Bovine Banter

Join Dairy Educator Kasey Hower as she interviews Josh Brubaker of Brubaker Farms in Mt. Joy, PA. Brubaker Farms runs a methane digester and solar panels on their barn roofs to generate green energy that powers parts of their farm and provides an additional income source.

 Join Dairy Educator Emily Fread as she interviews Brett Reinford of Reinford Farms in Mifflintown, PA. Reinford farms uses two anaerobic digestors to run their food waste recycling business.

Join the Extension Dairy team for a thought provoking discussion with Assistant State Program Leader focused on energy, Dan Brockett. This episode is must-listen for dairy producers who are interested in solar energy. 

Episode host: Ginger Fenton, Guest: Dan Brockett

Join Dr. Lisa Holden as she talks with Dr. Dan Ciolkosz from Penn State's Energy Team about current research and energy savings ideas of interest for dairy farms. Learn more about opportunities to diversify revenue streams or reduce electricity expenses on dairies.  

Join Penn State Ag Engineer John Tyson as he discusses facilities, fans and water during times of heat stress. Understand the principles of Shade, Air Exchange, Air Velocity and Water (SAAW). 

Photo credit:  Andrew Sandeen, formerly with the PSU Extension Dairy Tea

In this episode, dairy educator Kasey Hower interviews Doug Kennedy, an independent dairy nutritionist serving farms throughout Pennsylvania. They will discuss some different strategies you may want to consider for your feed program as we get into the hotter months of the year. Learn about water accessibility and the importance of measuring dry matter intake and planning ahead for your forages. 

Join Educator Daniela Roland and dairy farmer Neil Hertzler for a discussion on heat abatement. Neil shares his strategies for managing heat stress for his pasture-based dairy herd.

Join Dairy Educator Emily Fread as she interviews Katie Ballard, Director of Research at the W. H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, NY about episodic heat stress in the Northeastern U.S. Not only does Katie manage the research at Miner, she is also a dairy farmer. Her family milks 210 Holsteins on a bicentennial dairy in Georgia, Vermont.

Join Educator Ginger Fenton and Graduate Student Gillian Plaugher for a discussion on how heat stress can affect dairy calves and strategies for effective heat mitigation. 

Host: Ginger Fenton, Guest: Gillian Plaugher

Image: Ginger Fenton, Penn State Extension

Join dairy educators Emily Fread and Craig Williams as they discuss the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.