Progressive Dairy Podcast

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Jenn Coyne visits with Josh Mendenhall, founder and chief brand officer of Spylt. The product is a dairy-based chocolate energy drink that is shelf stable, high in protein, low in sugar and lactose-free. Mendenhall worked with several dairy partners, including Dairy Farmers of America, to create this product and was recognized as the 2022 New York MilkLaunch Champion, which is an accelerator for driving dairy-based product consumption to Gen Z. Here is a breakdown of the episode: Talk about Spylt and how the idea of such a product came to be. [~1:28]Why is this concept of a dairy caffeinated drink important to you? [~3:36]How did your upbringing and connection to the dairy industry guide you in developing this product? [~5:01]Tell us about how the Dairy Farmers of America accelerator program, the New York MilkLaunch Campaign and your own ambassador program have been pivotal in launching Spylt. [~7:29]What is most exciting about each of these programs in how they’ve helped you achieve your goals? [~14:27]How do you plan to use the funds received from the MilkLaunch Campaign? [~16:03]Why did you choose the target audience as Gen Z? [~18:17]What’s next for you and your brand? [~19:52]Rapid-fire questions [~22:06] Contact Josh Mendenhall: josh@SPYLT.com www.SPYLT.com

Dr. Rebecca Klopp from Purina Animal Nutrition discusses the importance of early calf care and nutrition for future milk production. Topics include colostrum, investigating calf health issues, benefits of high plane nutrition for lactating cows, and mammary development leading to increased milk production. Technologies like probiotics and prebiotics are highlighted for healthy heifer development.

Hear from Chris Wacek-Driver, independent consultant for Forage Innovations, LLC, about the importance of using an oxygen barrier film to reduce silage losses and maintain high-quality silage. This episode also covers common mistakes related to silage chopping, packing and covering—as well as strategies producers can implement to avoid these pitfalls. This episode is sponsored by Silostop Agri. Silostop Agri is now the global leader in all things silage, from silage clamps to HOB silage films and covers, employing an expert team worldwide to help you reduce the amount of plastic used, while producing high quality silage. Through easy-to-use, innovative, and sustainably conscious products and solutions, Silostop Agri helps make the best silage possible, generating a higher return on investment and reducing the impact on the environment.

In this episode, host Kimmi Devaney visits with Charlie Gardner and Emily Barge from the Center for Dairy Excellence in Pennsylvania about their new resources for new and beginning farmers. These resources can also be helpful for the next generation returning to the farm and producers that have been in the dairy business for several decades.  The guide can be accessed online at www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/getting-started or by calling the Center for Dairy Excellence at (717) 346-0849.  Here's a breakdown of the episode: What type of information is included in the guide? [~3:45]Is this also relevant to the next generation coming back to the farm or is it mostly targeted at people with no dairy farming background? [~4:53]How could this guide be useful to producers who have been dairy farming for years already? [~6:05]Who should be part of the advisory team? [~8:05]What feedback have you heard so far? [~13:10]Since the center is in Pennsylvania, will many of the resources be applicable to dairy producers in other states? [~14:40]How can new dairy producers in other states find similar resources if the ones provided don’t apply to their region? [~16:20]What are some tips for new producers to build relationships with current producers and others in the allied industry that can help them? [~17:40]How do you recommend future and new producers work through this material? Is there a particular order that works best? [~21:40]What are the most important things you’d like new producers to take away from reading this guide? [~22:45]What else would you like producers to know about this guide that we haven’t already covered? [~25:25]Rapid-fire questions [~27:50]

Experts discuss the importance of fly control in dairy operations, threats of flies and diseases they spread, implementing integrated pest management programs, and the benefits of ClariFly® Larvicide in enhancing animal welfare and productivity.

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Jenn Coyne visits with Alice Crothers of Long Green Farms in Maryland. Crothers is a member of the Holstein Foundation’s Young Dairy Leaders Institute Class 12 where she spent the last two years welcoming opportunities that allowed for personal and professional growth. That progress pushed Crothers to be a greater leader in her community and be a true advocate for her family’s farm and the larger dairy indusry. Along with her YDLI involvement, Crothers and her husband, Caleb, were recognized as Maryland’s Leopold Conservation Award recipients for their dedication to sustainability of farming in their community.  Here is a breakdown of the episode: What first intrigued you about the Holstein Foundation’s YDLI program? [~1:20]What did you hope to achieve at the end of this two-year program? [~1:50]How have you seen yourself grown personally and professionally with this program? [~2:17]Tell us about your farm, and how you became involved in the industry. [~3:09]What do you hope to achieve as stewards of the land and being committed to serving your community? [~6:24] In what ways are you and your family dairy farming with sustainability in mind? [~8:39]How does being recognized as Maryland’s Leopold Conservation Award recipient reflect your efforts for your farm and greater community? [~10:38]In what ways are you and your family able to share your story of conservation? [~11:16]What’s next for the Crothers family? [~13:35]Rapid fire questions. [~14:57] Contact Alice Crothers: https://www.longgreenfarms.com/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100022668793550

As temperatures begin to rise, dairy producers know their cows are susceptible to heat stress. Even in relatively cool regions, heat stress can negatively affect cow comfort, health and performance. Stu Rymph, technical support dairy nutritionist for Purina Animal Nutrition, says understanding the visual signs of heat stress is the first step to developing strategies to help your cows cope with the heat.  Q: What is heat stress and what are the visual signs? Q: What are the effects of unmanaged heat stress? Q: What abatement strategies do you recommend for heat stress management?   Q: What nutritional strategies do you recommend to aid in heat stress abatement? Q: Why is heat stress abatement important?  To learn more about managing heat stress, talk with your Purina representative or visit purinamills.com. Stuart Rymph, Ph.D., CCA, PAS Technical Support Dairy Nutritionist Purina Animal Nutrition SJRymph@landolakes.com This episode is sponsored by Purina Animal Nutrition. Purina Animal Nutrition LLC is a national organization serving producers, animal owners and their families through more than 4,700 local cooperatives, independent dealers and other large retailers throughout the United States. Driven to unlock the greatest potential in every animal, the company is an industry-leading innovator offering a valued portfolio of complete feeds, supplements, premixes, ingredients and specialty technologies for the livestock and lifestyle animal markets.

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Kimmi Devaney visits with Sara Talcott and Felice Thorpe about how to build a standout brand, when to stay local versus grow regionally or nationally, how to differentiate your brand story and much more as it relates to branding, sales and marketing. Here’s a breakdown of the episode: How does a brand become valuable to consumers? [~3:30]What are some examples of farms and agricultural brands that have done a great job marketing to consumers? [~4:50]What does it take to launch a standout brand? [~7:45]What role does conveying a compelling story have on brand loyalty and overall marketing? [~11:25]For farms considering diversification, what are some key skillsets that you’d recommend they either identify within their current team members or add to their team? [~17:35]How does social media and having an online presence impact marketing efforts? [~20:44]When is it advantageous to stay local and when should a brand consider branching out to reach a broader customer base? [~22:55]For existing brands, why is it important for them to nurture their current loyal customers base instead of only trying to attract new fans? [~25:30]Where do you see the most potential for growth within agricultural niche markets? [~27:30]Is there anything that you’d recommend avoiding or lessons learned that you’ve observed from some of the farms you’ve worked with? [~33:00]What else can dairy farmers do to differentiate themselves and build a loyal customer base? [~37:40]What are the first steps a producer who is interested in diversifying should take to set themselves up for success? [~42:30]Rapid-fire questions [~43:30]

In this episode, the experts from Central Life Sciences discuss ClariFly® Larvicide and the importance of fly control on dairy operations including biosecurity and employee retention (1:03), the threats of flies and the diseases they spread (3:33), fly audits on a dairy operation (7:11) and the importance of implementing an integrated pest management program (8:46). This episode is sponsored by Central Life Sciences. ClariFly® Larvicide protects from disease-carrying flies that feed on dairy cattle, including house flies, stable flies, face flies and horn flies. Adding this feed-through as part of an IPM program can have a major impact on dairy cattle productivity. As a feed additive, ClariFly® Larvicide is incorporated into an animal’s feed to stop flies in their larval stage. Adding this ingredient to their feed ration is all the work an employee needs to do to reduce disease-carrying fly populations on an operation.

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Jenn Coyne visits with Brent and Nancy Wilson of Wilson Centennial Farms in Michigan. The couple and their sons, Tyler and Ben, work in partnership on the dairy and crop farm operation. Over the years, the Wilsons have been recognized for their dedication to milk quality and production, as well as regularly participating in cutting-edge industry research trials. Most recently, the family was honored as the 2023 Dairy Farm of the Year by Michigan State University’s Department of Animal Science. This episode explores the Wilsons’ legacy in the industry and their tactics as progressive dairy producers.  Here is the breakdown of the episode: How do you think the recognition as Michigan State University’s 2023 Dairy Farm of the Year epitomizes your dairy career and your family’s purpose as dairy farmers? [~1:13]How are the Wilsons all involved on the dairy? [~1:54]Wilson Centennial Farm is known for its superior milk quality and production. What credit can you give to your family and their expertise that helps you meet these benchmarks. [~8:04]What management tactic or approach has helped achieve the farm goals? [~9:56]Walk us through your dairy farming philosophy and how you guys have pivoted over the years to keep up with industry trends. [~13:33]Why such a strong relationship with MSU and your cooperative to participate in research trials and host student interns? What are the most recent projects you’re a part of? [~16:25]As a seventh-generation farm, how do you think your ancestors would react to progress you’ve made and the recognition you’ve received as a leading dairy farming business? [~20:55]What’s next for the Wilsons? [~22:07]How does the Wilson family make decisions for the future of the dairy? [~24:32]Rapid-fire questions [~26:12] Contact Brent and Nancy Wilson, Wilson Centennial Farms at ndairy@cmsinter.net