WEBVTT 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:15.060 Breaking free from the chains of the past Where 00:00:15.060 --> 00:00:18.820 truth moves faster than a Holstein calf No law 00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:21.660 waiting on some printed page We're charting new 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:25.300 ground in the digital age From genomic codes 00:00:25.300 --> 00:00:29.120 to robot facts We cut through the noise, no hold 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:32.460 them back not your daddy's dairy news tonight 00:00:32.460 --> 00:01:00.909 we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, 00:01:01.310 --> 00:01:03.590 where we bring you cutting -edge insights from 00:01:03.590 --> 00:01:06.409 the dairy industry's front lines. Today, we're 00:01:06.409 --> 00:01:09.689 diving into dairy's bold new frontier, an eye 00:01:09.689 --> 00:01:11.989 -opening exploration of how forward -thinking 00:01:11.989 --> 00:01:14.810 producers are completely redefining what success 00:01:14.810 --> 00:01:18.569 looks like in today's dairy business. In this 00:01:18.569 --> 00:01:21.409 episode, we'll unpack the technological revolution 00:01:21.409 --> 00:01:25.340 sweeping through dairy operations. the game -changing 00:01:25.340 --> 00:01:28.280 potential of beef on dairy strategies, and why 00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:31.239 sustainability is rapidly transforming from regulatory 00:01:31.239 --> 00:01:35.340 burden to competitive advantage. We'll also tackle 00:01:35.340 --> 00:01:37.579 the uncomfortable truths about labor shortages 00:01:37.579 --> 00:01:40.540 and succession planning that keep many dairy 00:01:40.540 --> 00:01:43.780 operators up at night. Whether you're milking 00:01:43.780 --> 00:01:47.780 100 cows or 10 ,000, the insights from today's 00:01:47.780 --> 00:01:50.739 episode will challenge you to reconsider conventional 00:01:50.739 --> 00:01:54.469 wisdom and inspire new approaches to build a 00:01:54.469 --> 00:01:57.349 more profitable, sustainable operation. So grab 00:01:57.349 --> 00:02:00.250 your coffee and let's explore how the bold are 00:02:00.250 --> 00:02:02.829 reshaping dairy's future. Well, hello there, 00:02:02.870 --> 00:02:04.890 folks, and welcome back to another deep dive 00:02:04.890 --> 00:02:08.590 where we, well, we try to take a whole mountain 00:02:08.590 --> 00:02:10.590 of information and really boil it down to the 00:02:10.590 --> 00:02:12.449 good stuff for you. That's the plan. And today 00:02:12.449 --> 00:02:16.349 we are wading, I mean, really knee deep into 00:02:16.349 --> 00:02:18.210 something you all know a thing or two about. 00:02:19.129 --> 00:02:22.189 The dairy industry. Let me tell you, if you think 00:02:22.189 --> 00:02:24.169 the price of feed is the only thing changing. 00:02:25.310 --> 00:02:27.349 Well, you've probably got another thing coming. 00:02:27.509 --> 00:02:30.150 Yeah, that's right. We've got a really fascinating 00:02:30.150 --> 00:02:32.189 collection of insights here, all kind of wrapped 00:02:32.189 --> 00:02:35.030 up in a piece called Transforming Dairy, Tech, 00:02:35.210 --> 00:02:38.710 Diversification, and Sustainability. And it paints 00:02:38.710 --> 00:02:40.909 such a vivid picture, doesn't it? An industry 00:02:40.909 --> 00:02:43.509 navigating some, well, let's call them choppy 00:02:43.509 --> 00:02:46.069 waters. Definitely choppy. Those milk price swings 00:02:46.069 --> 00:02:50.859 we all love. And the input costs just... marching 00:02:50.859 --> 00:02:52.800 relentlessly upwards. But what's really striking, 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:55.259 I think, is the ingenuity, the adaptability we're 00:02:55.259 --> 00:02:57.259 seeing in response to all that. Absolutely. This 00:02:57.259 --> 00:02:59.120 isn't, you know, a sob story. It's an evolution, 00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:01.840 maybe even a bit of a dairy renaissance, if you 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:04.560 want to get fancy. I like that, dairy renaissance. 00:03:04.860 --> 00:03:07.280 As Dr. Megan Richardson put it so well, we're 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:10.219 witnessing the birth of a new era. Forget just 00:03:10.219 --> 00:03:12.810 hunkering down. We're seeing... Proactive producers, 00:03:13.150 --> 00:03:15.550 forward thinkers, stepping up and actually driving 00:03:15.550 --> 00:03:17.969 change. Yeah, much like, you know, we've always 00:03:17.969 --> 00:03:20.210 done with genetic progress, identifying those 00:03:20.210 --> 00:03:22.569 superior traits and breeding for them. Exactly. 00:03:22.569 --> 00:03:24.509 And the numbers, well, they tell a story, too. 00:03:24.590 --> 00:03:26.729 There's definitely been consolidation, no doubt. 00:03:28.330 --> 00:03:32.090 39 % decrease in farm numbers between 2017 and 00:03:32.090 --> 00:03:35.150 2022. That highlights just how fast things are 00:03:35.150 --> 00:03:38.050 changing. It's a big drop. It is. But it also 00:03:38.050 --> 00:03:41.009 shows resilience. Over the past five years, the 00:03:41.009 --> 00:03:43.610 majority, actually over two -thirds of established 00:03:43.610 --> 00:03:46.210 dairies have stayed profitable. Okay, so despite 00:03:46.210 --> 00:03:49.389 the consolidation... Those remaining are finding 00:03:49.389 --> 00:03:51.810 ways. They are. It says a lot about the savvy 00:03:51.810 --> 00:03:54.270 management, the strategic thinking happening 00:03:54.270 --> 00:03:57.169 out there. This consolidation isn't just farms 00:03:57.169 --> 00:03:59.810 vanishing. It's more of a shift, right, towards 00:03:59.810 --> 00:04:02.310 larger, maybe more tech -heavy operations that 00:04:02.310 --> 00:04:04.930 can handle these economic pressures. So technology 00:04:04.930 --> 00:04:07.409 isn't just a tool. It's kind of driving this 00:04:07.409 --> 00:04:10.030 structural change itself. That's what the insights 00:04:10.030 --> 00:04:12.650 suggest, yeah. Right. So what is the secret sauce 00:04:12.650 --> 00:04:15.729 behind this resilience then? Well, that's what 00:04:15.729 --> 00:04:17.370 this deep dive is all about. Your shortcut to 00:04:17.370 --> 00:04:19.970 understanding that. We're going to unpack the 00:04:19.970 --> 00:04:23.829 big forces at play. The tech leaps, making modern 00:04:23.829 --> 00:04:26.949 barns look almost sci -fi sometimes. The smart 00:04:26.949 --> 00:04:29.850 moves into diversification, especially this whole 00:04:29.850 --> 00:04:32.490 beef on dairy thing, babin, you hear it called. 00:04:32.610 --> 00:04:34.470 Yeah, that's exploding. Where you're strategically 00:04:34.470 --> 00:04:38.329 breeding some cows to beef sires. And of course, 00:04:38.350 --> 00:04:40.750 the huge shift towards sustainability, not just 00:04:40.750 --> 00:04:42.970 because you have to, but as a real business advantage. 00:04:43.550 --> 00:04:45.250 And we can't forget the people side. We'll be 00:04:45.250 --> 00:04:47.889 digging into those persistent workforce challenges, 00:04:48.189 --> 00:04:50.670 finding good help, keeping good help, and the 00:04:50.670 --> 00:04:52.769 absolutely critical need for a solid succession 00:04:52.769 --> 00:04:55.110 planning. So important. Because even with all 00:04:55.110 --> 00:04:56.730 the robots and sensors, it's still an industry 00:04:56.730 --> 00:04:58.850 powered by people, right? You absolutely got 00:04:58.850 --> 00:05:02.490 it. So as we get rolling here, I want you listening 00:05:02.490 --> 00:05:05.850 to really chew on this. Is your operation positioning 00:05:05.850 --> 00:05:08.449 itself to be one of the innovators? Are you shaping 00:05:08.449 --> 00:05:11.189 the future? Or are you maybe mostly just reacting 00:05:11.189 --> 00:05:13.629 to the market waves as they come? It's a great 00:05:13.629 --> 00:05:15.889 question. Let's jump right into that technology 00:05:15.889 --> 00:05:18.889 revolution then, because stepping into a modern 00:05:18.889 --> 00:05:23.290 dairy barn today, wow, it can feel like a completely 00:05:23.290 --> 00:05:26.339 different world compared to even, say, 10, 15 00:05:26.339 --> 00:05:28.759 years ago. Oh, yeah. Technology isn't just a 00:05:28.759 --> 00:05:30.699 nice -to -have anymore. For a lot of these forward 00:05:30.699 --> 00:05:33.420 -thinking farms, it's really become the backbone 00:05:33.420 --> 00:05:35.819 of their infrastructure. No kidding. And we're 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:38.860 talking way beyond just automatic waterers here. 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:41.639 This is serious automation. And the return on 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:44.019 investment, well, it's becoming harder and harder 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:46.800 to ignore. Definitely. Take robotic milking systems. 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:49.660 Huge upfront cost, obviously. Yeah, what are 00:05:49.660 --> 00:05:52.860 we talking? $150 ,000 plus per robot? Something 00:05:52.860 --> 00:05:55.180 like that. Easily. $150 ,000, sometimes more. 00:05:55.550 --> 00:05:57.230 But the research, you know, places like the Journal 00:05:57.230 --> 00:05:59.569 of Dairy Science and real world stories like 00:05:59.569 --> 00:06:01.430 Dan Weber's up in Wisconsin, they're showing 00:06:01.430 --> 00:06:03.910 pretty impressive returns. Like what specifically? 00:06:04.189 --> 00:06:06.790 Well, milk yield increases for starters, maybe 00:06:06.790 --> 00:06:09.709 5 to 10 percent. And labor savings could be anywhere 00:06:09.709 --> 00:06:12.850 from 75 cents to a full dollar per hundred weight. 00:06:12.970 --> 00:06:15.050 Per hundred pounds of milk. And it's not just 00:06:15.050 --> 00:06:18.050 more milk, right? It's the potential for. optimized 00:06:18.050 --> 00:06:20.370 milking schedules better cow comfort maybe better 00:06:20.370 --> 00:06:22.990 health stuff that contributes long term beyond 00:06:22.990 --> 00:06:25.389 just the parlor and those labor savings they 00:06:25.389 --> 00:06:27.850 add up fast you mentioned dan weber didn't he 00:06:27.850 --> 00:06:31.110 see like a 30 drop in labor costs nearly 30 yeah 00:06:31.110 --> 00:06:34.769 after putting in robots and anna say 200 cow 00:06:34.769 --> 00:06:36.610 dairy savings like that, you could be looking 00:06:36.610 --> 00:06:39.509 at over $75 ,000 a year. That's significant. 00:06:39.810 --> 00:06:42.350 It is. Plus, and Dan mentioned this too, there's 00:06:42.350 --> 00:06:44.949 that quality of life improvement. Harder to put 00:06:44.949 --> 00:06:47.370 a number on, but being able to, you know, go 00:06:47.370 --> 00:06:49.209 to your kids' school events instead of being 00:06:49.209 --> 00:06:51.850 tied to the parlor at 4 a .m. Letting the cows 00:06:51.850 --> 00:06:54.410 set the schedule, not the clock. Exactly. Okay, 00:06:54.449 --> 00:06:56.790 what about feeding? Precision feeding tech. Yeah, 00:06:56.889 --> 00:06:59.529 another big one. This isn't just scooping TMR 00:06:59.529 --> 00:07:02.269 into the bunk anymore. We're talking sophisticated 00:07:02.269 --> 00:07:06.129 systems. They can cut feed costs maybe 7 % to 00:07:06.129 --> 00:07:09.490 12 % and boost feed efficiency at the same time. 00:07:09.629 --> 00:07:13.519 And Cornell's CNCPS modeling. That's the nutritional 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:15.540 model, right? Yeah. Helps figure out exact needs. 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:19.139 Exactly. That sophisticated Cornell model helps 00:07:19.139 --> 00:07:22.379 producers really fine tune rations. And it also 00:07:22.379 --> 00:07:24.399 points to significant environmental benefits 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:26.920 like a 15 to 20 percent drop in nitrogen and 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:28.939 phosphorus excretion. Which is good for the environment. 00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:31.000 Yeah. And probably saves on fertilizer costs, 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:33.060 too. Right. And think about it. Feed is usually 00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:36.100 the biggest expense. Yeah. Often 40, maybe even 00:07:36.100 --> 00:07:39.319 60 percent of your total costs. Easily. So saving 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:42.129 7 to 12 percent there, that hits. The bottom 00:07:42.129 --> 00:07:45.589 line directly could be over $100 per cow per 00:07:45.589 --> 00:07:47.649 year just from smarter feeding. And the wearables. 00:07:47.790 --> 00:07:49.910 Yeah. The health monitoring stuff. It's not just 00:07:49.910 --> 00:07:52.129 cow Fitbits, right? No, no, definitely not just 00:07:52.129 --> 00:07:54.370 Fitbits. The savings from catching something 00:07:54.370 --> 00:07:57.290 like mastitis early. I mean, the research puts 00:07:57.290 --> 00:08:00.790 that cost at upwards of $444 per case. Per case, 00:08:00.949 --> 00:08:03.889 including treatment, dumped milk, lost production. 00:08:04.089 --> 00:08:06.170 All of it. And these systems, the AI -powered 00:08:06.170 --> 00:08:08.689 ones, they can actually predict an illness 24, 00:08:08.829 --> 00:08:11.589 even 72 hours before you'd see it. visual signs. 00:08:11.689 --> 00:08:13.709 Seriously, how accurate are we talking? Well, 00:08:13.750 --> 00:08:16.750 some of these algorithms like support vector 00:08:16.750 --> 00:08:19.910 machines, think of them as really smart AI pattern 00:08:19.910 --> 00:08:22.470 detectors for cow health data. They're hitting 00:08:22.470 --> 00:08:28.170 accuracy rates like 97%. Wow. 97%. That's almost 00:08:28.170 --> 00:08:30.189 like having a crystal ball for finding sick cows. 00:08:30.730 --> 00:08:32.950 It's pretty close. But what's really fascinating, 00:08:33.169 --> 00:08:35.970 and the source emphasizes this, is the move from 00:08:35.970 --> 00:08:38.990 just adopting tech to truly integrating it. Meaning? 00:08:39.129 --> 00:08:41.929 Meaning just buying the robot or the sensor isn't 00:08:41.929 --> 00:08:44.769 the magic solution. You need the management protocols 00:08:44.769 --> 00:08:47.129 behind it. You need to actually use the data 00:08:47.129 --> 00:08:49.289 it gives you to make decisions. It's not just 00:08:49.289 --> 00:08:51.090 a Band -Aid. Right. It's got to be part of the 00:08:51.090 --> 00:08:53.490 whole system. Yeah. Which leads to that idea 00:08:53.490 --> 00:08:56.070 of moving from... Data collection to decision 00:08:56.070 --> 00:08:58.129 intelligence. Exactly. It's not enough just to 00:08:58.129 --> 00:09:00.389 have all this data pouring in. You need to translate 00:09:00.389 --> 00:09:03.230 it into action. Sarah Chen's experience, which 00:09:03.230 --> 00:09:05.169 the piece highlights, really shows this. What 00:09:05.169 --> 00:09:06.470 are they doing? They're pulling in everything, 00:09:06.809 --> 00:09:09.850 cow activity, rumination, milk components, feed 00:09:09.850 --> 00:09:12.789 intake, even weather data, all into one integrated 00:09:12.789 --> 00:09:15.370 platform. And the benefit. That's where the real 00:09:15.370 --> 00:09:17.860 power is. They're not just reacting. They're 00:09:17.860 --> 00:09:20.080 using that integrated data to predict potential 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:22.899 issues, identifying cows heading for trouble 00:09:22.899 --> 00:09:25.200 before you'd normally spot it. So it's a proactive, 00:09:25.299 --> 00:09:27.840 not reactive. Precisely. And it's driving real 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:30.779 productivity gains for them, 15, 20 % overall. 00:09:31.179 --> 00:09:34.539 Big improvements in conception rates, feed efficiency, 00:09:34.940 --> 00:09:37.639 catching health problems sooner. So like we said 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:40.360 at the start, this tech revolution, it's fundamentally 00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:43.120 changing how farms operate, how they compete. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:45.720 It really is. Which brings us back to that tough 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:48.100 question the material poses. It's not really 00:09:48.100 --> 00:09:50.320 about whether you can afford the technology anymore. 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:52.580 Right. It's whether you can afford to be left 00:09:52.580 --> 00:09:55.679 behind. That gap, that technological divide between 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:58.659 the farms embracing this and those sticking to 00:09:58.659 --> 00:10:01.539 traditional methods, it's just going to get wider. 00:10:01.779 --> 00:10:04.179 Now, obviously, the potential is huge, but we 00:10:04.179 --> 00:10:06.379 can't gloss over the real challenges. Access 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:08.340 to capital is still a big one. What did the source 00:10:08.340 --> 00:10:10.960 say? Over a quarter of producers see that as 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:14.220 a primary limitation. Yeah, 26%. And it's not 00:10:14.220 --> 00:10:17.240 just the money, right? Farmers need good local 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:19.559 tech support. They want to see solid research 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:22.659 proving these things work. And frankly, the systems 00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:24.779 need to be easy to use. Nobody wants another 00:10:24.779 --> 00:10:26.860 piece of software that takes a PhD to operate. 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:29.759 Exactly. You want to manage cows, not fight with 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:32.440 code. Okay, so let's shift gears then. Let's 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:35.139 talk about looking beyond just that milk check 00:10:35.139 --> 00:10:37.659 hitting the bank account every month. Diversification. 00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:41.059 Yeah, this is becoming absolutely crucial, isn't 00:10:41.059 --> 00:10:43.100 it, for long -term success? It seems like it. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:45.059 We're not just milk producers anymore, or at 00:10:45.059 --> 00:10:47.179 least the really successful ones aren't thinking 00:10:47.179 --> 00:10:50.440 that way. They're evolving into these diversified 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:52.659 agricultural businesses. It's not just a hedge 00:10:52.659 --> 00:10:54.860 against low milk prices either. It's becoming 00:10:54.860 --> 00:10:57.379 like a core part of the business model for a 00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:59.360 lot of these top farms. And the big one everyone's 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:02.039 talking about is beef on dairy, bode. Oh, yeah. 00:11:02.139 --> 00:11:06.090 The adoption rate is just... Incredible. 72 % 00:11:06.090 --> 00:11:08.870 of U .S. dairy farms are now using beef genetics 00:11:08.870 --> 00:11:12.429 in their breeding programs. 72%. That's a massive 00:11:12.429 --> 00:11:15.950 shift in breeding philosophy. It really is. And 00:11:15.950 --> 00:11:19.210 look at the semen sales. Nearly 8 million units 00:11:19.210 --> 00:11:21.649 of beef semen sold to dairy producers last year. 00:11:21.750 --> 00:11:24.190 That's almost a third of all dairy semen sales. 00:11:24.509 --> 00:11:26.649 Wow. It really makes you stop and think, doesn't 00:11:26.649 --> 00:11:30.090 it? For those farms still seeing dairy and beef 00:11:30.090 --> 00:11:33.120 as totally separate worlds, When was the last 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:35.059 time you really looked hard at what your breeding 00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:37.940 program is giving you beyond just the replacement 00:11:37.940 --> 00:11:40.440 heifers you need? Because of the economics, they're 00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:42.500 getting really hard to ignore. Those studies 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:44.940 from the land -grant universities, they consistently 00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:48.059 show these crossbred calves getting big premiums. 00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:50.879 How big are we talking? Anywhere from $350 up 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:53.960 to $700 more per head compared to a straight 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:57.639 Holstein bull calf. $350 to $700. Yeah. And get 00:11:57.639 --> 00:12:00.679 this. 80 % of farmers doing beef on dairy are 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:02.940 actually getting those kinds of premiums. 80%. 00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:05.659 Yeah. So let's do some quick math. Say you have 00:12:05.659 --> 00:12:09.480 a 500 cow dairy. You breed maybe 200 cows to 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:12.139 beef. That could be an extra $70 ,000 to $140 00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:15.320 ,000 in revenue annually. Which is basically 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:17.879 like getting a milk price bump of, what, 70 cents 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:21.059 to $1 .40 per hundred weight on all your milk. 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:23.120 Pretty much. It's a significant boost. And the 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:24.700 market's cooperating right now too, isn't it? 00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:27.360 Cattle numbers are low. Yeah, the U .S. cattle 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:30.539 inventory is at a 73 -year low, so beef prices 00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:33.879 are strong. And this Bodie trend is already making 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:36.659 a real dent in the beef supply chain. How much? 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:39.799 It was about 7 % of total U .S. cattle slaughter 00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:43.759 back in 2022. And the USDA thinks it could climb 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:47.879 to maybe 15 % by 2026. So this isn't just some 00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:50.159 niche thing. It's becoming a major factor in 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:52.379 the livestock sector. Absolutely. We heard about 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:54.799 James Thornton in Pennsylvania. Right. He started 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:57.909 small. Just breeding lower end cows to Angus 00:12:57.909 --> 00:13:00.470 to get better bull calf prices. Yeah, but it 00:13:00.470 --> 00:13:02.730 grew from there. Now he's raising some of those 00:13:02.730 --> 00:13:05.409 crossbreds all the way to finish, selling branded 00:13:05.409 --> 00:13:07.570 beef direct to consumers. And that accounts for 00:13:07.570 --> 00:13:10.309 what, 15 % of his farm revenue now? 15%. It's 00:13:10.309 --> 00:13:12.230 like he added a whole new business line without 00:13:12.230 --> 00:13:15.210 the huge capital outlay of, say, doubling his 00:13:15.210 --> 00:13:16.950 dairy herd. That's a great example of thinking 00:13:16.950 --> 00:13:19.710 beyond just the milk, which leads to that idea 00:13:19.710 --> 00:13:22.820 of creating value on your terms. Exactly. And 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:24.779 it's not just about selling the calves anymore, 00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:26.960 either. That's the point the source makes about 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:30.840 creating value on your terms. We're seeing more 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:33.259 and more farms developing their own branded beef 00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:36.000 or other value added products selling directly. 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:39.340 Tapping into that consumer demand for local, 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:44.039 traceable, high quality food. You know, let's 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:46.440 just be brutally honest for a second here. If 00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:49.220 you're still clinging to that we just milk cows 00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:52.519 mentality in today's market, that's not loyalty 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:54.779 to tradition. It's kind of a failure of imagination, 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:57.460 right? You're leaving money on the table. It's 00:13:57.460 --> 00:13:59.059 a harsh way to put it, but yeah, there's truth 00:13:59.059 --> 00:14:00.620 there. The market's demanding more, offering 00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:02.580 opportunities. And beef isn't the only game in 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:04.600 town for diversification. Oh, definitely not. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:07.740 We're seeing farms succeed with on -farm processing, 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:10.600 setting up creameries, making cheese, yogurt, 00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:13.059 ice cream, flavored milk. And capturing those 00:14:13.059 --> 00:14:15.600 retail margins, which can be huge. Yeah. Like 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:18.080 $20 or more per 100 -weight equivalent. Easily. 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:20.899 Then there's agritourism, farm tours, workshops, 00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:23.279 maybe an on -farm store, hosting events. Yeah. 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:25.720 Turning the farm itself into an experience people 00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:28.480 pay for. Right. And don't forget just leveraging 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:30.759 your land and equipment differently, selling 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:33.340 surplus crops or forage if there's demand. Or 00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:35.879 energy production, methane digesters turning 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:39.059 manure into biogas and fertilizer. Or solar panels, 00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:41.600 cutting your energy bill and maybe even selling 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:44.419 power back to the grid. It's all about looking 00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:47.559 at what you already have, land, livestock, skills, 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:50.620 and thinking, what's underutilized here? What 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:52.539 else could this asset be doing for me? Maybe 00:14:52.539 --> 00:14:56.250 start small, test the waters. See what clicks 00:14:56.250 --> 00:14:58.409 with customers before you bet the farm, so to 00:14:58.409 --> 00:15:00.850 speak. Good advice. And really think about what 00:15:00.850 --> 00:15:02.950 makes your farm unique. What's your competitive 00:15:02.950 --> 00:15:05.129 edge in these other ventures? Okay, let's pivot 00:15:05.129 --> 00:15:08.029 again. Sustainability. This is a topic that's 00:15:08.029 --> 00:15:10.690 really shifted, hasn't it? From being seen mostly 00:15:10.690 --> 00:15:13.830 as a regulatory headache. To actually being a 00:15:13.830 --> 00:15:15.909 competitive advantage. Yeah. It's less about 00:15:15.909 --> 00:15:17.669 just compliance now and more about efficiency 00:15:17.669 --> 00:15:20.450 and smart business. Exactly. The source mentioned, 00:15:20.490 --> 00:15:23.169 what, 63 % of U .S. dairy producers are already 00:15:23.169 --> 00:15:25.309 doing something sustainable? Right. At least 00:15:25.309 --> 00:15:28.250 one practice. But the real leaders, the ones 00:15:28.250 --> 00:15:30.929 taking a more comprehensive, holistic approach, 00:15:31.250 --> 00:15:33.909 they're the ones seeing tangible business benefits. 00:15:34.230 --> 00:15:36.549 Like what kind of benefits? Well, take water 00:15:36.549 --> 00:15:39.049 recycling. The article talks about farms recycling 00:15:39.049 --> 00:15:41.629 water multiple times, maybe up to six times, 00:15:41.750 --> 00:15:45.129 using it for cooling milk, then cleaning, flushing 00:15:45.129 --> 00:15:48.309 barns, finally irrigating crops. And there's 00:15:48.309 --> 00:15:50.549 research showing that saves costs and reduces 00:15:50.549 --> 00:15:52.990 the environmental footprint. Yeah, the Innovation 00:15:52.990 --> 00:15:55.049 Center for U .S. Dairy has done good work on 00:15:55.049 --> 00:15:57.570 that. Then there's manure management. It's way 00:15:57.570 --> 00:15:59.809 beyond just storing and spreading now. Right, 00:15:59.889 --> 00:16:03.070 capturing biogas for energy. Yeah. Reducing fertilizer 00:16:03.070 --> 00:16:05.990 bills. Exactly. The University of Wisconsin Dairy 00:16:05.990 --> 00:16:09.090 Innovation Hub found some farms saving $70 to 00:16:09.090 --> 00:16:12.549 $100 per cow a year just through better nutrient 00:16:12.549 --> 00:16:15.230 management from manure. turning waste into value. 00:16:15.409 --> 00:16:17.470 That adds up. And precision feeding ties in here 00:16:17.470 --> 00:16:19.610 too, right? We talked about cost savings, but 00:16:19.610 --> 00:16:22.970 it also means less nutrient excretion. That 15 00:16:22.970 --> 00:16:25.789 -20 % reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus Cornell 00:16:25.789 --> 00:16:28.389 talked about. Better for the environment, saves 00:16:28.389 --> 00:16:30.789 on input. It all connects. And overall, the industry 00:16:30.789 --> 00:16:33.889 has made progress, hasn't it? Since 2007, less 00:16:33.889 --> 00:16:36.610 water, less land, smaller carbon footprint per 00:16:36.610 --> 00:16:38.789 gallon of milk. Yeah, those efficiency gains, 00:16:38.970 --> 00:16:41.370 driven by both environmental awareness and just 00:16:41.370 --> 00:16:44.110 good economics, they're real. It's like the genetic 00:16:44.110 --> 00:16:46.490 gains doing more with less. It's interesting 00:16:46.490 --> 00:16:48.909 to look globally to the Dutch experience. Right. 00:16:49.029 --> 00:16:51.370 With circular farming. Yeah. They've been forced 00:16:51.370 --> 00:16:54.230 by really strict regulations to innovate, integrating 00:16:54.230 --> 00:16:57.529 crops, livestock, energy. They've shown sustainability 00:16:57.529 --> 00:17:00.289 can drive profits. Some Dutch farms cut purchase 00:17:00.289 --> 00:17:03.110 fertilizer by up to 65 percent while maintaining 00:17:03.110 --> 00:17:05.849 yields. Wow. And the market here is starting 00:17:05.849 --> 00:17:09.180 to catch on. Processors, retailers valuing sustainability. 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:11.480 Increasingly, yes. They're setting requirements 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:13.799 and some are offering actual premiums for milk 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:15.940 produced with verified sustainable practices. 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:19.000 So that sustainability divide, the source mentioned 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:22.200 it. It's real. Some see it as a cost. Others 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:24.660 see it as an opportunity. Right. Proactive producers 00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:26.900 are using it to get an edge, better prices, better 00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:29.119 market access. Like David Keller in New York. 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:31.880 Yeah. He put in a digester initially for compliance. 00:17:32.589 --> 00:17:35.950 But now he's getting a 15 cent per hundred weight 00:17:35.950 --> 00:17:37.849 premium from his processor because of it. That's 00:17:37.849 --> 00:17:41.190 like $45 ,000 extra a year for as far. Just for 00:17:41.190 --> 00:17:44.230 being proactive. Yeah. But there's still a disconnect, 00:17:44.309 --> 00:17:47.470 it seems. Lots of producers are doing good things, 00:17:47.490 --> 00:17:49.730 but not documenting it or linking it to programs. 00:17:49.990 --> 00:17:52.029 Yeah, that seems to be the case, especially maybe 00:17:52.029 --> 00:17:54.789 for smaller operations or in regions where these 00:17:54.789 --> 00:17:57.269 programs aren't as common yet. Lots of folks 00:17:57.269 --> 00:17:59.089 are already doing sustainable things. They just 00:17:59.089 --> 00:18:01.619 aren't getting credit. financially or otherwise. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:04.980 The takeaway is take stock of what you're already 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:08.119 doing. Research those processor programs. Start 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:10.579 measuring and documenting your impact. Exactly. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.619 Can't improve what you don't measure. And you 00:18:12.619 --> 00:18:14.440 definitely can't market it if you don't track 00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:16.940 it. All right. Let's shift to maybe the most 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:19.039 critical piece of the puzzle for the long haul. 00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:21.880 People. The human element. Absolutely vital. 00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:24.400 You can have the best tech, the smartest business 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:27.119 plan, but without good people and a plan for 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:29.079 the next generation, where does that leave you? 00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:31.799 Nowhere fast. And the workforce dilemma, it's 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:35.400 a big one. Persistent challenge. Huge. Many dairies 00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:38.099 rely on non -family labor for, what, more than 00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:40.759 half their workforce. Often, yeah. And immigrant 00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:43.859 labor plays such a crucial role. The stats are 00:18:43.859 --> 00:18:46.720 pretty stark. They really are. Nationally, immigrant 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:50.099 workers are 51 % of the dairy workforce, but 00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:53.500 they produce 79 % of the milk. Wow. And in some 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:56.579 big dairy states, it's even higher, like 80 % 00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:59.019 reliance. It's up to 80 % in places like the 00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:01.359 West and Southwest. So let's just be blunt, like 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:04.279 the source suggests. Our industry is deeply, 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:06.740 deeply reliant on a workforce that often doesn't 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:09.460 have secure legal status or clear pathways to 00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:11.640 get it. It's a fundamental vulnerability we can't 00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:13.480 just ignore. And it's not just finding people, 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:15.940 it's keeping them. Dairy work is tough, long 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:18.339 hours, physically demanding. It's hard to attract 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:20.980 domestic workers sometimes. And the H -2A program, 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:23.279 the guest worker program, it doesn't really fit 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:25.619 dairy's year -round needs, does it? Not, well, 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:27.960 no. It's designed more for seasonal work. And 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:29.880 the potential economic hit if there were major 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:33.259 labor disruptions. It's scary. Oh, yeah. Modeling 00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:36.119 suggests even a 50 % cut in immigrant dairy labor 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:39.359 could cost the U .S. economy $16 billion, a total 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:43.460 loss. Could push retail milk prices up 90%. 90%. 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:45.859 This isn't just a farm problem, it's a food system 00:19:45.859 --> 00:19:48.799 problem. Exactly. But, like in other areas, we're 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:50.720 seeing innovative producers finding solutions. 00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:53.640 Strategic automation, for one. Like Miguel Rodriguez 00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:56.440 in Idaho mentioned in the source. Using tech 00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:59.779 not just to cut jobs, but to change jobs. Right. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:02.440 Robots might reduce the need for parlor milkers, 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:04.519 but they create demand for skilled technicians, 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:07.900 cow managers. Often better, less physically demanding 00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:10.299 jobs. And farms are getting smarter about compensation, 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:13.480 too. Moving beyond just wages. Yeah. offering 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:15.900 good housing, more flexible schedules where possible, 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:18.900 performance incentives tied to milk quality or 00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:21.660 repro goals, recognizing that good employees 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:23.940 are a valuable asset. Like your best cows, right? 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:26.359 You invested them. Precisely. And investing in 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:28.420 professional development, creating actual career 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:30.880 paths on the farm. Amanda Chen's experience was 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:33.039 interesting, that multi -site dairy cut turnover 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:36.460 by 40 % with a structured advancement program. 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:39.500 40%. People stick around when they see a future. 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:42.640 A way to move up from entry level to more skilled, 00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:45.019 higher paying roles. Makes sense. Which links 00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:48.119 directly to the other huge human challenge. Succession 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:51.000 planning. Oh, absolutely critical. The stats 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:54.000 are worrying. About a quarter of current operators 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:56.839 plan to retire in the next five years. Yet almost 00:20:56.839 --> 00:21:00.200 half don't have a formal plan. Or aren't sure 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:02.700 how the form will transition. It's alarming. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:04.579 And you look at the general stats for family 00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:07.480 ag businesses, less than a third make it to Generation 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:12.019 2, only about 16 .5 % to Generation 3. Oof. We 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:13.880 need to have some honest conversations, both 00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:16.619 industry -wide and on our own farms. Are we ready 00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:19.740 for this potential wave of transitions? Or potential 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:22.400 closures? Because it's complex, right? Financially, 00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:25.039 emotionally. Modern dairies are huge capital 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:27.920 assets. Figuring out fair distribution, ensuring 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:30.559 the farm stays viable. It takes serious planning 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:32.599 and communication. And probably professional 00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:34.859 help. Often, yeah. Thomas Weber, the young guy 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:36.839 who took over his family's dairy, his advice 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:40.339 was spot on. Start early. Way earlier than you 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:42.319 think. Like five years before you need it, then 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:44.730 double that timeline. It's a marathon, not a 00:21:44.730 --> 00:21:47.069 sprint. Definitely. And the source laid out a 00:21:47.069 --> 00:21:50.190 good starting framework. Right. Step one, vision 00:21:50.190 --> 00:21:52.750 alignment meetings. Get everyone talking values, 00:21:53.130 --> 00:21:55.890 goals, dreams for the farm. Maybe use a neutral 00:21:55.890 --> 00:21:59.369 facilitator. Good idea. Step two, a thorough 00:21:59.369 --> 00:22:02.250 business assessment. Know the farm's real value, 00:22:02.349 --> 00:22:04.549 its efficiency, its viability. Get financial 00:22:04.549 --> 00:22:07.680 specialists involved. Then step three. Develop 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:10.019 multiple scenarios. Don't just fixate on one 00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:13.319 path. Gradual transfer, partnerships, maybe even 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:16.079 equity for key non -family managers. Explore 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:19.240 the options. Step four, create a separate timeline 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:21.480 for management transfer that often needs to happen 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:23.779 before ownership shifts, lets the next generation 00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:27.019 ease in. Good point. And step five, keep reviewing 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:29.539 and adapting the plan quarterly during the transition, 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:32.799 annually after. It's not set in stone. Things 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:35.279 change. The good news is there is a new generation 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:37.900 coming up, often tech savvy, business minded, 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:40.319 environmentally aware, and there are resources 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:42.220 out there to help them. University programs, 00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:44.819 producer groups, support is available. So the 00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:47.920 key takeaway on succession is just start, have 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:51.380 the conversation, build your team, take an honest 00:22:51.380 --> 00:22:54.220 look at your farm's transferability. Okay, so 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:57.000 we've talked tech, diversification, sustainability, 00:22:57.380 --> 00:23:00.630 people. Kind of a separate pieces. But the real 00:23:00.630 --> 00:23:04.329 magic, the next frontier is putting it all together, 00:23:04.430 --> 00:23:07.450 right? Integration. That's exactly it. The most 00:23:07.450 --> 00:23:10.109 successful operations aren't just doing one thing 00:23:10.109 --> 00:23:12.390 while in isolation. They're thinking holistically. 00:23:13.049 --> 00:23:15.349 About the whole system. How these different parts 00:23:15.349 --> 00:23:18.329 feed off each other, amplify the benefits, build 00:23:18.329 --> 00:23:20.950 resilience. Yeah, Ryan Kimball in Wisconsin put 00:23:20.950 --> 00:23:23.329 it perfectly. They stopped thinking about individual 00:23:23.329 --> 00:23:26.130 projects and started focusing on how everything 00:23:26.130 --> 00:23:28.809 connects. Like his example with the robots. The 00:23:28.809 --> 00:23:30.970 data didn't just solve a labor issue, it helped 00:23:30.970 --> 00:23:33.910 them fine -tune nutrition. Which cut feed costs 00:23:33.910 --> 00:23:36.609 and improved cow health. See? It's all linked. 00:23:36.710 --> 00:23:38.950 One chain creates ripple. And that systems thinking 00:23:38.950 --> 00:23:41.269 applies to the business model, too. Integrating 00:23:41.269 --> 00:23:43.970 milk production with, say, processing and direct 00:23:43.970 --> 00:23:46.529 marketing. Creates multiple income streams. Makes 00:23:46.529 --> 00:23:48.849 you much less vulnerable to price swings in any 00:23:48.849 --> 00:23:51.130 one area. It's like diversifying your investments. 00:23:51.769 --> 00:23:53.369 Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Exactly. 00:23:53.509 --> 00:23:55.369 So the big question for you, the listener, is 00:23:55.369 --> 00:23:58.809 are you still tackling challenges in silos? Or 00:23:58.809 --> 00:24:01.390 are you starting to see and leverage how interconnected 00:24:01.390 --> 00:24:04.309 everything is in modern dairy management? Because 00:24:04.309 --> 00:24:07.220 the opportunities for synergy are huge. Tech 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:10.000 can solve labor issues and improve welfare and 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.539 boost sustainability. Think automated cat feeders. 00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:15.900 Right. Diversification like Botis leverages existing 00:24:15.900 --> 00:24:18.960 assets, your cows, your land for new markets. 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:21.819 Sustainability cuts costs and potentially opens 00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:24.119 up premium markets. And investing in your people 00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:27.720 better pay, meaningful work, growth paths, leads 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:30.200 to stability and productivity across the board. 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:32.819 The Sanchez family dairy in California mentioned 00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:35.220 in the source sounds like a prime example of 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:38.319 this integrated approach. They really do. Robots, 00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:41.160 smart feeding, health monitoring, solar power, 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:44.140 water recycling, a big beef on dairy program 00:24:44.140 --> 00:24:46.940 with finishing and branding, and their own creamery. 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:49.880 Wow. They're doing it all. And Maria Sanchez 00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:53.400 said it herself. Each piece reinforces the others. 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:56.640 sustainability helps market their branded products 00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:59.579 technology helps with labor and animal welfare 00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:01.839 which is part of their brand story it all works 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:04.140 together it's a powerful combination so as we 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:06.869 start to wrap this up It's crystal clear, isn't 00:25:06.869 --> 00:25:09.490 it? The dairy industry is in a massive period 00:25:09.490 --> 00:25:12.910 of change, evolution, maybe even revolution across 00:25:12.910 --> 00:25:15.750 the board. Definitely. And yeah, there are challenges, 00:25:15.890 --> 00:25:19.269 big ones, but there are also these huge unprecedented 00:25:19.269 --> 00:25:22.630 opportunities for producers willing to think 00:25:22.630 --> 00:25:25.890 differently, to embrace strategic change. The 00:25:25.890 --> 00:25:28.369 key principles seem pretty clear. Think systems, 00:25:28.430 --> 00:25:31.759 not silos. Invest smartly in tech. Diversify 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:34.700 thoughtfully. See sustainability as an opportunity. 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:37.720 And prioritize your people. And here's that direct 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:39.980 challenge for you again. What's one conventional 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:42.200 practice on your farm? Something you've maybe 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:44.519 always done that really deserves a hard second 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:46.680 look right now. Maybe it's your breeding program. 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:49.480 Maybe labor management. Maybe your whole business 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:52.759 model. But pick one area and commit to an honest 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:55.220 assessment. Could innovation there change your 00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:57.509 whole trajectory? Because the producers who are 00:25:57.509 --> 00:25:59.269 really going to lead the way in this new dairy 00:25:59.269 --> 00:26:02.490 era, they're the ones blending that deep tradition, 00:26:02.650 --> 00:26:06.029 that love of cows and land, with a smart embrace 00:26:06.029 --> 00:26:08.150 of innovation. Yeah, it's like managing that 00:26:08.150 --> 00:26:11.589 transition cow, right? You invest up front, manage 00:26:11.589 --> 00:26:13.910 her carefully around calving so she peaks high 00:26:13.910 --> 00:26:17.730 and stays strong. Good analogy. Proactive investment 00:26:17.730 --> 00:26:21.130 and adaptation now leads to... better, more sustainable 00:26:21.130 --> 00:26:23.630 performance later. The future of dairy really 00:26:23.630 --> 00:26:26.589 does belong to the bold. Absolutely. And hey, 00:26:26.690 --> 00:26:28.970 we'd love to hear from you. What's one bold change 00:26:28.970 --> 00:26:30.930 you've made on your operation that's paying off? 00:26:31.009 --> 00:26:32.690 Share it in the comments. Your story might be 00:26:32.690 --> 00:26:34.829 just what someone else needs to hear. Yeah, definitely. 00:26:35.009 --> 00:26:37.150 And just to quickly hit those key takeaways one 00:26:37.150 --> 00:26:40.890 more time. Tech. Non -negotiable now. Two -thirds 00:26:40.890 --> 00:26:43.490 using advanced feeding. Robots showing big potential. 00:26:44.029 --> 00:26:47.150 Diversification. dominating, 80 % getting revenue 00:26:47.150 --> 00:26:50.490 beyond milk, Bodo Bodi premiums are real. Sustainability, 00:26:50.630 --> 00:26:53.750 it pays. Nutrient management savings, processor 00:26:53.750 --> 00:26:56.630 premiums happening. Labor in succession, still 00:26:56.630 --> 00:26:59.650 critical crises, huge workforce reliance, too 00:26:59.650 --> 00:27:03.029 few succession plans. But overall, a growth mindset 00:27:03.029 --> 00:27:05.990 wins. Producers are expanding, blending tradition 00:27:05.990 --> 00:27:08.930 and tech. So the executive summary is basically 00:27:08.930 --> 00:27:12.680 this. Dairy is transforming fast. tech, diversification, 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:15.299 sustainability are driving it. Despite consolidation 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:17.940 of people challenges, proactive, adaptable farms 00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:20.420 are finding ways to thrive by integrating everything. 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:22.960 Adaptability and embracing change, that seems 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:25.079 to be the name of the game in this new era of 00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:27.660 dairy. And that wraps up today's episode of the 00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:30.480 Bullvine Podcast. I hope this discussion has 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:33.059 sparked some fresh thinking about your own operations 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:36.920 future. Remember, as we've explored today, the 00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:39.700 most successful dairy producers aren't just adapting 00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:42.470 to change. They're actively driving it through 00:27:42.470 --> 00:27:45.849 strategic technology adoption, revenue diversification, 00:27:46.170 --> 00:27:49.470 and systems thinking. What conventional practice 00:27:49.470 --> 00:27:53.150 on your farm most deserves critical re -evaluation? 00:27:53.450 --> 00:27:55.769 We'd love to hear your thoughts. Head over to 00:27:55.769 --> 00:27:58.509 thebullvine .com and share your comments on this 00:27:58.509 --> 00:28:01.089 episode or drop us a message on social media. 00:28:01.569 --> 00:28:04.730 If you found value in today's conversation, Please 00:28:04.730 --> 00:28:07.089 subscribe to the Bullvine Podcast wherever you 00:28:07.089 --> 00:28:09.509 get your podcasts and share this episode with 00:28:09.509 --> 00:28:12.890 a fellow dairy producer who might benefit. Until 00:28:12.890 --> 00:28:15.970 next time, remember that in today's dairy industry, 00:28:16.309 --> 00:28:20.250 the future belongs to the bold. Thanks for listening.