DairyVoice Podcast

Coronavirus is upsetting dairy markets as it spreads around the world. In episode 14 of DairyVoice podcast, Dave Kurzawski, Team Leader of the Dairy Risk Management Group at INTL FC Stone, provides his insights about what is known so far. Kurzawski describes the current coronavirus situation as a black cloud of dread hanging over the market and he, along with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News discuss whether the pandemic could trigger a global economic recession.

DairyVoice episode 13 features Michael Boccadoro, explaining the Dairy Sustainability Summit and their goals.

Dairy is under the gun and in California the industry is doing something about it. The second California Dairy Sustainability Summit is set for Mar. 25 - 26, 2020 in Sacramento, California. It attracts a national audience from across the industry - producers, processors, government officials, university researchers and technology providers. In this episode of DairyVoice podcast, Michael Boccadoro, executive director, explains how this event helps tell dairy's story. More info can be found at www.cadairysummit.com. 

Ben Laine, Dairy Economist for Rabobank, says that 2020 is shaping-up to be a good year. In this DairyVoice podcast, Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News interviewed Ben live at World Ag Expo. Laine sees strong cheese prices, higher milk prices, a stronger non-fat dry milk and skim milk powder market with inventories being tight. He explained to Joel there is a lot of strength there.

Their conversation did zero in on the growing dairy aspect of beef and the dairy industry and farmers going into a period of managed heifer inventory focus. Laine did point out the ever-present concern of a potential economic recession sometime in the future. 

DairyVoice podcast Episode 11 features Dr. Mark Stephenson. This noted dairy economist is predicting $20 milk in 2020. However, he adds a word of caution to his projections. In his DairyVoice interview with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News, he outlines the factors at play in dairy for 2020. Dr. Stephenson thinks it will be a year of recovery for producers. Mark Stephenson is the Director of Dairy Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. 

The digital age with big data and artificial intelligence has arrived in agriculture. Irish executive Aidan Connolly, CEO of Cainthus, describes the impact on dairy farm management in episode 10 of DairyVoice. In his discussion with Joel Hastings, Editor & Publisher of DairyBusiness News, he predicts the biggest advantages will go to the early adopters.

Connolly’s firm, Cainthus, featuring computer video and artificial intelligence technology to identify health, reproduction and environmental changes early on, will be exhibiting at World Ag Expo and other shows in 2020.

Dairying in Florida for 40 years, Don Bennink of North Florida Holsteins has learned a few things about cow care, working with employees and making a lot of milk. With 6500 cows on 3X milking, he has a staff of 150 workers caring for 12,000 head of all ages. Bennink is also known for his considered opinions about AI and cattle breeding, dairy cooperatives and what it takes to succeed in business, no matter your herd size.  In this episode of DairyVoice, Don shares his thoughts with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness on these topics and more.

Learn how this sales executive takes the people skills he learned in business and applied them to his dairy operation. Scott Ruby is the vice-president of sales and marketing at World Wide Sires, the international arm of Select Sires, managing a sales team selling globally.  He's also the partner and manager in his family's two dairy farms in Oregon with 18 employees. In this episode of DairyVoice he talks with Joel Hastings of DairyBusiness News about lessons learned managing and working with employees.

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develops the ability to survive exposure to antibiotics, making it difficult or impossible to treat infections in people or animals. It is a growing concern today, with many fearing a "post–antibiotic era" where common infections become life threatening. Livestock producers are under pressure to use antibiotics carefully and that’s the topic for this episode of DairyVoice.  

Featured this episode is dairy producer Heidi Fischer, partner and calf manager in the Fischer-Clark Dairy Farm in Hatley, Wisconsin. She’s the grand prize winner in the Producers for Progress program sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, the international animal health firm, focusing on the judicious use of antibiotics.  She discusses management priorities at her family’s high producing 900-cow herd.  

Talking with her is Dr. Linda Tikofsky, the senior associate director of dairy professional veterinary services at Boehringer Ingelheim with an extensive background in mastitis management and judicious antibiotic use. 

For more details about the Fischer-Clark herd, see the article in the Dec. 2 edition of DairyBusiness Digital magazine here. For details about Producers for Progress go to https://www.bi-vetmedica.com/producers-progress. 

As head of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, former USDA secretary Tom Vilsack leads the effort to increase the volume and value of American dairy products sold offshore. In spite of the headwinds for international trade, he has seen sales grow and is optimistic for continued success. In episode 6 of DairyVoice podcast, here's why Vilsack thinks his "Next Five Percent" plan is on the right track.

Pete Kappelman, a fourth generation Wisconsin dairyman, has moved from farmer board chairman at Land O' Lakes, one of the largest U.S. dairy cooperatives, to an executive post as Senior Vice President of Member and Government Relations. In this edition of DairyVoice, he talks about not only that personal transition, but also more importantly dairy's need for change from farmer to consumer. He says new ways of thinking and doing are critical for business success at any level. Plus, he explains why he thinks U.S. dairy can compete both domestically and internationally.