Join Progressive Dairy Podcast co-hosts Kimmi Devaney, Walt Cooley and Matti McBride as they highlight some of their favorite articles and podcast episodes from 2025 and discuss Progressive Publishing’s new artificial intelligence (AI) policy, the new Ask AgProud AI feature on agproud.com, 2026 internship opportunities and a fun Christmas segment.

Links:

• Sign up for Real Producer Exchange webinars
• Article: Preparing for unexpected visits from immigration officials (podcast episode – season 7, episode 27)
• Podcast episode with Bethany Dado-Senn (season 7, episode 1)
• Snider Dairy Farm’s “Grandma Got Run Over By a Jersey” parody video

Episode overview:

[~1:30] Ask AgProud AI

[~5:15] New editorial AI policy

[~6:45] Overview of some of Devaney, Cooley and McBride’s most memorable articles and podcast episodes this year

[~13:25] 2026 internship opportunity for students in the U.S. and Canada

[~19:30] Christmas segment

[~16:30] Internship advice for college dairy students

[~29:30] Rapid-fire questions

DMI’s Katie Bambacht, Vice President of Nutrition Affairs at the National Dairy Council, speaks with DMI’s Scott Wallin about how the checkoff is working directly with schools to improve school lunches (with dairy being front and center) by collaborating with the School Nutrition Association.

Katie explains that nearly 30 million students participate in school meal programs daily, with dairy providing significant nutrients, while emphasizing the critical role of school meals in addressing food insecurity and improving academic performance.

She also covers the "Made with School Lunch" campaign, which aims to change perceptions of school meals, and the "Smart Swaps" initiative, which helps schools meet evolving USDA standards while maintaining dairy offerings.

The discussion also touches on the potential of whole milk in schools and future projects with the School Nutrition Association.

To learn more about the national dairy checkoff and your local dairy checkoffs, please visit dairycheckoff.com.

Host and Guest:

Host: Scott Wallin, Vice President of Farmer Communications & Media Relations, Dairy Management Inc.

Guest: Katie Bambacht, Vice President of Nutrition Affairs, National Dairy Council

This episode is sponsored by Dairy Management Inc.

David Kerr, milkrite | InterPuls (MI) Regional Sales Manager, shares insights on Impulse Air liner technology, proper milking equipment setup, mastitis prevention strategies, and MI comprehensive Farm Services Programs supporting dairy producers.

Episode highlights:

• MI Lines of Business and Impulse Air [~2:08]
• How to choose the right liner [~4:00]
• The importance of massage [~5:17]
• Key factors for liner setup [~5:58]
• Relationship between liners and mastitis [~7:25]
• The advantages of MI Capital Goods and Farm Services [~12:52]

This episode is sponsored by milkrite | InterPuls (MI).

At MI, we support our business partners and farmers. We provide fully integrated systems where all aspects of herd management and milking meet, constantly monitoring and controlling efficient milking.

We serve our products through a well-developed network of distributors and technical dealers, which is constantly developing.

Jim Van Patter has managed large dairy herds from Wisconsin to Turkey to Australia to Mississippi and back again. He's now the dairy manager at Nehls Brothers Farm near Juneau, Wisconsin, and he's brought home some hard-won lessons about what works at scale—and what doesn't.

Whether you're running 100 cows or 1,000, Jim's got practical insights on everything from labor management to facility design that you can put to work on your operation.

Genetic advances in Holstein cows are reshaping milk composition, demanding more precise nutritional strategies. This episode highlights how the CNCPS v7.0 model and targeted amino acid supplementation can optimize milk solids and herd efficiency. Experts share practical approaches for leveraging data-driven ration modeling to maximize returns in today’s evolving dairy landscape.

Key takeaway: Precision nutrition and advanced modeling are essential for unlocking the full value of modern dairy genetics.

This episode is sponsored by Actus Nutrition, innovators of precision dairy nutrition solutions. Actus proudly manufactures RPMet, a leading rumen-protected methionine designed to maximize component yields and reproductive efficiency. To learn more about RPMet and other nutrition products by Actus, such as Energy Booster and custom milk replacer products, visit https://actus.com/livestock/specialty-ingredients/

What is Targeted Reproductive Management (TRM)? And why should producers care about this new approach to dairy reproduction? Listen in to this Progressive Dairy sponsorcast as a team of reproductive health experts and enthusiasts evaluate new TRM best practices, how dairies can find better repro rates and more.

Episode Highlights

• The latest reproductive research findings
• Prostaglandin product comparisons
• TRM cost-benefit analysis

Episode Guests

• Dr. Bilby, Merck Animal Health Director of Dairy Technical Services
• Austin Snook, Merck Animal Health U.S. Dairy Marketing Manager
• Dr. Ricardo Chebel, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Professor

This episode is sponsored by Merck Animal Health.

With identification, monitoring and biopharma products fully integrated in one portfolio, Merck Animal Health offers the only true full-solution approach in the dairy industry. Which means you get the tools you need to eliminate guesswork, solve specific problems, let cows be cows and put more milk in the tank. It’s the way you want to work, working better than ever before. Learn more about this unique approach to dairy at M-Power-Dairy.com.

Pennsylvania dairywoman Lolly Lesher from Way-Har Farms joins host Kimmi Devaney on this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast to discuss on-farm processing, selling directly to consumers through their farm market and other retail avenues, farm tours and community outreach.

Connect with Lesher on Facebook.

Here is a breakdown of the episode:

• [~1:00] About Way-Har Farms and Lesher’s family
• [~1:50] Differences between their old freestall barn and the new one they built in 2016
• [~3:30] Farm market
• [~4:50] On-farm processing
• [~5:40] How they develop new flavors
• [~7:00] Marketing
• [~9:30] Product distribution
• [~9:55] Ice cream trailer for events
• [~10:45] Employee recruitment differences between the dairy and the farm market/on-farm processing
• [~11:40] The part of her farm Lesher is most proud of
• [~14:05] Advice for other dairy producers interesting in trying on-farm processing
• [~20:00] Employee training
• [~20:40] About their farm’s open house in 2020
• [~25:30] School tours
• [27:00] Internships
• [~28:30] Helpful resources
• [~29:15] Their Airbnb
• [~30:45] Agritourism advice for other producers
• [~33:00] Rapid-fire questions

As a dairy farmer, understanding health insurance options is key to protecting your family, employees, and business. This session explores current market trends and key considerations when evaluating insurance coverage options.

Here is a breakdown of the episode:

• [3:20] 2026 market outlook
• [5:22] Extended subsides
• [6:39] Budgeting for health insurance
• [9:16] Questions to ask your benefits specialist
• [13:08] Health insurance programs built for farmers

This episode is sponsored by Agri-Services Agency.

Agri-Services Agency specializes in providing customized insurance solutions for dairy farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses. Insurance offerings include: Health, dental, vision, life insurance, workers’ compensation, and property and casualty insurance. ASA is committed to helping you access comprehensive insurance coverage at a price that fits your budget.

24/7 customer service center: 1-877-466-9089

Website: https://agri-servicesagency.com/

Association health plans for Kansas and Texas: https://agricarehealth.com/