Uplevel Dairy Podcast

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, meet Michaela Bethard, the feed manager at High Plains Ponderosa Dairy in Kansas. Despite originally vowing never to work on a dairy, Michaela found her true passion in feed management. She shares her journey from interning in New Zealand to thriving in one of the most pivotal roles at a large-scale dairy operation. The conversation touches on her earl...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy provides a comprehensive update on the current state of dairy and cattle markets. Following his participation in the CME and American Dairy Products Institute's seminar, Curtis discusses key market dynamics, including the Whey Boom, challenges in cheese and butter markets, and the impact of the September milk prod...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Amanda Dolphin, a lifelong dairy farmer turned dairy tech expert, discusses the revolutionary impact of internal temperature monitoring on dairy cow health and operational efficiency. Amanda shares her experiences using smaXtec's bolus technology, which tracks cows' internal body temperature, water intake, drinking cycles, and activity levels.  By prov...

In this two-part episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, recorded live at World Dairy Expo, dairy producers and advisors discuss the transition and outcomes of robotic milking systems that operate without feed incentives.  Matt Strickland from Double Creek and Jay Heeg from Heeg Dairy share their experiences, supported by advisors Kelli Hutchings and Jodi Erickson. They delve into the transition pro...

In this special live-recorded episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast from the World Dairy Expo, sponsored by DeLaval, the discussion revolves around the revolutionary concept of using a VMS (Voluntary Milking System) without feed incentives. Dairy farmers Matt Strickland from Double Creek Dairy in California and Jay Heeg from Heeg Brothers Dairy in Wisconsin, along with their advisors Kelli Hutching...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, captured live at the World Dairy Expo, Manuel Soares, CEO of Milc Group, discusses how artificial intelligence and automation are transforming the dairy industry. Manuel shares insights into technologies that predict cow health, provide real-time employee guidance, and streamline operations like milking and feeding. The discussion highlights Milc Group...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen continues the conversation with Danielle Ware-Dreier from Shiloh Dairy in Brillion, Wisconsin. Danielle discusses her journey and philosophies on leading a high-performing team, managing 54 people, and ensuring top-tier milk quality from 2,900 cows. She shares insights into her leadership strategies, focusing on respect, protocol adherenc...

In the second episode of the smaXtec series at Hornstead Dairy, Amber Horn Lieterman, Louisa Koch from smaXtec, and Steve Woodford discuss the transformative impact of precision cow monitoring. They delve into how real-time data from innovative monitoring boluses, including pH bolus technology, is enhancing decision-making in rations, transition protocols, and team communication.  The episode high...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Dave McCarty discusses the evolution of McCarty Family Farms, from its humble beginnings with a tie-stall barn in Pennsylvania 25 years ago to becoming Dairy Producers of the Year at the World Dairy Expo.  The conversation covers the implementation of precision management and complex KPIs to improve cow performance and profitability, the impact of key...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Greg Kowalewski, manager of Aurora Oakwood Dairy in New York, to discuss how AI technology is transforming dairy management. They discuss the implementation of Nedap's SmartSight technology for early lameness detection, which allows the farm to identify and treat cow lameness before it becomes severe, thus improving ani...

This episode of the monthly market update from HighGround Dairy, with Curtis Bosma, delves into the recent announcement from the Trump administration regarding beef prices and its tumultuous impact on cattle markets. The discussion covers potential ramifications for cattle ranchers and dairy producers, especially considering the dairy industry's current reliance on beef revenue. Additionally,...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Jim Moriarty, Director of Dairy at Compeer Financial, to discuss the seven key areas dairy producers should address before expanding their operations.  Drawing on over 30 years of industry experience, Jim delves into critical topics such as family dynamics, financial planning, milk plant capacity, construction costs, and community...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Senior Vice President Tim Peart of MWI discusses his transition from Australian cattle ranches to leading one of the most innovative teams in animal health. Tim shares how his passion for technology and agriculture drives him to integrate advanced solutions like cattle sorting and dairy monitoring technologies to enhance efficiency and profitability. H...

In this episode of our special Showbox Stories series, sponsored by CowManager, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott delve into the life and career of Larry Schirm, an industry icon in the dairy world. The conversation touches on pivotal moments, influential mentors, and the evolution of genetic tools like genomics in the industry. Larry also emphasizes the importance of consistency in breeding and cow fa...

This episode of Showbox Stories, recorded at World Dairy Expo and presented by CowManager, features Denton Ross, Hadley Ross, and Justin Stewart from Arizona Dairy Company as they share their journey in dairy farming and show cattle, highlighting their focus on genetics, dairy management, and the importance of cultivating a culture of respect and excellence within their operations. The Ross family...

In this episode, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott sit down at the World Dairy Expo for their Showbox Stories Series. Featured guest Jeff Butler from Butlerview Farms discusses his journey in the dairy industry, from his early days in 4H to his successes with show cattle. He shares memorable experiences, mentors who shaped his career, and insights into modern dairy practices with tools like CowManager....

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Amber Horn-Leiterman of Hornstead Dairy Farm delves into how innovative data collection and technology have transformed their dairy farm's management. She recounts overcoming a challenging reproductive issue through meticulous data tracking and nutrition adjustments.  The episode also explores the integration of smaXtec’s monitoring system, which t...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Danielle Ware-Dreier, a longtime team member at Shiloh Dairy, to discuss her journey from managing the office to leading a team. Over the years, she transitioned from handling administrative tasks to becoming the parlor manager, significantly improving milk quality and expanding the team while growing the herd. Danielle emp...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Casey Treloar, an Australian dairy farmer's daughter turned news journalist. Casey shares her journey of combining her passion for dairy farming and journalism, leading to her coverage of dairy shows like World Dairy Expo.  They discuss Casey's impactful experiences, including her viral social media campaign for Austral...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Pauly Paul is back and sits down to discuss recent challenges and solutions in dairy farm management.  Focusing on employee training, Pauly addresses common inefficiencies in farm operations and provides strategies for improving labor productivity. Additionally, he highlights the critical issue of fluctuating milk prices and shares methods to manage ca...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy provides an updated market report for September, outlining significant movements impacting milk, feed, and beef sectors. He explains the recent decline in dairy futures, the record-breaking cheese production and exports, and the persistent high milk production rates. Curtis discusses the elevated beef prices as a cruc...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, High Plains Ponderosa Dairy COO, Will Basham, discusses the importance of cultivating a positive culture and adapting technology in the dairy industry to enhance efficiency and performance.  He emphasizes the significance of data-driven management in identifying issues before they become critical and highlights tools for improving operational efficienc...

In the final installment of the Country Aire Farms series, brothers Craig and Nick Gerrits reflect on stepping into leadership roles within their family’s dairy operation. They discuss the challenges of earning respect, building trust with employees, and maintaining a healthy leadership mindset, even during tough times.  The episode highlights the importance of confidence, open communication, and...

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are back with the third episode of the Country Aire Series, brought to you by DeLaval.  Today, Peggy Coffeen is back with the Gerrits to explore how technology is transforming modern dairy operations. Cousins Craig and Matt Gerrits share their experiences implementing advanced tools—from automated rotary parlors and precision cow sorting systems to...

In this next episode of the Uplevel Dairy Country Aire Series, the focus shifts to the next generation at Country Aire Farms, where four cousins—Matt, John, Nick, and Craig—each find their way back to the family dairy after exploring different career paths. Influenced by family values and the encouragement of their grandfather, the cousins embrace the challenges and opportunities of running a mode...