Progressive Dairy Podcast

This episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast includes a recap of the recent ground-breaking work that Editor Walt Cooley has done. He has collaborated with the IFCN Dairy Network to create the first-ever dairy farm tech poster. That poster is a collection of worldwide companies who are developing or deploying technology on dairy farms throughout the globe. Download a PDF of the poster here. Walt’s guest is Torsten Hemme, founder and CEO of the IFCN Dairy Network. They talk about how the poster came to be, the amount of dairy farm technology investment flowing into the dairy industry and the innovations that dairy farmers will need to become more efficient, sustainable and ultimately profitable into the future. Here is a breakdown of the episode: What is the IFCN Dairy Network? [~1:45] What is most impressive to you about milk economics around the ward? [~3:45] What is the dairy farm tech poster? [~5:00] Are people really interested in dairy farm tech? [~8:30] Where are dairy farm tech companies located? [~10:30] How much money is being invested in dairy farm tech? [~12:45] The dairy industry is bigger than Apple and Google combined? [~14:00] How are dairy farm tech companies categorized? [~15:15] What will be the core topic for the coming decade in dairy tech? [~20:00] How are current events impacting dairy technology advancement? [~23:00] Where are milk prices going globally? [~24:15] Rapid-fire questions [~28:00] Follow IFCN online. Join the dairy tech LinkedIn group.

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Jenn Coyne visits with Justin Malone of Minnesota. Malone is an organic dairy producer who helped spearhead the acquisition of Hastings Creamery as a way to create a market for organic dairy products while sustaining family businesses for future generations. Not only has Malone played an integral role in developing this market, he and a small of group of dairy farmers also ventured into America’s Dairyland with the purchase of Comstock Creamery. The episode delves into these business decisions and what Malone has learned in creating a market for his organic milk.  Here is a breakdown of the episode: Tell me about your family’s farm and your history with organic dairy production. [~1:22]How was Smoky Hills Farmers Cooperative formed? [~4:21]When was the Hastings Creamery proposition pursued and why? [~5:22]Walk me through that purchase of the creamery and preparing the location with a new storefront and organic processing. [~10:56]What does the creamery look like today? [~13:43]What has been the feedback from the community? [~15:56]Since 2021 when the creamery was purchased, how has the business expanded? [~18:24]How do you do it all as a dairy farmer and general manager of the creamery? [~20:29]What has this business venture taught you or showed you as an organic dairy producer in today’s industry? [~22:27]What’s next for Justin Malone? [~28:05]Rapid-fire questions [~31:14]

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Kimmi Devaney is joined by Jenna Muller and Mary Campbell from the California Ag Mediation Program to discuss a resource that can help you resolve some of the tense situations and difficult conversations that inevitably come up while managing a business, especially one with your family. Mediation can assist with transitioning the farm from one generation to another, diffuse tense situations with neighbors and assist with multiple other situations. Visit calamp.org to learn more about mediation in California. Visit agriculturemediation.org for mediation in other states. Here’s a breakdown of the episode: How does mediation help farm families? [~1:00]The primary reasons a farmer would call a mediator [~2:40]Jenna and Mary walk us through the process when a farmer calls them for assistance [~3:40]How mediation can assist with transitioning the farm from one generation to another [~4:30]Facilitating debt issues [~8:55]Dealing with neighbor disputes [~10:20]Misconceptions they hear about facilitation and mediation [~13:30]Trainings offered and what they cover [~14:20]Additional tips for anyone looking to have more productive conversations and discussions [~15:55]How can farmers across the country who need some extra help navigating difficult conversations with family members, neighbors, or others find facilitators or mediators to help them? [~23:50]Rapid-fire questions [~27:40]

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Jenn Coyne visits with Evan Barton of South Fork Dairy Farm in Newark, Ohio. Barton is a first-generation dairy farmer who signed a deal with Clean Energy Fuel to use the manure that his cows produce to create renewable natural gas. The amount of clean fuel produced allows about 52 Amazon trucks to fill up at the fuel station each day as an added benefit to Barton reducing his farm’s carbon footprint. The episode also discusses Barton’s perspective as a first-generation farmer in today’s industry.  Here is the breakdown of the episode: Tell us about your career in the dairy industry. [~1:01]What led to this partnership with Clean Energy Fuel? [~3:43]What is the project timeline? [~5:00]How will you have to prepare your farm for the partnership? [~6:09]How will manure be processed at your farm? [~8:03]How has this business decision bettered your farm? [~8:57]From an environmental and sustainability standpoint, how are you anticipating this manure digester to benefit your farm? [~10:04]How did you get into the dairy industry? [~12:31]What have been those key moments that defined your career and helped you build it to what it is today? [~17:16]How do you evaluate a proposition and whether it’s right or not for your dairy? [~19:14]What was the best advice you’ve ever received regarding dairy farming? [~21:06]What advice would you give to a new producer entering today’s industry? [~22:01]What’s next for Evan Barton and South Fork Dairy Farm? [~22:57]Rapid-fire questions [~23:51] Contact Evan Barton: ebarton3@gmail.com

In this episode, host Kimmi Devaney talks with Derrick Josi, who is an Oregon dairy farmer and author that has built an online presence of 800,000 followers on Facebook and recently moved cows into new facilities on the farm. Kimmi and Derrick discuss what he did differently with the new facilities, how and why he started advocating online, why he wrote a book and much more. Read more about his book here: agproud.com/blogs/2-progressive-dairy-guest-blogs/post/54786-dairy-farmer-addresses-industry-misconceptions-in-new-book.  Here’s a breakdown of the episode: Derrick’s inspiration for building new facilities [~0:40]What they did differently in the new facilities vs. the old ones [~1:45]Cow comfort and ventilation in the new barns [~4:45]The most challenging part of the construction process [~5:35]How he’s grouping cows differently in the new facilities [~8:00]How doubling the herd size has changed their management [~8:55]What he would do differently if starting over today [~12:25]Future plans for a visitor center on the farm [~13:25]Tours [~15:15]Why Derrick started sharing his dairy story online [~16:40]His motivation for online advocacy [~18:45]Derrick’s strategy for dealing with negative people, trolls, activists on social media [~19:30]Content that resonates with his online audience [~21:35]How much time he spends engaging with followers in an average week [~24:15]Advice for other dairy farmers and industry representatives trying to start sharing their stories online [~27:00]Avoiding online advocacy burnout [~28:15]His inspiration for writing a book in 2021 [~30:10]Target audience for his book and what he hopes they gain from reading it [~31:15]Goals when writing An Industry Worth Fighting For [~31:40]Misconceptions addressed in the book [~32:10]Reader feedback [~33:05]Plans for future books [~33:35]Derrick’s key takeaways as a first-time author [~34:50]Rapid-fire questions [~36:05] To contact Derrick, email him at derrick@tdfhonestfarming.com

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 19 - What Happened With Dairy Promotion In 2022? Hear from Pennsylvania dairy farmer and Dairy Management Inc. Chair Marilyn Hershey and Missouri dairy farmer and National Dairy Board Chair Alex Peterson discuss the 2022 checkoff’s dairy promotion... Here is a breakdown of this episode: 0:40 - DMI's Scott Wallin introduces Dairy Management Inc. Chair Marilyn Hershey and National Dairy Board Chair Alex Peterson.3:09 - How checkoff is reaching Gen Z through gaming and online marketing5:16 - How checkoff tells dairy's sustainability story to consumers7:28 - How large restaurant and retail partnerships are driving dairy sales and innovation8:12 - Checkoff's new collaboration with the Mayo Clinic and dairy's role in health and wellness9:34 - How U.S. Dairy Export Council is driving sales in dairy exports13:03 - How checkoff is piloting new milk programs in schools with smoothies and bulk milk15:17 - Dairy consumption in the U.S. is on the rise17:29 - The future of dairy promotion19:34 - How farmers can get involved in dairy promotion Listen to the Your Dairy Checkoff Podcast here.

In this episode, Progressive Dairy Podcast co-hosts Kimmi Devaney, Walt Cooley and Jenn Coyne discuss some of their favorite articles and podcast guests from 2022, along with what they are most looking forward to in 2023 at Progressive Dairy. Additionally, get to know your co-hosts better during a special co-host version of the rapid-fire questions.  Reach out to any of our co-hosts with comments and episode ideas (editor@progressivedairy.com), and we will see you back here in 2023! Kimmi Devaney  Walt Cooley Jenn Coyne

The future of dairy farming is already here. In this episode, Rudy Ebbekink, marketing and communications manager for Nedap, discusses what technology is on the horizon to improve the life of cows, farmers and farm families for many years to come. This episode is sponsored by Nedap. Nedap is the global leader in farming automation using individual animal identification. For more than 40 years, Nedap strengthens dairy farmers through the most reliable and innovative cow identification, monitoring and automation solutions. They empower managers and personnel with dependable information to make operational and strategic decisions and help dairies become more efficient, productive and successful. For Nedap, trust and reliability in both partnership and technology are key. Leading international dairy farming companies, including genetics and milking equipment suppliers, partner with Nedap to include its technology in their systems. A publicly listed company, Nedap employs more than 800 people globally, across 10 locations and seven business units. 

In this episode, you’ll hear from Dr. Robert Hagevoort from New Mexico State University and Dr. Mike Tomaszewski from Texas A&M about the U.S. Dairy Education and Training Consortium, which is a program for college dairy students that pairs practical, on-farm experience with in-the-classroom learning from some of the nation’s best dairy professors. Learn more about the program and find an application for the 2023 summer class at https://usdetc.tamu.edu Here is a breakdown of the episode: An overview of the program [~ 1:36]How the consortium started [~4:20]More about the evolution of the program over the past 15 years [~8:50]How the program prepares students for a variety of careers in the dairy industry [~10:27]Networking opportunities available through the consortium [~13:49]Other skills students learn [~16:08]How the program combines classroom learning and on-farm practical experience [~20:00]Success stories from alumni [~21:35]Feedback received from alumni that completed the survey they sent out last summer [~27:28]Requirements for students to apply [~32:30]How students can learn more about the program and apply for the upcoming class [~36:15]

Dr. Alfonso Lago, President and Chief Science Officer at the contract research organization, DairyExperts (Tulare, CA), summarizes the results of a trial he conducted on behalf of Native Microbials. The 40-week week study tested the effect of two microbial products consisting of microorganisms sourced from the rumen on the production of Holstein dairy cows. The study found that microbial feed supplementation improved economically important outcomes such as milk yield, solids, and feed efficiency. The study has been published by the Journal of Animal Science. This episode is sponsored by Native Microbials.