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Healthcare costs continue to rise, making it harder for dairy producers to manage employee benefits. Join host Mike Opperman as he talks with Paul Kulpa and Julia Newman of Agri-Services Agency about the 2027 health insurance outlook, cost-control strategies, employee participation, supplemental benefits, and planning for the year ahead. Episode breakdown: Health insurance market outlook: 2:30Advantages of offering health insurance: 5:302027 rates for top 10 dairy states: 7:39Planning for 2027: 9:12Employee participation: 12:00Contribution strategies (HAS/FSA/ICHRA): 14:55Vision, dental and supplementary insurances: 17:00Life insurance: 18:40Getting the most from your health insurance: 20:54 This episode is sponsored by Agri-Services Agency. Agri-Services Agency specializes in providing customized insurance solutions for dairy farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses. Insurance offerings include health, dental, vision, life insurance, workers’ compensation, and property and casualty insurance. ASA is committed to helping you access comprehensive insurance coverage at a price that fits your budget. 24/7 customer service center: 1-877-466-9089 Website: https://agri-servicesagency.com/

In this episode, host Kimmi Devaney sits down with retiring DMI CEO Barb O’Brien to learn how the dairy checkoff has evolved over the last 25 years, which partnerships have been the most effective, why she is so excited about where dairy is right now and much more.  Episode overview: [~1:20] What first drew O’Brien to the dairy industry[~3:00] Why O’Brien is so passionate about the work the dairy checkoff does[~4:15] The dairy checkoff landscape in 2001 [~5:40] Three of the most pivotal moments in dairy checkoff history that have had the greatest impact[~9:00] What dairy farmers told her during the listening tour when she first became CEO that influenced her approach[~13:25] Now-next-future framework[~15:35] The partnerships that have made the greatest impact in growing dairy demand and those that were not as successful as anticipated[~19:25] Measuring success[~22:30] Why O’Brien is so excited about where dairy is right now [~25:20] The greatest opportunities to grow dairy demand over the next five to 10 years[~27:10] What she is most proud of and what she will miss the most once she retires [~29:15] What influenced O’Brien’s leadership style the most during her career[~33:10] Her advice for successor Corey Scott as she steps into this next chapter[~34:55] O’Brien’s message for dairy farmers about the impact of their dairy checkoff investment

Raising calves is hard, and good help is harder to find. Dr. Jeremy Schefers, Merck Animal Health DVM, explains how SenseHub®️ Dairy Youngstock monitoring is stepping in as 24/7 "competent help" for producers managing tighter labor and bigger herds. Conversation includes: What the technology tracks and why it starts at just 27 hours of ageHow early detection changes treatment decisions and outcomesField examples of catching feed, weather and vaccine-related issues earlyThe connection between calfhood health and lifetime cow performanceWhat it really costs — and what producers can expect to get back This episode is sponsored by Merck Animal Health. A profitable herd starts long before first lactation. This episode is sponsored by SenseHub®️ Dairy Youngstock from Merck Animal Health, a monitoring solution that tracks calf behavior from day one to help producers catch problems early, protect long-term productivity and make the most of their labor. Learn more at SenseHub-Dairy.com.

In this episode, join host Kimmi Devaney and Ad van Velde for a discussion about educational opportunities offered through Global Dairy Farmers, the technology he uses on his dairy farm in the Netherlands and a look at the dairy industry around the world. Episode overview: [~1:05] About van Velde’s dairy farm in the Netherlands[~5:30] On-farm technology[~6:45] Generating electricity on the farm[~7:40] Other on-farm innovations he is excited about[~10:15] Van Velde’s approach to sustainability[~12:15] About the dairy industry in the Netherlands[~14:35] Preparing the next generation to manage the farm in the future[~16:45] Global Dairy Farmers[~19:00] The Congress and other educational opportunities for members of Global Dairy Farmers[~23:50] The value of learning about the dairy industry in other countries[~24:30] The most memorable parts of van Velde’s Global Dairy Farmers presidency so far[~27:00] A look at the dairy industry around the globe

How does dairy checkoff turn nutrition science into consumer action? In this episode of the Your Dairy Checkoff Podcast, Scott Wallin sits down with Aris Georgiadis to discuss the consumer marketing strategies helping build trust and grow dairy sales. From the First 1,000 Days initiative and partnerships with trusted parenting resources to retail programs like We Are Family and the Dairy Does More platform, learn how dairy checkoff is connecting with today's consumers through science, storytelling and data-driven marketing.  Learn more about how your checkoff is working to build sales and trust at DairyCheckoff.com. Host & Guest  Host: Scott Wallin, Vice President of Farmer Communications & Media Relations, Dairy Management Inc. Guest: Aris Georgiadis, Senior Vice President of Marketing Communications, Dairy Management Inc. This episode is sponsored by Dairy Management Inc.

As dairy producers look to maximize profitability, every pregnancy needs a strategic lens. Join Jeremy Howard of Simplot Animal Sciences and Lauren Kimble of Select Sires as they discuss strategic breeding, beef-on-dairy opportunities, the growing value of uniform, consistent genetics to help producers capture value today and prepare for tomorrow's market demands. Learn more about SimVitro® Cattle Embryos This episode is sponsored by Simplot Animal Sciences.

Stacy Rethman joins guest host Audrey Schmitz in this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast to discuss how she returned to her family’s dairy, Rottinghaus Holstein Farm in Seneca, Kansas. After teaching middle school science, she now helps manage their herd while educating consumers about dairy farming through outreach and social media. Episode breakdown: 0:40 – Rethman’s connection to farming4:00 – Journey from teaching to dairying8:00 – Similarities between teaching and dairying10:00 – Returning to the farm full time12:40 – Difficult seasons15:20 – Steepest learning curve16:50 – Finding balance between farming and family18:45 – Advice for other young women20:40 – Sharing farm life on social media

Healthy calves begin with a healthy environment, and sometimes the most important challenges are found right at bedding level. In this episode, calf producer and researcher Dr. Dave Casper discusses what led him to investigate ammonia in calf hutches and the results of his research evaluating SurpHace® (sodium bisulfate) as an environmental management tool. He shares what the study revealed about ammonia concentrations and calf growth, and observations surrounding fly pressure. A great listen for producers looking for proactive ways to create a healthier calf environment. Episode highlights: 01:34 – Why Study Ammonia in Calf Hutches? Dave explains what first made him question ammonia levels in outdoor calf hutches. 03:44 – Reducing Ammonia with SurpHace The study showed lower ammonia levels, along with observations of reduced fly pressure. 05:23 – Improving Calf Growth Calves gained more than a tenth of a pound per day, resulting in about eight pounds of additional gain. 06:03 – Evaluating Ammonia at Calf Level Dave explains why producers should assess air quality where the calf actually rests. 07:07 – What’s Next for SurpHace Research? Ongoing work is evaluating whether once-weekly applications can provide effective ammonia control. This episode is sponsored by Jones-Hamilton.

Tara Hill and Emma Hill-Macmillan join guest host Audrey Schmitz in this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast to chat about how dairywomen find balance between the farm and caring for their families. Learn how they work side by side on Charles Hill and Son Dairy in Central Onslow, Nova Scotia, and have a shared work ethic and passion for agriculture to advance their family farm. Episode breakdown:  0:45 – Connection to dairy farming 4:45 – Finding balance between farming and family6:50 – Difficult seasons and moments it felt worth it 10:00 – Differences in farming between generations13:25 – Working relationship between mother and daughter 16:55 – Leadership strengths women bring to the dairy industry

Rick Boyer is the dairy/agriculture account manager for Vaughan Company. Rick has been with Vaughan Company since 2012, where he started in the manure department, and his expertise is manure. He has had a hand in most dairy and ag applications offering suggestions and solutions, from large commercial operations to small farms. This episode is sponsored by Vaughan Company. Visit the Vaughan Company website

Artificial intelligence (AI) and big data are revolutionizing industries—so why is dairy only now catching up? In this episode, we explore: Why the dairy value chain is embracing AI nowHow DDW is using data to support smarter, more sustainable dairy operationsThe journey from raw farm data to actionable AI insights Don’t miss this conversation on the future of dairy tech! This episode is sponsored by Dairy Data Warehouse.  At Dairy Data Warehouse (DDW), we unlock the full potential of data on dairy farms across the globe to enable the industry to harness big data and AI for sustainable and more profitable farming. DDW collects farm data from the herd management software and other sources on farm. We ensure high data quality by cleaning and transforming it into a unified, comparable set for AI driven strategic decision-making, benchmarking and insights. Our solutions support key stakeholders in nutrition, genetics, animal health, cow monitoring, and milking equipment. Let’s connect to explore how data can drive your business forward.

Join host Matti McBride as she chats with dairy producer Erica Hermonot in this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast. Learn about Hermonot’s dairy, operating a farm store, welcoming kids to the farm each year and hosting the local county fair birthing center. Hermonot also touches on the importance of community outreach for dairy producers. Listen to learn more. Episode breakdown: 1:00 – Rapid-fire questions2:40 – Fairhom Farm5:30 – Farm store8:40 – Kids camp12:50 – Adding value to Fairholm Farm14:15 – Interesting questions Erica has been asked15:00 – Managing the birthing center at local county fair21:30 – Traits Fairhom Farm selects for, how they maintain longevity in herd27:50 – Describing modern dairy technology to consumers30:30 – Advice for others interested in agritourism

Every day, dairy producers balance countless decisions across people, cows and operations. As technology continues to evolve, the challenge isn't access to information. It's knowing what matters most and what action to take next. In this episode, Mark Moran and Jennifer Stamey of VAS join Walt Cooley of Progressive Dairy to discuss how connected systems can help bring clarity to complex operations, support more confident decision-making and unlock new opportunities for the future of dairy management. From predictive insights and automation to creating the context needed for better decisions, the conversation explores what's next for the modern dairy. Show Highlights:  02:47 | Dairy has more data than ever. Now what?04:48 | The gap between data collection and decision making13:02 | Why connected systems matter on today’s dairy 18:06 | Using technology to anticipate change on the dairy 23:28 | Building the team, technology and strategy for the future Mark Moran, PhD, SM, MBA, serves as Chief Product and Technology Officer at VAS, bringing more than two decades of experience in agtech spanning information technology, manufacturing, marketing, product engineering and emerging technology. He has spent most of the last decade focused on AI, Mobile, Cloud, IoT and autonomous systems. Throughout his career, he has led teams focused on innovation, connected systems and digital transformation. At VAS, Mark helps guide the company's product and technology strategy with a focus on delivering practical solutions that help dairy producers operate with greater confidence, efficiency and insight. Jennifer Stamey, PhD, is a Senior Product Manager at VAS with a background spanning dairy nutrition, herd management and dairy technology. Before moving into product management, Jennifer worked closely with producers and consultants to help dairies use data to improve decision-making and operational performance. Today, she helps shape the future of herd management software at VAS, combining practical dairy experience with a deep understanding of the technologies that support modern dairy operations. Walt Cooley, MBA, served as editor-in-chief of the industry-leading publication Progressive Dairy (www.progressivedairy.com) for 16 years. He is still a contributing editor to the magazine and now serves as vice president of publishing. Additionally, he is the founder and editor of The Cow Tech Report (www.cowtechreport.com), a global newsletter covering emerging technologies for cows. He is a learner and futurist passionate about technology and its application for farms and livestock. This episode is sponsored by VAS. VAS is a global leader in dairy management software and the company behind DairyComp, the industry's trusted herd management platform. For more than 40 years, VAS has helped producers collect, connect and act on their farm data with insights that support confident management decisions. Visit VAS.com to learn more.

Join host Matti McBride on this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast as she chats with California dairy producer Stephen Mast. Learn more about Mast’s dairy, priorities for his herd, how he mates cows and what he is excited about with the August 2026 bull proofs. Episode breakdown: 1:20 – Rapid-fire questions4:20 – Mast’s dairy and background8:15 – Maintaining the dairy footprint14:45 – Repro protocol28:25 – August 2026 proofs and what Mast is excited about35:40 – Balance and longevity – the modern dairy cow45:40 – “There’s a bull for everyone”

Dr. Joe Armstrong, Zoetis Dairy Technical Services Veterinarian, joins the Progressive Dairy Podcast to discuss trends in calf wellness and the importance of a comprehensive approach to disease management. Armstrong shares the compounding cost of calfhood disease and a specific threat that calf care teams need to be on the lookout for, Mycoplasma bovis (M. Bovis). M. bovis can create the perfect storm for chronic BRD cases and can be frustrating for dairies to manage. He shares common misconceptions, management strategies, preventative solutions, and more. This episode is sponsored 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.