Progressive Dairy Podcast

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast , host Jenn Coyne visits with Matthew Byl of Dutch Cowboy Dairy in Utah. Byl is a second-generation dairy farmer whose father and uncle immigrated to the U.S. from Holland in the 1980s. Since then, the family has captured the American dream, founding Dutch Cowboy Dairy first in Texas with 40 cows milked in a double-six parlor and later resettling in...

Listen in with our dairy farmer hosts, New York’s Audrey Donahoe and Georgia’s Jennifer Glover, as they talk with registered dietitians Katie Brown, Senior Vice President at National Dairy Council , and Abigail Copenhaver of Farmstead Nutrition & Consulting about what the dietary guidelines are, how they evolve, who follows them and how that affects dairy. To learn more about the national dair...

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast , guest host and Progressive Dairy editorial intern Michelle Stangler visits with two young adults who work on dairy farms – Max Shenkenberg and Aubrey Schlimgen – about how Schlimgen's experiences of growing up on a dairy farm and Shenkenberg's experience not being involved in the dairy industry until college have both led them to where they are to...

the future of the lactating herd, but they determine your long-term profitability. That’s why providing them with adequate and consistent vitamin and trace mineral nutrition is important to help support optimal growth, health, immunity, reproduction and hoof integrity. Melissa Holtz, technical calf nutrition and business manager for Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Solutions & Purina Animal Nutrition,...

Did you know? … there are more than 30 different stressors that can affect the health and performance of dairy cows. Knowing how these stressors work and how they affect your cows can help you reduce their negative impacts on your herd. Jefo Nutrition has developed an initiative to help producers better understand and manage everyday stressors. Know stress, no stress at JefoDairyStressors.com . Th...

In this episode, meet Tennessee dairy producer and dairy advocate Stephanie Nash. The Nash family moved their dairy from California to Tennessee in the last 10 years and in the last few years added a creamery and agritourism. Listen in to learn what they did differently when building the new dairy in Tennessee, how they revamped their calf program, their experiences with on-farm processing and wel...

Beef on dairy has been in the news over the past few years as dairy farmers search for ways to add value to their businesses. In today’s episode Brady Hicks with Simplot Animal Sciences, along with Nampa, Idaho, dairy farmer Joe Stewart to talk about using full beef embryos to take advantage of this trend and create new revenue opportunities for dairy farmers. Learn more at herdflex.com . Here is...

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast , host Kimmi Devaney visits with Kansas dairy producer Lee Holtmeier from Linn Willow Creek Dairy about their employee culture, what they do to mentor and empower employees, and how they keep employee turnover low. Here is the breakdown of the episode: How Holtmeier got into the dairy business midway through his career [~1:00] Linn Willow Creek Dair...

Learn from Steve Maddox, owner of Maddox Dairy, and Dr. Greg Goodell, owner of The Dairy Authority, as they discuss the workflow and efficiency benefits of sample based pregnancy testing with IDEXX’s Charles Perotti. Speaking from the producer’s perspective and from veterinarians’ this episode demonstrates how IDEXX Alertys™ sample based testing can increase access and reduce lock up times, with l...

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...

Heifers are one of the most valuable assets for a dairy operation. They are the future of the milking herd and ultimately determine the profitability and longevity of your business. Research has shown that early calf care and nutrition are the foundation for and can significantly impact the future growth, potential milk production, reproduction and overall health of your replacement dairy heifers....

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. Si...

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.centerfordairye...

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 Ce...

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...

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 th...

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] Wha...

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 Ce...

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 indus...

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 t...

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 p...

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...

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 y...

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...

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...