Progressive Dairy Podcast

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Kimmi Devaney visits with Kennedy Youngren and Emily Schaapman about how to stay energized during busy seasons, what you can do to fuel your body properly, optimize the hours you do have for sleep, protect your mental health, manage stress and much more. Follow Youngren and Schaapman on social media: Emily Schaapman: @dairygirlfitness Kennedy Youngren: @the.legendairy.dietitian Here’s a breakdown of the episode: Meet Kennedy and Emily. [~0:55]Learn why they started sharing about nutrition, fitness and agriculture online. [~2:40]Emily and Kennedy describe how they approach busy seasons when it comes to nutrition and overall wellness [~5:05]How to prioritize nutrition and make it easier to eat healthy during busier times of year [~6:55]Grab-and-go healthy snack ideas [~10:35]Easy breakfast ideas that are quick and easy to make [~13:55]Tips to optimize sleep, fall asleep faster and sleep better [~20:25]How to add in more movement when there is not time for a full workout or a walk [~29:00]Stress management tips for busy seasons [~31:00]Kennedy and Emily discuss how farmers can protect their mental health when stress is high, they are trying to get crops in, still running their dairies and trying to fulfill their countless other responsibilities. [~35:40]Rapid-fire questions [~42:40]

Raising dairy-beef crossbred calves is a value-added production strategy that is here to stay, and dairy producers have a tremendous opportunity to influence the success of their crossbred program through early-life nutrition.  Researchers at the Purina Animal Nutrition Center have diligently worked to better understand the specific nutritional needs of crossbred calves. Their research has focused on preweaning nutritional needs, but the findings have shown that early-life nutrition has a significant impact on the long-term growth and performance of a calf. Dr. Olivia Genther-Schroeder, senior manager of dairy feed R&D for Purina Animal Nutrition, joins us today to share why early-life nutrition plays a critical role in the overall growth and performance of dairy-beef crossbred calves.  Q: Why is early-life nutrition and care so important for long-term success of dairy-beef crossbred calves? Q: What are the nutritional needs, in particular protein, of dairy-beef crossbred calves? Q: Why should dairy-beef crossbred calves be fed differently than purebred dairy calves intended for beef? Q: Beyond nutrition, are there other things a producer should consider when raising dairy-beef crossbred calves?  Q: What are the health and growth consequences of holding back in the pre-weaning phase?  To learn more about raising high-quality dairy-beef crossbred calves, talk with your Purina representative or visit purinamills.com. Olivia Genther-Schroeder, Ph.D. Sr. Manager, Dairy Feed R&D Purina Animal Nutrition  ongentherschroeder@landolakes.com This episode is sponsored by Purina Animal Nutrition. Purina Animal Nutrition LLC is a national organization serving producers, animal owners and their families through more than 4,700 local cooperatives, independent dealers and other large retailers throughout the United States. Driven to unlock the greatest potential in every animal, the company is an industry-leading innovator offering a valued portfolio of complete feeds, supplements, premixes, ingredients and specialty technologies for the livestock and lifestyle animal markets.

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Kimmi Devaney visits with five dairy producers representing a variety of herd sizes and geographic regions about what agritourism looks like on their farms, how they got started, their advice for other producers interested in doing something similar and much more. Whether you are interested in doing your first farm tour, hosting an open house, scheduling regular tours, opening up the farm for several weekends or anything in between, you’ll learn a lot of tips and insights from Will Gladstone from Newmont Farm in Vermont, Josh Snider from Snider Dairy Farm in North Carolina, Amy Kelsay from Kelsay Farms in Indiana, David Volleman from Volleman’s Dairy in Texas and Derrick Josi from Wilsonview Dairy in Oregon.  Here's a breakdown of the episode: About their farms and what agritourism looks like on their operations [~1:15]Their inspiration for welcoming the general public onto the farm [~5:45]All five producers describe their process for preparing the farm for visitors in the days and weeks prior to a farm tour/open house/agritourism season [~9:55]Lessons learned [~14:40]Greatest challenges related to their agritourism activities and how these producers overcame them [~19:00]How they market their events to their target audience [~23:15]Staffing needed for a variety of agritourism activities, including the recruitment and training process [~27:40]Helpful resources [~34:20]What to know about insurance and limited liability laws [~37:40]Advice for other dairy producers considering adding farm tours, a farm camp, an open house, a fall festival or other forms of agritourism [~41:00]Rapid-fire questions [~47:50]

Perspectives on new advances in Artificial Intelligence technology and generative AI such as ChatGPT. Exploring the potential applications and value of AI models in the dairy industry. Challenges in implementing generative AI in dairy tech. Concerns around data privacy and security. Staying on top of rapid developments in the AI space. The race to replace: will AI take over our jobs?

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 Utah. Today, the family and 30 employees milk 4,500 cows. In this episode, Byl shares more about his family’s start in the industry and how this dairyman is setting himself up for future success.  Here is the breakdown of this episode: Walk through what Dutch Cowboy Dairy looks like today and your role on the farm. [~1:44]How are other family members involved? [~2:19]Briefly touch on the history of the farm, and from your point of view, how did the decisions your dad and uncle made throughout their career set the dairy business up for future generations to be involved? [~3:26]Talk to us about specific instances or decisions made that you feel have since been the building blocks for what Dutch Cowboy Dairy is today. [~5:04]How has the farm evolved to keep up with the industry trends and demands? [~6:21]Tell us about a time when you had to think through a decision that benefited your farm. [~8:06]How has the way you managed the dairy progressed to continue being a distinguished farm among others in the industry? [~9:29]What were some of the features of the milking system you liked that would benefit your farm goals? [~10:34]Why is an act of opening up your farm for others to see important to the Byls? How has community connection shaped your farming philosophy? [~13:13]What’s next for Dutch Cowboy Dairy? [~14:43]Rapid-fire questions [~15:56] Contact Matthew Byl at matthewbyl@hotmail.com

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 dairy checkoff and your local dairy checkoffs, please visit usdairy.com/for-farmers. This episode is sponsored by Dairy Management Inc.

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 today. Listen in to hear what it’s like as a young adult being part of the dairy community, what ideas they contribute, and how they are advocating for dairy and young people alike. Here’s a breakdown of the episode: Overview of their involvement in the dairy industry [~0:40] Shenkenberg’s first experience in the dairy industry [~1:28] How the World Dairy Expo showed Shenkenberg what opportunities are available in the dairy industry [~2:08] Why he majored in dairy science [~2:22] What Shenkenberg has learned from college that has been helpful in his full-time role as a herd manager [~3:47] Valuable opportunities during college [~4:29] Schlimgen’s reasoning for taking a few years off from college after high school graduation [~5:34] Mindset when balancing leadership positions while being on the farm [~7:56] Managing logistics on the farm – both maintaining relationships and working with family [~9:37] What the full-time role looks like for Shenkenberg, in addition to challenges day to day [~10:53] Specific challenges as a young adult on the dairy farm for Shenkenberg [~13:34]Positions after college graduation [~14:56] Schlimgen’s typical week working on the dairy farm [~16:21] How she’s overcoming challenges [~18:41] Young perspectives brought to the dairy industry [~21:17] Schlimgen’s perspective [~23:02] Contributed ideas led to more technology on the farm [~25:30] Ways Shenkenberg is advocating for the dairy industry, specifically with social media [~28:23] Favorite TikTok video created [~30:37] Feedback from videos [~31:12] Ways Schlimgen advocates for the dairy industry on social media [~32:12] What it looks like serving in leadership positions for Schlimgen [~34:19] What fuels Schlimgen to stay involved in the dairy industry [~35:24] Shenkenberg’s viewpoint [~36:45] Advice Schlimgen has for getting started in the dairy industry [~38:38]  Advice after not growing up on a dairy farm from Shenkenberg [~40:14] Rapid-fire questions [~41:48]

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, joins us today to share when to start implementing vitamin and mineral nutrition into your heifer diets and why it is so important for your herd's overall growth, health and reproduction. Q: Vitamins and minerals play a crucial role in the overall growth and reproductive development of dairy heifers. When should a producer start incorporating a mineral supplement into their replacement heifer diets and why? Q: How does a mineral supplement in the postweaning phase set the calf up for success later in life? Q: We understand digital dermatitis in dairy heifers has been an ongoing issue for producers. How can producers utilize a DD mineral formula to help mitigate digital dermatitis issues in their heifers? Q: Why is it important to provide a mineral supplement before, during and after breeding? Q: How do heifer minerals promote a healthy pregnancy and newborn calf? Q: Where can producers go to learn more about Purina’s heifer mineral product options? To learn more about incorporating a mineral supplement into your heifer diets, talk with your Purina representative or visit purinamills.com. Melissa Holtz, MA Technical Calf Nutrition & Business Manager Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Solutions mlholtz@landolakes.com This episode is sponsored by Purina Animal Nutrition. Purina Animal Nutrition LLC is a national organization serving producers, animal owners and their families through more than 4,700 local cooperatives, independent dealers and other large retailers throughout the United States. Driven to unlock the greatest potential in every animal, the company is an industry-leading innovator offering a valued portfolio of complete feeds, supplements, premixes, ingredients and specialty technologies for the livestock and lifestyle animal markets.

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. This episode is sponsored by Jefo. Jefo is a global leader in high-performance, non-medicated nutritional solutions for animals. Founded in Canada in 1982, the company offers innovative, cost-effective, and efficient solutions in over 80 countries. With its commitment to Life, Made Easier, Jefo aims to improve animal health and increase human longevity by feeding growing populations with better sources of protein.

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 welcoming the general public to their farm and creamery, and what else Stephanie is doing to teach consumers about dairy.  Here's a breakdown of the episode: About Nash Family Farms in Tennessee [~1:10]When and why they left California [~2:30]Their priorities when building their new dairy facilities in Tennessee [~4:10]Stephanie’s role on the farm [~6:20]How they changed their calf program after moving to the Southeast [~8:30]Other farm management changes they made when moving to Tennessee [~10:25]The biggest challenge they faced when moving the dairy farm across the nation [~11:30]Why they opened Nash Family Creamery and started on-farm processing [~14:15]Their transition into on-farm processing [~16:00]Products offered at Nash Family Creamery [~16:50]Feedback from visitors to the farm and creamery [~17:35]How they celebrated National Dairy Month and National Ice Cream Month [~19:45]Agritourism on the farm [~20:25]Farm camp [~21:55]Highlights from the 2023 farm camp season [~23:00]Farm camp marketing [~24:20]Other farm tours [~25:10]Stephanie’s advice for other producers interested in adding agritourism [~25:35]The perspective Stephanie and her brother, Cody, bring to the operation as millennials [~27:20]Stephanie’s future goals and plans [~29:30]About Stephanie’s advocacy on national media outlets [~31:00]Other advocacy activities [~32:30]Rapid-fire questions [~34:50]