Uplevel Dairy Podcast

Peggy Coffeen

What does it take to be a successful, profitable and competitive dairy farm business? This is the podcast for dairy owners, managers and advisors who are after their next level of success. Join Uplevel Dairy host Peggy Coffeen each week as she sits down with the industry’s leading dairy producers and thought leaders for real conversations about business, management and leadership.

  1. 1日前

    340 | “Take Care of the Cow”: The Simple Philosophy for Driving Dairy Success

    On this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen sits down with Dr. Cole Anderson of United Vet Services (Heritage Vet Partners) in Northeast Wisconsin to talk about his unconventional path into dairy veterinary medicine and the mentors who shaped it along the way.From early hands-on experiences to building long-term client relationships, Dr. Anderson shares his philosophy that great service and strong relationships matter more than being the lowest-cost provider. He also opens up about balancing family life with a demanding career, learning through challenges, and his next goal: helping dairy clients improve performance through deeper use of DairyComp and data-driven insights. Heritage Vet Partners is the nation’s leading veterinary partnership, specializing in mixed and large animal practices. Heritage Vet Partners provides a unique partnership model that preserves local practice legacies, serving dairy and other livestock producers and companion animal owners through shared services, data, and strategic growth. Learn more at HeritageVetPartners.com 01:50 An Unlikely Vet Path 03:16 Mentors Open Doors 04:39 Ron Herb Relationship 08:43 Learning in the Truck 13:09 Service First Mindset 16:42 Teaching Students to Grow 18:55 Hard Lessons and Balance 22:10 More Mentors and Core Values 23:07 Driven Dairy Clients 24:52 Future Vet Service 25:27 Fundamentals Over Fixes 27:44 Cow First Principle 31:04 Family And Mentors 35:43 Practice Lessons Learned 38:06 Next Generation Growth

    46分

  2. 6日前

    339 | From the Barn to the Board Room: Nathan Moroney on Technology, Trials and Dairy Farming in Texas

    On the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen visits Del Rio Dairy in Friona, Texas, and interviews owner Nathan Moroney about how technology and expansion are reshaping modern dairying. Moroney describes a major expansion from a 3,500-cow double-45 parallel parlor to a 90-stall rotary with automated prep and post robots, sort gates, and collars, delivering significant labor savings and higher milking throughput. He recounts being one of the first herds to experience what became known as "bird flu" before the issue was identified through coordinated efforts with extension. He explains the Saudi-style barn system, manure handling that evolved into a digester started in 2021, water constraints driving efficiency and potential forage shifts, and the potential opportunities for integrating more AI in milking and feed management. Moroney also discusses regional processing growth, his new DFA corporate board role, and the need for workable labor policy reform. This Episode is Brought to you by the Milc Group Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with tools they need to succeed. 02:13 Rotary Expansion Automation 04:52 Bird Flu Ground Zero 11:34 Saudi Barn Workflow 14:09 Digester Renewables Economics 15:23 Next Efficiency AI Upgrades 19:58 One Feed Program Spotlight 20:28 Mobile App Workflow 21:04 Water Risk Planning 22:01 Reusing Water Efficiently 23:01 Alternative Forages Ahead 23:41 Texas Dairy Processing Boom 24:37 Milk Hauling Distance 24:46 Joining the DFA Board 26:15 National Dairy Outlook 28:55 Marketing and Data Shifts 29:57 From City to Dairyman 32:19 Traits Built by Dairy 35:52 Labor Reform Needs

    39分

  3. 4月21日

    338 | Dairy Farm Finances in 2026: What Smart Producers Are Planning for Q2

    How are your finances looking for Q2? In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen interviews Steve Schweoer of Compeer Financial on what financially strong dairy farms are doing in 2026 amid tight first-half cash flow, lower milk prices, and higher costs of capital. Steve notes many producers prepaid 2026 expenses in 2025, easing near-term pressure, and expects improved markets in the second half while emphasizing preparing during good times by building working capital and paying down lines of credit. He advises maintaining a three-to-five-year capital replacement plan using “needs vs. wants,” evaluating land purchases case by case, and not letting taxes drive decisions. Key profitability levers include beef-on-dairy and managing net herd replacement cost, feed efficiency and ration cost, strong components and herd health, disciplined capital spending, and low employee turnover. He urges producers to know their cost of production, keep a consistent operating model, and bring lenders and advisors a long-term plan including risk management and family goals. This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial. Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.Visit https://www.compeer.com/specialists/dairy 01:17 Cash Flow Cycles Ahead 03:02 Needs vs Wants Capital 05:11 Land Buying Decisions 06:36 Cost of Capital Squeeze 08:17 Beef on Dairy Boost 11:07 Feed Efficiency Levers 12:48 What Profitable Looks Like 15:04 Tech Investments Timing 17:36 Lender Talks and Planning 19:34 Disciplines for Stability 21:50 Know Your Cost Production 23:16 Stick to Your Model

    25分

  4. 4月16日

    337 | Leading the Legacy from 100 Miles Away: A Modern Dairy Story

    On the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen visits Cooper Legacy Dairy near Clovis, New Mexico, a 2,000-cow operation run by fifth-generation dairyman Jered Cooper that also raises replacements and farms about 2,500 acres. Cooper shares how his family’s dairy roots span Michigan, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico, and why he now lives about 80–100 miles away in the Lubbock, Texas area while still managing the dairy through internet-connected tools and support from his son on site.He explains adopting Nedap smart tags and sort gates, which proved pivotal during a bird flu outbreak by enabling early health alerts, treatment monitoring, and improved herd outcomes, and now streamline daily workflows for health and reproduction via reports, mobile entry, and cloud syncing. Cooper also discusses passing the business to the sixth generation and writing a book inspired by his father about family, football, faith, and farming.This episode is part of the High-Performance Mindset Series powered by Nedap.Nedap is future-proofing dairy farming with smart technologies in activity monitoring, cow locating, milk metering, sort gates, and AI-powered camera systems. Nedap is improving life on the farm by putting the right cow in the right place at the right time, every time.01:24 Meet Jered and the Dairy02:06 Five Generation Roots02:42 How Clovis Happened05:29 Living 100 Miles Away08:03 Tech That Makes It Work08:40 Smart Tags and Bird Flu12:32 New Workflow and Sort Gates15:27 Health Score and Cow Insights16:54 Next Gen and AI Future18:25 Redefining the Modern Dairyman20:24 Why It's Called Legacy21:20 Milkman Love Note22:35 Michigan Dairy Traditions23:19 Depression Era Detour23:59 One Cow to 200024:30 Family Farms and Pride26:20 Next Gen Takes Over30:42 Raising Kids on Dairy32:19 Writing the Dairy Book39:43 Legacy and Advice

    44分

  5. 4月14日

    336 | April Proofs, Real Cows: Why ‘Milk What You Make’ Is Redefining Genetic Progress

    Jeff King & Tom Mercuro on genetics, longevity, and why ‘milk what you make’ is the futureOn this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, we are joined by Jeff King of Kings Ransom Farm in New York and Tom Mercuro from Mercuro Farms in Maryland—two dairymen who are redefining what real genetic progress looks like. We find out what they are doing to create the kind of cows they want in their barns and why they believe other dairy producers want them too.This isn’t about chasing the top of a list… it’s about milking what they make - breeding cows that last, perform, and put milk in the tank.Plus, Jeff and Tom provide their hot takes on the April Holstein Sire Summary and recent changes to the TPI formula.United Sires is a partnership of well-known Holstein breeders from the United States bringing genetic solutions to dairy producers worldwide. Our mission, “Breed the Best, Better,” reflects the work we have been doing on our farms for generations. As multi-generational dairy farmers, we adhere to a simple yet powerful principle: We Milk What We Make. We understand the importance of breeding cattle that are profitable throughout their lifetimes, functional across all dairy enterprises, and aesthetically pleasing.Learn more at Unitedsires.com and follow on Facebook at United Sires and Instagram @unitedsiresofficial.

    53分

  6. 4月11日

    335 | What It Really Takes to Transition a Family Farm | Full Expert Panel

    This Uplevel Dairy Podcast episode shares the full Farm Forward Conference panel with attorney Will McKinley, dairyman Tommy Oesch, consultant Kristy Pagel, advisor Steve Bodart, and family farm coach Elaine Froese on building multi-generational farm transitions as an ongoing legal, financial, and relational process. They discuss testing next-generation commitment through projects, off-farm work, mentors, peer networks, and family bylaws; clarifying roles for siblings/cousins using tools like StrengthsFinder and DISC; and keeping farms aligned through regular meetings, celebrations, and quarterly financial check-ins. The panel contrasts successful transitions (everything on the table, commitment, compromise) with failures (stubbornness, toxicity, staying stuck), addresses estate tools like TOD deeds, revocable and irrevocable trusts, LLCs/corporations, and managing conflicts, cash flow targets, and the option to exit via sale. Final action steps emphasize alignment between spouses, writing letters, gratitude, grace, listening, and accepting continuous change. 02:35 Testing Next Gen Commitment 07:13 Best vs Worst Transitions 10:21 Preventing Estate Disputes 14:06 Future of Midwest Farms 17:22 Siblings and Cousins Leadership 22:25 Making Transition Ongoing 26:23 Meeting Rhythms That Work 28:29 The $2.50 Cash Flow Rule 29:39 Cash Flow Under Pressure 31:27 Trusts Explained Simply 33:08 Irrevocable Trust Tradeoffs 34:58 Estate Planning Resources 36:13 Getting Honest Family Input 40:25 Helping Seniors Let Go 44:45 When No Successor Exists 46:59 Why Ag Transitions Differ 52:00 Family Stories About Land

    1時間1分

  7. 4月10日

    334 | Protect the Farm—and the Family: The Legal Reality of Farm Transition with Will McKinley, Menn Law

    Transition Talks from the Farm Forward ConferenceThis Farm Forward Recap episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast features attorney Will McKinley, President of Menn Law, discussing the legal side of family farm transition planning. McKinley emphasizes that communication is critical and that lawyers can’t prescribe one-size-fits-all solutions; families need to clarify and align their goals before legal documents are drafted. He explains what he hopes clients bring to the table—financial records plus a shared “wish list” vision—and shares a success story involving bringing a non-family herdsman into ownership while keeping spouses, bankers, and accountants aligned.He outlines tools often used (wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, entity structures) and notes tax challenges with lifetime sales, sometimes using an income-stream approach until a later trigger. He warns that the biggest obstacle is delaying the process and failing to commit time for a multi-meeting plan.Contact Will McKinley at Menn Law:William-McKinley@mennlaw.com(920) 731-6631https://mennlaw.com/ 00:55 Meet Will McKinley01:37 Communication Comes First04:57 What to Bring Your Lawyer07:49 Succession Success Story10:39 Legal Tools and Tax Strategy13:38 Where Plans Get Stuck

    19分

  8. 4月9日

    333 | Can Your Farm Afford Transition? What the Numbers Need to Say | Steve Bodart, AgriGrowth Solutions

    Transition Talks from the Farm Forward Conference At the Farm Forward Conference, Uplevel Dairy Podcast host Peggy Coffeen interviews Steve Bodart of AgriGrowth Solutions about the financial side of family farm transition. Bodart explains his accrual-based financial consulting approach that connects production decisions to financial outcomes, benchmarks performance, and evaluates what both outgoing and incoming generations need and can afford. He emphasizes financial transparency so everyone hears the same message at the same time, and says succession is a journey requiring room for growth, disciplined debt payments, and honest discussions about cost of production, capital spending, and competitiveness. Steve notes failures often stem from resisting change and poor communication without a facilitator. He advocates involving owners and capable mid-managers and giving younger generations responsibility for financial projects, such as analyzing how a transition barn can improve profitability. AgriGrowth Solutions is a team of financial consultants with strong dairy backgrounds which represent and work for the best interests of dairy producers. The AGS team guides clients through their business’ financial position and assists in planning for their continued and future success. Contact Steve Bodart, AgriGrowth Solutions: SteveBodart@agrigrowthsolutions.com Visit: https://agrigrowthsolutions.com/ 01:10 Meet Steve Bodart 01:50 What Steve Does 03:21 Financial Transparency 05:56 Planning for Growth 07:00 Building a Win Win Plan 09:42 Who Belongs in Meetings 11:20 Why Transitions Fail 14:44 Bringing Next Gen In 17:23 Real World Project Example

    20分
すべて見る（336）

予告編

番組について

What does it take to be a successful, profitable and competitive dairy farm business? This is the podcast for dairy owners, managers and advisors who are after their next level of success. Join Uplevel Dairy host Peggy Coffeen each week as she sits down with the industry’s leading dairy producers and thought leaders for real conversations about business, management and leadership.

情報

  • クリエイター
    Peggy Coffeen
  • 配信期間
    22年 - 26年
  • エピソード
    336
  • 制限指定
    不適切な内容を含まない
  • Copyright
    © 868329
  • 番組のWebサイト
    Uplevel Dairy Podcast

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