In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, at the High Plains Dairy Conference in Amarillo, discussing dairy’s current momentum and major risks. Rick highlights positive “tailwinds” including new trade opportunities such as Indonesia, policy wins like the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids bill, and improved perceptions of dairy fat in dietary guidelines. He describes Idaho-led sustainability research lowering lagoon pH with sulfuric acid to reduce methane emissions by over 50%, aiming to create carbon-credit revenue accessible to most dairies. He also explains how relationships with Idaho’s federal delegation helped shape “big beautiful bill” tax provisions on inheritance and accelerated depreciation to support generational transfer and retirement. Immigration reform and workforce dependence are emphasized as critical for food security and national security, along with monitoring global competitors that could disrupt export markets.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with High Plains Dairy Conference.

00:00 Dairy Big Picture

00:39 Welcome and Setup

01:11 Conference Panel Takeaways

03:18 Rick’s Dairy Roots

04:36 Sustainability That Pays

08:29 Tax Policy and Legacy

11:03 Building Political Relationships

17:25 Immigration and Food Security

23:06 Future Risks and Advice

26:33 Closing and Subscribe