To read the story of each dairy producer who was interviewed and to view a written recap of each episode, search the categories and click on the links below.
Calf and Cow Care
Matt Brake opens up about pushing forward after a barn fire and investing in fully automated, robotic barn
Rod Hissong discusses satellite dairies, group calf facilities, and cultivating a team
Phoebe Bitler offers tips for calf care and maintaining compost barn and robotics facility
Tom Barley describes how to maximize herd performance, production and cow comfort
Greta Halahan & Virginia Deffibaugh share calf management strategies and how to get it right from the start
Clint Burkholder offers strategies for preventing heat stress and maximizing forage quality
Feed and Crops
Shawn Saylor shares the benefits of new cropping technologies, methane digesters, and how carbon neutral can also equal profitability
Ben Peckman gives insight on his innovative planting strategies and ways to manage high fertilizer and seed costs
Walt Moore gives go-to strategies for controlling feed costs in the midst of record-high grain prices
Tony Brubaker shares how tracking dry matter intake makes a big impact
Mental and Physical Health
Jess Peters opens up about farming, mental health, and how sharing our burdens can help
Matt Carr opens up about farm accident, recovery, and keeping your mind in the right spot when running a dairy business
Frank Graybill shares words of wisdom after transitioning out of dairy and lessons learned on farm safety
Michelle Kirk opens up about how an unexpected loss can affect farm transition and mental health
Brett Reinford opens up about farm accident and shares methane digester revenue streams
Chuck Carr opens up about mental health after barn fire and traumatic brain injury
Transition Planning and Working With Family
Jared Kurtz gives an honest look at managing a dairy farm with multiple generations
What is this all for? Donny Bartch discusses transitioning between generations and transforming with robotics
Justin Risser talks about transition, herd health, and treating each animal, field and employee as an individual
John Kline shares how transition planning has helped his family and allows him to give back
Efficiency and Improvements
Cory Mellott and Kerry & James St. Onge describe how they are bringing new life into existing dairy operation through benchmarking, innovation, and employee management
Josh Waddell talks about finding innovation in daily tasks, using data to milk the right cows, and managing manure with less mechanization
Tyler Rohrer talks expansion and how new rotary parlor improves herd health, overcrowding and employee management
Dale Brown shares how overcrowding has improved profitability and the benefits of benchmarking
Alan Waybright discusses low cost improvements and outside consultants
Josh Waddell describes how to control energy costs and make other efficiencies
Grazing
Neil Hertzler gives inside look at rotational grazing operation & how to drive strong milk production, herd and pasture health
Genomics
Duane Hershey shares how genomics are strengthening herd performance and longevity
Diversification
Trenton Canon and Josie Offerdahl share sibling perspective on diversification, growth, and what brought them back to the farm
Potter County Dairy Producer Describes Their Farm’s Unique Terrain, New Beef Enterprise and Community Connections in New Podcast Episode
Candice Dotterer White shares lessons learned from integrating beef into their herd
Value-Added and Agritourism
Sue Miller shares how artisan cheese combines science with intuition, fosters community, and begins with beautiful milk
William Lesher shares how making ice cream and investing in a value-added business drives growth for the next generation
Jennifer Orr reflects on family, community, and how they inspired their value-added journey
Maria Forry shares why agritourism and on-farm events are worth it and how to manage multiple enterprises
Carissa Westrick shares insight about their value-added and agritourism efforts
Emily Montgomery gives an honest look at the rewards and challenges of starting a cheese-making business
Employee Management
Allen Behrer & Pete Posnett describe their creative approach to employee management
Risk Management
Mark Mosemann shares risk management strategy
Business Planning
Jason Frye shares the power of a business plan — and how it guided his 40-cow dairy into the value-added space
Biosecurity
Nate Heim discusses vaccination protocols and biosecurity
