Uplevel Dairy Podcast

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Joe Kern of Ever Ag discusses critical market trends impacting the agricultural industry as we move towards 2026. Kern provides an in-depth analysis of global influences, margin pressures, and potential threats to farming businesses. The episode is sponsored by Uplevel Dairy Podcast, and it highlights how dairy producers can optimize their operations using tools like Milk Pay app.

Joe Kern also shares his career journey, experiences, and the importance of adaptability and technological integration in the agriculture sector. Key discussions include the impact of government support programs, global protein demand, renewable energy trends, and challenges in the dairy market. The episode concludes with Kern's insights into strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) for dairy producers, emphasizing cautious optimism and the critical role of being open to change.

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 Introduction to Market Trends and Dairy Industry Insights

00:37 Sponsor Message: Uplevel Dairy Podcast

01:23 Joe Kern's Background and Career Journey

04:13 Current Role and Industry Involvement

05:55 Global Economic Outlook and Dairy Industry Impact

15:33 Renewable Energy and Biofuels in Agriculture

18:35 Grain, Beef, and Dairy Market Trends

20:59 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats for Dairy Producers

24:20 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

26:50 Conclusion and Closing Remarks

In this special Thanksgiving Day episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy has a powerful conversation with Tim Peart, Senior Vice President of Production Animal at MWI, as they reflect on their 'Words of the Year' for 2025. Tim also shares how the impactful practice of selecting a 'Word of the Year' has been for himself and his team, sharing insights into his selected words for the past few years—'Engagement' and 'Embolden'.

Looking ahead to 2026, his word is 'Devotion,' highlighting personal and professional growth, faith, and leadership. Tim's candid reflections on these themes offer inspiration on how to lead oneself and others toward meaningful progress and well-being.

• 00:00 Introduction and Thanksgiving Gratitude
• 01:05 Introducing Tim Peart and the Word of the Year
• 02:28 Tim Peart's Journey with the Word of the Year
• 05:14 The Impact of Choosing a Word: Engagement and Emboldenment
• 15:00 Acting with Urgency in 2025
• 25:42 Looking Ahead to 2026: Devotion
• 27:03 Defining Devotion in Life and Work
• 27:52 Personal and Professional Devotion
• 29:19 Action Plans for 2026
• 29:40 Faith and Family Commitments
• 30:47 Purpose and Professional Impact
• 34:20 Connecting with Adult Children
• 37:30 Choosing Words for the Year
• 38:32 The Power of Stewardship
• 41:08 Embracing the Word 'Prune'
• 44:15 Final Thoughts and Reflections
  

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, meet Michaela Bethard, the feed manager at High Plains Ponderosa Dairy in Kansas. Despite originally vowing never to work on a dairy, Michaela found her true passion in feed management. She shares her journey from interning in New Zealand to thriving in one of the most pivotal roles at a large-scale dairy operation. The conversation touches on her early aspirations, challenges faced, valuable lessons learned, and the importance of continued learning and human touch in agriculture. Additionally, Michaela talks about her leadership style and how her introverted nature has grown through managing a team. As she prepares for new personal milestones, Michaela reflects on the ever-evolving landscape of feed management and the potential future impacts of AI in the industry.

• 00:00 Introduction to Michaela Bethard's Journey
• 01:10 High Plains Ponderosa Dairy: A Family Affair
• 02:22 From Vet Aspirations to Feed Management
• 03:46 Discovering a Passion for Feed Management
• 06:56 The Importance of Reading Bunks
• 10:12 Challenges and Growth in Feed Management
• 12:27 Managing People and Building a Team
• 17:20 Key Lessons and Future Insights
• 19:16 Influential Mentors and Supportive Parents
• 20:21 Career Choices and Grad School Decisions
• 21:51 Future Aspirations in Dairy Management
• 23:46 The Role of AI in Feed Management
• 29:13 Advice for Young Dairy Professionals
• 32:01 Personal Growth and New Beginnings
• 35:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy provides a comprehensive update on the current state of dairy and cattle markets. Following his participation in the CME and American Dairy Products Institute's seminar, Curtis discusses key market dynamics, including the Whey Boom, challenges in cheese and butter markets, and the impact of the September milk production report. 

The episode also covers the ongoing volatility in cattle markets, recent trends in feed commodities like corn and soybeans, and strategic recommendations for dairy producers as they look ahead to 2026. Curtis emphasizes the importance of staying proactive in risk management to navigate market challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Catch your copy of the November Market Update here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/november-2025-producer-market-update

This episode is brought to you by:
HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.

Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities.  Opinions expressed are current opinions as of Nov 18, 2025 at 2:30  p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Amanda Dolphin, a lifelong dairy farmer turned dairy tech expert, discusses the revolutionary impact of internal temperature monitoring on dairy cow health and operational efficiency. Amanda shares her experiences using smaXtec's bolus technology, which tracks cows' internal body temperature, water intake, drinking cycles, and activity levels. 

By providing early alerts for potential health issues like mastitis and ketosis, calving predictions, and precise monitoring of cows' well-being, this technology helps farmers transition from reactive to proactive herd management. Amanda emphasizes the transformative benefits for both her family farm and the wider dairy community, offering detailed insights into implementation, data utilization, and the resulting improvements in productivity and profitability.

• 00:00 Unlocking the Potential of Internal Temperature Monitoring
• 01:13 Introduction to Amanda Dolphin and Her Dairy Background
• 02:54 Embracing Dairy Technology: From Collars to Bolus
• 04:42 The Impact of Internal Temperature Monitoring
• 06:22 Implementing smaXtec on the Farm
• 09:12 Installation and Onboarding Process
• 11:05 Supporting Dairy Farmers with smaXtec 
• 13:06 Concluding Thoughts and Future Prospects
• 18:08 Final Words and Episode Wrap-Up

This Episode is Brought to you by smaXtec

smaXtec is the internal health management system for dairy cows. The unique bolus technology measures internal temperature, rumination, drinking cycles, activity, and more. 

smaXtec helps dairy farmers of any size make confident, data-driven decisions that lead to healthier cows, fewer treatments, and better performance. With early detection and 24/7 monitoring, dairies can stay ahead of herd health issues and focus on long-term herd success. Find out more: https://smaxtec.com/us/

In this two-part episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, recorded live at World Dairy Expo, dairy producers and advisors discuss the transition and outcomes of robotic milking systems that operate without feed incentives. 

Matt Strickland from Double Creek and Jay Heeg from Heeg Dairy share their experiences, supported by advisors Kelli Hutchings and Jodi Erickson. They delve into the transition process, changes in cow behavior, and improvements in feed efficiency, milk production, and components. The panel also explores the challenges and successes, along with the support provided by DeLaval. This conversation offers valuable insights for dairy farmers considering similar transitions.
Listen to part 1 here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1rvroeVR2BVlu6CRKxkrbB?si=wWbikgZ8TcGVC8wZ47atCA

This episode is brought to you by DeLaval. DeLaval provides integrated solutions designed to improve dairy producers’ production, animal welfare, and overall quality of life. To learn more, visit Delaval.com/en-us/.

In this special live-recorded episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast from the World Dairy Expo, sponsored by DeLaval, the discussion revolves around the revolutionary concept of using a VMS (Voluntary Milking System) without feed incentives. Dairy farmers Matt Strickland from Double Creek Dairy in California and Jay Heeg from Heeg Brothers Dairy in Wisconsin, along with their advisors Kelli Hutchings and Jodi Erickson, share their experiences and insights. 

The episode explores the motivation behind moving away from feeding pellets, the transition process, and the impact on labor, performance, productivity, herd health, and profitability. Key topics include the setup of VMS systems, the importance of feed management, and the novel no-feed system, with Kelly Hutchings explaining how a concept inspired by her ranching experience in Wyoming was adapted to robotic milking. The conversation provides a comprehensive look at the practical steps and benefits of implementing a no-feed VMS system in dairy farming.

This episode is brought to you by DeLaval. DeLaval provides integrated solutions designed to improve dairy producers’ production, animal welfare, and overall quality of life. To learn more, visit Delaval.com/en-us/.

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, captured live at the World Dairy Expo, Manuel Soares, CEO of Milc Group, discusses how artificial intelligence and automation are transforming the dairy industry. Manuel shares insights into technologies that predict cow health, provide real-time employee guidance, and streamline operations like milking and feeding. The discussion highlights Milc Group's innovative solutions, including their new ID system and AI-driven tools that enhance precision and efficiency on dairy farms. 

Soares envisions a future where technology empowers dairy employees to perform at their best, rather than replacing them. The episode also explores the broader implications of these advancements and the potential for future developments in dairy technology.

This episode is sponsored in partnership with the Milc Group.

Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with the tools they need to succeed.

ONETM Feed: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/feed  

ONETM Scale: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/scale

00:00 Introduction: Solving Dairy Challenges with Technology

00:51 Sponsor Message: Milc Group's Revolutionary Software

01:23 Live from World Dairy Expo: Conversations with Farmers

02:17 Innovations in Dairy Management: ID Systems and Real-Time Data

09:11 AI and Automation: Enhancing Dairy Operations

16:51 Future of Dairy: Robotics and AI Integration

32:05 Conclusion: Empowering Dairy Farmers with Technology

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen continues the conversation with Danielle Ware-Dreier from Shiloh Dairy in Brillion, Wisconsin. Danielle discusses her journey and philosophies on leading a high-performing team, managing 54 people, and ensuring top-tier milk quality from 2,900 cows. She shares insights into her leadership strategies, focusing on respect, protocol adherence, and team development. 

Danielle emphasizes the importance of understanding team members, setting clear protocols, and offering continuous training. She also highlights the significance of building a supportive culture and recognizing individual contributions.

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/

In the second episode of the smaXtec series at Hornstead Dairy, Amber Horn Lieterman, Louisa Koch from smaXtec, and Steve Woodford discuss the transformative impact of precision cow monitoring. They delve into how real-time data from innovative monitoring boluses, including pH bolus technology, is enhancing decision-making in rations, transition protocols, and team communication. 

The episode highlights the integration of this technology into the farm's operations and examines the collaborative efforts between nutritionists, veterinarians, and farm managers to improve dairy efficiency. 

00:00 Introduction to Precision Cow Monitoring

01:10 smaXtec's Impact on Dairy Farming

02:24 The Evolution of pH Bolus Technology

03:53 Real-Time Data and Nutrition Management

05:05 Actionable Insights from Data

11:33 Team Collaboration and Integration

20:41 Future of pH Monitoring in Dairy

27:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This Episode is Brought to you by smaXtec

smaXtec is the internal health management system for dairy cows. The unique bolus technology measures internal temperature, rumination, drinking cycles, activity, and more. 

smaXtec helps dairy farmers of any size make confident, data-driven decisions that lead to healthier cows, fewer treatments, and better performance. With early detection and 24/7 monitoring, dairies can stay ahead of herd health issues and focus on long-term herd success. Find out more: https://smaxtec.com/us/