WEBVTT 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:11.599 Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, your no -nonsense 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:14.160 source for dairy strategies that actually work. 00:00:14.679 --> 00:00:17.300 Today, we're tackling the question every dairy 00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:20.300 producer should be asking, will your farm survive 00:00:20.300 --> 00:00:24.460 2025? In this episode, we're breaking down the 00:00:24.460 --> 00:00:27.199 make -or -break risks facing dairies next year, 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:31.260 from HPAI outbreaks that spread faster than gossip 00:00:31.260 --> 00:00:34.200 at a county fair, to milk price swings that could 00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:36.659 leave your margins thinner than a fresh heifer's 00:00:36.659 --> 00:00:39.240 patience. You'll hear hard truths from Everett 00:00:39.240 --> 00:00:42.359 Ag's Jim Matthews about why wait and see is the 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:45.320 riskiest strategy of all, and discover how top 00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:48.219 producers are using robotics, forward contracts, 00:00:48.460 --> 00:00:51.460 and yes, even solar panels to future -proof their 00:00:51.460 --> 00:00:54.240 operations. If you're ready to stop reacting 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:57.039 to crises and start preventing them, let's dig 00:00:57.039 --> 00:00:59.890 in. Alright, welcome back everyone. We're diving 00:00:59.890 --> 00:01:01.750 into something pretty crucial today, something 00:01:01.750 --> 00:01:05.030 we here at the Bullvine think needs a serious 00:01:05.030 --> 00:01:07.329 look. Definitely. You've probably seen the headlines, 00:01:07.549 --> 00:01:09.390 maybe felt the ground shifting a bit already. 00:01:10.510 --> 00:01:13.930 2025's dairy crisis is coming. Will your farm 00:01:13.930 --> 00:01:17.609 survive? Yeah. Pretty stark stuff. It is. And 00:01:17.609 --> 00:01:20.129 that's the kind of question we need to grapple 00:01:20.129 --> 00:01:22.250 with head on, wouldn't you say? Absolutely. And 00:01:22.250 --> 00:01:24.030 look, for those of you tuning in and we know 00:01:24.030 --> 00:01:26.370 you're knowledgeable dairy farmers. Industry 00:01:26.370 --> 00:01:28.989 pros, let's be really clear, hoping for the best. 00:01:29.310 --> 00:01:31.349 That's, well, it's just not going to cut it in 00:01:31.349 --> 00:01:34.560 2025. Not even close. So we're diving deep today 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:37.480 into risk management, strategies that honestly 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:39.780 aren't just nice -to -haves anymore. They're 00:01:39.780 --> 00:01:43.620 becoming absolute essentials for navigating what 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:45.659 looks like a potentially bumpy road ahead. Right. 00:01:45.739 --> 00:01:48.180 We're not here for Dairy 101. No, no. We know 00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:50.159 you know the basics. We're here for the practical 00:01:50.159 --> 00:01:52.900 stuff, the nitty -gritty that impacts your daily 00:01:52.900 --> 00:01:55.859 operations, and frankly, your long -term survival. 00:01:56.140 --> 00:01:59.000 Exactly. Consider this a deep dive focused on 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:00.989 getting you prepared. Our mission today, really, 00:02:01.049 --> 00:02:03.290 as we unpack all this information, is to pull 00:02:03.290 --> 00:02:05.689 out those actionable insights, the things that 00:02:05.689 --> 00:02:07.469 can make a real difference for your operation 00:02:07.469 --> 00:02:10.169 come 2025. Yeah, maybe challenging some older 00:02:10.169 --> 00:02:12.349 ways of thinking, too. Definitely ditching the 00:02:12.349 --> 00:02:14.949 old playbook in some areas, getting laser -focused 00:02:14.949 --> 00:02:18.229 on what keeps your farm not just, you know, afloat, 00:02:18.229 --> 00:02:20.389 but actually thriving. And the pressures, well, 00:02:20.629 --> 00:02:22.750 they seem to be coming from everywhere, don't 00:02:22.750 --> 00:02:24.610 they? Our sources are painting a picture of some 00:02:24.610 --> 00:02:29.169 serious headwinds for 2025. You're not wrong. 00:02:29.629 --> 00:02:32.849 unpredictable milk prices, for one. Doing the 00:02:32.849 --> 00:02:35.490 cha -cha as unpredictable as a fresh heifer, 00:02:35.590 --> 00:02:38.530 right? Yeah, that's a good way to put it. And 00:02:38.530 --> 00:02:41.810 then feed costs. Always hovering seemingly one 00:02:41.810 --> 00:02:44.810 bad weather event away from spiking. One drought 00:02:44.810 --> 00:02:47.270 away from chaos, basically. Exactly. Plus you've 00:02:47.270 --> 00:02:50.349 got the ongoing threat of HPAI, labor shortages 00:02:50.349 --> 00:02:52.669 that just don't seem to quit. Shifting consumer 00:02:52.669 --> 00:02:56.150 demands, regulatory curveballs. It's a lot. It 00:02:56.150 --> 00:02:58.050 really is. A confluence of pressures, you could 00:02:58.050 --> 00:03:01.280 say. Like a perfect storm brewing. So the real 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:04.020 question isn't if things get tricky, but how 00:03:04.020 --> 00:03:07.259 are you, listening right now, going to steer 00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:09.759 your operation through it all? Right. So where 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:11.699 do we start? Maybe with the immediate dollars 00:03:11.699 --> 00:03:14.620 and cents. Good call. Because managing the finances, 00:03:14.819 --> 00:03:17.400 well, that's often where the immediate battles 00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:20.219 are won or lost, isn't it? Absolutely. And our 00:03:20.219 --> 00:03:22.599 sources are really hammering this home, just 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:25.219 wishing for better prices, hoping for the best. 00:03:25.259 --> 00:03:27.080 It's not a strategy. It's like yelling at the 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:29.780 clouds, hoping it'll rain. Pretty much. And look 00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:32.960 at the recent USDA forecast revision, the all 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:36.620 -milk price down to $21 .10 per hundredweight. 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:40.360 That's not exactly great news. No kidding. And 00:03:40.360 --> 00:03:42.159 like you said, feed costs might look okay today, 00:03:42.219 --> 00:03:45.020 but we're always on that edge. Always. The source 00:03:45.020 --> 00:03:47.800 material puts it bluntly, one bad weather event 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:50.180 away from chaos. Imagine that drought hitting 00:03:50.180 --> 00:03:52.419 the Corn Belt. Suddenly those feed bills look 00:03:52.419 --> 00:03:55.129 terrifying. So the smart play isn't trying to 00:03:55.129 --> 00:03:57.310 guess the market highs and lows. It's about building 00:03:57.310 --> 00:03:59.909 a really solid financial safety net. And actually 00:03:59.909 --> 00:04:04.330 using that net. Yes, exactly. And the first tool 00:04:04.330 --> 00:04:06.669 in that financial toolkit, according to everything 00:04:06.669 --> 00:04:08.490 we're seeing, has got to be the Dairy Margin 00:04:08.490 --> 00:04:11.990 Coverage Program, DMC. The foundation, they call 00:04:11.990 --> 00:04:14.590 it. For good reason. Think about it. It's triggered 00:04:14.590 --> 00:04:18.660 payments in, what, 66 %? of months since 2018 00:04:18.660 --> 00:04:21.120 two -thirds of the time that's a heck of a track 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:24.000 record for a relatively low cost tool it really 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:27.139 is it makes you wonder the article practically 00:04:27.139 --> 00:04:29.220 challenges people asking why wouldn't you be 00:04:29.220 --> 00:04:31.339 enrolled at the nine dollars and fifty cent tier 00:04:31.339 --> 00:04:33.420 one level right it feels like basic financial 00:04:33.420 --> 00:04:35.480 hygiene in this climate you're putting a floor 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:37.620 under your margin it's cheap insurance against 00:04:37.620 --> 00:04:40.480 a major downturn to not use it seems like leaving 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:43.310 money on the table so Building on DMC, what's 00:04:43.310 --> 00:04:45.629 next in the toolkit? Well, next up is Dairy Revenue 00:04:45.629 --> 00:04:48.949 Protection, or DRP. Ah, yes. DRP. This one lets 00:04:48.949 --> 00:04:51.470 you lock in a revenue floor based on expected 00:04:51.470 --> 00:04:53.850 milk prices. And the key things there are flexibility 00:04:53.850 --> 00:04:56.569 and the subsidy, right? Exactly. You can tailor 00:04:56.569 --> 00:04:59.470 it to specific quarters, which is huge. And yes, 00:04:59.569 --> 00:05:01.389 it's subsidized, which makes it more affordable. 00:05:01.629 --> 00:05:04.649 The message seems to be, don't ignore this. Look 00:05:04.649 --> 00:05:06.670 for opportunities to lock in that protection 00:05:06.670 --> 00:05:09.129 when the market gives you a decent level. Definitely. 00:05:09.310 --> 00:05:12.730 Don't just set it and forget it. Be active. Then 00:05:12.730 --> 00:05:15.069 there's another layer for some folks, LGM dairy, 00:05:15.350 --> 00:05:18.930 livestock gross margin. Right, LGM dairy. Who's 00:05:18.930 --> 00:05:21.790 that really best suited for? Well, the sources 00:05:21.790 --> 00:05:24.189 suggest it's particularly useful if your farm's 00:05:24.189 --> 00:05:26.529 margins tend to track with things like Class 00:05:26.529 --> 00:05:30.269 III futures, corn, and soy prices. Okay. You 00:05:30.269 --> 00:05:32.829 can layer it with DMC. It basically protects 00:05:32.829 --> 00:05:35.350 that gross margin, the difference between milk 00:05:35.350 --> 00:05:37.750 revenue and feed costs. Another piece of the 00:05:37.750 --> 00:05:40.459 puzzle. Gotcha. So moving from government programs 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:43.120 to more direct market tools. Forward contracts. 00:05:43.660 --> 00:05:46.399 DFPP. If you're a handler, your co -op offers 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:48.360 them. You should probably take a serious look. 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:50.519 That's the advice. Use them for at least a portion 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:52.319 of your milk. It gives you some price certainty. 00:05:52.680 --> 00:05:54.199 Yeah, it's not about hitting the absolute peak 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:56.839 price, is it? It's about managing risk. Taking 00:05:56.839 --> 00:05:59.600 some volatility off the table. Precisely. And 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:01.800 then for the more, let's say, market -savvy operators. 00:06:02.220 --> 00:06:05.220 Futures and options on the CME. Yep. Powerful 00:06:05.220 --> 00:06:09.319 tools for hedging both milk and feed. But this 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:12.620 is a big margin call. Exactly. The sources rightly 00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:14.139 caution about that. This isn't for everyone. 00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:17.959 You need the expertise and the risk tolerance. 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:20.399 It's definitely an advanced strategy. But the 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:23.279 big picture here, financially speaking, is be 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:26.519 proactive. Don't wait. That's the quote, isn't 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:28.939 it? Don't wait for the perfect price. Lock in 00:06:28.939 --> 00:06:31.379 protection when you can. Don't get caught waiting 00:06:31.379 --> 00:06:33.699 for a peak that might never come or comes too 00:06:33.699 --> 00:06:36.240 late. When you see a chance to protect your downside. 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:39.220 grab it. Makes sense. Okay, so finances are one 00:06:39.220 --> 00:06:42.480 massive piece. What about securing the actual 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:45.540 production side, keeping cows healthy and milking? 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:49.019 Yeah, another critical area. And in 2025, like 00:06:49.019 --> 00:06:51.240 you mentioned earlier, that conversation has 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:54.300 to start with biosecurity, especially with HPAI 00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:56.540 still looming. It has to. And the sources really 00:06:56.540 --> 00:06:59.920 push on this, asking how robust is your biosecurity 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:01.860 really? Are you just checking boxes or is it 00:07:01.860 --> 00:07:04.180 deeply ingrained? That's the core question. It's 00:07:04.180 --> 00:07:06.079 not about having a binder on the shelf. It's 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:08.379 about habits, protocols that actually work under 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:10.860 pressure. And they lay out some non -negotiables. 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:13.699 Like pasteurizing all milk and colostrum. No 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:15.860 exceptions. Strict quarantine for new animals. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:18.959 Seems obvious, but... But are people really doing 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:21.800 it rigorously? And sanitizing equipment like 00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:23.819 it's an operating room? Yeah, that comparison 00:07:23.819 --> 00:07:26.459 hits home. Biosecurity is the operating room 00:07:26.459 --> 00:07:29.040 for your farm's health. It's got to be as fundamental 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:32.439 as feed and water. Because a major outbreak doesn't 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:34.920 just hurt production temporarily, it can cripple 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:37.740 you financially. It's playing with fire to cut 00:07:37.740 --> 00:07:39.920 corners here. Totally agree. Then there's the 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:42.819 climate piece. It's not going away. No. And the 00:07:42.819 --> 00:07:45.920 challenge is, are you actively investing in heat 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:50.519 stress mitigation? Fans, sprinklers, shade? Or 00:07:50.519 --> 00:07:52.060 are you just crossing your fingers for a cool 00:07:52.060 --> 00:07:54.540 summer? Which, let's be honest, isn't much of 00:07:54.540 --> 00:07:57.100 a plan anymore. Relying on Mother Nature's mood 00:07:57.100 --> 00:07:59.360 swings is risky business these days. And it's 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:01.420 not just cow comfort, right? It's feed security, 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:04.939 too. Absolutely. Optimizing irrigation, planting 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:07.279 more drought -tolerant forages. Are you looking 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:09.339 at those things? These aren't just buzzwords. 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:11.459 They're becoming essential for ensuring you have 00:08:11.459 --> 00:08:14.339 reliable, affordable feed when the weather gets 00:08:14.339 --> 00:08:16.519 weird. And it leads to that tough question the 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:19.040 sources pose. Are you going to be caught flat 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:21.519 -footed by the next heat wave or disease outbreak? 00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:24.100 Or will your herd keep ticking along while others 00:08:24.100 --> 00:08:27.389 are scrambling? That resilience is a huge competitive 00:08:27.389 --> 00:08:30.350 edge. Huge. Okay, let's pivot again. Operational 00:08:30.350 --> 00:08:35.470 efficiency. Labor. Technology. Ah, yes. Labor. 00:08:35.590 --> 00:08:38.110 The perennial challenge. And the sources don't 00:08:38.110 --> 00:08:40.269 mince words here either. Are you still managing 00:08:40.269 --> 00:08:44.169 labor like it's 1995? Ouch. But it's a fair question. 00:08:44.570 --> 00:08:46.870 It is. Because that workforce isn't coming back 00:08:46.870 --> 00:08:49.129 to how it was. And the folks who are working 00:08:49.129 --> 00:08:51.350 have higher expectations. Things have fundamentally 00:08:51.350 --> 00:08:54.500 shifted. And hoping it goes back... Probably 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:57.419 not happening. Which leads directly to automation. 00:08:57.779 --> 00:08:59.559 It's not the future anymore, is it? It's the 00:08:59.559 --> 00:09:02.120 present necessity for a lot of farms. Take robotic 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:04.720 milking. The potential labor reduction, 60 to 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:07.100 75 percent. That's massive. It's a game changer. 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:09.600 And the source compares investing in it to like 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:12.259 safeguarding your corn silage harvest. It's that 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:14.419 critical an investment potentially. That's a 00:09:14.419 --> 00:09:17.100 strong comparison. And it's not just milking. 00:09:17.700 --> 00:09:21.009 Automated feeding. Wearable sensors. Huge time 00:09:21.009 --> 00:09:23.450 savers. Plus those sensors for early disease 00:09:23.450 --> 00:09:25.769 detection. That allows your skilled people. To 00:09:25.769 --> 00:09:28.110 focus on more strategic stuff, not just routine 00:09:28.110 --> 00:09:31.129 tasks or spotting sick cows visually. Exactly. 00:09:31.190 --> 00:09:33.409 Using their skills where they add the most value. 00:09:33.970 --> 00:09:36.549 And let's talk precision feeding. The financial 00:09:36.549 --> 00:09:39.289 impact there can be significant. Yeah. Are you 00:09:39.289 --> 00:09:42.769 still eyeballing rations, as they put it? Or 00:09:42.769 --> 00:09:45.600 using data? Because the difference, according 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:49.460 to the numbers, could be $1 .75 to $1 .50 per 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:51.620 hundredweight in saved production costs. Over 00:09:51.620 --> 00:09:54.440 a year on a decent -sized herd, that adds up 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:56.320 fast. It absolutely does. The bottom line on 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:59.139 efficiency is simple. Every dollar saved on feed 00:09:59.139 --> 00:10:01.779 or labor is a dollar you keep, especially when 00:10:01.779 --> 00:10:03.720 milk prices are tight. Those efficiency gains 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:06.659 are your buffer during downturns. Critical stuff. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:08.879 Okay, so we've covered finances, production security, 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:12.289 efficiency. What about the market itself? Adapting 00:10:12.289 --> 00:10:14.850 to where things are headed. Crucial point. Are 00:10:14.850 --> 00:10:16.549 you producing what the market actually wants 00:10:16.549 --> 00:10:19.470 or just what you've always produced? Things like 00:10:19.470 --> 00:10:22.809 milk components, sustainability proof points, 00:10:23.070 --> 00:10:25.610 animal welfare. Those aren't just niche things 00:10:25.610 --> 00:10:28.309 anymore. They're increasingly mainstream demands. 00:10:28.730 --> 00:10:30.909 Which means you need to look hard at your marketing 00:10:30.909 --> 00:10:33.429 strategy. Are you comparing your co -op deal 00:10:33.429 --> 00:10:36.429 versus direct contracts? Really running the numbers, 00:10:36.429 --> 00:10:38.629 not just sticking with what's familiar. Sometimes 00:10:38.629 --> 00:10:40.870 comfortable isn't the most profitable. Good point. 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:44.000 And then there's diversification. On -farm processing, 00:10:44.299 --> 00:10:48.259 maybe agritourism, beef on dairy, renewable energy. 00:10:48.539 --> 00:10:51.019 Our sources frame these not as trends, but as 00:10:51.019 --> 00:10:54.100 proven ways to spread risk and capture new income. 00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:56.379 It's about not having all your eggs in the bulk 00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:58.759 milk basket, building multiple revenue pillars. 00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:01.919 Ultimately, it comes down to willingness to change, 00:11:02.059 --> 00:11:04.179 doesn't it? Will you adapt or will the market 00:11:04.179 --> 00:11:07.820 just leave you behind? That's the stark choice. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:10.720 Standing still is often the biggest risk now. 00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:13.179 So putting all these pieces together, finance, 00:11:13.320 --> 00:11:16.100 production, efficiency, market adaptation, how 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:18.220 do you make it all work? Through an integrated 00:11:18.220 --> 00:11:20.360 risk management plan. That's the key takeaway. 00:11:20.539 --> 00:11:22.659 It's not about putting out fires reactively. 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:25.620 It's about proactive prevention, building resilience 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:28.519 everywhere. And the resilient dairies. They have 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:31.019 that diversified portfolio, a mix of financial 00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:33.960 tools. Strong herd health and biosecurity going 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:36.820 beyond just HPAI. Investments in climate adaptation, 00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:40.809 heat stress, water, forages. Relentless focus 00:11:40.809 --> 00:11:44.029 on efficiency through automation, precision ag, 00:11:44.269 --> 00:11:47.629 keeping good employees, adaptive marketing, focusing 00:11:47.629 --> 00:11:51.389 on quality, maybe sustainability niches. Rigorous 00:11:51.389 --> 00:11:54.169 financial planning budgets, scenario plans, cash 00:11:54.169 --> 00:11:57.090 flow projections. And staying plugged in on policy 00:11:57.090 --> 00:12:00.360 and regulations. Farm bill, FMMO, environmental 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:02.639 rules. You can't afford to ignore that stuff. 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:04.799 It directly impacts your business. It all leads 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:07.120 to that bullvine bottom line section in the source 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:09.899 material, which is pretty blunt. Very blunt. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:11.980 It says many dairies might not survive the decade. 00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:14.299 Not because of bad farming, but because of poor 00:12:14.299 --> 00:12:16.759 risk management. Sobering. But it also paints 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:19.200 a picture of the farms that will thrive. Yeah, 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:21.759 the vigilant ones. Adaptable. Always improving. 00:12:22.019 --> 00:12:25.570 Data -driven. Tech -savvy. Financially disciplined. 00:12:25.870 --> 00:12:27.889 Honest about weaknesses and actually doing something 00:12:27.889 --> 00:12:31.009 about them. Proactive. It's a high bar, but it's 00:12:31.009 --> 00:12:33.649 achievable. And the call to action is crystal 00:12:33.649 --> 00:12:36.909 clear. Don't wait for a crisis. Exactly. Schedule 00:12:36.909 --> 00:12:39.370 that risk management audit. Talk to your team, 00:12:39.470 --> 00:12:42.870 your advisors, ever. Ag gets mentioned as a resource 00:12:42.870 --> 00:12:45.330 there. Find your vulnerabilities, make a plan, 00:12:45.490 --> 00:12:47.649 and then act on it. Don't just make the plan 00:12:47.649 --> 00:12:49.970 and put it on the shelf. Right. Action is key. 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:52.720 And it leaves everyone listening with that direct 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:55.799 challenge. What action will you take today to 00:12:55.799 --> 00:12:58.539 secure your dairy's future tomorrow? Powerful 00:12:58.539 --> 00:13:00.840 question. So just to recap those key takeaways 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:03.740 quickly. Layer Financial Protection's DMC DRP 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:06.820 forwards. Don't rely on just one. Automate or 00:13:06.820 --> 00:13:09.960 stagnate robotics. Sensors are vital now. Secure 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:12.899 feed strategically lock in 60 -70 % when prices 00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:15.919 dip. Biosecurity equals profitability. Take HPAI 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:18.240 protocols dead seriously. And milk components 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:21.139 matter. Chase those butterfat and protein premiums. 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:23.480 Yeah. And the executive summary just reinforces 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:27.340 all that. Unprecedented volatility in 2025. Need 00:13:27.340 --> 00:13:30.220 for these strategies. Data over tradition. It 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:32.879 even quotes Jim Matthews from Ever .ag, emphasizing 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:36.039 decisive action, tech adoption, strategic contracts 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:38.740 over just doing things the old way. So wrapping 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:41.559 this deep dive up, the message couldn't be clearer, 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:44.779 could it? Not really. Proactive, integrated risk 00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:47.139 management. That's the key differentiator for 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:49.919 success in 2025. It's not optional anymore. We 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:51.639 really hope you listening will take some time. 00:13:51.679 --> 00:13:54.159 Reflect on these points. Where are your biggest 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:56.100 vulnerabilities? What's one thing you can start 00:13:56.100 --> 00:13:58.620 tackling right now? Yeah, use this as a starting 00:13:58.620 --> 00:14:01.840 point. Talk to your advisors. Dig deeper. Start 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:05.200 building or refining that resilience plan for 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:07.220 what's coming. And building on that bullvine 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:10.340 bottom line thought, maybe the final question 00:14:10.340 --> 00:14:12.980 to leave you with is this. Five years from now, 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:17.120 looking back at 2025, what story will your farm 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:19.379 tell? Will it be a story of resilience and success 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:22.440 or a cautionary tale? Something to think about. 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:24.179 Thanks for taking this deep dive with us today. 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:26.519 Thanks for joining us on the Bullvine Podcast. 00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:30.019 If this episode lit a fire under your risk management 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:33.039 plans, and we hope it did, head to thebullvine 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:35.720 .com for links to all the programs and tools 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:38.830 we discussed. Before you go... Hit subscribe 00:14:38.830 --> 00:14:41.870 so you don't miss our next deep dive on turning 00:14:41.870 --> 00:14:45.830 2025's challenges into opportunities. Until then, 00:14:45.950 --> 00:14:48.730 remember what separates the survivors from the 00:14:48.730 --> 00:14:51.789 statistics. The best time to fix the barn roof 00:14:51.789 --> 00:14:54.649 is while the sun's still shining. From everyone 00:14:54.649 --> 00:14:57.409 here at The Bullvine, remember to keep your margins 00:14:57.409 --> 00:14:59.450 wide and your bulk tank full.