Cow-Side Conversations

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With temperatures rising and many Pennsylvania dairy farms experiencing July heat waves, proper ventilation and cooling measures are essential this time of year. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Clint Burkholder of Burk-Lea Farms in Franklin County, Pennsylvania shared his strategies for mitigating heat stress — including a new sprinkler system that keeps cows’ body temperatures low while reducing water waste. He also offered his perspective on the return on investment for genomic testing and how to maximize forage quality.

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As we celebrate National Dairy Month this June, Maria Forry, a dairy producer from Lancaster County, Pa., shared how Oregon Dairy Farm LLC’s annual event – Family Farm Days – reaches up to 10,000 people each year. In this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations,” Maria described the planning process, the partnerships they have formed within the community to make the event successful, and why this type of agritourism event makes an impact for all of production agriculture. She also discussed the multiple enterprises and revenue streams on her family’s operation and how their business has evolved over the years.

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With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, Michelle Kirk, a former beef producer from Adams County, Pa., opened up about how the unexpected loss of her husband has affected her mental health and her future in agriculture. In this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations,” Michelle recounted several deeply personal stories about how she coped with her grief when tragedy struck on the farm. She also shared what she wishes she would have known about succession planning and emergency preparedness.

Note: We believe it is a gift when someone is willing to share something personal from their life in hopes that others might learn from their experiences. But we all know some gifts are harder to give than others, so let’s really honor that in what Michelle shared during this episode.

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With fertilizer costs at an all-time high, innovative planting strategies can help dairy producers keep costs low. In this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations,” Ben Peckman from Slate Ridge Dairy in Franklin County, Pa. shared what he does to boost soil fertility, keep costs low, and make the best use of his acreage. He also shared some of his innovative, tried-and-true planting and cropping strategies that he has learned over the last 10 years— including highly diverse cover crop mixes, a green planting approach, a seed-buying group with neighboring farms, relay cropping and more.

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For Candice Dotterer White from Dotterer Dairy in Clinton County, Pa., raising steers and adding beef into their breeding program started out as a simple solution to a feed problem. In this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations,” Candice shared how it has evolved into a new opportunity to diversify their dairy operation by raising and marketing their own beef. She also describes what it’s like being a woman in agriculture and how everyone on their team has their own lane, but works together to achieve common goals.

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What is this all for? How do we make sure all family members are secure? How should we manage labor shortages and a changing workforce? How can we use technology to help build a legacy for our dairy farm? In this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations,” Donny Bartch of Merrimart Farms in Perry County, Pa. discussed these questions and more as he reflected on the complex transition process that comes along with a family business and multiple generations. He also shared their decision to invest in robotics and how this technology could help transform the future of their operation. 

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When it comes to calf care and management, you don’t get a redo. In this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations,” Greta Halahan & Virginia Deffibaugh from Singing Brook Farms in Bedford County, Pa. share how they get their calves off to a good start and how important it is to define your protocols to ensure excellence from the very beginning. With cold weather making respiratory issues more common in calves, they also explained how they combat the cold and commit to weight gain through colostrum management.

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Happy New Year! With 2021 almost behind us, enjoy this bonus episode of “Cow-Side Conversations” featuring some of our favorite moments from Season One. Over the last year, we’ve interviewed dairy farmers from across the state – from Wayne County just a few miles from New York to Westmoreland County near Pittsburgh.  As dairy farmers, we all have something we can learn from one another. Being able to exchange stories and ideas is what has made this podcast so refreshing. Thanks for listening!

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Our employees are essential to every aspect of our business, especially on dairy operations. With Willow Behrer Farms in Huntingdon County, PA recently being recognized by the National FARM Program for their efforts in workforce development, Allen Behrer and Pete Posnett joined us for this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations.” Listen as they describe creative ways they are cultivating employee engagement to help achieve their performance goals.

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To kick off Season 2 of Cow-Side Conversations, John Kline of Lebanon County, PA shares how creating a successful transition plan for his five sons has helped them take on responsibilities and make decisions for Klinedale Farms and their satellite embryo business. Passing the dairy farm on to his sons – who he describes as a dream team – has also allowed John to embrace a leadership role with OnFire Youth Ministries and serve his community. In this podcast episode, listen as John shares the challenges that come with transition planning, the rewards of getting involved in the community, and the close-knit nature of the dairy community.