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...

Farmers in the Turkey Hill Clean Water Partnership are getting a premium on their milk check for implementing sustainability practices. Dairy Steam host Mike Austin talks to Lindsay Reames, director of sustainability and external relations for the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, and Jenna Mitchell, Pennsylvania state director for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, about the innovative group, which ...

An exciting research project recently launched through the Dairy Innovation Hub analyzes the costs and benefits of manure management regulations for dairy farm economic viability and soil and water sustainability. The goal of this project is to analyze how and under what circumstances manure regulations improves water quality. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks to experts Dr. Jeremy Foltz, professor in the department of agricultur...

One of the 2020 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award winners is proof that organizations from different sectors can work together to improve complex sustainability challenges. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Ryan Flaherty, director of business partnerships at Sustainable Conservation, Richie Mayo, farm manager at De Jager Farms and Domonic Rossini, agronomic relationship manager at Netafim USA. They discuss the dip irrigation p...

Threemile Canyon Farms in Boardman, Oregon, one of the winners of the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award, approaches sustainability in a variety of ways, from a closed-loop system, a methane digester that produces renewable natural gas, feeding produce byproducts and more. They also had a lot of success with their internship program. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with general manager, Marty Myers, about how it all works together...

Based on recommendations from a water quality task force, the Wisconsin state Assembly in February 2020 passed a $10 million package of bills aimed at curbing water contamination, increasing well testing and bolstering conservation efforts. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Reps. Todd Novak and Katrina Shankland, who led the task force, about what has been accomplished so far, what steps might be needed and the stalled legis...

COVID-19 has impacted the dairy customer of the future and normalized online grocery shopping. Dairy continues to be in the cart. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Chad Vincent, CEO of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, about their marketing strategy towards customers, restaurants and grocery stores, advice for the dairy community to engage with the customer of the future and how to get involved. Thanks to Dairy Farmers of Wisconsi...

Confused by Producer Price Differentials (PPDs)? Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talked with Mark Stephenson, who is the director of dairy policy analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, about the Federal Milk Marketing Order, Producer Price Differentials (PPDs) and what they are and how they are calculated, what causes a negative PPD, the fluctuations in milk prices and the future outlook for milk checks. Stephenson also co-...

Farmer-led conservation groups have been growing in popularity as a way for farmers to expand conservation practices and document their progress in water quality and soil health. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Rachel Rushmann, Producer-led Program manager at Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection; Steve Richter, director of agriculture strategies at The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin; and Laur...

Fewer lawmakers today have a farming background even though agriculture remains an all-important part of our communities and country. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Wisconsin state Senator Howard Marklein and state Representative Dave Considine about their experiences on the farm and now at the Capitol. They encourage farmers to make their voices heard and they offer advice for farmers interested in running for office. Th...

Like other owners of essential businesses, dairy farmers are taking extra precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure their employees are healthy and safe. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Wisconsin dairy farmer Amy Penterman and dairy consultant Elsie Gonzalez about on-farm communication, safety and resources to help navigate this unusual situation. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and E...

As executive director of the Wisconsin Farm Service Agency, Sandy Chalmers is in the thick of helping farmers apply for direct payments through the federal Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Chalmers talks with Dairy Stream host Mike Austin about dairy farm eligibility requirements, how livestock and crops figure into the formulas, and the role of local FSA offices. The podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Associat...