Dairy Stream

Are you covered? Must know insurance basics for buildings and machinery

We want you to be prepared for the unexpected. Dairy Stream host Mike Austin talks with Mark Santas, president of Alongi Santas Moss Insurance Agency, about insurance policies for buildings and machinery. Santas goes in-depth about a range of topics from weather damage, customer operator coverage and what should be on your checklist. Thank you to Hastings Mutual Insurance for sponsoring this episode. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

Can genetics impact your on-farm feed bill?

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 episode. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

What's the future of dairy-based sports drinks?

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-based sports beverages. Thank you to Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin for sponsoring this episode. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

Farm Workforce Modernization Act: What to know about H-2A

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. This episode is sponsored by Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

Amazon Fresh: Future of online dairy sales

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 this episode. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

How to start a farm-level sustainability project

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 podcast. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

*View the award-winning framework here: A Framework for Farm-Level Sustainability Projects

How to be a farmer of the future

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 Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

Combating heat stress and preventing income loss

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 Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

Renewable natural gas projects: Understanding the basics and economics

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 podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

*Link to a helpful resource from Newtrient 

How to utilize manure and increase profitability

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 Wisconsin for sponsoring this podcast. This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

*Link to the Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast tool