Cow-Side Conversations

Center for Dairy Excellence
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Cow-Side Conversations

“Cowside Conversations” is a monthly podcast brought to you by the Center for Dairy Excellence. We’ve heard time and time again that dairy farmers learn the most from other dairy farmers. So, in this podcast we’re going to share real-time farmer insight, tricks of the trade, and inspiring stories from dairies across Pennsylvania.

  1. MAY 1

    Episode 6: Joel Krall opens up about working with the hand he has been given and making the most of unexpected opportunities

    Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Joel Krall of Furnace Hill Holsteins in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania opens up about how he has re-shaped his mindset to be content with the hand he has been given. From his passion for genetics that inadvertently led him to grow his herd to new partnerships that spurred him to form a satellite dairy operation, Joel talks about doors that have opened – and doors that have closed. He reflects on specific herd health challenges he has troubleshooted and how he has learned to accept help, even when he didn’t think he needed it. Joel also describes some of his unique reproduction strategies and shares how life’s unexpected twists continue to remind him about what matters most.

    57 min

  2. APR 1

    Episode 5: Kendra Nissley shares about balancing farm & family, harnessing help from heroes, and life lessons learned on the dairy

    Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Kendra Nissley of Jubilee Dairy in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania wraps up Women’s History Month by sharing about her journey on the farm and trying to find a sense of balance in it all. While farming and family often go hand in hand, it can be challenging to prioritize your children, your marriage and your own needs when the day-to-day responsibilities on the farm are so demanding. Kendra reflects on some intentional decisions she and her husband, Jeff, have made in their journey to invest in employees, navigate the transition process between generations, and rely closely on outside experts – or as she says, “heroes” – to help them finetune the details and execute new plans. From sustainability projects and boosting pounds of butterfat to a value-added cheese business and grants that help them save money, Kendra opens up about lessons they’ve learned along the way. She says it’s a neverending balancing act and an ongoing process of asking their family: How can we steward this farm so we farm it and it does not farm us?”

    55 min

  3. MAR 3

    Episode 4: Nate Mowrer talks about being proactive with transition cow health, building trust between generations & balancing business with the farming lifestyle

    Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Nate Mowrer of Mowrer Farms in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania describes how they try to create a well-balanced business for their family’s eighth-generation dairy farm. This includes all facets of the business, both the hard and soft issues. On the herd management and cropping side, Nate shares how they use technology to be proactive with transition cow health, cut protein costs with high-oleic soybeans, and utilize GPS technology and a variable rate program with their crops. On the family business side of the equation, he opens up about how they foster a small team of employees who enjoy coming to work every day, build trust between family members as they established an LLC and continue to transition the business, and find balance between a profitable business and the farming lifestyle.

    39 min

  4. JAN 29

    Episode 3: Brad Hoover discusses his breeding strategy and having patience in building your herd

    Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Brad Hoover of Brook-Corner Holsteins in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania gives a deep dive on the breeding and genetics decisions he makes for his family’s herd of 350 Registered Holsteins. From focusing on fat and protein levels to boost pounds of components to specific types and traits that lead to longevity, Brad discusses the ways they try to maximize herd performance and get well-balanced cows. Unlike a lot of dairy operations right now, Brad is raising more heifers than cows – and works to keep good genetics behind the cows to drive profitability as he markets most of the heifers with a premium. Brad describes the return (ROI) he gets from investing in genetics, registered cows, and high-quality animals. He’ll be selling some of his animals at the PA Holstein Association’s annual sale in early February.

    34 min

  5. 12/19/2024

    Episode 2: Joe Zug defines what growth means to him and reflects on new endeavors like hauling their own milk, installing a lameness camera & hiring an executive coach

    Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Joe Zug of Zugstead Farms in Juniata County, Pennsylvania defines what growth means to him on his family’s 950-cow dairy. He reflects on major, growth-related projects like building a new dry cow facility and expanding their herd. Joe also shares smaller, more recent endeavors that are helping to drive profitability and growth: deciding to haul their own milk for cost savings, installing a lameness camera to be proactive about hoof health concerns, being aggressive with their breeding program, and hiring an executive coach to help enhance their "people" skills. "I don't think you can grow unless you are profitable," Joe shares in the podcast.

    22 min

  6. 11/25/2024

    Episode 1: Paul Mason shares daily decisions that add up on the farm, new cropping technology that optimizes their acreage, and how he builds buy-in with employees

    Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! To kick off the first episode in Season 5 of Cow-Side Conversations, Paul Mason of Mason’s Chrome View in Chester County, Pennsylvania shares how the details add up on his 500-cow family dairy operation. From unique ways they keep employees engaged with production goals and understanding the “why” behind what they do to calf-raising protocols that have paid dividends, Paul reflects on all the little details and management decisions that are part of dairy farming – and how he finds balance between being content but never satisfied. He shares some of the new technology he has implemented on the cropping side with variable rate application, precision planting and zone sampling to optimize their acreage with the future in mind. Paul also opens up about how he has used grants to jumpstart capital investments on his farm and build buffer into the dairy business.

    1h 5m

  7. 10/30/2024

    Episode 12: Josh Waddell talks about finding innovation in daily tasks, using data to milk the right cows, and managing manure with less mechanization

    Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! “When you look at innovation, what can you do to your daily tasks to automate them, simplify them, and make them labor-friendly and super easy? That’s where it’s at – your daily tasks.” In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Josh Waddell of Apple Shamrock Farms LLC in Northwestern Pennsylvania talks about what innovation truly looks like – and how finding labor savings within daily tasks often gets forgotten on dairy farms. He shares some of the technology he utilizes on a daily basis and innovative decisions he has made to save on labor and drive efficiency. These include a three-cell lagoon system and sand lane system that helps reduce mechanization and labor costs by pumping manure versus hauling it. Josh also talks about the Afimilk cow monitoring system and feed tracking data he uses to make sure he’s milking the right cows, a coherent group calving system and bedded pack barn he built for springer cows, and the unique system he developed for group housed, free choice fed calves.

    20 min

  8. 09/26/2024

    Episode 11: Matt Carr opens up about farm accident, recovery, and keeping your mind in the right spot when running a dairy business

    Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts! We all know that on a dairy farm, it’s very easy to go from zero to 50 in the blink of an eye – but nothing is more important than saving a life or preventing an injury. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Matt Carr, a third-generation dairy farmer from Westmoreland County, opens up about a farm safety accident where he lost the fingers on his left hand. He describes how quickly the accident happened, what the physical and mental recovery process was like, and the lessons he learned through the incident. Their dairy operation is a true family business with some additional Spanish-speaking employees. Matt shares how developing clear protocols for their workforce, while always remembering to have fun, is one of their top priorities. He also compares running a dairy business to the years he spent running marathons – and shares how keeping your mind in the right spot is key to working toward your goals.

    42 min
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About

“Cowside Conversations” is a monthly podcast brought to you by the Center for Dairy Excellence. We’ve heard time and time again that dairy farmers learn the most from other dairy farmers. So, in this podcast we’re going to share real-time farmer insight, tricks of the trade, and inspiring stories from dairies across Pennsylvania.

Information

  • Creator
    Center for Dairy Excellence
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Cow-Side Conversations
  • Show Website
    Cow-Side Conversations

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