Uplevel Dairy Podcast

In this special episode, Peggy Coffeen, host of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, partners with World Dairy Expo to interview Juan Moreno, CEO and Founder of STgenetics and recipient of the 2025 International Person of the Year award. Juan shares his inspiring journey from growing up on a dairy farm in Colombia to pioneering reproductive technologies that have transformed dairy cattle breeding. He discusses his motivations, the pivotal moments in his career, and the importance of individual animal care in modern dairy farming. Juan also reflects on the role of artificial insemination technology in advancing the global dairy industry and emphasizes the collective effort required to feed the world.  Be sure to start planning your trip to World Dairy Expo, September 30th through October 3rd. Get your passes now worlddairyexpo.com. This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Dairy Show and World Dairy Expo. 00:00 Introduction to the Dairy Show Special Edition00:47 Juan Moreno's Early Life and Career Beginnings04:27 Pivotal Moments and Academic Pursuits07:32 The Birth and Growth of STgenetics10:40 Challenges and Breakthroughs in Sexed Semen Technology20:36 Global Impact and Future Vision26:36 Reflections and Personal Insights44:29 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

This collaboration episode between Uplevel Dairy and World Dairy Expo features Jim Mulhern, a seasoned dairy policy expert, who shares his journey from growing up in small town Wisconsin to leading the National Milk Producers Federation. Jim talks about his early exposure to politics and policy in seventh grade, which led to his interest in agricultural policy during his college years. He also discusses his career trajectory, significant industry challenges, such as workforce and trade policy, and the major changes in the dairy sector over the last four decades. 

Jim reflects on the importance of staying connected to the people he serves, the value of meaningful work, and his philosophy of balancing change with core values. As he receives the World Dairy Expo's Industry Person of the Year award, Jim fondly remembers the people who've impacted his career and offers advice for young professionals in the dairy industry.

 Be sure to start planning your trip to World Dairy Expo, September 30th through October 3rd. Get your passes now worlddairyexpo.com. 

This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Dairy Show and World Dairy Expo. 

00:00 Introduction to Jim's Journey in Dairy

00:57 Early Influences and Education

02:30 First Steps in Dairy Policy

03:43 Internship and Early Career Challenges

05:29 Balancing Supply and Demand in Dairy

07:23 Realizing the Impact of Policy Work

10:04 Career Growth and National Milk Producers Federation

18:40 Changes and Challenges in the Dairy Industry

28:09 Future Challenges for Dairy Producers

34:27 The Importance of Middle Ground in Politics

38:22 Engaging in Industry Organizations

41:09 Advice for Young Professionals

43:41 Receiving the World Dairy Expo Honor

45:54 Reflecting on a Career in Dairy

49:17 Personal Reflections and Future Plans

01:01:40 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

In this live episode from Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, Will McKinley of Menn Law Firm delves into the legal intricacies of managing and transitioning family dairy farms. 

From partnership structures to succession planning, Will shares essential strategies for ensuring the longevity and success of dairy operations. He also highlights common challenges, such as finding interested successors and managing financial transitions, while sharing examples of creative solutions for keeping family farms thriving. 

This conversation emphasizes the importance of clear planning, family discussions, and understanding legal tools like revocable and irrevocable trusts. Tune in for expert advice and practical insights on upleveling your dairy.

Contact Will McKinley at Menn Law:

[email protected]

(920) 731-6631

https://mennlaw.com/

Do you have a question on succession and farm transition you would like to hear Will answer on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast?

Send your questions to [email protected] 

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen and Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy provide an extensive market update for August 2025. The discussion covers key areas such as the continual year-over-year growth in US milk production, including a 3.3% increase reported in June, which is attributed to genetic improvements and enhanced cow comfort. The podcast also highlights a record-breaking corn crop forecast, favorable for dairy producers in terms of feed costs. Additionally, the episode explores the state of cattle markets, emphasizing the impacts of past droughts and current efforts to rebuild herds.

Further insights are provided into dairy commodity markets, particularly cheese and butter, with projections on future pricing and supply-demand balances. The episode wraps up with strategic advice for dairy producers on planning and managing margins for a profitable future.

Grab your own monthly market update here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/august-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 August,  at 1 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, Peggy Coffeen interviews Jordan Leak, Vice President at High Plains Ponderosa in Kansas. Jordan shares his journey from growing up in Idaho as a fourth-generation dairyman to discovering his greater purpose of developing people. He discusses his defining moments, the importance of humility and gratitude in leadership, and his efforts to build an inclusive and opportunity-rich workplace culture. Additionally, Jordan highlights how the dairy's mission of creating infinite business opportunities extends beyond profits to positively impact employees and the community.

Sponsored by Micro Technologies, this episode delves into leadership, growth, and the values that drive the dairy industry.

Micro Technologies innovates advanced, comprehensive & integrated technologies to help dairies produce a safe, wholesome product more efficiently and profitably.

For more information, visit: Microtechnologies.com

00:00 Introduction to Jordan Leak's Journey

01:07 Early Life and Family Background

02:54 First Steps in the Dairy Business

04:53 Realizing a New Passion

06:43 Transition to Management

08:30 Joining High Plains Ponderosa

12:49 Leadership Philosophy and Development

29:15 Personal Growth and Reflections

33:04 Books That Shaped Jordan's Leadership

38:12 Final Thoughts and Future Aspirations

41:07 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up

This episode is sponsored by Micro Technologies

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, hosted by Peggy Coffeen, financial expert Steve Schwoerer from Compeer Financial shares nearly four decades of lending experience to provide insights on maximizing returns from beef on dairy cattle and strategic long-term herd planning. Discussions include short-term strategies to take advantage of high beef prices, the long-term outlook for dairy operations, and key considerations such as labor, facilities, and manure management.

The conversation also broaches risk management and the potential for leveraging lower commodity prices. Steve offers practical advice for both immediate income opportunities and sustainable operational growth in the dairy industry.

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy continues the conversation with Manuel Soares, CEO of Milc Group, diving into the mindset and mission driving one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the dairy industry. Manuel discusses the importance of creating a culture of trust, accountability, and innovation, and reveals his three key virtues for team building: character, passion, and faith. The episode also explores Milc Group's pioneering dairy software, which integrates real-time actionable data to enhance dairy farm operations globally. Manuel shares lessons learned from his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizes the importance of hiring and empowering good people, and describes Milc Group's approach to continuously innovating and adapting to meet the needs of the dairy industry.

00:00 Introduction to Future-Proofing Dairy Business

00:52 Sponsorship and Company Overview

01:25 Leadership Principles and Hiring Philosophy

03:06 Faith and Personal Beliefs in Business

03:54 Early Team and Company Evolution

06:07 Innovation and Product Development

15:05 Challenges and Lessons Learned

20:32 Empowering Teams and Leadership Advice

26:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this power-packed episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen dives into the challenges and strategies behind successfully transitioning family farms through multiple generations. With only 3% making it from the third to the fourth generation, guests Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritus from Virginia Tech, and Lynn Paulson, Vice President of Agribusiness Development at Bell Bank, share actionable insights to beat the odds.

From the 2025 Ag Views Live event, they discuss the critical role of understanding financials, balance sheets, working capital, and asset valuation, alongside the importance of a business management mindset. Discover why involving the next generation in decision-making, setting deliberate goals, and having a trusted advisory team are essential for long-term profitability. 

You’ll also hear lessons from history, including the economic challenges of the 1980s, and practical tips for managing family living expenses. Whether you’re planning a farm transition or aiming to strengthen your operation’s financial foundation, this episode offers the tools to secure both your legacy and your bottom line.

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/

Genetics, Reproductive Technology and Family Farm Transition

At the 2025 National Holstein Convention, we caught up with 6th-generation Minnesota dairy farmer and veterinarian Dr. Ashley Swenson.

As a vet specializing in embryo transfer, Ashley owns Midwest Embryo Transfer Service and also has a seat on the Holstein Association’s International Marketing Committee.

This conversation includes her tips for making genetic investment decisions, and we go beyond repro technology to talk about a topic near and dear to her heart: family farm transition and what it took for Ashley and her husband to make her home farm an opportunity for the seventh generation.

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.⁠

As excitement builds for this year’s World Dairy Expo, we're bringing back a crowd favorite recorded live at the Showbox Sires showbox during last year’s event.

In this episode, Peggy Coffeen and Tim Abbott sit down with industry icons Tom Morris and Ernie Kueffner. Together, they revisit the early days of Expo, reminisce about unforgettable cows, and unlock stories that have lived inside their showboxes for decades.

Whether you're a longtime show ring veteran or gearing up for your first trip to Madison, this episode captures the history, heart, and humor that make World Dairy Expo so special.

Make sure to check out Part 2 with Jim Ostrom, John Vosters, and Steve Briggs for even more Expo storytelling.

To nominate the dairy story you’d like us to share, you can contact Peggy at [email protected], 608-558-1876 or Tim at [email protected], (802) 238-1142.