DairyVoice Podcast

The Maddox family of California is widely known in dairy. In DairyVoice episode 26, Steve Maddox talks with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News about their quality cattle, innovative management and diversified farming operations. He says the focus has remained on cow comfort through this difficult summer with a tough heat wave, smoke from the wildfires and COVID-19.

With terrific production, a nearly 45,000-lb. herd average, high type, and over half the herd are Excellent cows, award winning dairyman Tom Kestell of Waldo, Wisconsin talks with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News about making the most of his 100-cow operation. Even though his farm size might be called "traditional" he is anything but that when it comes to running his business. Here&ap...

In episode 24 of DairyVoice podcast, Joel Hastings interviews Amanda Freund of Freund’s Family Farm about the dairy operation and their unique approach to the business.  Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News describes Amanda Freund of the Freund’s Family Farm an activist, in the best sense of the word. Amanda is active on her family's dairy farm with feeding and helping with calf care. And, she...

An innovative dairy producer and committed industry leader, Marilyn Hershey from Ar-Joy Farms in Pennsylvania tells her story in this episode of DairyVoice. She talks with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News about installing a manure digester with some unique business partnerships, using unusual byproducts in the dairy feeding program and safeguarding the sensitive Chesapeake Bay watershed. Her co...

Fourth generation dairyman Michael Turley has launched a premium line of dairy products from his 120-cow Registered Holstein herd in southern Illinois. After a career culminating as CEO of one of the largest agriculture advertising agencies in the U.S., he came home to the farm with his family, using his marketing savvy to reach consumers in exciting new ways.  In this DairyVoice podcast, Michael...

The milk price roller coaster continues. In spite of high prices for Class III at the CME, producers will not see those results in their June and July milk checks. Dr. Mark Stephenson talks with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News and, in spite of the big negative PPDs, reminds us that they are a sign of higher pay prices to come. This noted dairy economist helps us understand what is happening -...

What are possibilities for the food industry and specifically in dairy as we move through the COVID-19 pandemic? In DairyVoice episode 20, the guest is Fred Schonenberg of VentureFuel, which helped California Milk do a "shark tank" style program. Schonenberg shares insights with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News on what might lie ahead.  He explains that what the pandemic has done is t...

The big market price drop followed by the sharp recovery, particularly of cheese and Class III prices, is the focus of DairyVoice podcast episode 19. Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News moderates as Nate Donnay, director of market insight, and James Carr, western regional dairy manager for INTL FCStone talk about the hows, the whys and what producers can do next. These two look ahead to what the r...

Lloyd Holterman is convinced that breeding the right kind of cow is the key to his dairy farm's profitability. With his wife Daphne, and their two partners, they milk 1000 cows near Watertown, Wisconsin. Holterman likes high performing, trouble-free, healthy cows and in this episode of DairyVoice podcast, he talks with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News about how and why he breeds his Holste...

Herd management when the goal is lower production! Dr. Mike Lormore, a longtime dairy vet, says first define the goal and then identify the strategies, ranging from reduced milking frequency to feeding more milk to calves. In Dr. Lormore’s discussion with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News, he explains that just culling more cows isn't usually the answer. Listen to his recommendations in epi...

Finding new ways to manage dairy herds using data analytics. That's the work of Miel Hostens, veterinarian and professor at the University of Utrecht in Holland. In episode 16 of DairyVoice, he speaks with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News, looking at what might be coming down the road that challenges conventional wisdom. 

In episode 15 of DairyVoice podcast, Joel Hastings, Editor & Publisher of DairyBusiness News talks about important items for dairy farm managers to consider in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.  Dr. Richard Stup, PhD, who heads the Agricultural Workforce Development program at Cornell University, is widely known for his personnel management expertise. In this episode, he tells us about a...

Coronavirus is upsetting dairy markets as it spreads around the world. In episode 14 of DairyVoice podcast, Dave Kurzawski, Team Leader of the Dairy Risk Management Group at INTL FC Stone, provides his insights about what is known so far. Kurzawski describes the current coronavirus situation as a black cloud of dread hanging over the market and he, along with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News di...

DairyVoice episode 13 features Michael Boccadoro, explaining the Dairy Sustainability Summit and their goals. Dairy is under the gun and in California the industry is doing something about it. The second California Dairy Sustainability Summit is set for Mar. 25 - 26, 2020 in Sacramento, California. It attracts a national audience from across the industry - producers, processors, government officia...

Ben Laine, Dairy Economist for Rabobank, says that 2020 is shaping-up to be a good year. In this DairyVoice podcast , Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News interviewed Ben live at World Ag Expo. Laine sees strong cheese prices, higher milk prices, a stronger non-fat dry milk and skim milk powder market with inventories being tight. He explained to Joel there is a lot of strength there. Their convers...

DairyVoice podcast Episode 11 features Dr. Mark Stephenson. This noted dairy economist is predicting $20 milk in 2020. However, he adds a word of caution to his projections. In his DairyVoice interview with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News, he outlines the factors at play in dairy for 2020. Dr. Stephenson thinks it will be a year of recovery for producers. Mark Stephenson is the Director of Dai...

The digital age with big data and artificial intelligence has arrived in agriculture. Irish executive Aidan Connolly, CEO of Cainthus, describes the impact on dairy farm management in episode 10 of DairyVoice. In his discussion with Joel Hastings, Editor & Publisher of DairyBusiness News, he predicts the biggest advantages will go to the early adopters. Connolly’s firm, Cainthus, featuring com...

Dairying in Florida for 40 years, Don Bennink of North Florida Holsteins has learned a few things about cow care, working with employees and making a lot of milk. With 6500 cows on 3X milking, he has a staff of 150 workers caring for 12,000 head of all ages. Bennink is also known for his considered opinions about AI and cattle breeding, dairy cooperatives and what it takes to succeed in business,...

Learn how this sales executive takes the people skills he learned in business and applied them to his dairy operation. Scott Ruby is the vice-president of sales and marketing at World Wide Sires, the international arm of Select Sires, managing a sales team selling globally.  He's also the partner and manager in his family's two dairy farms in Oregon with 18 employees. In this episode of...

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develops the ability to survive exposure to antibiotics, making it difficult or impossible to treat infections in people or animals. It is a growing concern today, with many fearing a "post–antibiotic era" where common infections become life threatening. Livestock producers are under pressure to use antibiotics carefully and that’s the topic for...

As head of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, former USDA secretary Tom Vilsack leads the effort to increase the volume and value of American dairy products sold offshore. In spite of the headwinds for international trade, he has seen sales grow and is optimistic for continued success. In episode 6 of DairyVoice podcast, here's why Vilsack thinks his "Next Five Percent" plan is on the r...

Pete Kappelman, a fourth generation Wisconsin dairyman, has moved from farmer board chairman at Land O' Lakes, one of the largest U.S. dairy cooperatives, to an executive post as Senior Vice President of Member and Government Relations. In this edition of DairyVoice, he talks about not only that personal transition, but also more importantly dairy's need for change from farmer to consume...

As the head of the national dairy check-off, Gallagher explains to Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness that the industry has not done a good job of sharing a vision for smaller farms... and it needs to. Tom Gallagher, the CEO of Dairy Management, Inc. says the diversity in size and geography in the U.S. dairy industry is one of its great strengths. In this edition of DairyVoice, Gallagher talks about p...

As if dairy producers don't have enough to deal with, there is a new contaminant that has appeared on several dairy farms across the country. It's called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). PFAS have been manufactured and used worldwide since the 1940s. There is emerging evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects and it's receiving attention from...

This informative podcast features Dr. Michael Hutjens, Emeritus Professor at the University of Illinois. Dr. Hutjens, who was raised on a Holstein farm near Green Bay, Wisconsin, is internationally known for his expertise with dairy feeding programs. Dr. Hutjens talks about the unusual weather conditions in the 2019 Midwest growing season, with implications for dairy farm feed quality, feeding and...