On the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Dr. Stephanie Hansen of Iowa State University at Adisseo’s VIP seminar about why beef-on-dairy calves often fail to thrive in the feedlot. Hansen, a feedlot “mineral nerd,” explains how high liver copper—seen in necropsy results at 800–900 ppm—can originate from late-gestation cow diets and be compounded in dairy systems by copper-fortified milk replacer and starter feed while calves are still functionally monogastric, leading to greater absorption. Research funded by the Iowa Beef Checkoff found high liver copper did not affect vaccine response but did worsen outcomes in a respiratory disease challenge, increasing fever, clinical signs, and lung consolidation, alongside systemic inflammation and potentially compromised liver health. Action steps include moderating copper in late-gestation and calf starter diets, avoiding feedlot copper over-fortification, reassessing frequent vaccination protocols, and considering zinc’s anti-inflammatory benefits. Hansen also notes she writes national-park crime thrillers under the pen name SL Hansen, with a new book due April 2026.
This Episode is brought to you by Adisseo
This episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast Founding Partner Adisseo, a global leader in nutritional solutions and premier provider of rumen-protected methionine for dairy producers who want to optimize milk production, capture more value from components, and maintain the health of their high-performing herds. Learn more at https://www.adisseo.com/en/

00:00 Why Calves Struggle

00:45 Sponsor Message

01:30 Meet Mineral Nerd

03:21 Feedlot Mystery Copper

04:46 Beef Copper Fortification

07:25 Dairy System One Two Punch

09:26 Toxicity Signs Inflammation

12:34 Respiratory Challenge Study

15:25 Other Thrive Factors

17:29 Producer Action Steps

21:15 Zinc Balancing Idea

22:04 Author Side Quest

23:56 Wrap Up Takeaways

This week on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we’re bringing you our breakout session from the Central Plains Dairy Expo for a real, unfiltered conversation with dairy’s rising leaders. From coming back to the farm… to carving your own path… to earning respect and finding your voice—this is a must-listen not only for the next generation, but for senior leaders looking to better understand, develop, and lead them.

We are proud to partner with Central Plains Dairy Expo to feature these four panelists:Jacob Wag, Wag's Blue and White Dairy; Emma Brockshus, Brockshus Dairy; Emmett Meissner, Norm-E-Lane Farm, and Chelsea Abbott, Trans Ova Genetics. 

Hear it straight from these rising leaders.

On location at Brooks Farms in Waupaca, Wisconsin, Peggy Coffeen interviews Dr. Amanda Onan of United Vet Services (Heritage Vet Partners) about how teamwork shapes her approach to dairy veterinary medicine nearly 10 years into practice. A second-generation veterinarian, Dr. Onan describes learning through ride-alongs with her father and hands-on work at Sugar Creek Farms, including projects to improve somatic cell count and mastitis understanding. She shares a formative lesson from a 70-year-old farm owner scraping stalls, reinforcing that no one is above any task and that every employee’s observations matter. Dr. Onan emphasizes building trust by engaging employees, recognizing positives, and using empathy to improve farm efficiency, while also discussing compassion fatigue in veterinary medicine and the support systems that help. She notes that Heritage’s national network enables collaboration, and she sees AI changing record analysis and on-farm implementation.

This episode is brought to you by Heritage Vet Partners
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.com.

• 00:43 Podcast Welcome and Sponsor
• 01:43 Why Amanda Became a Vet
• 04:09 Producer Perspective Lessons
• 05:51 Somatic Cell Count Project
• 08:06 Nobody Above Scraping Stalls
• 11:31 Building Trust With Employees
• 15:44 Positive Leadership Habits
• 16:39 Compassion Fatigue Explained
• 18:25 Support Systems and Grace
• 21:53 Business Side and Heritage Network
• 27:11 Future of Vet Med and AI
• 28:25 Final Thanks and Outro

Recorded in Amarillo at the High Plains Dairy Conference, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Matt Wolf and Jake Kingsley as they share their farm backgrounds—Matt from a Texas dairy family and Jake from Kansas, where his grandparents once had a small family dairy—plus unique experiences like dairy cattle and collegiate wool judging. 
Matt explains building a beef-on-dairy risk management program spanning day-old calves through finishing cattle and cull cows, including new LRP opportunities, and how producers can protect value at record-high calf and cow prices. 
Jake outlines Ever.Ag’s feed risk management approach as it combines futures, basis, and cash-feed analysis with regular producer check-ins. They discuss High Plains consolidation, processing capacity growth, water constraints, ongoing volatility, export needs, and the rise of high-protein products, then close with quick personal Q&A and country music picks.

Ever.Ag partners with dairy producers to build customized risk management plans that help protect margins in any market environment. With dedicated advisors, industry leading technology, and proven tools like Dairy Revenue Protection, we help farms reduce uncertainty and secure long‑term financial strength. Learn more at https://ever.ag/

00:00 High Plains Kickoff

01:53 Why Amarillo Matters

02:27 Matt Wolf's Story

04:45 Jake Kingsley's Story

06:29 Wool and Cattle Judging

08:15 Beef on Dairy Growth

13:10 Feed Risk Playbook

15:53 High Plains Game Changers

21:29 Future Outlook and Trends

29:08 Rapid Fire Fun

33:34 Wrap Up and Thanks

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we wrap up our preview of the Farm Forward Conference with part two of a conversation with Michigan dairyman, Tommy Oesch about farm transition mistakes and building an advisory team. Tommy describes a costly error of trying to manage dairy nutrition himself, learning to hire and listen to the right consultants, and updating who “sits at the table” as the business evolves. He outlines Swiss Lane’s aggressive growth plan from 5,000 cows to 10,000 by 2032, explains adopting EOS quarterly strategy meetings, and shares leadership lessons on accountability, communication, employee reviews, and putting the right people in the right roles. He advises older generations to allow mistakes and the next generation to push succession planning forward, noting it requires time, money, and persistence.

Join us for the Farm Forward ConferenceFriday, March 27, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center7001 Gass Lake Rd, Manitowoc, WI
Register Here: https://pci.jotform.com/form/260474594709165

00:00 Farm Forward Invite

01:27 Costly Nutrition Lesson

05:19 Building Advisor Team

08:52 Aggressive Growth Vision

10:47 Who Sits at Table

12:58 EOS Outside Expertise

15:05 Evolving Vet Role

16:13 Leadership Growing Pains

19:42 Accountability Processes

23:33 Advice Both Generations

25:29 Patience With Equity

27:05 No One Size Fits All

29:07 Conference Details Wrap

On this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are featuring a throwback interview with Michigan dairyman, Tommy Oesch of Swisslane Farms about generational transition challenges, including older owners holding control, the growing financial scale of dairies, and the need for next-generation members to work elsewhere and succeed before returning. Tommy shares his path from MSU to leaving the farm for a feed sales career, then returning in 2011 for lower pay to help manage growth, including building a 500-cow robot dairy. He describes using consultants, advisors, core values, and buy-sell planning to structure ownership, reduce senior wages to enable management transition, and navigate leadership mistakes.

Join us for the Farm Forward Conference

Friday, March 27, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center

7001 Gass Lake Rd, Manitowoc, WI

Register Here: https://pci.jotform.com/form/260474594709165

• 00:00 Introduction and Conference Announcement
• 01:04 Generational Transition Challenges
• 03:06 Preparing the Next Generation
• 05:44 Tommy's Early Career Journey
• 07:03 Learning the Feed Business
• 08:17 The Hard Decision to Return
• 10:48 Realizing Career Opportunities
• 11:51 Senior Generation's Perspective
• 14:57 Creating the Succession Plan
• 16:27 Building the Robot Dairy Together
• 19:45 Developing Core Values
• 23:27 Structuring the Buyout
• 25:01 Difficult Ownership Decisions
• 25:43 Lessons from Leadership Transition
• 26:39 Farm Forward Conference Details

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are gearing up for the Farm Forward Conference on March 27 with Kristy Pagel of Leading Edge Consulting speaking on navigating difficult conversations. This conversation previews Kristy's guidance for managers who avoid confrontation, emphasizing that hard conversations can strengthen bonds and improve retention. She outlines starting with root-cause identification, fact gathering, and objective measures, and shares an employee analyzer matrix (head/skills, heart/passion, capacity/time) plus an added column on willingness to reinvest with a timeframe, sometimes having employees self-assess. Kristy coaches three mindset skills—confidence, active listening, and forward-looking outcomes—and notes common sticking points are initial courage and follow-up.

Join us for the Farm Forward Conference

Friday, March 27, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center

7001 Gass Lake Rd, Manitowoc, WI

Register Here: https://pci.jotform.com/form/260474594709165

00:00 Farm Forward Invite

01:11 Why Hard Talks Matter

02:21 Find the Root Cause

03:19 Employee Analyzer Tool

04:46 Reinvest or Reassign

08:05 Manager Mindset Trio

10:38 Forward Looking Plans

11:58 Where People Get Stuck

13:36 Uplevel Five Q and A

19:09 Wrap Up and Contact

This episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast re-shares a conversation with Will McKinley, president of Menn Law, about legal realities of family farm transition and succession planning and common mistakes when families wait too long. The discussion focuses on why transition planning stalls, macro delays tied to reluctance to “retire” and the cyclical nature of farming, and micro stalls during multi-meeting planning, plus the value of scheduling, on-farm meetings, and mediation to address misunderstandings, confrontation avoidance, and ownership qualifications. The episode also promotes the Farm Forward Conference on March 27, 2026 at Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center in Newton, Wisconsin, featuring expert training and a transition panel including Will McKinley.

Join us for the Farm Forward Conference

Friday, March 27, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center

7001 Gass Lake Rd, Manitowoc, WI

Register Here: https://pci.jotform.com/form/260474594709165

00:00 Why Plans Fail

00:25 Farm Forward Conference

01:06 Meet Will McKinley

02:36 Menn Law and Tuig Merger

05:48 Will’s Farm Roots

08:00 Outside Industry Lessons

10:08 Learning from George Tuig

12:35 Why Transitions Stall

18:30 Keeping Momentum

21:35 Case Study Two Brothers

22:33 Breaking the Stalemate

23:34 One on One Mediation

25:39 Assumptions and Avoidance

27:32 Setting Fair Qualifications

29:06 Key Takeaways Recap

31:40 When to Get Help

33:24 Menn Law One Stop Shop

35:55 Listener Questions Invite

36:47 Uplevel Five Questions

40:32 Wrap Up and Contact Info

41:58 Farm Forward Conference

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, at the High Plains Dairy Conference in Amarillo, discussing dairy’s current momentum and major risks. Rick highlights positive “tailwinds” including new trade opportunities such as Indonesia, policy wins like the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids bill, and improved perceptions of dairy fat in dietary guidelines. He describes Idaho-led sustainability research lowering lagoon pH with sulfuric acid to reduce methane emissions by over 50%, aiming to create carbon-credit revenue accessible to most dairies. He also explains how relationships with Idaho’s federal delegation helped shape “big beautiful bill” tax provisions on inheritance and accelerated depreciation to support generational transfer and retirement. Immigration reform and workforce dependence are emphasized as critical for food security and national security, along with monitoring global competitors that could disrupt export markets.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with High Plains Dairy Conference.

00:00 Dairy Big Picture

00:39 Welcome and Setup

01:11 Conference Panel Takeaways

03:18 Rick’s Dairy Roots

04:36 Sustainability That Pays

08:29 Tax Policy and Legacy

11:03 Building Political Relationships

17:25 Immigration and Food Security

23:06 Future Risks and Advice

26:33 Closing and Subscribe

She dreamed of being a CEO in heels ... now she does it in coveralls.

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Rosario Ibarra of Grotegut Dairy in Newton, Wisconsin, a third-generation farm milking 3,600 cows.  Rosario remarks on her journey from Mexico, once dreaming of being a corporate CEO, to studying agronomy, joining an international internship that brought her to Wisconsin, and pivotal mentors along the way. She describes returning to Mexico, moving to the U.S. on a visa, marrying her husband, and helping lead his family’s farm through major losses and transition while balancing motherhood and management. The conversation highlights self-belief, mentorship, delegation, supporting the workforce and leading teams with gratitude, compassion, and a low-stress culture focused on animal care and food production.

This episode is brought to you by Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is dedicated to helping producers achieve healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food through their world-class portfolio. For more information, visit ⁠DairyWellness.com.⁠

• 00:39 Podcast Welcome
• 01:11 Zoetis Women Farmers
• 01:33 Inside Grotegut Dairy
• 04:04 From Mexico to Cows
• 05:12 Choosing Agronomy
• 07:04 Wisconsin Internship
• 08:33 Mentor Deb Reinhart
• 10:24 Back to Wisconsin
• 12:19 Manager and New Mom
• 13:45 Learning to Delegate
• 15:28 Believing in Yourself
• 17:26 Advice and Networks
• 19:53 Inspired by the Team
• 21:05 Leading With Care
• 22:01 Building A Stress-Free Team
• 24:10 Cornerstone Confidence Shift
• 26:37 Next Steps And Giving Back
• 28:55 Helping Team Members Feel at Home
• 32:14 Belonging Between Two Homes
• 34:25 Boards And Representation
• 36:52 Advice To Young Women
• 38:36 Gratitude And Closing