Progressive Dairy Podcast

Healthcare costs continue to rise, making it harder for dairy producers to manage employee benefits. Join host Mike Opperman as he talks with Paul Kulpa and Julia Newman of Agri-Services Agency about the 2027 health insurance outlook, cost-control strategies, employee participation, supplemental benefits, and planning for the year ahead.

Episode breakdown:

• Health insurance market outlook: 2:30
• Advantages of offering health insurance: 5:30
• 2027 rates for top 10 dairy states: 7:39
• Planning for 2027: 9:12
• Employee participation: 12:00
• Contribution strategies (HAS/FSA/ICHRA): 14:55
• Vision, dental and supplementary insurances: 17:00
• Life insurance: 18:40
• Getting the most from your health insurance: 20:54

This episode is sponsored by Agri-Services Agency.

Agri-Services Agency specializes in providing customized insurance solutions for dairy farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses. Insurance offerings include health, dental, vision, life insurance, workers’ compensation, and property and casualty insurance. ASA is committed to helping you access comprehensive insurance coverage at a price that fits your budget.

24/7 customer service center: 1-877-466-9089

Website: https://agri-servicesagency.com/

In this episode, host Kimmi Devaney sits down with retiring DMI CEO Barb O’Brien to learn how the dairy checkoff has evolved over the last 25 years, which partnerships have been the most effective, why she is so excited about where dairy is right now and much more. 

Episode overview:

• [~1:20] What first drew O’Brien to the dairy industry
• [~3:00] Why O’Brien is so passionate about the work the dairy checkoff does
• [~4:15] The dairy checkoff landscape in 2001 
• [~5:40] Three of the most pivotal moments in dairy checkoff history that have had the greatest impact
• [~9:00] What dairy farmers told her during the listening tour when she first became CEO that influenced her approach
• [~13:25] Now-next-future framework
• [~15:35] The partnerships that have made the greatest impact in growing dairy demand and those that were not as successful as anticipated
• [~19:25] Measuring success
• [~22:30] Why O’Brien is so excited about where dairy is right now 
• [~25:20] The greatest opportunities to grow dairy demand over the next five to 10 years
• [~27:10] What she is most proud of and what she will miss the most once she retires 
• [~29:15] What influenced O’Brien’s leadership style the most during her career
• [~33:10] Her advice for successor Corey Scott as she steps into this next chapter
• [~34:55] O’Brien’s message for dairy farmers about the impact of their dairy checkoff investment 

Raising calves is hard, and good help is harder to find. Dr. Jeremy Schefers, Merck Animal Health DVM, explains how SenseHub®️ Dairy Youngstock monitoring is stepping in as 24/7 "competent help" for producers managing tighter labor and bigger herds.

Conversation includes:

• What the technology tracks and why it starts at just 27 hours of age
• How early detection changes treatment decisions and outcomes
• Field examples of catching feed, weather and vaccine-related issues early
• The connection between calfhood health and lifetime cow performance
• What it really costs — and what producers can expect to get back

This episode is sponsored by Merck Animal Health.

A profitable herd starts long before first lactation. This episode is sponsored by SenseHub®️ Dairy Youngstock from Merck Animal Health, a monitoring solution that tracks calf behavior from day one to help producers catch problems early, protect long-term productivity and make the most of their labor. Learn more at SenseHub-Dairy.com.

In this episode, join host Kimmi Devaney and Ad van Velde for a discussion about educational opportunities offered through Global Dairy Farmers, the technology he uses on his dairy farm in the Netherlands and a look at the dairy industry around the world.

Episode overview:

• [~1:05] About van Velde’s dairy farm in the Netherlands
• [~5:30] On-farm technology
• [~6:45] Generating electricity on the farm
• [~7:40] Other on-farm innovations he is excited about
• [~10:15] Van Velde’s approach to sustainability
• [~12:15] About the dairy industry in the Netherlands
• [~14:35] Preparing the next generation to manage the farm in the future
• [~16:45] Global Dairy Farmers
• [~19:00] The Congress and other educational opportunities for members of Global Dairy Farmers
• [~23:50] The value of learning about the dairy industry in other countries
• [~24:30] The most memorable parts of van Velde’s Global Dairy Farmers presidency so far
• [~27:00] A look at the dairy industry around the globe

How does dairy checkoff turn nutrition science into consumer action?

In this episode of the Your Dairy Checkoff Podcast, Scott Wallin sits down with Aris Georgiadis to discuss the consumer marketing strategies helping build trust and grow dairy sales. From the First 1,000 Days initiative and partnerships with trusted parenting resources to retail programs like We Are Family and the Dairy Does More platform, learn how dairy checkoff is connecting with today's consumers through science, storytelling and data-driven marketing. 

Learn more about how your checkoff is working to build sales and trust at DairyCheckoff.com.

Host & Guest 

Host: Scott Wallin, Vice President of Farmer Communications & Media Relations, Dairy Management Inc.

Guest: Aris Georgiadis, Senior Vice President of Marketing Communications, Dairy Management Inc.

This episode is sponsored by Dairy Management Inc.

As dairy producers look to maximize profitability, every pregnancy needs a strategic lens. Join Jeremy Howard of Simplot Animal Sciences and Lauren Kimble of Select Sires as they discuss strategic breeding, beef-on-dairy opportunities, the growing value of uniform, consistent genetics to help producers capture value today and prepare for tomorrow's market demands.

Learn more about SimVitro® Cattle Embryos

This episode is sponsored by Simplot Animal Sciences.

Stacy Rethman joins guest host Audrey Schmitz in this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast to discuss how she returned to her family’s dairy, Rottinghaus Holstein Farm in Seneca, Kansas. After teaching middle school science, she now helps manage their herd while educating consumers about dairy farming through outreach and social media.

Episode breakdown:

• 0:40 – Rethman’s connection to farming
• 4:00 – Journey from teaching to dairying
• 8:00 – Similarities between teaching and dairying
• 10:00 – Returning to the farm full time
• 12:40 – Difficult seasons
• 15:20 – Steepest learning curve
• 16:50 – Finding balance between farming and family
• 18:45 – Advice for other young women
• 20:40 – Sharing farm life on social media

Healthy calves begin with a healthy environment, and sometimes the most important challenges are found right at bedding level. In this episode, calf producer and researcher Dr. Dave Casper discusses what led him to investigate ammonia in calf hutches and the results of his research evaluating SurpHace® (sodium bisulfate) as an environmental management tool. He shares what the study revealed about ammonia concentrations and calf growth, and observations surrounding fly pressure. A great listen for producers looking for proactive ways to create a healthier calf environment.

Episode highlights:

01:34 – Why Study Ammonia in Calf Hutches?

Dave explains what first made him question ammonia levels in outdoor calf hutches.

03:44 – Reducing Ammonia with SurpHace

The study showed lower ammonia levels, along with observations of reduced fly pressure.

05:23 – Improving Calf Growth

Calves gained more than a tenth of a pound per day, resulting in about eight pounds of additional gain.

06:03 – Evaluating Ammonia at Calf Level

Dave explains why producers should assess air quality where the calf actually rests.

07:07 – What’s Next for SurpHace Research?

Ongoing work is evaluating whether once-weekly applications can provide effective ammonia control.

This episode is sponsored by Jones-Hamilton.

Tara Hill and Emma Hill-Macmillan join guest host Audrey Schmitz in this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast to chat about how dairywomen find balance between the farm and caring for their families. Learn how they work side by side on Charles Hill and Son Dairy in Central Onslow, Nova Scotia, and have a shared work ethic and passion for agriculture to advance their family farm.

Episode breakdown: 

• 0:45 – Connection to dairy farming 
• 4:45 – Finding balance between farming and family
• 6:50 – Difficult seasons and moments it felt worth it 
• 10:00 – Differences in farming between generations
• 13:25 – Working relationship between mother and daughter 
• 16:55 – Leadership strengths women bring to the dairy industry 

Rick Boyer is the dairy/agriculture account manager for Vaughan Company.

Rick has been with Vaughan Company since 2012, where he started in the manure department, and his expertise is manure.

He has had a hand in most dairy and ag applications offering suggestions and solutions, from large commercial operations to small farms.

This episode is sponsored by Vaughan Company.

Visit the Vaughan Company website