Duane Stoltzfus of Pennwood Farms LLC in Somerset County, PA shares a glimpse inside their nutrition program, the feeding decisions they make for their 600-cow herd as they crop 2,000 acres, and the return on investment they’ve seen after implementing a feed watch technology system. He also describes the ups and downs of having a digester on their …

Too often, we hear about dairies that are exiting the industry or those without a next generation. We don’t always hear how dairy farm families are positioning their operations for the future. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Yvette Longenecker of Penn England LLC in Blair County, Pennsylvania shares how they work to find the sweet spot b…

Managing calves can be a challenge, especially when you’re dealing with the up and down temperatures we’ve had this winter. But getting calves off to a good start can make all the difference in the future productivity of your herd. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Caroline Zimmerman of Dry Creek Farm in Blair County, Pennsylvania describe…

January on the farm can be rough for everyone: you, your employees, and your herd. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Justin Risser of Meadow Vista Dairy in northern Lancaster County shares how his team takes it one day, one decision, and one individual at a time. He describes how they try to manage the dairy operation with an individualize…

“Cheese-making is kind of like farming. There are many different ways to do it well and do it right.” The holiday season is here, and can you imagine having to fill a bunch of orders from last-minute customers looking for the perfect gift? For Pennsylvania dairy farmers in the artisan cheese business, that’s exactly what this time of year can look …

As we wrap up Season 3, Jayne Sebright, host of the podcast, sat down with Emily Barge, our podcast producer, for this special bonus episode to reflect on some memorable moments. Featuring conversations with 12 dairy farms from across Pennsylvania, this season included farm-level takeaways and real-time insight on everything from cow/calf care and …

With fall harvest wrapping up, many dairy farms are looking ahead to the winter months. For the grazing herds in Pennsylvania, this means moving their herds off the grass. To kick off Season 4 of Cow-Side Conversations, Neil Hertzler of Rock Hollow Dairy LLC in Perry County, Pennsylvania shares how his family transitioned their dairy operation to a…

Too often in Pennsylvania, we talk about dairy farm families who are exiting the dairy business. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Cory Mellott, Kerry St. Onge and James St. Onge – all middle managers at Molly Pitcher Milk LLC – share the unique journey of how their owners, the Jones family, purchased the dairy farm in 2022. They took an o…

What does the expansion decision-making process look like? In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Tyler Rohrer of Rohrer Dairy Farms in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania shares how his family made the decision to invest in a 60-stall rotary milking parlor and expand to milk 1,600 cows. From milking more cows in less time to a healthier overall her…

For Oakleigh Farm in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, they went from a true, 1950’s era dairy farm to a fully-automated, 21st century dairy operation in less than a year. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Matt Brake of Oakleigh Farm opens up about how a devastating barn fire in 2019 forced them to decide whether they were going to rebuild or…

“To me, value-added is one of the few areas of growth.” “Ice cream is a fun thing.” If you want your kids to dig in, you have to allow them to run.” In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations (and to cap off National Ice Cream Month this July), William Lesher of Way-Har Farms in Berks County, Pennsylvania shares these thoughts and more about his fam…

In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Tricia Adams of Hoffman Family Farms, LLC in Potter County, Pennsylvania describes their family business and how Potter County’s unique terrain impacts their growing season and dairy management practices. With a strong presence in their local community, Tricia shares some of the simple, but meaningful ways…

“Rub some dirt on it” might work for physical problems on the farm, but it’s not always that simple with mental health. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Jess Peters of Spruce Row Farm in Crawford County, Pennsylvania has a candid conversation about some of the thoughts and feelings that many dairy producers have about mental health. From …

Diversification is common on many PA dairy farms. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Daryl Martin of Dew Mist Farms in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania talks about some of the unique ways he has diversified his family business and said “yes” to new opportunities. From dairy and poultry enterprises to custom harvesting and manure hauling busines…

Today is the first day of spring, and many dairy famers are already preparing for their spring planting and cropping cycle. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Shawn Saylor of Hillcrest Saylor Dairy Farms in Somerset County, Pennsylvania talks about his unique, regenerative approach to caring for their 680-cow herd and 1,500 acres. From cove…

With limited land availability on their home farms, many Pennsylvania dairy farmers are considering investing in satellite dairies. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Rod Hissong of Mercer Vu Farms in Franklin County, Pennsylvania opened up about their journey to investing in a satellite dairy in Virginia – 65 miles away from their home dai…

Making the decision to invest in new technology like a robotic milking system or a compost barn can be exciting, but it often comes with a learning curve and new maintenance requirements. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Phoebe Bitler of Vista Grande Farms in Berks County, PA, shares both the benefits and learning curves they have experie…

Should you overcrowd or not? While some farms use overcrowding to increase overall profitability, others worry that individual cow performance will suffer if they overcrowd. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Dale Brown, a partner at Jobo Holstein Farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, shares how overcrowding has improved their profitability and…

Especially during this month of giving and gratitude, being able to work alongside your family and serve your community at the same time is one of the most satisfying parts of dairy farming. To kick off Season 3 of Cow-Side Conversations, Jennifer Orr of Harmony Acres in Fayette County, Pennsylvania shares what sparked her family to enter the value…

With 7,100+ downloads to date, the Cow-Side Conversations podcast has remained true to our original mission: helping dairy farmers learn from other farmers. As we wrap up Season 2, Jayne Sebright, host of the podcast and director at the Center, sat down with Emily Barge, podcast producer and communications manager, for this special bonus episode to…

Dairy cows are a lot like high-performing athletes. To help them achieve their peak performance, attention must be paid to every detail. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Tom Barley of Star Rock Farms in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, shares how their team remains laser-focused on the smallest details to achieve peak herd performance and …

“I always liked to rest at the top of the hill, not the bottom. I wanted to do that as I exited dairy.” “A farm is more than just a place to make a living. It’s a place to live.” In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Frank Graybill, a retired dairy producer from Restful Acres Dairy Farm in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania shared these words of wis…

There’s no price tag you can put on the opportunity to work with your family every day. But how do you find a healthy balance between your dairy farm and your family? How can each generation be a part of your family's legacy? In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Jared Kurtz, a fourth-generation dairy farmer from Kurtland Farms in southern Ber…

With temperatures rising and many Pennsylvania dairy farms experiencing July heat waves, proper ventilation and cooling measures are essential this time of year. In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Clint Burkholder of Burk-Lea Farms in Franklin County, Pennsylvania shared his strategies for mitigating heat stress — including a new sprinkler …

As we celebrate National Dairy Month this June, Maria Forry, a dairy producer from Lancaster County, Pa., shared how Oregon Dairy Farm LLC’s annual event – Family Farm Days – reaches up to 10,000 people each year. In this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations,” Maria described the planning process, the partnerships they have formed within the communit…

With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, Michelle Kirk, a former beef producer from Adams County, Pa., opened up about how the unexpected loss of her husband has affected her mental health and her future in agriculture. In this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations,” Michelle recounted several deeply personal stories about how she coped with her …

With fertilizer costs at an all-time high, innovative planting strategies can help dairy producers keep costs low. In this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations,” Ben Peckman from Slate Ridge Dairy in Franklin County, Pa. shared what he does to boost soil fertility, keep costs low, and make the best use of his acreage. He also shared some of his innov…

For Candice Dotterer White from Dotterer Dairy in Clinton County, Pa., raising steers and adding beef into their breeding program started out as a simple solution to a feed problem. In this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations,” Candice shared how it has evolved into a new opportunity to diversify their dairy operation by raising and marketing their …

What is this all for? How do we make sure all family members are secure? How should we manage labor shortages and a changing workforce? How can we use technology to help build a legacy for our dairy farm? In this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations,” Donny Bartch of Merrimart Farms in Perry County, Pa. discussed these questions and more as he reflec…

When it comes to calf care and management, you don’t get a redo. In this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations,” Greta Halahan & Virginia Deffibaugh from Singing Brook Farms in Bedford County, Pa. share how they get their calves off to a good start and how important it is to define your protocols to ensure excellence from the very beginning. With cold…

Happy New Year! With 2021 almost behind us, enjoy this bonus episode of “Cow-Side Conversations” featuring some of our favorite moments from Season One. Over the last year, we’ve interviewed dairy farmers from across the state – from Wayne County just a few miles from New York to Westmoreland County near Pittsburgh. As dairy farmers, we all have so…

Our employees are essential to every aspect of our business, especially on dairy operations. With Willow Behrer Farms in Huntingdon County, PA recently being recognized by the National FARM Program for their efforts in workforce development, Allen Behrer and Pete Posnett joined us for this episode of “Cow-Side Conversations.” Listen as they describ…

To kick off Season 2 of Cow-Side Conversations, John Kline of Lebanon County, PA shares how creating a successful transition plan for his five sons has helped them take on responsibilities and make decisions for Klinedale Farms and their satellite embryo business. Passing the dairy farm on to his sons – who he describes as a dream team – has also a…

With October being American Cheese Month, Emily Montgomery of Calkins Creamery on Highland Farms in Wayne County, PA shared how she got her start with cheese-making. With her team making about 1,500 pounds of cheese a week, Emily discussed how she manages quality and consistency, drives profitability for her family’s dairy farm, connects with custo…

Safety protocols are a critical part of your dairy business to protect yourself and your employees. As we enter the fall harvest season, Brett Reinford of Reinford Farms in Juniata County, PA opened up about a farm accident he experienced last November — an accident he describes as “a direct hit, not a near miss.” In our 11th episode of Cow-Side Co…

One expense that is often overlooked on dairy farms is energy-related costs. In our 10th episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Josh Waddell of Apple Shamrock Dairy Farm in Crawford County, PA describes his model for success. Josh shares how an energy audit led to new opportunities and savings, and he breaks down several ways his family focuses on effi…

Over the past few months, we have seen feed costs rising exponentially as grain market prices reached record highs and remain well above historical averages. With overall feed costs representing anywhere from 35 to 70 percent of the total costs on a dairy, Walt Moore of Walmoore Holsteins in Chester County, PA shares his go-to strategies for managi…

June is extra special in Pennsylvania. Not only is it June Dairy Month, but Holstein breeders from all over the country are coming to the southeast corner of our state to celebrate the National Holstein Convention and to spotlight Pennsylvania Holstein genetics. In our eighth episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Duane Hershey of Ar-Joy Farms in Chest…

After a barn fire in 2008 and a near fatal accident in 2018 where he found himself between a gate and an oncoming skidloader, Chuck Carr of Lone Oak Farm joined us for our seventh episode of Cow-Side Conversations to share his inspiring journey toward recovery – both physically and mentally. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, Chuck descr…

In our sixth episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Jason Frye of Pleasant Lane Farms in Westmoreland County, describes how a simple business plan helped his family transform their dairy and enter the value-added space to begin making cheese. After working in the high-tech space, Jason shares how they are adopting and embracing new technology and using…

In this fifth episode of Cow Side Conversations, Alan Waybright from Mount Rock Dairy in Newville, Cumberland County, shares his thoughts on transitioning into a new facility and investing in low-cost improvements to aid in cow comfort and herd performance. He also discusses how he leverages outside consultants to fine tune his operation.…

In this fourth episode of Cow Side Conversations, Carissa Westrick from Vale Wood Farms in Loretto, Cambria County, shares insight their farm family has gained from spending the last 80+ years in the value-added space. She also shares perspective she learned from their agritourism efforts geared to connecting with their customers.…

Dry matter is more than just a number on this dairy farm. For Brubaker Farms in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, it's not just about getting pounds of dry matter into the cows – it’s how that dry matter is being converted into milk that really matters. In this episode, Tony Brubaker shares how tracking dry matter intake is helping his farm better manage th…

With the COVID-19 vaccine just approved by the FDA, everyone is talking about viruses, quarantine, and vaccines right now. In this episode, Nate Heim, the general manager at Yippee! Farms in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, shares his perspective and experience with vaccination protocols and biosecurity on the dairy farm.…

In this episode, Mark Mosemann, a partner at Misty Mountain Dairy in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, shares how they use risk management to protect both their input costs and milk price margins. Find out why Mark sees it as an important part of his farm's day-to-day business strategy.By Center for Dairy Excellence

In the trailer, meet your host Jayne Sebright and find out what to expect in this new series featuring real-time farmer insight, tricks of the trade, and inspiring stories from dairies around Pennsylvania.By Center for Dairy Excellence