Dairy Stream

According to the USDA, feed represents the largest variable input cost of production, accounting for 51 percent of total production costs. Farmers have felt the impact of rising feed costs. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Jocelyn Johnson, a  research scientist at STgenetics, about the actual feed saved, environmental impact, potential challenges and changes to your genetic plan. Thank you to STgenetics for sponsoring this ...

GoodSport™ launched a sports drink that is 97 percent dairy and it aims to compete nationally against leading brands. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Michelle McBride, founder & CEO of GoodSport Nutrition, and KJ Burrington, formerly retired coordinator of dairy ingredient, cultured products and beverages at the Center for Dairy Research, about the process of developing the product and what the future holds for dairy-b...

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 could create a year-round variant of the H-2A visa program for workers in livestock agriculture. This would be important for dairy farmers, who don’t have a year-round visa option now. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Brandon Davis, attorney at Phelps in New Orleans, Louisiana, about the requirements of H-2A, impact it has on the agricultural community and future possibilities. T...

Online grocery shopping has been on the rise and COVID-19 has accelerated that trend. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Paul Zieminsky, executive vice president of global innovation partnerships and Beau Hayden, vice president of insights: sales & trust at Dairy Management Inc., about dairy's relationship with Amazon Fresh and the future of dairy sales online. Thank you to Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin for sponsoring th...

Dairy Stream dissects a first-of-its-kind framework that outlines a project-based approach to developing a farm-level sustainability project. Our host, Mike Austin, talks with Lauren Brey, managing director of Farmer for Sustainable Food, and Doug Thomas, senior project manager at Houston Engineering, the experts behind the national award-winning framework. Thank you to The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin for sponsoring this podcas...

Are you prepared to be a farmer of the future? Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Sam Miller, managing director of agriculture at BMO Harris Bank, about inflationary pressures and ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing targets farmers should have on their radar. Thank you to BMO Harris Bank for sponsoring this episode. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperativ...

Heat stress in animal productivity has cost the U.S. beef and dairy industries an estimated $1.2 billion every year. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Tim Thompson, senior dairy specialist at Provimi, about implementing proper air movement, hydration and feed ration into a heat stress program. Thank you to Provimi, for sponsoring this podcast. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farme...

The manure from dairy farms and their digesters are poised to play a big role in the future of renewable energy. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Brian Dolski, chief financial officer at Pagel’s Family Businesses, and Greg Steele, senior dairy lending specialist at Compeer Financial about the business structure, common challenges and economics of RNG projects. Thank you to Compeer Financial for sponsoring this podcast. This...

Manure can be complex for farmers, but with proper management the benefits can be profitable. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Dr. Jamie Patton, soil scientist with the nutrient and pest management program at UW-Madison, on understanding the basic terms associated with manure, new technologies and techniques, steps to better manure management and the economic value of dairy manure. Thank you to The Nature Conservancy in Wis...

As requested from our listeners, Dairy Stream dove into the topic of Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs) and Producer Price Differentials (PPDs). Mike Austin talks with Dr. Marin Bozic, assistant professor in dairy foods marketing economics at the University of Minnesota, about the usefulness of FMMOs, the causes of negative PPDs and how to solve issues related to pricing in the future. Thank you to Compeer Financial for sponsori...

Cheeselandia is bringing together cheese enthusiasts that have a love for Wisconsin cheese. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Suzanne Fanning, senior vice president of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and chief marketing officer of Wisconsin Cheese to discuss the members of Cheeselandia, how cheese processors are involved and how a dairy farmer can engage with the group. Thank you to Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin for sponsoring this ...

Women are getting more involved in the dairy community and are finding themselves in leadership roles more often. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin spoke with three accomplished women about the value of leadership and advice they had for other women to get involved. Amy Penterman of Dutch Dairy, Heidi Fischer of Fischer-Clark Dairy Farm and Jamie Witcpalek of Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy talked in-depth about their challenges over the years...

It was an honor to host the voice of agriculture. Dairy Stream's Mike Austin talks with farm broadcast legend Orion Samuelson about his over 60 years of broadcasting experience. Orion shares his favorite stories, gives advice, reminiscences on memories and shares future plans. Thank you to Cargill for sponsoring this podcast. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister...

Science is showing that farmers across Wisconsin have been improving soil health and water quality through their involvement in a growing number of farmer-led watershed conservation groups. With its latest data in hand, the Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance (LASA) in southwestern Wisconsin shares the secrets of its success. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with conservation specialist Dana Christel at the Wisconsin Department of...

Twin Birch Dairy in Skaneateles, New York, in the Owasco watershed did a study that found the water exiting the farm was actually cleaner than the water entering the farm. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Dirk Young, owner of Twin Birch Dairy, and Peter Rogers, board member of the Owasco Watershed Lake Association, about the study, sustainability practices used on the farm and more. Thank you to the Innovation Center for U....

The Dairy Business Association has kept a close eye on the election and what the results might mean for the dairy community going into 2021. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with John Holevoet, DBA's director of government affairs, about the dairy-friendly candidate endorsement process, changes in the Senate and Assembly and opportunities ahead. Thank you to Michael Best & Friedrich for sponsoring this podcast. This podc...

Leprino Foods Co. in Greeley, Colorado, one of the winners of the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award, approaches sustainability in a variety of ways, from natural gas turbines, a wastewater treatment system, LED lights and more. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with the associate director of environment and global responsibility, Adam Wylie, about the challenges and successes their plant has experienced. Thank you to the Innovation...

If you are confused about what’s on your milk check, you’re not alone. Our listeners have requested we cover this topic. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Mike North, principal at Ever. Ag, about the areas to focus on a milk check; premiums, components, producer price differentials (PPDs) and more. Thank you to Agri-King for sponsoring this podcast. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy...

Cover crops are making a difference to improve soil health and water quality. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Jim Isermann, Illinois and Wisconsin field manager of the Soil Health Partnership, and Ken Rosenow, owner of Cedar Home Farms about the cover crop benefits, recommendations for beginners, challenges and more. Thanks to The Nature Conservancy of Wisconsin for sponsoring this podcast. This podcast is co-produced by t...