DairyVoice Podcast

With everyone taking an even harder look at the cost of protein in the dairy ration, we found this latest research about canola meal pretty interesting. Canola seems to be an almost perfect protein source to meet the needs of lactating cows. In this episode of DairyVoice, Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News talks with one of the leading dairy nutritionists on this topic. Want higher production for your feed dollar? Take a listen to this episode with Dr. Kenneth Kalscheur, who's on the staff at the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

As 2020 winds down, financial consultant John Ellsworth of Success Strategies reflects on the roller coaster year and looks ahead to 2021 in his conversation with host Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News. He encourages his clients and all dairy producers to work on their businesses, not just in their businesses in the New Year. Cost control and dairy production efficiencies along with consideration of risk management for milk and feed remain the most important issues.

“If U.S. food waste were a country, it would be the third largest producer of greenhouse gases in the world, behind the U.S. and China”, says John Hanselman, CEO of Vanguard Renewables. His company is partnering with dairy farmers on anaerobic digesters to handle both manure and food waste. In this episode of DairyVoice podcast, he talks with host Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News and dairyman Randy Jordan, a Vanguard partner, who has been working successfully with digesters on his central Massachusetts farm for nearly a decade. Vanguard recently announced the Farm Powered Strategic Alliance along with Dairy Farmers of America, Starbucks and Unilever. For a great overview, you can listen as DFA member Gardner gives his practical take on all of it.

COVID-19 not withstanding, the dairy industry continues to look ahead... all the way to 2030. Dairy farmer and National Dairy Board member Alex Peterson and Tom Gallagher, DMI's CEO, talk with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News about dairy's future and the food industry. Alex also describes his family's low input farming, a pasture-based, crossbred herd of 160 milking cows, while Tom talks about dairy's "pivot" in 2020.

Ryan Matheron of Hilmar Holsteins talks with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News about breeding and managing the 2000-cow herd he owns and manages with his family. Consistent breeding and careful attention to the details results in a healthy, high producing herd.

There is a lot going on at Kings Ransom Farm in Schuylerville, New York. In this episode of DairyVoice, Jeff King talks with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News about how the King family is breeding and managing the 2200 head registered holstein herd, farming in Saratoga County and more recently, starting an on-farm milk processing business.

Dairy producer David Jones talks about the robotic milkers he and his family have installed on their dairy near Stevinson in California's Central Valley. And they're in the process of adding more. In his discussion with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News, he shares the benefits and the challenges as they convert from a flat barn parlor. David is also a Robotic Specialist for DeLaval North America, having experience working with dairies in the West and Midwest faced with the decision about milking systems.

Brittany Olson dairy farms with her husband and his family in Barron County, Wisconsin. She's also a writer and an advocate for traditional small size operations. She believes a dairy industry with diverse farm sizes are more resilient and provide long term security for dairy consumers. To insure that future, though, she explains to Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News that a fair pricing system is required.

The Maddox family of California is widely known in dairy. In DairyVoice episode 26, Steve Maddox talks with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News about their quality cattle, innovative management and diversified farming operations. He says the focus has remained on cow comfort through this difficult summer with a tough heat wave, smoke from the wildfires and COVID-19.

With terrific production, a nearly 45,000-lb. herd average, high type, and over half the herd are Excellent cows, award winning dairyman Tom Kestell of Waldo, Wisconsin talks with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News about making the most of his 100-cow operation. Even though his farm size might be called "traditional" he is anything but that when it comes to running his business. Here's a podcast episode that challenge's "status quo" thinking on a dairy farm.