy’s efforts to educate consumers and connect them to cows, farming and food.
Find and follow Jones Family Dairy here:
https://www.facebook.com/jonesfamilydairy
https://jonesfamilydairy.com
We’re celebrating June Dairy Month in a big way as STtalks and the Uplevel Dairy Podcast collaborate to bring you a 6-part series that shines a bright light on a collection of great dairy stories. Hosts Laura Demmer of STtalks and Peggy Coffeen of Uplevel Dairy give you the sneak peek on this collection of conversations with dairy farmers doing great things and others who are championing dairy products in the marketplace.
Connect with STtalks to follow along in this six part series below!
- Listen to STtalks here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sttalks/
- Learn more about ST Genetics: https://www.stgen.com/
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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If you tuned in to hear Jessica Pralle-Trimner from Miltrim Farms talk about managing 30 robots under one roof on Ep. 118, you may recall her mention of Pauly Paul from Complete Management Consulting and the efficiency audit that helped their dairy regroup pens to spend less time on herd management tasks, reorganize and reduce labor to save money and make this barn more efficient, profitable and an even better place for cows and people.
Take a listen to Pauly Paul as he shares his “outside the box” approach to helping robot dairies improve profitability and efficiency.
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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This Episode is Sponsored by Complete Management Consulting
Contact Pauly Paul
- www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com
- completemanagementconsulting@gmail.com
- 920-418-3135
In this special bonus episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are raising a glass to World Milk Day by appreciating the hard work of dairy farmers globally.
The episode delves into Dairy Discovery, a Michigan-based nonprofit that connects consumers to their food through on-farm experiences. Founder Annie Link of Swiss Lane Farms and Executive Director Renee McCauley discuss Dairy Discovery's origin, mission and impact.
They share stories of farm tours, educational camps, and community events that help bridge the gap between consumers and the dairy industry, while highlighting future goals to expand their impact and invite listeners to get involved.
The episode rounds out with details on their World Milk Day celebrations, including an all-you-can-eat cereal bar event. Additionally, Dylan Brockshus from Adisseo, the episode sponsor, shares his personal connection to the dairy industry and his own plans to celebrate World Milk Day.
To support the Dairy Discovery:
- https://www.dairydiscovery.org/
- Follow: https://www.facebook.com/DairyDiscovery
- Phone: 616-868-6735
- renee@dairydiscovery.org
Make sure to help celebrate World Milk Day with #worldmilkday and #enjoydairy!
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Do you ever wish you had a 24-hour herdsperson, who never showed up late, never complained and could pick up on a problem with a cow before you could?
Well, that’s what automation has done for Jessica Pralle Trimner, the dairy manager at Miltrim Farms in Athens, Wis., home to 30 Lely A5 milking robots and 1,800 cows under one roof, alongside a 1,400-cow conventional herringbone parlor and freestall facility at the same site.
I met up with Jessica at Miltrim’s event center, the Milkhaus, to talk about the suite of technology that allows her team to focus on the right data and the right cows, at the right time.
We talk about:
- Using real-time data to transform transition cow management
- Empowering employees with data-driven insights
- And the grouping strategy that has pushed the envelope on elite performance.
Plus, we catch up with Jessica about her “one word” for 2024: Presence.
And listen to Jessica's One-Word episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wus0sznNiGNTqH3f3Ffkz?si=aGkGmRV3TC2g8X85uOglQg
And just like the tech in their collars, this episode in our High-Performance MIndset Series is powered by Nedap.
The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen to more episodes in this series below.
- 4 High-Impact Actions to Create a Winning Farm Culture with Travis Speirs, Shiloh Dairy
- Dairy Tech in Texas: Managing 8,000 Cows with Activity Monitors featuring Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy
- Protecting His Price and Managing Risk with Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy
- Managing More Cows, More People and More Data with Derrick Josi
- Full-Potential Farming: Reaching the Highest Level of Performance with Cows and People through Technology with Megan Schrupp, NexGen Dairy
- Olympic-level Business, Management and Mindset with Elle Purrier-St. Pierre and Jamie St. Pierre
Everyone has two lives. The second one starts when you realize you only have one.
A positive mindset is easy, when things in our lives our easy. But when we realize we are facing the battle of our lives, for our lives, there is no greater test of faith, perseverance and hope,
And our guest today shares his personal journey over the course of the past year.
At 39 years old, Jerome Meyer, area business manager for Zoetis, was at the top of his game. Leading his team as they helped dairy clients achieve their goals, an avid runner … and from the outside, every indication would say he was the pillar of health.
Until an unexpected cancer diagnosis last year.
While his health may have had its ups and downs, what remained steadfast was his positive mindset. In fact, this experience has connected Jerome to a faith he hadn’t found before, a magnified appreciation for his colleagues and the dairy community and given him an even stronger purpose in how he lives each and every day.
It’s with great honor and gratitude that Jerome has allowed me to share his journey with you, right here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit DairyWellness.com.
Guest:
- Jerome Meyer
- Area Business Manager, Zoetis
- Cell: 262.949.5854
- jerome.meyer@zoetis.com
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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Back on Episode 100, Clare Alderink, manager at Ryzebol Dairy in Michigan, joined Tommy Oesch from Swiss Lane Farms to talk about doing hard things, like running 4 miles every 4 hours in 48 hours, the 75 hard challenge … and if you recall, Clare also mentioned he was training for an upcoming marathon.
Well, I caught up with Clare just days after he crossed the finish line of the Kalamazoo Marathon. When I asked Clare how the race went, his simple response was this: It was hard.
Clare had been training for months to not only condition his body with the miles, but as you will find out, more importantly, strengthen his mindset … and that is what got him through an unexpected challenge, all the way to the finish.
Listen to find out how this dairy manager-turned-marathon runner views running in much the same way as managing the dairy:
- From developing discipline and consistency
- To defining which data points really improve performance in the barn and on the road
- And practicing patience for the long run … no pun intended.
Recommended read: The Confident Mind by Dr. Nate Zinsser
Hear more from Clare on Ep. 100: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/nC8xDGc0OJb
Subscribe to Uplevel Dairy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ6xQHZ0A1vqHKjRkbtJJA
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We’ve got market movements to celebrate this May:
- Largest-ever cheese export month for the U.S.
- Potential for record-high butter this year
- The insatiable appetite for milk protein concentrate
That’s what we are covering today with Curtis Bosma in the HighGround Dairy Monthly Market Insights.
Find out how the markets are moving and how it could impact your bottom line.
This Episode is Sponsored by HighGround Dairy
Grab your May Market Report Here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-may-2024
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Learn more at https://highgrounddairy.com/ or email them at info@highgrounddairy.com
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of May 20, 2024 at 12 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
If you have been waiting to sign on the dotted line for a renewable natural gas project, this episode is for you.
Over the past 4 years, RNG companies have been knocking on the doors of dairy farms across the country, touting opportunities, along with long-term commitments. And our guest today has been involved on both the developer side and dairy producer side.
Ty Rohloff, vice president of food and agribusiness with Compeer has reviewed at least 40 project proposals, and he joins us today to share his insights on:
- The opportunities these projects can open up as an additional dairy farm income stream
- How to evaluate both contracts and developers
- And the details you won’t want to overlook when making decisions for the long-term success and sustainability of your dairy farm.
This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial.
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact:
- Compeer Dairy Industry Experts
- Dairy Industry Articles: Gain knowledge from subject matter experts
- Navigating the Dairy Industry Today: On-Demand Webinar Series
Guest contact:
Ty Rohloff
608-290-7326
Ty.Rohloff@compeer.com
Know your opponent. I’ve heard this statement from dairy producers before. It’s all about evaluating a threat at hand, managing the risk and being prepared to act with urgency.
And the opponent we are going to talk about today is the one that is on everyone’s mind: H5N1. If you want to hear from someone who has been helping dairies deal with this disease since the very beginning, what to watch for, ways to reduce risk and what to have in your arsenal to be ready to action should your dairy be facing the fight, keep on listening to this episode of the UPlevel Dairy Podcast.
From the frontlines of H5N1, Randy Tapia has been assisting dairy producers in the Southwest and now across the country, as they deal with the disease first hand, or are preparing themselves for the potential of sickness hitting their herds.
Randy grew up in the Texas dairy business, with his father at one point running 9,000 cows on three dairies near San Angelo, and he also spent many years as a dairy manager up in the Panhandle. An early adopter to rumination monitoring and other technologies, Randy stepped away from management to work in dairy tech before joining Amarillo-based Micro Technologies in the dairy solutions role he is in today.
In this conversation, I’ve asked Randy to put on his dairy manager hat, as he walks us through:
- What to watch for: Rumination red flags
- Reducing risk factors around waterers
- Fast action to adjust the ration
- Treatments and immune support
And Randy tells us how he would be preparing his team and what would be in his med room if he was a dairy manager right now.
This episode is sponsored by Micro Technologies
Micro Technologies innovates advanced, comprehensive & integrated technologies to help dairies produce a safe, wholesome product more efficiently and profitably.
Disclaimer draft:
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast.
For more information, visit:
Microtechnologies.com
Karen Bohnert, editor of Dairy Herd Management and Milk Business, joins host Peggy Coffeen to celebrate dairy farm moms in this bonus Mother’s Day episode.
Hear the incredible stories of the dairy farm moms who raised them, and the adversities they overcame to be examples of strength, sacrifice and resilience.
And hear about some of the dairy farm moms who have set the bar for Peggy and Karen today.
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/111--Intentional-Motherhood--Management-and-What-Matters-Most-with-Sarah-Daugherty-e2je88q
As we come up on Mother’s Day this weekend, I’ve asked Sarah Daugherty from Paramount Calves back to talk about being a mother of 6, and balancing a high-performing work life and a high-performing family life.
From performance pressure to kids’ sports to setting priorities and saying no, any mom or dad who pursues excellence both at work and at home will relate and can grab a few nuggets of wisdom from this honest conversation about hard things and what really matters.
This one hit home for me, and I think it will do the same for you.
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
If you are spending way too much time on hiring new employees, training and retraining, only to keep experiencing the exhaustion of turnover, this episode is for you.
And my guest today is a higher performer in deed: Sarah Daugherty, workforce development manager at Paramount Calves LLC, in Darlington, Wis.
Sarah is going to tell you how she has saved herself the time and stress of constantly training new employees and the drag and drama of hard conversations to experiencing very little turnover and creating systems that support Paramount’s high-performing teams, which include 50 employees across three sites in Wisconsin and Kansas, who care for 25,000+ replacement heifers.
And these 3 hacks you are about to hear aren’t fancy. In fact, all you need to do it yourself are a few pieces of paper. Keep listening to learn …
- The simple exercise Sarah walked herself through that has crafted the core of the culture at Paramount Calves
- The key benchmark she monitors for employee turnover
- And the hack she created with just four sheets of paper that changed the game on retention.
If zero employee turnover and high performing teams is what you are striving for … I believe you will want to really take some tips from Sarah.
Bonus: And Sarah will join us again later this week to shift gears from management to motherhood. I’ve invited this mom of 6 back on for a special message for all the moms as we head into Mother’s Day!
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
Meet Young Leader Ytsje Andringa, a driven woman whose path seems to always lead her back to the driver’s seat of a silage truck.
Ytsje shares how she shifted her career course from health care to follow her heart back to her family dairy farm, Sunrise Dairy in Clear Lake, South Dakota.
She’s the daughter of Dutch immigrants, oldest of 6 and a mother to 3.
This Young Leader will blow you away with her determination to do hard things and go after her dairy farming dreams every single day.
Hear about:
- The challenges she faces as a young dairy producer dealing with salespeople and managing employees three times her age
- The one skill set she believes she must develop to be successful as a dairy producer
- And a few fun silage truck-driving stories
The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
If data has turned into the time-consuming monster that is stealing your focus, delaying decisions and dragging down your progress, you will want to keep listening because I’ve got something important that could change the game for you on this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
Our guest understands these challenges because he was a dairy manager himself in Texas for well over a decade, who faced the same struggles: He wanted the right data, at his fingertips, integrated in a way that allowed him to use it as a tool to improve performance and move his dairy forward.
And so he created his own solution: Dairy Performance Network.
Manny Salcedo founded DPN seven years ago, and you are about to hear:
- How Manny came up with his own solution for slaying that time-consuming data monster
- The story behind this customized software integration and data analytics system that connects people, cows and technology
- The results: Higher levels of employee engagement and hitting real performance benchmarks that make a difference to the dairy producer’s bottomline
Follow DPN
- https://www.facebook.com/dairyperformancenetwork/
- https://www.instagram.com/dairy_performance_network/
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/dairy-performance-network/
Contact DPN
- 806-639-5166
- support@dpnconnect.com
- www.dpnconnect.com
“How good can we get?”
That’s a question high-performers ask themselves and the teams they lead every single day.
It’s also a question Megan Schrupp, DVM, at NexGen Dairy in Eden Valley, Minnesota, uses to push the potential for cows, people and her dairy farming business.
This 20-minute episode is the hot take from one of our most popular podcasts of all time, Episode #36: Full Potential Dairy Farming.
Megan details how this question drives:
- A culture of excellence among people
- Data-driven decision-making to enhance transition, nutrition and repro
details
This episode is part of the High-Performance Mindset Series, powered by Nedap.
Listen to Episode 36 for the full conversation with Megan here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/6H45sTWc4Ib
Meet the 28-year-old from Belgium who has embarked on a hands-on dairy farming journey around the globe....
Laurens Rutten challenged himself to dive into dairy on three continents, starting on a commercial grass-based dairy in New Zealand, then the world’s largest robotic dairy in Chile, and we catch up with him today on the third leg of his journey at Sunnyside Farms in New York.
Laurens reveals the two critical questions he asked himself that spurred this adventure, and the lessons he is learning along the way and leaves us with some solid takeaways on blazing your own trail, defining your future and taking bold action.
The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is THE podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/
As the US milk supply tightens, what opportunities and challenges are ahead for Class 3 and 4, as domestic demand lowers and exports pick up?
Corn planters are starting to roll across the countryside, how might the early planting predictions impact your feed cost?
That’s what we are covering today with Curtis Bosma in the HighGround Dairy Monthly Market Insights.
Find out how the markets are moving and how it could impact your bottom line.
Grab Your April Market Report Here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-april-2024
About HighGround Dairy
This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Learn more at https://highgrounddairy.com/ or email them at info@highgrounddairy.com
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of April 17, 2024 at 11 a.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
Over the past 6 months or so, I’ve sat down with some pretty incredible people in the dairy industry. The owners and managers of excellent dairies and some of the most sought-after consultants who specialize in employee performance, training, and retention.
Many of these are conversations you’ve heard on the UPlevel Dairy Podcast, and you can certainly go back and listen to them all, but if you really just want some cliff notes, some common themes, and take-home points that tie together several of the best conversations we’ve had here on the topic of getting a new employee off the best start, so they can perform well for you, see a path for their own future by being part of your team for the long haul, that’s what you are going to get today on the UPlevel Dairy Podcast.
My goal is to make it easy for you by pulling together some powerful shares from seven recent guests - some of the industry’s best owners, managers, and consultants. We are going to walk through three critical phases of employee retention, starting with:
- First, onboarding
- Next, uncovering individual potential
- And finally, motivation - giving good people a reason to stay.
I’m giving you some high-value nuggets from these recent Uplevel Dairy guests so you can raise your own bar own employee retention.
Listen to the episodes of the ones mentioned on today's show below.
- 85 | 3 Keys to Maximize Profit and ROI from Your People: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/vdFC7gRqPIb
- 97 | Empowering People: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/97--Women-Leading-the-Way-at-Pagel-Family-Businesses-Empowering-People-with-Ashley-Pagel-e2h3ng0
- 61 | Empowering Mid-level Managers, Cell Phone Policies & Team-Building Activities: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/61--Empowering-Mid-level-Managers--Cell-Phone-Policies-and-Team-Building-Activities-with-Bridget-Schilling--Schilling-Farms-e2ctl74
- 63 | One Question Most Progressive Dairy Managers are Asking: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/63--The-One-Question-the-Most-Progressive-Dairy-Managers-are-Asking-with-Elsie-Gonzalez-Leach-e2d7bgm
- 88 | 3 Steps to Set Up Middle Managers for Success: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/88--3-Steps-to-Set-Up-Middle-Managers-for-Success--the-Dairy-Calf-and-Heifer-Association-Annual-Meeting-with-Clint-Al-Ag-e2ftu22
- 92 | Pursuing Greatness: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/92--Pursuing-Greatness-with-Hans-Nederend---Part-1-Secrets-to-World-class-Milk-Quality-e2gl916
- 74 | 5 Principles of Leadership: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/74--5-Principles-of-Leadership-with-Juan-Quezada--Director-of-Training-and-Development--Milk-Source-LLC-e2e6a9u
On this Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast, I’m turning the mic over to a trio of up-and-comers in dairy industry communications to interview three Dairy Challenge alumni who shared their experiences on a panel at the Midwest Dairy Challenge held in Green Bay, Wis., in February.
Social media interns interview Dairy Challenge alumni:
- Nichole Gerard, Iowa State University student, interviews Crystal Prom, Cargill
- Torri Burch, Iowa State University student, interviews Tony Schmitz, Schmitz’s East Branch Dairy
- Irene Nielsen, Iowa State University student, interviews Liz Schiebelbein, Phibro Animal Health
- Torri and Irene talk about their Dairy Challenge experiences, as past competitors and social media interns
Learn more about the Dairy Challenge:
https://www.dairychallenge.org/
The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
It wasn’t just their dairy farm on the line. It was their house too.
Pauly Paul from Complete Management Consulting is back to tell us how he helped one dairy family on the verge of losing it all turn around from bleeding red to a positive cash flow in 6 months.
Not only were they able to keep the farm and the house, but today, it is a financially sound business in the process of transitioning to the next generation.
Find out how Pauly and his team:
- Lowered their breakeven
- Reorganized labor
- Brought them back from a $500,000 loss to breaking even or better in 6 months
This Episode is Sponsored by Complete Management Consulting
Contact Pauly Paul
+ www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com
+ completemanagementconsulting@gmail.com
+ 920-418-3135
No alcohol, 2-a-day workouts, following a diet, daily personal development reading and drinking a gallon of water … every day for 75 days.
That’s 75 Hard, a transformative commitment for building mental toughness and self discipline, and these two Michigan dairymen just completed it, alongside the 4x4x48 endurance challenge from Episode 100.
Tommy Oesch from Swisslane Farms and Clare Alderink from Ryzebol Dairy are back to dish it out on what they did, what they read and how 75 Hard transformed their habits and their mindsets.
Hear more from Tommy Oesch on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast
- Episode 100: 4 Miles Every 4 Hours for 48 Hours
- The 7,000 Cows in 7 Years Vision
- Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 1: Faith, Family and Dairy Farming
- Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 2: Health, Relationships and Accountabiity
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/
Last year, Michigan dairyman Tommy Oesch from Swisslane Farms, told us right here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast that he planned to complete David Goggins’ extreme 4x4x48 endurance challenge: That’s running 4 miles, every 4 hours for 48 hours.
Today, Tommy is back and he brought his friend Clare Alderink, general manager at Ryzebol Dairy, to talk about the grueling physical and mental challenge they completed in March, and the surprising ways it’s made them better as dairymen, family men and friends.
This episode is all about mindset:
- Self discipline
- Developing habits
- Doing hard things
If you are pushing for your next level of performance, I promise, this episode drops some real life wisdom and will leave you with a new vision of what’s possible for you too!
Here more from Tommy Oesch on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast:
- The 7,000 Cows in 7 Years Vision
- Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 1: Faith, Family and Dairy Farming
- Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 2: Health, Relationships and Accountabiity
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more here: Adisseo.com
Welcome to central Texas, where summer days exceed 100 degrees and heat stress is one of the greatest threats to cow health, reproduction and performance.
But since adding monitoring technology to their 1,250-cow herd last year, dairyman Hidde Osinga from Overwhere Dairy is using collar-collected data to:
- Find and treat compromised cows sooner
- Catch silent heats
- Capture 15 percentage points on conception rate
Find out how his team has learned to trust the system, and hear about Hidde’s excitement for the future of dairying in this episode, part of the High-Performance Mindset Series, powered by Nedap.
Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification.
Find more episodes in Nedap’s High-Performance Mindset Series here:
- 4 High-Impact Actions to Create a Winning Farm Culture with Travis Speirs, Shiloh Dairy
- Dairy Tech in Texas: Managing 8,000 Cows with Activity Monitors featuring Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy
- Protecting His Price and Managing Risk with Nathan Moroney, Del Rio Dairy
- Managing More Cows, More People and More Data with Derrick Josi
- Full-Potential Farming: Reaching the Highest Level of Performance with Cows and People through Technology with Megan Schrupp, NexGen Dairy
- Olympic-level Business, Management and Mindset with Elle Purrier-St. Pierre and Jamie St. Pierre
We catch up with Curtis Bosma, vice president of producer services for HighGround Dairy, to hear about:
- Soybeans: All-time high crush capacity and largest carry in more than 15 years
- Managed money short covering corn and beans
- Domestic cheese demand slips while butter takes off
- Why are Texas dairy cows under the weather?
Learn more and find market resources at https://highgrounddairy.com/
This episode is brought to you by: HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Please note: Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of March 18, 2024, 12 p.m., and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
In the final episode in this series with the women who are leading the way at Pagel Family Businesses, in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, we sit down with Ashley Pagel, human resources manager.
Find out:
- Ashley’s transition from a career in health care to heading up human resources
- How she has professionalized processes and paperwork
- Improving employee retention
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts .
We continue this 3-part series with the women who are leading the way at Pagel Family Businesses, in Kewaunee, Wisconsin.
Today, Chase Pagel debuts her new children’s book, Rosco’s Sweet Treats, a story that not only depicts modern dairy farming, but also a real-life tale of a steer raised by her daughter that had a taste for cupcakes and other treats.
Chase talks about:
- How the challenge to find accurate dairy farm books to read to tour groups became her motivation
- How her family is her inspiration
- And the next books to come in this series.
Rosco’s Sweet Treats is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.
Follow Chase’s journey online:
Dairy Diaries LLC on Instagram and Facebook
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts .
This week, we bring you a 3-part series, as we celebrate the month of March: the month of women’s history, international women’s day, as well as National Agriculture Day.
What better way to do this than in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, at Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, with three very special guests from Pagel Family Businesses … three women who have risen to the challenge to be leaders … here at the dairy, in their community and far beyond.
This family has overcome hardship, in particular, the tragic loss of well-loved industry leader and the family’s patriarch, John T. Pagel, along with his son-in-law, Steve Witcpalek, six years ago.
Yet, the family has rallied together to carry on a legacy and a business.
In this episode, Jamie Pagel Witcpalek, chairwoman of Pagel Family Businesses, opens up about loss, grief and moving forward.
Tune into the next two episodes in this series to hear from:
- Chase Pagel on Sharing Dairy’s Story
- Ashley Pagel on Empowering People
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts .
In this episode of the UpLevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen welcomes back guest Leland Kootstra, an accountant well-versed in the dairy farming business sector and founding partner of Frazer, LLP. The dialogue offers a trove of wisdom for generational dairy farmers, focusing on the skills needed to take over the helm and steer their family businesses to new horizons.
Leland emphasizes the importance of meticulousness in business operations, where an in-depth understanding of costs, schedules, and right-sizing is crucial for superior management. He also brings to light the significance of integrating robust risk management strategies to hedge against uncontrollable market volatility.
The three things that Leland sees the top 10% of dairy farmers doing are:
- Being extremely knowledgeable on the details of the business
- Having an action plan around risk management
- Being cognizant of what it takes to be a reputable business
This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain. Learn more about them below or at https://www.highgrounddairy.com/.
In this episode of the UpLevel Dairy podcast, host Peggy Coffeen interviews Leland Kootstra, an accountant with Frazer, LLP, about the importance of succession planning in multi-generational dairy businesses. Kootstra shares three critical questions he asks both the senior and incoming generations to help them define their goals, timelines, and long-term outlook. He emphasizes the need for open and ongoing communication to ensure a smooth transition and alignment of expectations. This episode provides valuable insights for dairy farm owners and managers looking to pass on their businesses successfully.
Hear more in this episode about:
- The importance of early and ongoing dialogue between generations to ensure successful transitioning of the family dairy businesses.
- Three critical questions posed to the senior generation to help them identify their vision of success, ideal transition timelines, and their willingness to re-invest in their current business if given a chance to start over.
- Corresponding in-depth questions directed at the incoming generation aimed at understanding their definition of success, skillset gaps, and their long-term perspective on the regional dairy industry.
- The emotional and familial sensitivity surrounding transition planning and the role of an advisor in facilitating healthy conversations.
- Insights on the dynamic industry, changing expectations, and how generational goals can inform and sometimes transform the succession planning process.
This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain. Learn more about them below or at https://www.highgrounddairy.com/.
Hans Nederend isn’t only committed to producing high-quality milk on his dairies. He’s also committed to living a high-quality life. Whether it’s leading his family or leading his team, hear how Hans keeps his faith at the center of his roles as both a dad and a dairyman.
In his responses to the “Uplevel 5,” Hans talks about:
- The book that changed his life and his leadership
- The Calvin Coolidge quote on his business card
- Honoring God by living out your purpose
Hear more from Hans in Part 1: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/92--Pursuing-Greatness-with-Hans-Nederend---Part-1-Secrets-to-World-class-Milk-Quality-e2gl916
What does it take to maintain milk quality at a level of less than 75,000 SCC on 9,000 cows for 15 consecutive years?
You might be surprised.
We are catching up with Hans Nederend III from Nederend Dairies in Marsing, Idaho, who shared his secrets to milk quality success at the 2024 National Mastitis Council Annual Meeting.
A past National Dairy Quality Award winner, Hans talks about:
✅ Consistency, persistency and his daily tracking spread sheet
✅ His performance-based pay system
✅ How he motivates his team of milking professionals
👀 Spoiler alert: He doesn’t talk about any magical technology, tube or treatment.
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.
In this episode, Peggy sits down with a seventh-generation dairy family, Rob and Erica Diepersloot, from Madera, California, as they share their story of co-founding bovine colostrum company, WonderCow, including:
- The heartbreak they experienced as parents of a daughter with chronic ear infections, and how that led them to look in their own backyard to create a dairy-derived solution.
- How inconsistency and mislabeling in the market place led Rob and Erica to create their own trusted and transparent brand, from their own cows and other dairies that share their values
- Navigating the challenges of Amazon and the supply chain
And the faith-filled journey of building the WonderCow brand.
Find WonderCow: https://wondercow.com/
Follow WonderCow:
@wondercow on Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok
She manages 15 employees, 1,200 baby calves and 700 maternity cows … and she’s just 24 years old.
Our Uplevel Dairy Young Leader today is Madison Busse, Calf and Maternity Manager for Minnesota-based United Dairies.
The Ohio native didn’t grow up on a dairy but learned to love it, and while her path was originally to become a large animal veterinarian, an internship with a calf raiser prompted a change of heart and change of direction that led her to Alexandria, Minnesota, to a position where she can’t wait to get out of bed every day … the perfect combination of being hands-on with calves and cows, working with people and being part of a culture that supports her in being successful as a young manager at United Dairies.
Find out how she is forging her path in a field that some people actually discouraged her from pursuing and why she loves giving baby calves and cows a chance to thrive, with Madison Busse.
The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/
Today’s big question: With heifer inventories at historic lows and global milk production trending lower in 2024, we seem to be poised for better milk prices compared to 2023, so what's your action plan to capitalize on this opportunity?
If this question has you thinking, you’ve come to the right place, because Curtis Bosma is joining us for the HighGround Dairy Monthly Market Update.
In this episode, hear more about:
- The supply update for heifer inventory & global milk production
- The demand update for milk spot basis, credit card debt & milk fat
- New crop balance sheets for corn and soybeans
This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Curtis Bosma is vice president of producer services for HighGround Dairy. You can download your own producer market update here: https://www.highgrounddairy.com/comprehensive-gdt-auction-analysis-20-february-2024/
On this episode, Peggy sits down with Clint Al-Ag, president of the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) Board of Directors, and manager with Blue Sky Farms.
Clint gives a sneak-peak of what to expect at the upcoming DCHA Conference, as well as how the organization has helped him develop leadership skills as he has transitioned from heifer yard manager to now overseeing 150 employees across three sites in the Texas panhandle.
Clint covers three key steps he has taken to set up middle managers for success, including:
- How he assesses not just core competencies but alignment with core values and desire to be a leader
- Reinforcing the chain of command
- Ongoing support for new managers
Join Clint and other producers and industry professionals who specialize in raising dairy calves, heifers and cross calves at the 2024 DCHA Annual Meeting.
2024 DCHA Annual Meeting
- April 9-11, 2024 | Westminster Colorado
- To register, sponsor, or exhibit in the trade show: https://calfandheifer.org/2024-annual-meeting-agenda-2/
Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA)
www.calfandheifer.org
And our featured Young Leader today is Emily Shaw Schaapmann, also known as the Dairy Girl Fitness, shares the career journey that led her to starting her own business.
Describing her initial struggles finding her place in the dairy industry and experiencing career frustration, Emily discusses how she channeled her passions for health, fitness, and dairy promotion into establishing Dairy Girl Fitness. Five years later, this business has helped more than 500 women reach their health goals and includes a team of four coaches.
Follow Emily Shaw Schaapman on Social
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DairyGirlFitness/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dairygirlfitness/
- Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/cowgirltalk/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNADOKh4JsW_Lp7gGVfyyYQ
- Website: https://dairygirlfitness.com/
The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/
What's been keeping you up at night? Is your mind turning about how to create alternative revenue streams, monetizing more than milk from your dairy or cash in on carbon? Or are you wishing there was a training available for your middle managers, one day where they could sharpen their communication and leadership skills?
Well, guess what ... you can find it all and more in one place: The High Plains Dairy Conference.
I’ll be emceeing this biennial event, and I’m inviting you to join me in Amarillo, Texas, on March 5 and 6, with a bonus middle manager training on March 7, for one of the most truly producer-driven meetings in the dairy industry.
The driving force behind this meeting is Dr. Robert Hagevoort from New Mexico State University Extension. Robert shared some valuable insights on our last episode on optimizing the ROI of your employees, and he’s back on today to tell us what’s new, what to expect and why dairy producers from beyond the High Plains will find value in the High Plains Dairy Conference!
High Plains Dairy Conference
- Embassy Suites
- Amarillo, Texas
- Pre-Conference and Conference on March 5-6; Middle Managers Training Workshop on March 7
View agenda and register for the High Plains Dairy Conference:
https://hpdc.regfox.com/2024-high-plains-dairy-conference
Contact Dr. Robert Hagevoort
- dairydoc@highplainsdairy.org
- (806) 786-3421
Any dairy producer will tell you, a good employee is worth every dollar. But every two weeks, when pay day comes around, do you ever wonder if you are getting the most out of your investment? What if it didn't have to cost you a penny more to maximize the efforts and outcomes of every hour you are paying that employee to be at your dairy?
Our guest today spends a lot of his time improving training, safety and development of the dairy workforce. Dr. Robert Hagevoort, with New Mexico State University Extension, joins us to talk about three things he sees high-performing dairy operations doing to increase employee engagement, retention and performance.
Hear about:
- The reason your trainings in Spanish may be failing
- How to optimize daily performance
- What the best dairies are doing to get the right people in the right seats on the bus
To view agenda and register for the High Plains Dairy Conference:
https://hpdc.regfox.com/2024-high-plains-dairy-conference
Contact Dr. Robert Hagevoort:
- dairydoc@highplainsdairy.org
- (806) 786-3421
Peggy Coffeen sits down to chat with Dr. Mike Van Amburgh, Cornell University, at the Adisseo VIP Dairy Seminar about the benefits of precision dairy cattle nutrition going beyond methionine and lysine.
He introduces the latest version of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS), their nutrition model that offers the potential to formulate for all 10 essential amino acids.
Find out:
- How the model, made user-friendly for dairy nutritionists, aims to increase productivity without as much protein or nitrogen intake
- Cost-effectiveness and environmental advantages
- The bigger picture of sustainability
This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.
A big question we ask ourselves as dairy producers and professionals is, how can we effectively communicate with consumers about the food we produce and our built-in sustainability stories?
Who better to tap into this topic than Dr. Marissa Hake. I sat down with Dr. Hake at the Adisseo VIP Dairy Seminar to get her insights. Hear what she has to say about consumer purchasing decisions, dairy versus the alternatives, sustainability and building trust on this UPlevel Dairy Podcast.
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, you will be able to hear Dr. Hake’s insights on:
- Consumer trends and concerns
- Reframing environmental impact and the sustainability story
- Ensuring consumer acceptance of new technologies
This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more about Adisseo here: https://www.adisseo.com/en/
Peggy sits down with Dr. Chuck Schwab, a distinguished Professor Emeritus from New Hampshire University, at the Adisseo VIP Dairy Seminar, where he recapped highlights of his career and research on the important role of amino acids in dairy cattle nutrition.
Find out:
- Why Schwab so fervently pursued amino acid research
- The impacts on the way dairy cattle rations are formulated today
- And why he believes his work is not yet done.
This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.
If you are passionate about sharing dairy’s story with consumers and want to know how to turn that into a career, keep listening to hear how Allison Ryan has done just that.
As the marketing and communications director for MVP Dairy and McCarty Family Farms, she has brought the vision to life for an on-farm dairy learning center in Salina, Ohio, and will soon be cutting the ribbon on a second, interactive learning center near Rexford, Kansas.
And she’s joining us today to talk about the opportunities for young professionals who want to make their passion their career, right here on the UPlevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast.
The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/
Learn more about career opportunities and internships with McCarty Family Farms and MVP Dairy:
Contact Allison Ryan: aryan@mvpdairyllc.com
Visit: https://www.mccartyfamilyfarms.com/nowhiring
Follow McCarty Family Farms
- https://www.facebook.com/McCartyFamilyFarms/
- https://www.instagram.com/mccartyfamilyfarms/
- https://www.tiktok.com/@mccartyfamilyfarms
Follow MVP Dairy
- https://www.facebook.com/mvpdairy/
- https://www.instagram.com/mvpdairy/
- https://www.tiktok.com/@mvpdairy
Is a $15 breakeven possible for a dairy farming business in 2024, given increases in input costs and inflation, and the current milk market conditions?
If anyone would tell you “yes,” it would be Pauly Paul with Complete Management Consulting. Pauly has helped hundreds of farms reduce their expenses and increase their income, so that they can be profitable and sustainable businesses.
I’ve asked Pauly, if he was running his own dairy farm, how would he do it?
Find out on this episode:
- Which expenses he would cut first, and the ones he wouldn’t touch
- His time-saving approach to meetings and effective employee managemen
- Where he often sees dairies losing their focus and losing money
- And how he would get his break-even point to $15 per cwt.
This Episode is Sponsored by Complete Management Consulting
Contact Pauly Paul
- www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com
- Pauly@completemanagementconsulting.com
- 920-418-3135
Today’s big question: What if you knew, with 100% certainty, that the milk price would plummet $5 per hundred weight in the next few months … what would you do?
If this question has you thinking, you’ve come to the right place, because Curtis Bosma is joining us for the HighGround Dairy Monthly Market Update.
Find out:
- Price Action Update
- The Big 3 factors are influencing your milk check right now
- Strategic actions you can take to protect your business
Curtis Bosma is vice president of producer services for HighGround Dairy. You can download your own producer market update here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/producer-market-update-january-2024
This episode is brought to you by HighGround Dairy
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Please note: Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of Jan. 17, 2024, 12:30 p.m., and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
We’ve got an exciting new addition to the Uplevel Dairy Podcast … a monthly market update to empower you to make informed decisions for your dairy farming business, brought to you by HighGround Dairy.
On this episode, we sit down to get to know Curtis Bosma, vice president of producer services for HighGround Dairy, to learn more about his mission to take the stress out of understanding markets and provide you with the tools to protect your dairy business’s profitability.
Find out:
- How Curtis got mud on his boots growing up on dairies in California and the Midwest
- Cutting his teeth in trading at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME)
- His drive, strategy and outlooks, personally and professionally
You can look forward to Curtis’s January update on our next episode, including market movements, commodity inventories and the big three factors influencing your next milk check.
This episode is brought to you by: HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
Learn more at https://highgrounddairy.com/ or email them at info@highgrounddairy.com
And our featured Young Leader today is as dedicated to dairy as they come, Alex Gambonini. Raised on an organic California dairy farm, Alex not only grew up showing cattle and competing in dairy quiz bowl, but she also loved digging into numbers and economics. Today, her passions combined, she is the senior manager of advisory services for HighGround Dairy.
Hear how Alex:
- Dives into the complexities of dairy economics and milk pricing
- Her very powerful and personal “why” for helping dairy farmers understand milk markets and manage risk
- And how she uses both in-person and online networking to connect with other professionals
Enjoy this conversation with our UD Young Leader, Alex Gambonini.
The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/
Before you take on that second dairy site, there are four key areas to consider that can make or break the long-term viability and profitability of this decision.
Curtis Gerrits, Senior Dairy Lending Specialist from Compeer Financial, is having these conversations on the regular, and he is going to walk us through these four critical areas and leave you with greater insights for your own decision-making on whether to purchase, lease, or pass up an opportunity to take on a satellite dairy site.
This Episode is Sponsored by Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts .
Disclosure: Curtis Gerrits and his family hold a partial ownership stake in Breeze Dairy Group. Compeer Financial is an equal opportunity employer and provide, and an equal credit opportunity lender.
La presentadora invitada Elsie González Leach de Motiva Dairy Consulting se sienta con Juan Quezada de Milk Source para hablar sobre su trayectoria profesional, desde sus inicios como ordeñador hasta 25 años después, liderando a 650 personas como director de capacitación y desarrollo de la operación láctea. Descubra cómo comparte sus conocimientos para ayudar a otros a alcanzar su propio éxito y creer en lo que es posible para usted.
Suscríbase a Motiva Dairy Consulting en YouTube para ver esta entrevista y más recursos en español sobre capacitación y desarrollo de liderazgo en el sector lechero:
- https://www.youtube.com/@MotivaDairyConsulting
- https://www.motivadairy.com/
Guest host Elsie Gonzalez Leach from Motiva Dairy Consulting sits down with Juan Quezada from Milk Source to talk about his career journey, from starting as a milker to 25 years later, leading 650 people as director of training and development for the dairy operation. Find out how he shares his knowledge to help others achieve their own success and believe in what is possible for you.
Subscribe to Motiva Dairy Consulting on YouTube for this interview and more Spanish resources on dairy leadership training and development:
- https://www.youtube.com/@MotivaDairyConsulting
- https://www.motivadairy.com/
We have some exciting things coming your way on the next episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast … an episode in Spanish is coming soon!
But first, on today’s episode, Peggy sits down with Juan Quezada, director of training and development at Milk Source, to uncover his 5 principles of leadership.
Then, on our next episode, you will get to hear the in-depth interview in Spanish, with Juan and Elsie Gonzalez Leach, from Motiva Dairy Consulting.
You will want to hit “subscribe” on Elsie’s new Motiva Dairy Consulting channel on YouTube, where you will find free resources in Spanish for dairy training and leadership development and more high-impact “Conversations with Dairy Leaders” to come!
Subscribe to Motiva Dairy Consulting on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@MotivaDairyConsulting
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more here: https://www.adisseo.com/en/
Welcome back, friends, for more in this special series we are dropping each day this week on Uplevel Dairy - catching up with our guests from last year who shared their "one word" for 2023 12 months ago. In this last episode in this series, you get to hear from Katie DiGangi about her word “presence” and what that meant for her family and relationships, and I share about my word “truth” and the unexpected shifts it provoked. And find out what Katie and have chosen for our “one word” for 2024!
Interested in what other dairy professionals chose as their 2024 word? Check out the rest of this mini-series below!
- https://open.spotify.com/episode/407zMXKFIMlYkmPV7YAh2V?si=gAOAGoPvRQykXxjN-rUNPw
- Eliza Ruzic with Zinpro: https://open.spotify.com/episode/58yvjNXptKTm5yjgZYQza9?si=R4eQ0JLcRrqV2-M0FUMo1w
- Jared Yousey with Sunnyside Farms: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Byhq1p6h2yrTJ0nMsVKI0?si=tS0b9s3uRLu3REbBLzeIqg
- Travis Speirs with Shiloh Dairy: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4cENTqPtPJaEIyKKwWGWYa?si=17iL4quBRQSmxoyOJBS0Kw
- Jessica Pralle Trimner from Miltrim Farms: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wus0sznNiGNTqH3f3Ffkz?si=gleU5iQ_RNyQg_wlYuqbrg
Welcome back, friends, for more in this special series we are dropping each day this week on Uplevel Dairy - catching up with our guests from last year who shared their "one word" for 2023 12 months ago, and finding out who stuck to their word, who has been transformed by it and who can’t wait to dig into their new word for 2024!
And if you recall our conversation with Tera Baker from Nedap one year ago, you may recall that she was in the mode to “build” in 2023. As a young farmer along side her husband, they were investing in building their own farming enterprise, building their family with the addition of their first child and building out solutions for dairy farmers through Nedap. How did it go? Let’s find out!
We are kicking off 2024 with a series each day this week, revisiting our guests from last year who shared their "one word" for 2023. We are finding out who stuck to their word, who has been transformed by it and who can’t wait to dig into their new word for 2024.
I'm joined today by Jared Yousey from Sunnyside Farms in Scipio Center, New York. Let’s hear what Jared has picked for his word for 2024, and take some time to reflect on the two powerful words he combined last year, gratitude and opportunity or “grati-tunity,” and how he truly lived by and led by those words as a dairy manager, a softball coach and with the most important people in his life.
Here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are continuing to kick off 2024 with a series each day this week, revisiting our guests from last year who shared their "one word" for 2023.
And we are joined today by Jessica Pralle Trimner in Athens, Wis. What strides has Miltrim Farms taken to move “forward” in the past year? Find out the high-impact actions that have lead to some successes worth celebrating.
Here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are kicking off 2024 with a series each day this week, revisiting our guests from last year who shared their "one word" for 2023. Get ready to get into the minds and the hearts of these dairy leaders whom I also call friends, to hear how their one word transformed 2023, and the word they have chosen to live by in 2024!
And our guest today pushed her mindset to new levels - with big changes in her worklife, personal life and community service. How did Eliza Ruzic from Zinpro persevere through 2023? Let’s find out!
Here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are kicking off 2024 with a series each day this week, revisiting our guests from last year who shared their "one word" for 2023. Get ready to get into the minds and the hearts of these dairy leaders whom I also call friends, to hear how their one word transformed 2023, and the word they have chosen to live by in 2024!
And speaking of top performers, I'm joined today by Travis Speirs from Shiloh Dairy in Brillion, Wis. Hear his reflection from the past year and what's in store for this dairy producer in 2024.
Hear more from Travis on Creating a Winning Culture on Ep. 44:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/44---4-High-Impact-Actions-to-Create-a-Winning-Farm-Culture---Travis-Speirs-e29q3oo/a-aadclqr
One year ago, I sat down with six dairy leaders who all chose one word to live by for 2023. Some were dairy owners, others managers, and a couple of friends who work on the industry side too.
What did they say one year ago, about their word and how they wanted to bring it to life in 2023?
Who stuck with it?
Who was transformed by it?
Well, I’ve been catching up with these friends to find out, and you’ll get to all about it in our upcoming episodes next week, but first, I’m bringing back their original Uplevel Dairy Podcast episode where these 6 dairy leaders each shared their word and their vision for how they wanted it to shape 2023.
Featured dairy leaders:
- Jared Yousey, Sunnyside Farms, New York
- Jessica Pralle-Trimner, Miltrim Farms, Wis.
- Travis Speirs, Shiloh Dairy, Wis.
- Katie DiGangi, Zoetis/Darlington Ridge Dairy
- Tera Baker, Nedap
- Eliza Ruzic, Zinpro
So did these six dairy friends live up to their word and their intentions for 2023? Come back next week to find out on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast!
Some say it's impossible to start a dairy farm from scratch these days, but 9 years ago, Michigan dairyman Paul Windemuller did it ... with just $20,000 in cash.
Get ready to tap into the business mindset of this entrepreneurial dairy farmer today.
You're going to hear about the business practices Paul brought back to the U.S. from New Zealand to start his dairy with 30 leased cows in an old turkey coop and a homemade milking parlor, and how he got to where he is 9 years later: with a 250-cow herd in a robot barn.
It doesn't matter how many cows you milk or acres you run. You are going to find some powerful takeaways in Paul's story, and hear about his next venture of traveling around the world and sharing stories through his new AgCulture Podcast.
Links
Connect with Paul Windemuller on LinkedIn and find AgCulture Podcast on Apple, Spotify and YouTube, and follow on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram
Podcast Website: www.agculturepodcast.com
Follow Dream Winds Dairy on Instagram: #dreamwindsdairy
Our featured Uplevel Dairy Young Leader today is Michael Neves. He joins us from California, though he has a network in the dairy community that reaches around the world.
The first few years of Michael’s career included working with startups in technology and animal health, before finding a great fit for his skillset as business development manager for Progressive Dairy Solutions.
Hear about:
- How his entrepreneurial spirit almost led him to owning a McDonald's franchise at age 19
- His passion for helping dairy farmers get paid for their sustainability practices
- And the skills that he uses to have a seat at tables that are often filled with people twice his age.
Young producers and professionals will relate to the challenges and opportunities Michael sees, and those of us who are more seasoned can also take notes on what an ambitious young dairy leader desires in the workplace.
The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is THE podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/
Looking for a quick list of great business and leadership books, videos and podcasts? Uplevel Dairy Podcast owner and host Peggy Coffeen shares her “Top 5” business and leadership resources that she has been tapping into for the past 12 months.
From millionaire entrepreneurs to church pastors, Peggy tells you how these resources apply to your dairy business, why they are worth your time and provides the links for quick access to reaching your own next level in business and leadership.
Looking for the resources mentioned in today's show? Head over to the show notes here to get all the details!
What if there was just one question you could ask in the interview process to identify your next best, long-term employee? What if asking that one question not only helped you to fill an open spot today, but opened the door for that right person to stay with you for a decade, and who is bought into your vision and motivated to help achieve your goals and benchmarks for your business?
Elsie Gonzalez Leach, founder of Motiva Consulting works with some of the best dairies in the country to improve operational efficiencies and build strong teams, and she about to share with us the one thing that she says the most progressive dairy owners and managers are doing that completely transforms their hiring process and sets up a new employee for long term success that empowers and motivates the individual and they way the contribute to your team.
This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.
More from Elsie Gonzalez-Leach: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/62--How-to-Shave-Hours-off-of-Milking-Shifts-with-Elsie-Gonzalez-Leach-e2d4bk3
Contact: Elsie González-Leach
Motiva Consulting
Cell: 262.388.9096
Email: elsie.gonzalez@motiva.consulting
Visit Motiva Consulting on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/Motiva-Consulting-716448728490404/
If you are pulling your hair out because your milking parlor is constantly running behind schedule ... the 7-hour shift is stretching out to 9 hours, and the flow of feeding, cleaning stalls and everything else in the back of the barn is thrown off because you just can't seem to get all the groups milked on time?
If that's you, you are not alone - this is one of the biggest frustrations on a lot of dairies, and it's costing you time and money.
And did you know there may be another - even bigger money stealer - a less obvious but very costly scenario - and it's not in the parlor?
We're not just scratching the surface on these problems, we're going in deep on this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast with a guest today who is in such high demand on dairy farms, that she's booking out to 2025.
Elsie Gonzalez Leach, founder of Motiva Consulting, is here to tell you how she helps clients shave hours off of milking shifts and she's going to tip you off to the sneaky, hidden issue that is siphoning time and money on so many dairies.
Elsie has spent nearly 15 years helping dairy businesses optimize efficiency, production and quality by building stronger dairy teams through consulting, coaching and leadership development.
This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.
Contact: Elsie González-Leach
Motiva Consulting
Cell: 262.388.9096
Email: elsie.gonzalez@motiva.consulting
Visit Motiva Consulting on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/Motiva-Consulting-716448728490404/
Empowering middle managers to be leaders, employee cell phone protocols and bringing team building to the dairies. That's what we are hitting up today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
Bridget Schilling from Schilling Farms in Darlington and Montfort, Wisconsin, is back on with us today. On Ep 53, she talked about getting a new team on board while taking on a second dairy, and today, we are tapping into the tips and tools she brings to the table from her professional management role in nursing, to now handling human resources and employee relations for the operation that includes 2,100 cows and 30 employees.
Whether you manage a single site or multiple locations, I think you will find some great takeaways for developing leaders, building teams and some creative ways to get it all done.
Hear more from Bridget on Ep. 53: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5yzov7aTLHNfdzqR9nP8qF?si=jMY0RNxzTee4T4B-_8aXIw
Our featured Uplevel Dairy Young Leader is Taylor Zeltwanger. He joins us from Morris, Minnesota, where he resides with his wife. This 2020 South Dakota State University graduate started working for his uncle’s company, NutraDrip, while in college, and 5 years later, has channeled his massive energy and passion into a career helping farmers capture the value of precision ag and sustainable farming practices.
You will hear how Taylor is:
- Finding big opportunities by working for a young company,
- Learning how to work with different personality types
- And living on purpose every day to bring sustainability, service and stewardship to farmers
The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast is the special podcast series for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. Find it on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, as well as its own platform, Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Join the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792440762650346/
Listen to our first featured Young Leader: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/peggy-coffeen/episodes/01--Introducing-the-new-Uplevel-Dairy-Young-Leaders-Podcast--featuring-Kiley-Pagel--Pagel-Family-Businesses-e2c6o1k
Texas dairyman Nathan Moroney talked about using technology to make managing 8,000 cows at Del Rio Dairy easier and more efficient on Ep. 58, and today you are going to hear more from Nathan. His background story may surprise you.
Find out how this city boy from Pheonix found his way to the Texas Panhandle, where he dove in head first to learn the ropes of dairy management, and how he puts to work his business and finance background and eye for operational efficiencies every single day to manage the operation that has grown to now include more than 13,000 head of cattle and more than 70 employees.
So how is this business manager and dairy manager planning to protect his price point and minimize risk in 2024? That’s what you will hear on this podcast, part of the High-Performance Mindset Series, powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification.
Additional resources:
Listen to Episode 58 for Part 1 of Nathan's Story: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/mtPoWeIe8Eb
The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023.
One of the big challenges that comes up for dairy farm owners and managers as they grow and scale is this: Should you invest more heavily in highly-skilled, really good cow people, or invest in technology to do the things a good cow person could do?
What if there was a way to streamline your cow flow and work flow, that allowed those really good cow people to focus their time and attention only on the cows that really need it, and what if that could cut the number of cows in your hospital pen by 30%?
Well, that's what's been possible for Del Rio Dairy in Frionia, Texas, and manager Nathan Moroney talks about:
- How the data is helping Del Rio Dairy save 30% of cows from ending up in the hospital pen
- Why every pre-fresh heifer gets a collar in close-up pen
- The high value of dry period data
- How to get employees to buy in on new technology
As Del Rio Dairy has grown from around 3,000 cows to now the upwards of 8,000 and expanded to include 3 parlors on site, including the most recently built 90-stall rotary, they moved from capturing basic data from milk meters to now a full suite of real-time rumination and activity data from GEA CowScout activity monitoring collars.
The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023.
What do gratitude and thanksgiving have to do with you and your drive to reach your next level of performance as a dairy producer or professional?
Perhaps more than you think. Today I’m sharing how gratitude has become not just a habit for me, but a true performance hack.
If you want to be more clear, calm and focused both at work and at home, you are going to learn 3 easy steps to get started.
And Uplevel Dairy leaders - I’m so very grateful for you for coming along with me on the journey to uplevel your skillset and your mindset.
If the Uplevel Dairy Podcast is something you are grateful for, please take just one minute to give it a 5-star rating and review in your favorite listening platform.
Thank you, and God bless!
- Peggy
Additional resources:
Listen to more on gratitude as part of your game plan on Ep. 43:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/43---3-Strategic-Plays-to-Win-in-the-Fourth-Quarter---Jay-Joy-e29ceav/a-aac21as
The Uplevel Dairy Podcast is expanding to include a second bi-weekly podcast, the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast! This is for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers. You can find new episodes dropping every other Thursday on Uplevel Dairy, or follow the Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders Podcast on your favorite platform.
We're kicking off this very first episode with Young Leader Kiley Pagel. Kiley is just wrapping up her degree in business management with an economics minor at the University of Green Bay while working full time in Pagel Family Businesses and Pagels' Ponderosa Dairy in Casco, Wisconsin.
You are going to hear about:
- The big decision she made in the homestretch of her college career that changed her course but got her on a path to true fulfillment
- How she learning to organize and prioritize to do all the things she loves
- Who has inspired her to make dairy her career path
Breaking the stronghold of alcohol, finding time for friends and getting honest with yourself… we’re going there today in the second part of this conversation with Tommy Oesch from Swiss Lane Farms.
We’ve been talking with Tommy about his 5 “buckets” of priorities, and you heard about 3 of them in Ep. 54:
- Family - his role as a father and husband
- Faith - why his weekly men’s discipleship group is a non-negotiable
- Farming Business - how he and his partners have committed to the vision of 7,000 cows in 7 years
Today, we’re dipping into his two other buckets:
- Health - physical and mental health, how 75 Hard changed his life, including his relationship with alcohol
- Friendships - why it doesn’t get easier as life gets busier, but how he commits to investing in his circle.
Finding balance and accountability with these 5 buckets. You’ll hear about that too.
Get ready to get real with Tommy.
This episode is sponsored by Afimilk is a global dairy technology company that designs herd management software and products that allow thousands of cows to be managed on an individual level. Afimilk can tell you what’s happening with your cows and your milk, alerts you if there’s a problem, and pinpoints the problem so it can be managed quicker and easier.
Check out:
Ep. 54 | Finding Balance with a Big Vision - Part 1: Faith, Family and Dairy Farm with Tommy Oesch, Swiss Lane Farms
Our #1 episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast:
Ep. 35 | The 7,000 Cows in & Years Vision with Tommy Oesch, Swiss Lane Farms
If you’ve got big goals and a big vision for your dairy and your business, you know that it takes incredible focus and hard work, but what you may also know is that if you get too focused on one thing – “one bucket” - all of that success can come at a cost … and the price you pay can be your family, your relationships … even your health.
So if finding a balance for your big goals and these “buckets” of family, faith, the farm, your health and your friendships, is something you want in your life, this one’s for you.
Tommy Oesch from Swiss Lane Farms in Michigan talked about the big vision he and his partners share for “7,000 Cows in 7 Years” on the #1 most downloaded episode of season 1 of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast. And Tommy jumped back on with for this very real conversation that goes deep into his 5 “buckets” of priorities behind that vision:
- Family
- Faith
- The dairy
- Health
- Friendships
In fact, there is so much good stuff here, I’m breaking it out into two parts for you.
On this episode, we are going to hear about 3 of his 5 buckets:
- Being a husband, a dad, a dairyman and a disciple.
- How his roles and priorities are different than his own Dad’s generation
- And Tommy gets real about the insecurities that come with stepping up to be a leader
This episode is sponsored by Afimilk is a global dairy technology company that designs herd management software and products that allow thousands of cows to be managed on an individual level. Afimilk can tell you what’s happening with your cows and your milk, alerts you if there’s a problem, and pinpoints the problem so it can be managed quicker and easier. Learn more about Afimilk at https://www.afimilk.com/
Stick around for a conversation with Jennifer Weber, customer success and operations director for Afi Milk North America, to learn how cow monitoring is saving dairy producers time and money and leading to healthier, more productive cows.
Listen to Episode #35:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/35---The-7-000-Cows-in-Seven-Years-Vision---Tom-Oesch-e27b121/a-aa5nbbl
If buying or leasing a turn-key dairy at another location is part of your business strategy, this episode is for you.
The real question is this: How do you walk into an existing dairy and its culture, and recreate it to be what YOU need it to be, so that the new site and the new team are engaged and motivated to hit your benchmarks and goals?
Schilling Farms was a high-performing herd, milking 600 cows in Darlington, Wis., when the opportunity came up two years ago to buy a 1,500-cow site, 40 miles away from the home farm. With it, came a new team and an old culture.
Bridget Schilling joins us to share the key tactics from her professional management experience in nursing that have made all the difference with getting the new crew transitioned, so that Schilling Farms can operate at the level of excellence they are known for.
Find out how she:
- Built trust in a new role, with a new team
- The key questions she asks employees
- What she does every four months that makes all the difference
This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.
I’ve got a special gift for you, Uplevel Dairy leaders! It is 10 minutes of straight talk on leadership and culture, directly from one of the greatest minds in the dairy business, Jim Ostrom, CEO, President and founding partner of Milk Source.
What has been his mindset over the past nearly 30 years, from starting with 3 partners and a few cows, to now running multiple high-performing dairies, business ventures and a highly professionalized team?
Grab a pen and paper, because these are the power quotes from Episode #34, one of our top episodes from Season 1 of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.
Get inside this CEO’s mind on:
- Leading ourselves and others
- Developing a team of executive thinkers
- Creating winning culture
This episode is sponsored by Adisseo, global leader in animal nutrition and premium provider of rumen protected methionine for dairy producers who want to capture the power of components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.
Want to listen to the full episode?
34 | Entrepreneurship, Visionary Leadership and Dairy Cares of Wisconsin with Jim Ostrom, Milk Source
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/upleveldairy/episodes/34---Entrepreneurship--Visionary-Leadership-and-Dairy-Cares-of-Wisconsin---Jim-Ostrom-e272km3/a-aa4tc5u
If you are a dairy producer who has been thinking about taking your milk all the way to the dairy case yourself, this episode is for you. Vertical integration is on the minds of many forward-thinking dairy farmers. And that's why today you are going to hear from a dairyman who is doing it on the Uplevel Dairy podcast.
I recently sat down with TJ Tuls, a fourth-generation dairyman and founder of DARI LLC, the company that has created the milk beverage MOO’V.
Find out how becoming a dad is what inspired him to want to transform the milk-drinking experience for his son and his wife. It gave him the vision for creating lifelong milk consumers by bringing to the marketplace a new milk beverage to a dairy case near you.
Through a new model of providing exceptional service, consultation, products, and supplies. Stick around to the end of this episode to hear straight from Dr. David Gnad, CEO of Heritage Vet Partners.
What you’ll learn:
- The story of MOO’V
- The hurdles that TJ overcame including finding a milk processor
- Product formulation and development
- How to get shelf space in the dairy case
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MOOVREALMILK
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moovrealmilk/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@moovrealmilk
Learn more about MOO’V & DARI here: https://realdari.com/ or connect with them on your favorite social media platform
Thanks to our Sponsor: Heritage Vet Partners
Heritage Vet Partners is the nation’s leading veterinary partnership specializing in mixed/large animal practices. They believe there is great value in the legacy, customer relationships, brand, culture, and team that you have built. Their goal is to provide services and support around the foundation you have developed. Most importantly, they believe that it takes a community to best meet the changing needs of the customers and industries that we serve.
Learn more about Heritage Vet Partners Here: https://heritagevetpartners.com
You may already be doing annual employee reviews … but are you actually using them to drive employee engagement?
And maybe you hold monthly employee meetings … but are they actually helping you to get buy-in and build team camaraderie to move toward your goals?
Or are you just checking the boxes with more meetings that take up your time and space on your calendar?
We’re revisiting highlights from Ep. 20 - one of the top episodes from season 1 of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, where dairy manager Brett Barlass from California Dairy Farms, breaks down how he went a stretch of 9 years without a no-call, no-show employee while managing Yosemite Jerseys.
You are about to find out how he’s doing it, and how you too can use reviews and meetings to actually get employees excited to come to work and want to continue to be a long-term high performing team member, so listen in to learn:
- Brett’s key questions for annual employee reviews
- How he structured monthly meetings that no employee wanted to miss
- The every-day actions that managers can take to build a high-performing team
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.
If you want to be successful and confident in the decisions you are making in the dairy business, there is one tool I want to share with you today that will help you move forward.
It’s helped me in my business to gain more focus and clarity, it’s helped make decisions easier, it’s saved me time and money, and it can do that for you too.
Join host, Peggy Coffeen, as she leads a panel discussion at the World Dairy Expo with Three NMPF Young Cooperator Members.
What you’ll learn:
- How core values play a strong role in the culture of your business
- How these 8 questions will provide the basics of a strategic plan for your business
- How these three young producers define their core values and core focus
- What these three producers plan to do to strategically move their dairy farms forward
A Panel Discussion from the World Dairy Expo hosted by NMPF YC.
Welcome to another "Best of Uplevel Dairy" feature! This week I sat down with Scott Blevins to dive into what it takes to have the mindset of a high-performing dairy manager.
Dairy manager Scott Blevins shares the habits, routines, and principles that build his resilience and endurance to stay on top of his game while managing 6,500 cows, 6,600 youngstock, and a team of people at Wiese Bros. Farms in Greenleaf, Wisconsin.
What you’ll learn:
- Staying physically, mentally and spiritually strong
- Finding balance in a non-stop business
- What Scott wishes he would have known 17 years ago when he started a career as a dairy manager
- Scott’s core principles that create the culture at Wiese Bros. Farms
Sponsored by Armor Animal Health, your trusted vet, sales, and laboratory partner supplying you with core livestock products and solutions that will help you reach your farm goals.
Welcome to the Best of Uplevel Dairy Season 1! In this episode, I am chatting with Jared Dueppengiesser, herd manager of Milk Source's Rosendale Dairy, about his experience in building a top-notch employee culture that resulted in zero turnover!
Jared Dueppengiesser has worked his way up through the Milk Source organization, from a herdsman to now manager of Rosendale Dairy. He leads a team of 52 employees on one of Wisconsin’s largest dairies. In this podcast, Jared shares how he took on the challenge of upleveling the culture of this dairy to be a place where people want to work and want to stay … with nearly zero employee turnover for the past half year. And he’s done all this at just 26 years old.
What you’ll learn:
- Jared’s vision for the culture he wanted to create at Rosendale Dairy
- What he does every day to create that culture
- Who is the most important employee?
- The tools that empowered him to take action
- The results of culture on employee turnover
- Jared’s best advice to others managing both cows and people
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/https://www.adisseo.com/en/
Today, we are talking about a 1,500-cow dairy that was on the verge of selling out - but not on their own terms.
The farm had not made money in 3 years.
Their banker told them their loan was not going to be up for renewal, and suggested the auction block was their action plan.
And a good dairy farmer who was having a hard time hanging onto hope that things would ever get better - for his farm and for his life.
5 years ago, the future was not looking good for this dairy or dairyman.
But fast-forward to now: That same dairy farm is still in business - in fact, they are still with that same lender - and they have been making money … even when $13 milk hit last summer, they were confident in their viability.
So what took them from the brink of bankruptcy to being profitable, to being able to not just pay their bills - but prepay some bills?
A call with Pauly from Complete Management Consulting. Listen to the full episode for all of the details!
This Episode is Sponsored by Complete Management Consulting.
Contact
Pauly Paul
www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com
Pauly@completemanagementconsulting.com
920-418-3135
Head to http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on:
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What's happening halfway around the world in the global marketplace that can impact your milk check in this final quarter of 2023?
On today's episode, you are going to get the cliff notes on the trends in the export market along with domestic supply and consumption. So you can be informed and empowered to make the best decisions for your dairy. And here to share that with us is Mary Keough Ledman, Global Dairy Strategist with Rabobank, which has recently released its Global Dairy Quarterly Report. Mary has been studying market trends and dairy economics for her entire career, and she has the ability to look at the global picture and break it down into the snapshots that matter to you most.
What you'll learn:
- The top two countries Mary can't take her eyes off of in Q4
- The cow-loving country that could be the export market wildcard
- What Mary believes gives US dairy farmers a long-term competitive advantage
- The strategic move that could make your milk more marketable
This episode is brought to you by Adisseo.
Tune in below or on your favorite listening platform for all of the details on this episode! Head to http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook - Instagram - LinkedIn
Culture. It’s how your employees feel in the pit of their stomach on Sunday night about coming in to work for you on Monday morning. On a recent visit to Shiloh Dairy in Brillion, Wisconsin, the winning culture was clear: There was a party in the parlor. Milkers were smiling and striking a pose for pictures. The employees were happy to be there, and having fun.So I just had to sit down with the owner and manager of this dairy, our friend Travis Speirs, to find out how he was making this happen, all while growing from 2,400 to 2,900 cows, and transitioning in his own role from being with the cows every day, to spending more time in the business and operations management chair, as his father Gordon steps back from the day-to-day operations and decisions.Now Travis will be the first to say, culture at Shiloh Dairy is constantly evolving, and not every day is a party in the parlor, but there are a few high-impact actions that are leading to results like low turnover and a waiting list to work at Shiloh Dairy.This episode is part of The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023.
What you’ll learn:
- Transitioning ownership, management and leadership
- Finding the right people
- Cultivating respect
- Methods for clear communication
- How to let leaders lead BONUS CONTENT!
Nedap Power Play: How to Up the Accuracy of Dairy Farm Identification and Data, with Nedap Technical Support Manager Ron Dehli
Head to http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook- Instagram- LinkedIn
As we close in on the last three months of the year, how are you positioning yourself and your dairy business to finish strong? What do you need to do today to be happy with where you are at by the end of 2023?It may be go time in the fields, but it’s game time for your business. Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP walks us through how to win in the fourth quarter with 3 strategic plays to win in the last 90 days of 2023.
What you’ll learn:
- Finish strong
- Take inventory
- Be grateful
Contact Jay Joy:www.Bridgeforthllp.comjay@bridgeforthllp.com
Head to http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook- Instagram- LinkedIn
From co-founding a company that feeds more than 1.1 million cows all over the world with Progressive Dairy Solutions, to feeding people and providing a value-added marketing opportunity for dairy farm families through Valley Milk, and now leading efforts to help dairy farmers be beneficiaries of the methane market, Matt Budine has had a hand in seeing the vision for what it will take to be successful, profitable and sustainable in the dairy business. He’s driven by that same purpose in giving back, as a co-founder of the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, which has impacted more than 4,000 students in its 20+ year history.
So how has Matt multiplied his impact to reach more than one million cows and thousands of young dairy leaders? Hear his story of unselfish leadership and the steps he takes to scale success in the dairy business.
What you’ll learn:
- Scaling a business that feeds 1.1 million cows
- Valley Milk: “Nutrition consulting gone awry”
- Co-founding the Dairy Challenge
- Unselfish leadership and the future of work
CONNECT with MATT BUDINE: President & CEO, Progressive Dairy Solutions; Dairy Nutritionist mbudine@pdscows.com http://www.progressivedairysolutions.com/ https://valleymilkca.com/ https://www.dairychallenge.org/
Head to http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook - Instagram - LinkedIn
Maybe it’s to get healthier. Maybe it’s to start a business. But you are stuck. You have not taken action on it because you “don’t have time” or you “don’t know where to start.” Well consider this the nudge you needed to start turning that little spark into a 5-alarm fire today.
Dairy farmer Katy Schultz, Tri-Fecta Farms, Fox Lake, Wisconsin, tells the story of being the girl who faked “sick” on mile day in gym class, to pushing herself to run 100 miles in July.
Elizabeth DeVries, owner, 4D Ag World/4D Ag Fashion, talks about immigrating from the Netherlands to the U.S. to start a business, living in a fifth wheel for a year and now living the real-life American dream.
What you’ll learn:
- How to set goals and achieve them
- Determine the goal or idea that ignites you
- Get clear on your burn
- Burn the ships
- Fuel your fire: adversity, achievements
- Fan your flame: surround yourself with the right people - in your tribe and on your team
- Control the burn: focus discipline, habits and systems
- Stoke the fire: Celebrate and practice gratitude
*GIVEAWAY!*
Join the Uplevel Dairy Community during September 2023 for a chance to win a pair of FREE 4D Ag Fashion waterproof bib overalls!
To join: https://www.upleveldairy.com/subscribe
This episode is sponsored by our friends at 4D Ag World and 4D Ag Fashion - JP and Elizabeth de Vries - A first-generation American company that provides the highest quality dairy barn technology, from barn rubber to headlocks and fans to fashion. Find it all at 4DAgWorld.com and 4DAgFashion.com, and visit at World Dairy Expo!
CONNECT with ELIZABETH:
Elizabeth at (806) 557-8406
elizabeth@4dagfashion.com
Shop 4D:
https://www.4dagworld.com/
https://www.4dagfashion.com/
Follow 4D on social media:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/4dagworld
https://www.facebook.com/4dagfashion
Instagram
4d_ag_fashion
Head to http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook- Instagram- LinkedIn
What does it take to not only grow a dairy farm from 1,800 cows to 4,200 cows, and not just scale the operation, but scale the leadership team? To help current team members rise to new roles, and to retain all of those leaders in the process?
That’s what you will be hearing about today from Steve Abel, of Abel Dairy Farms in Wisconsin, and along with one of his closest advisors who has walked along side his through this transition, GPS Dairy Consultant, Robb Bender.
This is a special episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, because it is also the debut of the brand new GPS Dairy Cast - which you can find and follow on Apple, Spotify and Youtube.
Walk away with the steps this dairy producer has taken to grow and scale his leadership team.
What you’ll learn:
- Growing from 1,800 cows to 4,200 cows
- Getting the team on board
- Developing team members into team leaders
Want to hear more from the GPS Dairy Team? Follow the GPS DAIRYcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Head to http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook - Instagram - LinkedIn
How can a dairy rely less on skilled labor? Is it possible to even eliminate some positions? And to do so while actually improving cow care and milk quality, and not to mention your stress level as an owner or manager?
We are going to one of the most notoriously challenging labor markets in the country to find out how one California dairyman is doing just that.
Our guest today is Brandon Mendonsa, from Tipton, California, talking about FM Jerseys, the site he owns and manages that milks 3,200 cows. When this dairy was built 5 years ago, one of Brandon’s priorities was to set up a system that would allow him to milk more cows with less skilled labor.
What you’ll learn:
- The tasks that technology now takes care of that, in the past, required a person
- Trusting computers to call the shots on cow care
- How his role as a manager has changed for the better
Episode Sponsor: Afimilk is a global dairy technology company that designs herd management software and products that allow thousands of cows to be managed on an individual level. Afimilk can tell you what’s happening with your cows and your milk, alerts you if there’s a problem, and pinpoints the problem so it can be managed quicker and easier.
BONUS CONTENT!
Listen to the end for a few words from Afimilk herd management specialist Amit Golan about working with Brandon and other dairies to save on labor and empower cow management.
Learn more about Afimilk:
https://www.afimilk.com/
Head to http://www.UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox. To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on: - Facebook - Instagram - LinkedIn
Have you been avoiding a conversation you know you need to have with an underperforming team member? Is their attitude impacting the rest of the team, yet you keep putting it off, hoping it will get better on its own? Kristy Pagel from Leading Edge Consulting LLC provides you with a take-home tool to tackle a tough conversation with confidence and a clear path to move forward.
Download your FREE “How to Have Hard Conversations” take-home tool at UplevelDairy.com
What you’ll learn:
- Why you owe it to your employees to have that talk
- The matrix that gives managers measure objectives
- The 3 mindset shifts managers need for courage, confidence and a clear path forward
CONNECT with KRISTY PAGEL:
Owner, coach, consultant with Leading Edge Consulting LLC
kristy@leadingedgeccd.com
LinkedIn: Kristy Pagel
CONNECT with PEGGY:
peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
This episode is sponsored by Adisseo.
Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP opens up about being part of a dairy partnership that failed. But more importantly, how that became the defining moment that positioned him to serve others in his role as a family business advisor and financial consultant. He shares five takeaways for how he cultivated mental toughness in the most trying of times and how you can do it too.
What you’ll learn:
- Embracing the “suck”
- Eating the cookies
- Process over results
- The 4 C’s: commitment, courage, capability and confidence
- Taking action
Contact Jay Joy:
www.Bridgeforthllp.com
jay@bridgeforthllp.com
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
“How good can we get?” If you are a high-performer who asks yourself that same question every single day, you will want to hear what Megan Schrupp, DVM, at NexGen Dairy in Eden Valley, Minnesota, has to say about pushing the potential for cows, culture and herself, and how technology is getting them all there faster.
This episode is part of The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023. What you’ll learn:
- Celebrating the 7-year benchmark of coming back to the dairy
- Using data to Increase the average age of cows in the herd
- Creating a culture of excellence
- Informed decision-making and simple routines
- Digging into the data to enhance transition, nutrition and repro
The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023.
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Four years ago, dairy farmer Tom Oesch and his partners at Swiss Lane Farms in Michigan defined their vision: To grow to 7,000 cows in seven years. Find out how they are putting that vision into action, transitioning the business from one generation to the next and growing leaders within their team. And walk away with a renewed motivation from Tom to live life to its fullest NOW.
What you’ll learn:
- The decision to double down on dairying and expand to multiple sites
- Determining core values and using them to make decisions
- Transitioning the business from third to fourth generation
- Living his golden years now
- Growing leaders from within
This episode is sponsored in partnership by global dairy technology company AfiMilk and Michigan Dairy Tech and Western Dairy Tech, an Afimilk dealer. Michigan Dairy Tech and Western Dairy Tech helps dairy producers manage thousands of cows on an individual level with Afimilk technology, while also serving the needs of integrated automation, systems networking, dairy management camera systems and artificial intelligence.
BONUS CONTENT!
Hear straight from Michigan Dairy Tech/Western Dairy Tech owner and founder Kyle O’Brien, along with Hilary Triick from their AI startup, Agricair, on solving labor problems with technology and automation.
Learn more about Afimilk:
https://www.afimilk.com/
Learn more about Michigan Dairy Tech/Western Dairy Tech:
www.michigandairytech.com
www.westerndairytech.com
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Peggy Coffeen joins Jim Ostrom from Milk Source in his gardens for an exclusive interview with one of the most incredible visionary leaders in dairy farming, talking about business, leadership, culture and the cause so near to his heart, Dairy Cares of Wisconsin.
What you’ll learn:
- The trip to Tulare that inspired it all
- Defining winning, leadership and executive thinking
- Company culture and the “Milk Source Way”
- Dairy Cares of Wisconsin - an opportunity for dairy to give back today by supporting Children’s Wisconsin
To give to Dairy Cares as a sponsor or donor:
https://support.childrenswi.org/event/dairy-cares-of-wisconsin-garden-party/e480152
To place a bid in the Dairy Cares Virtual Auction:
https://live.classy.org/auction/dairy-cares-of-wisconsin-garden-party/fe8756a3-e73f-4e09-b880-c9478f8cab79
Learn more about Dairy Cares of Wisconsin and Children’s Wisconsin, visit https://dairycaresofwisconsin.org/
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
When milk prices are painful, the best strategy for dairy farmers is to stay in position. Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP sits down with host Peggy Coffeen to talk about how to stop the bleeding and minimize the pain in a milk price valley.
What you’ll learn:
- The numbers to watch right now
- The bright spots: beef price, land values, manure digester money
- What it will take for milk prices to get back to breakeven
- What profitable dairies are doing right now
Contact Jay Joy:
www.Bridgeforthllp.com
jay@bridgeforthllp.com
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
This episode is for the dairy farmer or dairy professional who owns a business or is just wired to work as if they owned their business. If you ever find yourself stressed out, overcommitted and lacking the freedom in life they truly desire, this is for you. I’ve invited my personal business coach Amy Throndsen to ask you five high-impact questions to define your own version of freedom.
What you’ll learn:
-
Clarify your priorities with this one question
-
Freedom for spending your time and money
- Freedom to grow
- Create time freedom with pre-game meetings
- Start or end every single day with this practice
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
For the past 6 months, you’ve been listening to conversations with incredible dairy farm owners and managers who are finding ways to lower their turnover, empower their people and achieve their goals, and in this episode of the High-Performance Mindset Series powered by Nedap, you are going to walk away with the five habits high-performing dairy farm managers have in common.
What you’ll learn:
-
Winning with communication
-
Why appreciation matters
- How great managers build trust
- Cultivating culture
- How they show up each day
Featured guests:
- Scott Blevins, Wiese Bros Farms
- Omar Guerrero, Drake Dairy
- Jared Dueppengiesser, Rosendale Dairy
- Jared Yousey, Sunnyside Farms
- Sonya Koke, Blue Jay Dairy and Blue Bonnet Dairy
- Christine Bender, McFarlandale Dairy
- Brett Barlass, California Dairy Farms
- Michelle Shambeau, Ebert Enterprises
- Sandy Larson, Larson Acres
- Reese Burnett, Burnett Dairy Farm
- Jessica Pralle-Trimner, Miltrim Farms
- Jamie and Ellie St. Pierre, Pleasant Valley Farms
Bonus: Hear from Tera Baker at Nedap about the #FarmProof campaign and contest
The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023.
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Are you running your dairy farm, or is your dairy farm running you? Dairy farmer and mother of 6, Sonya Koke from Blue Jay Dairy and Blue Bonnet Dairy in Dublin, Texas, talks about doing the work to define their mission and develop great managers in order to find more time, more freedom and more enjoyment in dairy farming.
What you’ll learn:
- Defining their mission
- Empowering good employees to move into management positions
- Coaching and meeting with managers
- The best parenting advice you will ever hear
This episode is sponsored by our friends at 4D Ag World and 4D Ag Fashion - JP and Elizabeth de Vries - A first-generation American company that provides the highest quality dairy barn technology, from barn rubber to headlocks and fans to fashion. Find it all at 4DAgWorld.com and 4DAgFashion.com
Shop 4D:
https://www.4dagworld.com/
https://www.4dagfashion.com/
Follow 4D on social media:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/4dagworld
https://www.facebook.com/4dagfashion
Instagram:
4d_ag_fashion
Contact:
Elizabeth at (806) 557-8406
elizabeth@4dagfashion.com
Resources from this episode:
Bruce Vande Steeg
Leiden LLC
970-397-4902
bvandesteeg@gmail.com
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Kansas farmers and cattle producers Troy Nelson and Kayla Burr of TDN Farms join us with their family business advisor, Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP, to talk about the most critical conversations and continued efforts to get on the same page and stay there, so they can move forward as a family farming business and have fun doing it.
What you’ll learn:
- What led them to seek outside help
- Aligning individual and business goals
- Digging up the past and difficult conversations
- Diffusing the drama
- Moving forward with weekly, monthly and semi-annual meetings
Contact Jay Joy:
www.Bridgeforthllp.com
jay@bridgeforthllp.com
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Providing housing options for employees at Larson Acres has taken the turnover rate from an already low 7% all the way down to less than 1 percent. General manager Sandy Larson shares what she has learned about finding and managing housing for nearly half of the dairy’s 75 employees … and how that has led to a line out the front door of the dairy with a waiting list of people who want to work there.
What you’ll learn:
- How providing housing has improved culture and employee retention
- What the farm provides vs. what employees provide
- Finding options in a tight rural housing market
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
If you are thinking about adding technology to your dairy, you know you will get straight talk from TDF Honest Farming’s Derrick Josi, from Wilsonview Dairy in Tillamook, Oregon. This dairy farmer is more than doubling the herd from 500 to 1,100 Jersey cows. Hear about the new facility with a 50-stall rotary parlor, and find out how Derrick and his team are taking the data from their activity monitoring system to get more cows bred and catch sick cows sooner in this episode of the Nedap High-Performance Mindset Series.What you’ll learn:
- The biggest challenge he’s faced
- Managing people, cows and data
- From visual heat detection to breeding off of activity monitors
- Learning to trust the system
The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023.
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Borrowing money to pay the bills? This dairy farm was in the red before Pauly Paul and his team came into the picture. Six years later, they’ve got money in the bank and the financial stress is gone. Hear how Pauly increased income and milking frequency from 2x to 4x without additional labor costs, and the areas where he reduced expenses without compromising cow health.What you’ll learn:
- From 2x to 4x milking, without additional labor costs
- Getting employees to buy-in to changes
- Cutting costs in the feed center
- Healthier cows, lower somatic cell count and 20 more pounds of milk
Contact:
Pauly Paul
www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com
Pauly@completemanagementconsulting.com
920-418-3135
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Having trouble grabbing a gear and getting ahead in your family business? The problem may not be inefficiency, but rather, misalignment. In this episode, Jay shares a real-life example of a farming family that went from fighting with each other and losing money, to now posting some of the best years in their business, while finding enjoyment in doing it together.What you’ll learn:
- What happens when your family or team is out of alignment
- An example of a family farm that went from barely talking and below breakeven, to making money and laughing together again.
- The reason so many family businesses struggle
- Three steps to effective communication in a family business
BONUS:
Jay’s Book Club: The Twin Thieves: How Great Leaders Build Great Teams by Steve Jones and Lucas Jadin
Contact Jay Joy:
www.Bridgeforthllp.com
jay@bridgeforthllp.com
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
You may know Annaliese Wagner as the Modern Day Farm Chick on Instagram, and perhaps you also know dairy consultant Liz Griffith, the OG ag-vocate who was telling dairy’s story long before social media existed. But what you may not know about this mother and daughter is that they each have a new story to share, and you will hear about it first right here. With Mother’s Day around the corner, what better time for some friendly banter about motherhood, picking yourself up by your bootstraps and discovering your own story to tell.
What you’ll learn:
- Motherhood, dairy farming and telling dairy’s story
- The unexpected detour that changed the course of both their lives
- Turning a test into a testimony
- The Uplevel 5, with a Mother’s Day twist!
Follow Annaliese Wegner:
www.annaliesewegner.com
Insta: @modfarmchick
Facebook: Modern-day Farm Chick
TikTok: modfarmchick
Follow Liz Griffith:
Liz Griffith Family Farm Consulting
Instagram: @itslizgriffithp
Facebook: Liz Griffith
Instagram and Facebook:
A Farm Chick's Closet
liz.doornink@gmail.com
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
We are talking about biogas, from start to start up, and hearing the story of a farmers-first bioenergy company and the steps in the process for turning manure into renewable natural gas, straight from the co-founder and CEO himself, Brent Lilienthal from LF Bioenergy.
What you’ll learn:
- The detailed process of finding solutions for dairy farms
- Making sand bedding work with a digester
- Why the long-term vision for your dairy farm and family matters
- When the dairy farmer can expect to get paid for their credits
- What a conversation with a farmer-first RNG developer and operator should include
This episode is sponsored by LF Bioenergy, is a “farmers first” RNG developer and operator.
Learn more at https://lfbioenergy.com/
Brent Lilienthal | CEO
713-857-3908
brent@lfbioenergy.com
LF Bioenergy
Ifbioenergy.com
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.comFollow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Two-thirds of the 9,000 dairy cows in Wyoming are milked on a 110-stall rotary at Burnett Dairy, located about an hour from Greeley, Colorado. Owned by the Burnett family, this dairy has scaled and added new technologies to gain a competitive edge, and that adds to the excitement for a young dairyman like Reese Burnett. Today, we’ll hear from Reese about what brought him back here and how he views the future of Burnett Dairy.
What you’ll learn:
- The challenges and opportunities of dairying in Wyoming
- Why he chose to come back to the dairy
- What makes Reese excited for the future
- The challenges he sees ahead
The episode is sponsored by Dairy Specialists.
Dairy Specialists is one of the leading and most innovative commercial dairy service and equipment dealerships in the country supplying commercial dairy farms with innovative parlor designs, new construction, remodels, robotic milkers, dairy waste management and 24/7 support and technical services. Their mission is to be the trusted and dependable advisors that dairy producers can count on to help bring their operational goals and visions to life.
Find them here: https://www.dairyspecialists.com/
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.comFollow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
If one of the most critical decisions on your mind right now is whether to sign onto an RNG project or take your carbon credits to the grave for your dairy, tune into this power panel with three experts to walk you through the legal, operational and financial considerations for choosing the best RNG partner for your dairy farm’s management, business and future.
What you’ll learn:
- What to ask before signing an RNG contract - Attorney Susan LaCrosse
- Avoiding a digester disaster - Dairy Digester Consultant Dr. Bob Nagel
- Financial considerations for RNG and your dairy farm business - Jay Joy
Contact Jay:
www.Bridgeforthllp.com
jay@bridgeforthllp.com
785-275-2772
Susan LaCrosse
susan@lacrosselawoffice.com
920-495-8522
Dr. Bob Nagel
drbob@westwyndllc.com
920-464-0970
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.comFollow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
As a dairy manager for 15 years at Yosemite Jerseys in Hilmar, California, Brett Barlass found ways to engage and motivate a team of employees to want to show up - in fact, he went 9 years without a no-call, no-show employee. And since the acquisition of Yosemite Jerseys by California Dairy Farms, Larry & Jenifer Matos & John Melo, in January, 2022, Brett has been charged with a new task: replicating that same culture and results from Yosemite across 6 dairy sites with 19,000 cows and 200 employees. Find out how he is doing it.
What you’ll learn:
- Feedback and annual reviews that boost employee buy in
- 5 a.m. team meetings with ice breakers and electronic dance music
- The 9 things employees need from a manager
- Getting employees to care
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.comFollow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
How much sleep does parlor supervisor Miguel Garcia lose at night, worrying whether or not employees will show up to milk at Double P Dairy in Marathon City, Wisconsin? None. We talk about culture, reputation and the gesture Miguel says is more powerful than a pizza party for motivating employees and getting 8-minute turns on their new 60-stall rotary parlor on this episode of the Nedap High-Performance Mindset Series.
What you’ll learn:
- Attracting good employees in a competitive labor market
- Hiring for attitude, not experience
- What employees want from their workplace
- Why Miguel says money matters
BONUS CONTENT!Nedap Power Play: Hear from Nedap dairy product specialist Matt Heisner about Smart Flow, a wireless way to collect real-time milk data and winner of the Nexus Innovation Award at the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin Business Conference.
The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023.
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.
To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
If you manage a dairy operation, you know how frustrating it can be to manage and motivate a team. But what if there was one powerful action you could take to create a culture that engages employees, so that they not only want to stick around in this tough labor market, but actually want to be a part of achieving your goals? Christine Bender, manager and partner in McFarlandale Dairy in Watertown, Wis., tells us about the meeting format that has upleveled her team’s performance.
What you’ll learn:
- The meeting format that works
-
Classroom style + hands-on training
-
How to keep communication open in between meetings
-
Creating a culture of high performance
BONUS: Jeannie Bishop, territory manager for Merck Animal Health, talks about technology and teamwork at McFarlandale Dairy.The episode is sponsored by Merck.
Merck Animal Health is a leading animal health company dedicated to shaping the future of livestock management with a comprehensive cattle product portfolio combined with the innovative technologies of Allflex Livestock Intelligence.
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.
To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
It’s the rise before the fall. How will you maintain access to capital and keep credit lines open before commodity prices drop later this year? Jay Joy with Bridgeforth LLP tells us what his forward-thinking dairy clients are doing right now to prepare, including the five key numbers your banker really wants you to know.
**What you’ll learn:
-** What cash reserves will look like in late 2023
- The five actions financially savvy dairies are taking right now
- What the banker wants from you to keep your credit lines open
- The five key numbers your banker really cares about
Jay’s Book Club recommendation:
Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan
Contact Jay:
www.Bridgeforthllp.com
jay@bridgeforthllp.com
785-275-2772
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.
To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
If you are looking for ways to better manage dried manure solids for bedding, or what it could look like to bring a non-family partner into your dairy farming business, you are in the right place, because our guest today is successfully doing both. We sit down with Jeremy Natzke, a fifth-generation dairyman and partner in Wayside Dairy near Greenleaf, Wis., to talk about the switch from sand to dried solids and the new business partnership for this dairy that includes 2,100 cows, 1,600 replacements and more than 30 employees.
**What you’ll learn:
-** The biggest challenges of converting from sand to dried solids
- Finding the sweet spot for removing sand and introducing solids
- The game-changing tool for leveling stalls and getting cows to lay down
- Keeping milk quality in line
- Bringing in a non-family business partner
BONUS: Want to see Jeremy’s stall leveler in action? Check out the bonus video on the Uplevel Dairy YouTube channel
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.
To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
How can a dairy operation uplevel their human resources department to go beyond payroll and compliance? Michelle Shambeau, human resources manager at Ebert Enterprises in Algoma, Wis., talks about culture, onboarding, implementing employee reviews and the foundational steps she took to formalize an HR department that serves 160 employees across the Ebert’s dairy and other diversified meat and food businesses.
**What you’ll learn:
-** 3 critical steps to formalizing HR functions
- How to get employee buy-in to change
- Onboarding, reviews and training
- What Michelle learned from spending 2 months in Guatemala
This episode is sponsored by Nicolet National Bank.
If you are looking to Uplevel your banking relationship with a lender who understands dairy and farming, Nicolet is here for you. With their team of 15 bankers serving Wisconsin, Minnesota and Upper Michigan, Nicolet specializes in sitting down at the table with dairy, crop and livestock farmers to position their businesses for a legacy of success. Real people, real conversations. That's what you can expect from the Nicolet ag lending team. www.NicoletBank.com
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.
To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
No feed. No money. And most would say, no hope. But Pauly Paul always finds a way to flip a dairy farm from foreclosure to a positive cash flow. In this episode, he shares his boots-on-the-ground approach to farm management and operational efficiency, and Pauly leaves you with three tips for increasing cash flow and reducing expenses on any dairy operation.
**What you’ll learn:
-** How he flipped a dairy in receivership into a profitable, saleable turn-key operation in 12 months
-
The first areas to look to increase cash flow and reduce expenses
-
What dairies should do right now to prepare for the rest of 2023
Contact: Pauly Paul
www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com
Pauly@completemanagementconsulting.com
920-418-3135
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.
To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Talking about family farm transition planning can be tough. It’s hard to know where to even start. Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP breaks it down with the one question you can ask yourself and your family today to start the conversation about the transition of assets as well as management responsibilities for family businesses.
**What you’ll learn:
-** The difference between ownership transition vs. management succession
- The one question to start the conversation
- Key points to consider for business ownership transition
- Key points to consider for the transition of management responsibilities
Contact Jay:
www.Bridgeforthllp.com
jay@bridgeforthllp.com
785-275-2772
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.
To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Tara Vander Dussen is one of dairy’s strongest voices for environmental sustainability, but in today’s episode, we go bigger and broader to talk about the financial and social side, as well as it means to her as an entrepreneur, mother to two young girls and partner with her husband Daniel in his family’s dairy farm.
What you’ll learn:- Why we should be watching what’s happening to dairy farmers in The Netherlands
- Tara’s definition of sustainability
- The one key message every dairy farmer should memorize on dairy sustainability
- How Tara and Daniel are building a sustainable dairy farming business structure
- Tara’s new role on the dairy checkoff board
- Real talk about the human side of sustainability as a wife, mom and business owner
Hear more from Tara on the Discover Ag Podcast and follow @taravanderdussen and @discoverag_
Are you a manager who is stressed out by employee turnover and disengagement, but don’t have time to step out of the day-to-day to go to conferences? We are developing the Uplevel Dairy Employee Management Master Class for you. Head to UplevelDairy.com and join our Uplevel Dairy Community email list.
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.
To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
In this first episode of the High-Performance Mindset Series, powered by Nedap, we visit with U.S. Olympic runner Elle Purrier-St. Pierre and her husband Jamie St. Pierre. Here how this young, high-performing couple is working together to live out their dairy farming dreams with a winning mindset for managing cows, 90 employees and maple sugaring on Vermont’s largest dairy, Pleasant Valley Farms.
What you’ll learn:- Elle’s dairy farm roots
- Pleasant Valley Farms and the St. Pierre Family: cows, maple syrup sugaring and methane
- Managing 90 employees across multiple generations
- Recruiting and retaining employees in a tight labor market
- How Elle applies the same principles of being a competitive athlete to taking care of cows
- Best business decision they’ve made in the past 12 months
- Carbon credits and coop limits
BONUS CONTENT!
Nedap Power Play: Going shoulder deep in repro protocols to get the most out of activity monitors featuring Tara Bohnert, Nedap Business Development Manager.
The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2023.
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.
To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
How is robotic milking technology serving as a true business accelerator for Rolinda Dairy in Waterville, Iowa? Find out how this 900-cow dairy is capturing productivity, efficiency and profitability with automated milking as part of their business model. Hear from dairy owner Pat Reisinger and dairy manager Sam Schwartz and their DeLaval advisor, John Gerbitz.
What you’ll learn:- Efficiency: Doubling pounds of milk per employee
- Getting two-year-olds up to speed faster
- Productivity: Sam’s “wins” as a herd manager
- Profitability: How Pat is measuring his ROI
- How technology is Rolinda Dairy’s competitive edge
The episode is sponsored by DeLaval.
DeLaval provides integrated solutions designed to improve dairy producers’ production, animal welfare and overall quality of life.
Follow DeLaval on social media:
FB - @DeLavalUS
Twitter - @DeLavalUS
Instagram - @delaval_na
YouTube - DeLavalfilms
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.
To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Do you want to move forward into the new year with a clear and compelling vision for your family, your farm, and your business? Get some “free” executive coaching services from Jay Joy with Bridgeforth LLP as he walks us through the eight essential questions for developing and communicating a strong vision for 2023.
**What you’ll learn:
-** Why developing a vision is hard for farmers
- Establishing core values and core focus
- Setting a 10-year target and marketing strategy
- The 1-year and 3-year picture
- The “big rocks”
- Identifying issues
- Jay answers the Uplevel 5
Book recommendation: Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
Contact Jay:
www.Bridgeforthllp.com
jay@bridgeforthllp.com
785-275-2772
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.
To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
If you listened to Episode 1 of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, you may recall our guest, Jared Dueppengiesser, the impressive young manager at Milk Source’s Rosendale Dairy who talked about lowering employee turnover. One of the tools he credited with this was a book called Give Your Employees C.R.A.P.: The Success Formula for Building Employee Loyalty, by author and employee retention expert Jeff Kortes.
On this episode, Jeff joins us to talk about the success formula for building employee loyalty. And you are in for a treat because Jared is jumping on with us again, along with his colleague Jessi Schoofs, manager of Milk Source’s La Clare Family Creamery’s retail store, who is also applying Jeff’s concepts to her team.
**What you’ll learn:
-** What is C.R.A.P. and why does it work?
- How Jared uses these principles at Rosendale Dairy
- The C.R.A.P. coin and how Jessi uses it to empower her team
- C.R.A.P. in action
Jeff Kortes is an employee retention and recruitment expert and author of Give Your Employees C.R.A.P. and 7 Other Secrets of Employee Retention.
Contact Jeff Kortes:
https://jeffkortes.com/
414-421-9626
jeff@jeffkortes.com
Are you a manager who is stressed out by employee turnover and disengagement, but don’t have time to step out of the day-to-day to take classes and courses? We are developing the Uplevel Dairy Employee Management Master Class for you. Head to UplevelDairy.com to join the waitlist.
Head to UplevelDairy.com to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.
To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!
Connect with Peggy: peggy@upleveldairy.com
Follow Uplevel Dairy on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
What if you could sum up your goals and dreams of who you want to be and what you want to accomplish in 2023 in just one word? Hear from a mix of dairy owners, managers and allied industry as host Peggy Coffeen sits down with six inspiring friends to share their “one word” for the coming year and be inspired to choose your own word to uplevel yourself.
**What you’ll learn:
-** Each guest’s “one word
- What they envision that word looking like one year from now
- The game plans for making it happen
- How to choose your own “one word”
**Recommended books:
-** My One Word by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen
- Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
- The Power of a Positive No by William Ury
- Unleashed: A Been-There, Rocked-That Guide to Radical Authenticity in Life and Business by Amber Swenor
- The Power of One More: The Ultimate Guide to Happiness and Success by Ed Mylett
- The Circadian Code: Lose Weight, Supercharge Your Energy, and Transform Your Health from Morning to Midnight by Satchin Panda PhD
- High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way by Brendon Burchard
A faith-filled message from Uplevel Dairy Podcast host and founder Peggy Coffeen on three very special gifts you get to unwrap during this Christmas season.
Discover your own unique spiritual gifts and how to use them here: https://therealyou.org/
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – the Christmas season. But, if the thought of family gatherings over the holidays makes you a little less than cheerful, you are not alone. In fact, it’s actually a season of high anxiety for many families, especially those that work together and do businesses together.
If that’s you, you are in the right place. By the end of this episode, you will have some take-home tips to survive the holidays as a business family.
What you’ll learn:- Why holidays can be stressful for dairy farm families
- How to put business aside
- Setting boundaries and expectations
- The spirit of gratitude versus the spirit of argument
BONUS:Jay’s Book Club: Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
Jay is the owner of Milk Money LLC and partner in Bridgeforth LLP. He is a fractional CFO, family business advisor and executive coach to several dairies and other agriculture enterprises, always with the goal to help family-owned enterprises move forward and stay family.
Contact Jay:
www.Bridgeforthllp.com
jay@bridgeforthllp.com
785-275-2772
Daniel “Omar” Guerrero knows his next top manager may be milking cows in the parlor right now. After all, that’s where he got his start. Now, 25 years later, Omar is an owner in Drake Dairy in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Find out how the 3,000-cow dairy is hitting its best numbers yet and why his phone rarely rings with employee troubles.
What you’ll learn:
- Why Omar’s phone doesn’t ring at shift change
- The top skills he looks for in high-potential employees
- Empowering people by trusting and listening
- From milking parlor to business partner: A real-life American dream
- How Omar is helping other dairies with employee struggles by matching them with animal science students from Mexico
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.To learn more about Omar’s dairy employee placement program, he can be reached here: omar1277@msn.com; (920) 207-1301
Dairy manager Scott Blevins shares the habits, routines and principles that build his resilience and endurance to stay on top of his game while managing 6,500 cows, 6,600 youngstock and a team of people at Wiese Bros. Farms in Greenleaf, Wisconsin.
What you’ll learn:
- Staying physically, mentally and spiritually strong
- Finding balance in a non-stop business
- What Scott wishes he would have known 17 years ago when he started a career as a dairy manager
- Scott’s core principles that create the culture at Wiese Bros. Farms
This episode is sponsored by Armor Animal Health, your trusted vet, sales and laboratory partner, supplying you with core livestock products and solutions that will help you reach your farm goals.Receive $25 off a $150 order through Armor’s online store, armoranimalhealth.com. Use code “Armor Support.”
Coupon valid through Dec. 16th, 2022. One time use per customer.
Feed. Fuel. Fertilizer. You name it, the cost of the major inputs that keep your dairy operation running have doubled – including the cost of money itself. Jay Joy shares what the most forward-thinking dairy operations are doing right now to take control of their finances and their future heading into 2023.
What you’ll learn:
-
What do you see going on right now in the dairy sector with interest rates and inflation
-
Why has the cost of money doubled?
-
What are the most profitable dairies doing right now to minimize their risk and position themselves for profitability?
-
What are the action steps to recession-proofing your dairy farming business?
BONUS:
Jay’s Book Club: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni
Contact Jay:
jay@bridgeforthllp.com
What if there was something simple you could do today that would build loyalty, get your employees to care about their work and make them want to stay actively engaged on your team for the long haul?
There is. And it comes down to two simple words. The “Dairy Coach,” Tom Wall is here to share with us today the two simple words that have the power to transform your dairy’s team and a plan to take action TODAY.
What you’ll learn:
-
What’s the cost of employee disengagement?
-
What dairies with the best employee retention do differently
-
Quiet quitting
-
The two words that will transform your team
-
How to take action today
Jared Dueppengiesser has worked his way up through the Milk Source organization, from a herdsman to now manager of Rosendale Dairy. He leads a team of 52 employees on one of Wisconsin’s largest dairies. In this podcast, Jared shares how he took on the challenge of upleveling the culture of this dairy to be a place where people want to work and want to stay … with nearly zero employee turnover for the past half year. And he’s done all this at just 26 years old. What you’ll learn:
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Jared’s vision for the culture he wanted to create at Rosendale Dairy
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What he does every day to create that culture
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Who is the most important employee?
-
The tools that empowered him to take action
-
The results of culture on employee turnover
-
Jared’s best advice to others managing both cows and people
Meet the guest: Jared Dueppengiesser has worked his way up through the Milk Source organization, from an intern to a herdsman to now herd manager of one of Wisconsin’s largest dairies. He leads a team of 52 employees at Milk Source’s Rosendale Dairy.
A New York native, Jared grew up on his family’s 900-cow dairy before heading off to Cornell University. A natural leader and “people person,” he is proving his management skills at the young age of 26 years old. While people and building a culture for his team to thrive are his passion, Jared has never strayed from his love for being hands-on with cows. In fact, he and his family, along with partners Milk Source Genetics and Fischer, exhibited the Grand Champion Red & White cow at the 2022 World Dairy Expo, MS Ransom Rail Beth.
Jared recently married his lovely wife, Kristen, and they reside near Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Jared’s recommended books & podcasts on leadership:
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The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni
-
Give Your Employees C.R.A.P. by Jeff Kortes
-
The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components and maintain the health of their high-performing herds.
What does it take to be a successful, profitable and competitive dairy farm business? This is the podcast for dairy owners, managers and advisors who are after their next level of success. Join Uplevel Dairy host Peggy Coffeen each week as she sits down with the industry’s leading dairy producers and thought leaders for real conversations about management, culture, leadership, family business, finance and human resources.
Visit us at http://upleveldairy.com