Progressive Dairy Podcast

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Kimmi Devaney talks with California dairy farmer Richie Mayo, who is the chief financial officer (CFO) for DeJager Farms in California, about how technology has contributed to their overall sustainability efforts on the farm. Here is a breakdown of the episode: Mayo’s agricultural background and his role on DeJager Farms [~0:27]Examples of technologies that Mayo and his team have implemented to improve overall sustainability [~2:55]Why they chose subsurface drip irrigation [~5:15]Benefits of subsurface drip irrigation [~10:00]How system management has evolved since installation [~13:00]Available resources and assistance for dairy producers interested in installing similar systems [~18:05]How data collected from the technology is used in their management decisions [~21:20]Why sustainability matters to Mayo as a CFO [~22:55]What Mayo wishes more dairy producers knew about sustainability [~26:00]Rapid-fire questions [~28:05]

Should you make that next level investment in technology? Listen to learn firsthand, how McCormick Dairy LLC went from “knowing we needed a change” to “the decision of the year” with GENEX HerdMonitor® cow monitoring system. Dan Utter, Reproductive Program Senior Technician from GENEX and Jen McCormick from McCormick Dairy LLC share their herd check success as the farm has gone from 50% palpated pregnancy rate to 90 to 95%. GENEX HerdMonitor® brings real-time solutions and next level technology to fruition with 24/7 cow monitoring, identification, rumination, heat detection, and cow positioning options. This episode is sponsored by Genex. GENEX is the global cooperative leader dedicated to providing innovative genetic and reproductive solutions to our progressive dairy and beef members and customers. With our Herd Genetic Line, Herd Care Line and Herd Tech Lines, we offer a comprehensive approach to providing the products, services and systems you need for your next generation.

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Jenn Coyne visits with Mike Haddad, the former chair of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, as well as dairy producer Suzanne Vold of Minnesota. Last year, Haddad spoke at the Dairy Sustainability Alliance fall meeting where he reminded the audience of the industry’s unity and alignment on sustainability goals for the future of the industry. This episode dives further into those efforts and leans on Vold. She and her family’s experiences in implementing sustainable practices on their farm showcase how efforts are being accomplished and the impact they have for the dairy community. Here is the episode breakdown: What are the industry’s goals for sustainability in the future? [~2:19]Why is this so important for farmer's social right to farm? [~6:08]Why is it important for the Volds to keep sustainability top of mind? [~8:26]What key ways has the industry been supported to reach these goals? [~11:37]How is the industry as a whole supporting farmers reaching these goals on their individual farms or regions across the U.S.? [~19:06]Vold: How has your family’s farm kept sustainability at the forefront of your operation? [~24:21]Which partnerships created through the USDA Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities stand out? [~29:14]Haddad: In your career, how did you see the industry progress in sustainability? [~35:32]What excites you about the industry’s current position and its path for the future? [~38:23]Rapid-fire questions [~39:56] Contact: Scott Wallin, Dairy Management Inc.  scott.wallin@dairy.org

In this episode, we will introduce you to, and celebrate, the 2023 Nexus Innovation Award winners. They were recently recognized at Professional Dairy Producers' (PDPW) business conference. One of the award winners requires zero wires to work, another can separate corn stover from corn silage after its been in the pile, yet another inhibits pathogen growth in recycled manure solids, one can tell you how much water and how often your cows drink, and the final one uses a smell-masking technology to bring a product back into service that was last offered in the 1980s and that increases energy-corrected milk production. If you were present at the conference, you would have seen Editor Walt Cooley holding up a pineapple during his awards introduction of these companies. Cooley believes a pineapple is a good analogy for these winners. “What they offer is different than what you’ve seen before. It’s non-traditional. It’s not an apple or an orange. At first glance, it may not look that appealing. That's just because you may not have tried it. It feels different,” Cooley said during the conference. “Because what these companies offer is different, it will take just a bit more effort than other fruits to crack into. But I promise you, there is something exotic, unique and sweet inside each of these companies, just like a pineapple.” Congratulations to the 2023 Nexus Innovation Award winners! Nedap for its SmartFlow Milk MeterGlori Enterprises for The FoddArm & Hammer Animal Nutrition for its Certillus product for dairy beddingSmaXtec for its TruDrinking featureZinpro for IsoFerm

Do you wonder about the impact of your dairy checkoff investment? Join farmer hosts in conversations about how local and national checkoff works together to build dairy sales and trust in today’s changing marketplace. Episode 9 - Dairy Innovation: Who is doing it and how does it work? Hear from California dairy farmer Tyler Riberio and New York dairy farmer Emma Andrew-Swarthout chat with Michelle McBride, founder and CEO of GoodSport Nutrition, and Bill Graves, SVP of Product Research at Dairy Management, Inc. about dairy product innovation. Listen to the Your Dairy Checkoff Podcast here.

In this episode, editors Kimmi Devaney and Dave Natzke discuss the trends and insights they learned from talking with more than 100 dairy producers and industry leaders across the U.S. while compiling the 2023 State of Dairy coverage, which appeared in the March 12, 2023, issue of Progressive Dairy. Here's a breakdown of the episode: What we mean when we say “State of Dairy coverage”? [~2:20]How this annual coverage originated [~3:10]This year’s trends compared to the last few years [~3:45]Areas of optimism for the dairy industry in 2023 [~5:00]Overview of some of the words dairy producers and industry leaders used to describe 2023 [~6:30]Summary of some of the concerns and challenges facing the dairy industry in 2023 according to those Dave and Kimmi talked with across the industry [~7:40]Processing capacity strengths and weaknesses across the nation [~9:15]How dairy producers are addressing current challenges [~9:50]Noteworthy insights regarding the Federal Milk Marketing Order reform or other policies and regulations [~10:55]Dave and Kimmi discuss what they think brings the most optimism for the dairy industry in 2023 [~13:25]Rapid-fire questions: Get to know Dave Natzke [~15:25]

Calves are the future of our herd. Health and performance play a significant role in calf growth and development. And, ultimately, how well they start paying us back when they enter the milking herd. But raising calves isn’t always easy and they require special care and attention to detail.  In this episode, Taylor Wolfe, territory sales representative with DBC Ag Products, shares how we can navigate the challenges of calf raising to grow healthy, productive calves. She’ll share her perspective on what she sees and hears as she visits calf raisers across the Northeast.  Here is the episode breakdown: 1:27 – Taylor introduction 2:20 – Role helping calf raisers3:19 – Favorite part of working with dairy farmers4:28 – One thing about calf health that gets overlooked5:10 – Biggest on-farm challenges6:58 – Focusing on management practices7:35 – Uncovering hidden costs9:10 – Calf health and future milk production10:20 – Veterinarian prescriptions10:55 – Advice for calf raisers11:20 – Where to learn more This episode is sponsored by DBC Ag Products. DBC Ag Products offers innovative, all-natural eubiotics based products that set your calves up for success. First Arrival® with Encrypt® and Last Stand® with ImmWave® help calves maintain normal digestive health and support a healthy, functioning immune system. You can find them at an animal health distributor, dealer or veterinarian near you. Learn more at dbcagproducts.com.

This episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast includes a recap of the recent ground-breaking work that Editor Walt Cooley has done. He has collaborated with the IFCN Dairy Network to create the first-ever dairy farm tech poster. That poster is a collection of worldwide companies who are developing or deploying technology on dairy farms throughout the globe. Download a PDF of the poster here. Walt’s guest is Torsten Hemme, founder and CEO of the IFCN Dairy Network. They talk about how the poster came to be, the amount of dairy farm technology investment flowing into the dairy industry and the innovations that dairy farmers will need to become more efficient, sustainable and ultimately profitable into the future. Here is a breakdown of the episode: What is the IFCN Dairy Network? [~1:45] What is most impressive to you about milk economics around the ward? [~3:45] What is the dairy farm tech poster? [~5:00] Are people really interested in dairy farm tech? [~8:30] Where are dairy farm tech companies located? [~10:30] How much money is being invested in dairy farm tech? [~12:45] The dairy industry is bigger than Apple and Google combined? [~14:00] How are dairy farm tech companies categorized? [~15:15] What will be the core topic for the coming decade in dairy tech? [~20:00] How are current events impacting dairy technology advancement? [~23:00] Where are milk prices going globally? [~24:15] Rapid-fire questions [~28:00] Follow IFCN online. Join the dairy tech LinkedIn group.

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Jenn Coyne visits with Justin Malone of Minnesota. Malone is an organic dairy producer who helped spearhead the acquisition of Hastings Creamery as a way to create a market for organic dairy products while sustaining family businesses for future generations. Not only has Malone played an integral role in developing this market, he and a small of group of dairy farmers also ventured into America’s Dairyland with the purchase of Comstock Creamery. The episode delves into these business decisions and what Malone has learned in creating a market for his organic milk.  Here is a breakdown of the episode: Tell me about your family’s farm and your history with organic dairy production. [~1:22]How was Smoky Hills Farmers Cooperative formed? [~4:21]When was the Hastings Creamery proposition pursued and why? [~5:22]Walk me through that purchase of the creamery and preparing the location with a new storefront and organic processing. [~10:56]What does the creamery look like today? [~13:43]What has been the feedback from the community? [~15:56]Since 2021 when the creamery was purchased, how has the business expanded? [~18:24]How do you do it all as a dairy farmer and general manager of the creamery? [~20:29]What has this business venture taught you or showed you as an organic dairy producer in today’s industry? [~22:27]What’s next for Justin Malone? [~28:05]Rapid-fire questions [~31:14]

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Kimmi Devaney is joined by Jenna Muller and Mary Campbell from the California Ag Mediation Program to discuss a resource that can help you resolve some of the tense situations and difficult conversations that inevitably come up while managing a business, especially one with your family. Mediation can assist with transitioning the farm from one generation to another, diffuse tense situations with neighbors and assist with multiple other situations. Visit calamp.org to learn more about mediation in California. Visit agriculturemediation.org for mediation in other states. Here’s a breakdown of the episode: How does mediation help farm families? [~1:00]The primary reasons a farmer would call a mediator [~2:40]Jenna and Mary walk us through the process when a farmer calls them for assistance [~3:40]How mediation can assist with transitioning the farm from one generation to another [~4:30]Facilitating debt issues [~8:55]Dealing with neighbor disputes [~10:20]Misconceptions they hear about facilitation and mediation [~13:30]Trainings offered and what they cover [~14:20]Additional tips for anyone looking to have more productive conversations and discussions [~15:55]How can farmers across the country who need some extra help navigating difficult conversations with family members, neighbors, or others find facilitators or mediators to help them? [~23:50]Rapid-fire questions [~27:40]