Understanding rumen microbes could play a role in accomplishing farm goals. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Dr. Brooke Anderson, microbiome scientist with Native Microbials, about how rumen microbes are analyzed, the role they can play in lowering feed costs and their potential for improving a farm’s environmental footprint. Thank you to Native Microbials for sponsoring this episode. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. 

*Learn more about the Dairy Strong conference on Jan. 19-20 here. 

As requested by our listeners, we dove into the topic of milk classes, components and the impact it has on your milk check. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Dr. Chris Wolf, professor of applied economics and management at Cornell University, about understanding milk classes and components, how consumer trends and exports have impacted it and the impact on your risk management plans. Thank you to BMO Harris Bank for sponsoring this episode. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

Farmers will be a key player in improving our climate. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Rick Clark, a 5th generation farmer from Williamsport, Indiana, about how farmers can reduce their carbon footprint by using conservation practices, how carbon should be measured and how to reduce input cost. He also offers advice on how to overcome challenges. Thank you to The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin for sponsoring this podcast. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

Want to learn more about Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)? Dairy Stream host Mike Austin dissects this topic with Tim Baye, professor of business development, energy finance and state energy specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. They define commonly used terms like carbon footprint, carbon intensity (CI), carbon labeling and more. The conversation wraps-up with the future of RNG projects and the importance of advocacy on this topic. Thank you to Cargill for sponsoring this podcast. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

We want you to be prepared for the unexpected. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Mark Santas, president of Alongi Santas Moss Insurance Agency, about insurance policies for buildings and machinery. Santas goes in-depth about a range of topics from weather damage, customer operator coverage and what should be on your checklist. Thank you to Hastings Mutual Insurance for sponsoring this episode. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

According to the USDA, feed represents the largest variable input cost of production, accounting for 51 percent of total production costs. Farmers have felt the impact of rising feed costs. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Jocelyn Johnson, a  research scientist at STgenetics, about the actual feed saved, environmental impact, potential challenges and changes to your genetic plan. Thank you to STgenetics for sponsoring this episode. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

GoodSport™ launched a sports drink that is 97 percent dairy and it aims to compete nationally against leading brands. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Michelle McBride, founder & CEO of GoodSport Nutrition, and KJ Burrington, formerly retired coordinator of dairy ingredient, cultured products and beverages at the Center for Dairy Research, about the process of developing the product and what the future holds for dairy-based sports beverages. Thank you to Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin for sponsoring this episode. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 could create a year-round variant of the H-2A visa program for workers in livestock agriculture. This would be important for dairy farmers, who don’t have a year-round visa option now. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Brandon Davis, attorney at Phelps in New Orleans, Louisiana, about the requirements of H-2A, impact it has on the agricultural community and future possibilities. This episode is sponsored by Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

Online grocery shopping has been on the rise and COVID-19 has accelerated that trend. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Paul Zieminsky, executive vice president of global innovation partnerships and Beau Hayden, vice president of insights: sales & trust at Dairy Management Inc., about dairy's relationship with Amazon Fresh and the future of dairy sales online. Thank you to Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin for sponsoring this episode. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

Dairy Stream dissects a first-of-its-kind framework that outlines a project-based approach to developing a farm-level sustainability project. Our host, Mike Austin, talks with Lauren Brey, managing director of Farmer for Sustainable Food, and Doug Thomas, senior project manager at Houston Engineering, the experts behind the national award-winning framework. Thank you to The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin for sponsoring this podcast. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

*View the award-winning framework here: A Framework for Farm-Level Sustainability Projects