In this week’s episode, we are joined by UK dairy consultant, James Hague, to dive into net zero in agriculture. With the search for solutions to climate challenges, we are hearing a lot of focus on reaching net zero in agriculture in the coming years. James is sharing key insights into carbon offsetting, rotational grazing for building soil carbon, and increasing farm productivity while reducing their carbon footprint.

James Hague is a dairy consultant based in the UK. James spent 10 years in dairy research and has used his experience and knowledge to develop Tracker, an online milk prediction and monitoring tool. Tracker is used by hundreds across New Zealand, Australia, and the UK to provide day-by-day dairy costings to monitor feed margins and feed conversion efficiency.

Connect with James:

• Connect with him on LinkedIn
• Check out his website

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag
• Check out our website
• Email us at [email protected]
• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag

Resources & Links:

• Dairy Club
• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology

In today’s episode, we're talking with the hosts of the Unbiased Science Podcast, Dr. Jessica Steier and Dr. Sarah Scheinman, to dive deep into the hot topic of raw milk and its increasing popularity in the face of safety warnings. We're discussing the historical context of milk and pasteurization, milk safety and public health, the myths surrounding nutrition and raw milk, and potential public health implications of raw milk consumption amidst avian flu concerns.

Dr. Jessica Steier is a public health scientist with expertise in public health policy, research and evaluation design, biostatistics, and advanced analytics. She believes strongly in scientific education and health literacy, and the translation of research for the general public in a way that maximizes people’s ability to make informed and evidence-based decisions.

Dr. Sarah Scheinman is a Chicago-based neurobiologist with expertise in basic science, preclinical, and translational biomedical research. Sarah is passionate about scientific education and believes that anyone, anywhere, can understand science and think scientifically. She seeks to alleviate the fear and mistrust that prevents widespread scientific literacy and accessibility. 

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Connect with Unbiased Science:

• Follow on Instagram @unbiasedscipod
• Like them on Facebook
• Check out their website
• Email them at [email protected]
• Listen to the Unbiased Science Podcast

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag
• Check out our website
• Email us at [email protected]
• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag

Resources & Links:

• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology

In today's episode, we're discussing the significant changes in the political landscape following the recent election and what these changes mean for agriculture. We are excited to welcome back Tanner Beymer, Executive Director of Government Affairs at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Tanner is joining us to provide insight into the election results and how this political shift could impact agricultural policy and regulations.

Tanner is diving into Trump winning in all seven of the "swing states" and the narrowly held Republican majority in Congress. We're discussing several of the key issues in agriculture including the future of farm bills, trade policies, and regulations. We also explore the priorities for the new Congress, the potential appointment of Brooke Rollins as the new Secretary of Agriculture, and the importance of maintaining national food security.

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Connect with Tanner:

• Check out the NCBA website
• Read NCBA’s policy priorities
• Like NCBA on Facebook 
• Subscribe to NCBA’s YouTube channel
• Follow NCBA on X @BeefUSA
• Follow NCBA on Instagram @BeefUSA
• Connect with NCBA on LinkedIn

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag
• Check out our website
• Email us at [email protected]
• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag

Resources & Links:

• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology

In this week’s episode of Millennial Ag, Valene and Katharine dive into a thought-provoking conversation about the rapid evolution of politics over the last eight years and what agriculture can learn from it. The political landscape—whether you agree with it or not—has demonstrated an unprecedented ability to pivot, adapt, and evolve at lightning speed. Meanwhile, agriculture, often rooted in tradition and cautious change, is grappling with the pressure to address a rapidly changing policy, production, and operating landscape in an era of fast-moving trends, policies, and consumer demands.

Katharine and Valene pose a critical question: How can agriculture adopt the same agility and responsiveness without losing its core values and integrity? They discuss the importance of balancing innovation with sustainability, embracing technological advancements, and finding ways to navigate political and societal shifts while maintaining strong connections to the land and people.

Join the conversation as the duo unpacks how agriculture can keep up in a world that refuses to slow down.

If you haven't already, make sure to listen to Episode 188 on the most recent developments in avian influenza in dairy cattle!

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our website
• Email us at [email protected]
• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

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Episode Title: "Past Eradication: Dr. Barb Petersen on Embracing Endemic Bird Flu in Dairy Cows"

In this eye-opening episode of Millennial Ag Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Barb Petersen, DVM, one of the pioneering veterinarians who first identified bird flu in dairy cows in Texas back in March 2024. Since that discovery, the virus has continued to spread, mutate, and raise serious concerns for both animal and human health.

Barb provides an essential update on where the virus has spread geographically, how it has evolved, and what might come next as it jumps between species. She warns that cats are the canary in the coal mine—a chilling sign that bird flu could be on the brink of becoming the next major agricultural and potentially human health crisis.

Beyond the science, Barb discusses the sluggish response from U.S. health agencies and the USDA. With critical gaps in government action, she argues that we need to stop talking about "eradication" and start preparing for the reality of an endemic disease—one that could reshape the dairy industry and beyond.

Tune in for a candid, no-nonsense discussion on what this virus means for agriculture, public health, and the future of food production. Will we learn from this "trial run," or are we sleepwalking into the next pandemic?

Connect with Barb:

Facebook: Sunrise Veterinary Service

Instagram: @sunriseveterinaryservice

LinkedIn: Sunrise Veterinary Service

Resources mentioned in this episode:

https://afludiary.blogspot.com/

https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/

https://hogvet51.substack.com/

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our website
• Email us at [email protected]
• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

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In this extraordinary episode, Millennial Ag takes you across the pond to the lush pastures of England, marking our first-ever recording on foreign soil. We are honored to bring you the powerful story of Mike and Donna Bowe, second-generation dairy farmers whose journey is a testament to resilience, pride, and unshakable determination. We're joined by our first-ever guest co-host, Stuart MacLennan, CEO of Peacock Technology, who introduced this incredible opportunity to tell an extraordinary story. 

Mike, a soft-spoken yet profoundly wise dairyman, and Donna, his steadfast partner, take us back to one of the darkest times in their lives and the UK dairy industry: the devastating foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2000. With raw emotion and breathtaking honesty, they recount the heartbreak of seeing their farm brought to its knees, and how they found the strength to rebuild.

“We took chances,” Mike says—a simple yet powerful statement that encapsulates their courage to pivot and innovate in the face of despair. Their story isn’t just about survival; it’s about transformation, adaptability, and the deep-rooted pride they carry for their heritage.

Donna’s unwavering support shines through as she helps Mike tell their story, highlighting their shared belief in the future of their farm. The Bowes’ humility is matched only by their excitement for the next generation, as they prepare to pass the reins to their children and grandchildren.

This episode is a moving exploration of the highs and lows of dairy farming, the love of their land and industry, and the legacy of family. Tune in to hear how Mike and Donna turned devastation into opportunity, and why their story resonates far beyond the borders of England.

Don’t miss this deeply inspiring conversation with two farmers who prove that taking chances, even in the hardest of times, can lead to extraordinary success.

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag

• Check out our website

• Email us at [email protected]

• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

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We're less than a week away from Christmas, and in amongst all the festivites and anticipation of rest and relaxation, we wanted to share a reminder for another important end-of-year tradition: end-of-year planning. 

We welcome back Valene's dad, Bill Lickley this week. A former ag banker, Bill takes us through the usual necessary financial steps to wrap up a year well. All solid and timely advice, but we especially appreciate how he takes the first approach to the work. 

Begin with gratitude. Look back on your year and celebrate the highs, and reflect on the lows, and be sure to take a moment to be grateful to be able to be a part of an industry, job, community that you (hopefully) love. As Bill reminds us, it's all too easy to dwell on the hard times, the things that went wrong, or the things you wanted to happen that didn't, so be sure to pause for a moment, and remember all the wins, highs, and good that happened too. 

We also especially love the second half of the episode. As Bill finishes walking us through the financial end-of-year planning aspects, he turns to end-of-year personal planning. His advice is the same: begin with gratitude. Then, start planning where you want to be this time next year. What are your individual and family goals? Go beyond finances, and consider what do you want to do for fun in the coming year? What milestones do you want to hit? Consider all that, and then start making a plan to get there. Like Bill says, it's much easier to get to where you want to be if you have a solid idea of where you're coming from. 

This is an easy episode to listen to, and an easy one to take so many good points away from and put into practice without too much hassle. Enjoy it with a glass in one hand, and your notebook and pen in the other. 

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag

• Check out our website

• Email us at [email protected]

• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

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Hard to believe, but the holidays are almost here! In this week's episode, Valene talks about how holidays impact beef markets. She gives us a good overview of how things generally work this time of year, but also weaves in some new developments in the industry. 

Beef packers are announcing big layoffs over the next two to three months, and it's got Val wondering if the incoming administration's stance on immigration is the cause. She discusses some of the nuances that these announcements are making clear, and how it could impact the markets and industry overall in the coming year. This is a great episode to chew on over the coming weeks, as we prepare for the end of the year and what excitement early 2025 is going to bring to agriculture. 

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag

• Check out our website

• Email us at [email protected]

• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, we’re joined by Lt. Governor Scott Bedke to explore the story behind Idaho’s groundbreaking water agreement.

This historic deal brought together senior and junior water users, two groups with conflicting interests, to address one of the most pressing challenges facing the state. The journey was far from straightforward. Senior water users stood firm in their rights, while junior users—critical to Idaho’s economy—were seen as “too big to fail.”

Yet, through long days, hard conversations, and a shared commitment to Idaho’s future, a middle ground was found. Lt. Governor Bedke highlights how Idaho’s farmers played a pivotal role in the process. Recognizing the stakes, they united with a common goal: to preserve and protect Idaho’s water resources for generations to come.

 Collaboration, compromise, and a willingness to roll up their sleeves defined the process, proving that even the toughest challenges can be solved when people work toward a shared purpose. This episode is a testament to the power of community, leadership, and vision in safeguarding the lifeblood of Idaho’s agriculture and rural communities.

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about water stewardship, perseverance, and the lessons learned along the way.

Resources: facebook.com/IdahoLtGovernor 

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag

• Check out our website

• Email us at [email protected]

• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

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In a short and sweet episode to wrap up our election coverage, we discuss what we've been thinking about in the week since America cast its votes. What does a second Trump Administration mean for American agriculture? We dive into what we've been pondering, touching on economic and trade policy (what's going to happen with tarriffs?) immigration policy, right down to Cabinet and other appointments. Tune in to this episode to hear what's been on our minds, and then get in touch to let us know where you're at with the election results! For now, we're turning off the politics to enjoy the upcoming holiday season, but we'll be back after the inauguration to jump right into what the eventual appointments and policies shake out to be. Stay tuned!

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag

• Check out our website

• Email us at [email protected]

• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!