Uplevel Dairy Podcast

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 hel...

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 import...

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 g...

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...

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...

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 ex...

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 im...

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:  T...

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...

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,...

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...

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 “...

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 sel...

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 b...

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,...

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 incorpo...

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 pro...

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 a...

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...

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 freestal...

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 busi...

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 Maratho...

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 b...

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...

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...