Uplevel Dairy Podcast

Mindset Mini-Series: This week on Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we’re bringing back a few of your favorite conversations from top performers in the dairy business.

Dairy manager Scott Blevins shares the habits, routines and principles that build his resilience and endurance to stay on top of his game while managing 6,500 cows, 6,600 youngstock and a team of people at Wiese Bros. Farms in Greenleaf, Wisconsin.

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Get your August Market Report Here: https://www.highgrounddairy.com/august-2024-dairy-producer-market-update/

Grab your copy of the FMMO Whitepaper here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/fmmo-recommended-decision-analysis-white-paper

Curtis from High Ground Dairy joins Peggy for the August market update, focusing on the latest trends and shifts in grain and dairy markets. Key updates include the WASDE report’s impact on corn and soybean projections, tight milk supplies driving up cheese prices, and the continued orderly rally in butter. Curtis also discusses insights on risk management, margin optimization, and how dairy producers can remain resilient amidst market volatility. Alex's detailed resources on federal milk marketing orders are highlighted, offering valuable tools for producers to navigate complex market dynamics.
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 Aug. 19 at 4 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.

Do you ever stop and think about those people that never had to help you along the way? But they did. The ones that reached out with encouragement, that advocated for you when they didn't have to. The ones that believed in you at times when you didn't even yet know believe in yourself. 

Well, my guest today is one of those people. She is a woman who has done exactly that for so many youth in the dairy industry. And at one point in time, I was one of those, and that's why it's my greatest pleasure and greatest honor to welcome to the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Katie Coyne. 

And not too long ago, I had heard that she was in her final stages of her time on this side of heaven and I realized that now was the time for me to pay that back. To sit down with someone who had been a part of so many other people's dairy stories and to tell her own dairy story. And to capture the wisdom of a woman who has been a tireless advocate for dairy youth 
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Join me for this bonus feature with Mike and Ben Jones from Trillium Hill Dairy in Wisconsin, who have revolutionized feed pad design by creating a system that efficiently separates rainwater from manure leachate. This innovation helps dairy farms reduce hauling costs, minimize environmental impact, and significantly cut down on infrastructure expenses. Let's dive into this conversation to discover how their design could benefit dairy operations around the country. 

In this episode, Mike and Ben Jones discuss the inception of their innovative feed pad design, crafted to keep clean rainwater out of manure pits. They detail how their system uses plastic barriers and a unique manhole cover solution to channel rainwater separately, achieving up to 95% discharge rate directly into road ditches without additional permits. This efficient system not only saves on manure pumping costs but also allows dairy farmers to optimize their existing manure storage facilities, fostering both economic and environmental sustainability.

Learn more about this system by contacting Mike and Ben with Dairy Nutrient Reclamation at [email protected]

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In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, host Peggy Coffeen visits Trillium Hill Dairy, where she sits down with owners Mike and Ben Jones. They delve into their journey of incorporating a manure digester and innovative sand separation system while maintaining their preferred sand bedding.

The Jones brothers explain the problems they encountered, the solutions they developed, and how these advancements have revolutionized their dairy operations.

Mike and Ben recount their expansion from a 400-cow dairy to a 1,900-cow operation, highlighting key projects such as the development of a feed center and feed pad designed for efficiency and reduced waste. 

They discuss implementing a unique sand separation system in conjunction with their RNG digester, enabling significant sand reclamation and cost savings. The episode also explores their modernized calf barn designed for optimal calf health and employee comfort, emphasizing the importance of management innovation in sustaining a profitable and efficient dairy farm.

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Often here on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we talk about business, management and challenges that dairy producers are overcoming every day, but today, we’re taking a little turn down a different path, to a side of the dairy business that’s built upon pedigrees that are deeper than the valleys of northern Vermont, carefully curated cow families and spirited competition, and our guide on this journey is a man who has dedicated his career to developing and marketing dairy cattle genetics - who took a risk to leave the comfort of the corporate world in order to  step into a vision for a niche business with elite genetics, and to redefine what it means to sell, show, market and breed great cows.  

From St. Jacobs to Showbox Sires to the Music City Celebration, and not to mention a “voice” on the Dairy Voice Podcast, this is a story of passion, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and going all in with Tim Abbott, right here today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.

Get ready to laugh, cry and think with Tim Abbott.

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Are you ready for an economic downturn? In this episode, we visit with a banker who cut his teeth during the 1980s farm crisis, as he shares what the most profitable farmers are doing right now to bullet-proof their balance sheets.

Lynn Paulson, director of agribusiness development with Bell Bank, walks us through the key indicators he is keeping a pulse on, including:

And he shares a couple of lessons we can all learn from his 40 years in agriculture banking.

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In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast, I am joined for part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Don Niles, a veterinarian turned dairyman, to talk more about his significant contributions to dairy farming and sustainability in Northeast Wisconsin.

Dr. Niles shares his passionate journey from city life to dairy farming, emphasizing the importance of innovative practices, cow comfort, and environmental sustainability, with particular focus on how Peninsula Pride Farms—a farmer-led watershed initiative—reinvented local dairy farming by fostering a cooperative and environmentally responsible community.

Throughout the discussion, Dr. Niles provides valuable insights on

He underscores the necessity of being open to change, fostering community relations, and trusting in new methods and technologies to sustain the dairy industry’s growth and excellence. As he transitions into retirement, Dr. Niles reflects on the impact of his career and the ongoing journey of innovation and improvement in dairy farming.

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Join me on this episode of the Uplevel Dairy podcast as I sit down with the groundbreaking, Dr. Don Niles. From his humble beginnings as a veterinarian in Wisconsin to transforming the dairy world, Dr. Niles shares his incredible journey.

This episode delves into the experiences that shaped his career, his partnership with visionary dairyman John Pagel, and the innovative practices they implemented at Dairy Dreams that set new standards in cow comfort and dairy management.

In this episode, Dr. Niles discusses

The episode also touches on the legacy of John Pagel and the impact of their joint efforts on the dairy industry. Don’t miss this insightful conversation that offers a deep dive into the technological advancements and high-performance mindsets driving the future of dairying.

The High-Performance Mindset Series is powered by Nedap. Nedap is future-proofing dairy farms by revolutionizing cow-side care through technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering, and identification. Listen for more episodes in this series throughout 2024 or catch past episodes in this series below!

How do you define your purpose? Your “why” for what gets you out of bed every day? 

In this episode, we pick up where we left off with Jack Pirtle, the dairyman from Roswell, New Mexico, in a conversation that cuts deep for anyone who has ever hit rock bottom, anyone who has struggled with their faith, anyone who realized they were the ones who needed to change. Jack shares with us his very personal journey to define his own purpose, connect with his faith, and become the man God is calling him to be.

That’s what I’ve got for you today on the  Uplevel Dairy podcast.

Contact Jack Pirtle:

[email protected]

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