Uplevel Dairy Podcast

By Peggy Coffeen

What does it take to be a successful, profitable and competitive dairy farm business? This is the podcast for dairy owners, managers and advisors who are after their next level of success. Join Upleve... more

· Business

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The podcast currently has 387 episodes available.

Best of Uplevel Dairy Podcast

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Number 1: 370 | What the Top 20% of Farm Businesses Do Differently with Dr. David Kohl & Lynn Paulson
What will separate the most successful farm businesses from the rest over the next decade? Dr. David Kohl and Lynn Paulson of Bell Bank join Peggy Coffeen to discuss the economic and global trends producers should be watching—from consumer demand for protein and AI-driven agriculture to global competition, regenerative agriculture, the coming land transition, and relationship-based lending. They also break down what separates the top 20% of farm businesses: knowing the numbers, having a plan, managing risk, building strong relationships, and consistently doing the small things right. 00:00 – Economic & Global Trends 01:05 – Protein & Precision Agriculture 02:15 – Following the Consumer 03:01 – Global Competition 04:37 – The Changing Global Landscape 07:18 – Regenerative Agriculture 08:58 – Agriculture’s Story to Consumers 10:59 – The 2032 Land Opportunity 12:42 – Land Ownership vs. Control 14:04 – Advice for Young Producers 17:09 – Planning & Financial Management 20:23 – Family Business Accountability 22:01 – Relationship Lending 26:33 – What Makes a Good Lender? 29:01 – What the Top 20% Do Differently 30:32 – Excellence at the Margin
August 13, 202633min
Number 2: 374 | 2026 Industry Person of the Year: Corey Geiger
In this special collaboration episode of World Dairy Expo’s The Dairy Show podcast and Uplevel Dairy, Peggy Coffeen interviews Cory Geiger, who was named World Dairy Expo’s 2026 Industry Person of the Year, about the experiences and mentors that shaped his career as a Hoard’s Dairyman editor, CoBank dairy economist, author, and youth mentor. Geiger recalls receiving the award call, his pivotal 1990 World Dairy Expo judging-team trip that solidified his passion, and early influences including his father’s lessons on money and genetics. He describes his CoBank role spanning research, speaking, and client work, including efforts to quantify genetics’ economic value, shift milk metrics toward components, and model herd replacement amid beef-on-dairy. Geiger also recounts co-editing the 50th anniversary book We Need a Show, writing recognition scripts, and publishing award-winning books chronicling farm history, emphasizing mentorship, sparking youth interest, and being remembered for making people think and feel valued. This episode has been brought to you in collaboration with World Dairy Expo and the Dairy Show Podcast. Save the dates for the 2026 World Dairy Expo taking place September 29 - October 2, 2026. Learn more at⁠ https://worlddairyexpo.com/⁠. 01:13 Servant Leadership Roots 03:19 The Award Phone Call 04:44 World Dairy Expo Spark 07:54 From Farm Kid to Economist 10:37 Mentors and Giving Back 13:50 CoBank Role and Research 18:46 We Need a Show Book 26:17 Writing Recognition Scripts 27:25 Becoming a Published Author 30:41 Legacy and Mentorship
August 27, 202636min
Number 3: 372 | From Days to Hours: The Future of Dairy Diagnostics
Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Dr. Kyle Becker, a Heritage Vet Partners veterinarian and former Indiana dairy farm kid who learned to AI cows at 12 and began practicing immediately after graduation. Becker describes his atypical, influencer-style DiSC profile and how it supports team-building, client collaboration, and bridging ownership–employee gaps on modern dairies. He shares using Krishi’s SHERPA Vision technology to rapidly analyze nasal swabs for antibiotic resistance, enabling treatment plans within hours and earlier intervention on the ascending side of a disease “bell curve,” with examples including a stressed calf raiser and a Salmonella Dublin outbreak with no deaths. Becker discusses adapting to changing disease, production, and technology, balancing farmer and veterinarian perspectives, raising five children involved in chores, and prioritizing community service, learning, and farm culture. Heritage Vet Partners is the nation’s leading veterinary partnership, specializing in mixed and large animal practices. Heritage Vet Partners provides a unique partnership model that preserves local practice legacies, serving dairy and other livestock producers and companion animal owners through shared services, data, and strategic growth. Learn more at HeritageVetPartners.com04:34 Growing Up Dairy05:41 AI School at 1210:47 Choosing Vet Medicine12:56 Thrown Into Practice14:20 Going Solo Consulting15:54 Connector Problem Solver18:28 Rapid Resistance Testing22:32 Managing the Bell Curve26:43 Salmonella Rapid Response28:06 Speed Beats Analysis28:54 Finding The PI Calf30:55 Four Days Saved32:05 Future Of Animal Health35:19 Vet And Farmer Perspective38:24 Family And Farm Chores40:46 Community First Values
August 20, 202651min
Number 4: 371 | Breeding for the Bottom Line: Genetics That Work in the Real World
Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Luke Getty of Ideal Dairy and Cookiecutter Holsteins in Eastern New York to discuss the role of genetics, technology, and long-term decision-making in building a successful dairy operation. Getty shares the evolution of the family-owned business, which has grown through strategic expansion while also developing a global genetics program. He reflects on the transition to Ideal Dairy, his early skepticism around genomics, and how seeing genomic outliers become top-performing animals changed his perspective. He also discusses how IVF, genomic testing, and intentional breeding decisions have helped accelerate genetic progress and support the dairy's growth. Getty shares how the operation approaches breeding for cows that are moderate in size, productive, healthy, fertile, and built for longevity, with a focus on traits such as strong feet and udders, high components, and mastitis resistance. He also highlights measurable improvements in herd health, including somatic cell count, and explains how genetics can support both current performance and long-term sustainability. United Sires is a partnership of well-known Holstein breeders from the United States bringing genetic solutions to dairy producers worldwide. Our mission, “Breed the Best, Better,” reflects the work we have been doing on our farms for generations. As multi-generational dairy farmers, we adhere to a simple yet powerful principle: We Milk What We Make. We understand the importance of breeding cattle that are profitable throughout their lifetimes, functional across all dairy enterprises, and aesthetically pleasing. Learn more at UnitedSires.com and follow on Facebook.com @UnitedSires and @unitedsiresofficial on Instagram. 00:00 Genetics Build Businesses 00:54 Luke’s Genomics Turning Point 03:06 Scaling Ideal Dairy Fast 05:19 Breeding the 10 Year Cow 06:33 United Sires Explained 08:18 Genetics for Every Market 10:36 EU Demand and No Holes Bulls 14:31 Health Traits and Happy Teams 16:10 Mastitis Gains You Can Measure 18:11 Risk Taking and Corrective Mating 19:10 Legacy and Next Generation 21:20 10 Year Vision and Advice
August 18, 202626min
Number 5: 375 | When the Farm Is Your 401(k): Can the Next Generation Afford Your Retirement?
On the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Pauly Paul of Complete Management Consulting discusses why many dairy transition plans fail financially even after legal ownership is transferred. As retiring owners depend on the farm as their “401(k)” through monthly, annual, or lump-sum buyouts, the same dairy must also support the next generation’s management, added labor layers, and new debt, often amid tight cash flow from low milk prices and weak cropping margins. Pauly describes cases where payroll spikes from added middle management, outside partners gain cattle equity and can destabilize herd size, and families refinance and roll growing lines of credit into the farm, eroding equity and jeopardizing retiree payments. Key recommendations include knowing the financials, keeping retirees engaged through regular reviews, using objective third-party oversight, and holding quarterly multi-generation meetings to determine whether the business is building or consuming equity. This Episode is brought to you by Complete Management Consulting Learn more about Complete Management Consulting at: www.CompleteManagementConsulting.com⁠⁠ [email protected]⁠ 920-418-3135 00:00 Can the Farm Afford It 01:00 When Transitions Fail 02:23 Farm as Retirement Plan 03:33 Payroll and Debt Spiral 06:40 Why Calls Are Rising 09:22 Outside Equity Risks 12:51 Third Party Oversight 17:17 Know Your Numbers Now 19:25 Plan Ahead at 55
September 01, 202625min