Uplevel Dairy

On episode 13 of the GPS DairyCAST, GPS consultant Nathan Pokowski, PAS, shares his knowledge and experience in what it takes to not just put up forage, but prepare for, #harvest, fill and pack excellent quality forage to keep cows healthy and at peak performance. Listen to hear Nathan's three gold standards of #forage excellence. ?? or ??: https://lnkd.in/gsWG5Gwa ?? Spotify: https://lnkd.in/g-47K8ax ?? Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gDSV4mbN

Let's congratulate Clare Alderink on crushing the Kalamazoo Marathon! ?????? This Michigan dairy manager joined us back on Episode 100 to talk about discipline and doing hard things, and we caught back up after he crossed the finish line to find out how he pushed through the physical and mental challenges to finish 26.2 miles with a smile! Take a listen here: https://lnkd.in/g34i9nhG

On this episode of the GPS DairyCAST, GPS team member Amanda Borkowski sits down with Monica McConkey of Eyes on the Horizon Consulting to talk about how to support your employees through times of struggle. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so tune in to hear about resources and what to look for when it comes to the mental wellbeing of the people that work on your dairy. Enjoy this conversation as part of our series from the 2023 GPS Dairy Leaders Forum. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/gsWG5Gwa

TO THE DAIRY FARM MOMS WHO MADE US .... There I stood in front of three judges. Butterflies in my stomach. A big bow atop my head. Fidgeting with my dress, as a nervous 9-year-old would do. It was a rare occasion when Mom left the barn before all the chores were done. But she wanted to make sure we got to my first 4-H speaking contest on time. I set up my poster, “The Dairy Cow’s 4 Stomachs,” and did my best to articulate each one. I didn’t want to be there. I had never written and given a speech before, let alone be judged on its merit. But looking back, those 3.5 minutes uncomfortable minutes were the moments that sent me on a career path that led me to doing what I love now. And it’s all because Mom made me. Did you have a Mom who "made you" too? Perhaps your dairy farm mom made you do some of these same things too: Mom made us sit on a wooden church pew every Sunday. Mom made us get our hinders out to the barn for chores. Mom made us do 4-H record books. Mom made us volunteer to play bingo at the nursing home. Mom made us learn how to sew, and how to pound a fence post. You see, those things that our moms made us do, are the things that make us who we are. They taught us discipline, compassion, life skills and leadership. Love for our neighbors and deep-seated faith. They took it on as their mission to make us make the world a little bit better and a little bit brighter. So here’s to the dairy farm moms who “made us," and the one who made YOU. P.S. Mine is pretty special. Hear her story of overcoming tragedy at a young age and relentlessly pursuing her dairy farming dreams on this special bonus podcast with Karen Bohnert from Dairy Herd Management: https://lnkd.in/gZKus-qs #mothersday #dairyfarming

"Your greatest accomplishment may not be something you do, but someone you raise." This mom of 6 couldn't have said it better. Sarah Daugherty manages high-performing teams at work at Paramount Calves, and a high-performing family at home. What has she learned about being a manager, a mother and what really matters? Follow the Uplevel Dairy Podcast to find out: APPLE | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE #management #motherhood #mothersday #dairyfarming

5?? Key Takeaways from Pauly Paul on "Bringing Bankrupt Dairies Back in the Black"from the Wisconsin Bankers Association Ag Bankers Conference: 1. Empty bunk syndrome: The majority of problems with dairy cow production, metabolic health and repro come from not having good quality feed in front of cows at all times. 2. The biggest expense on the dairy = feed. The greatest opportunity to reduce feed costs = removing non-essentials from the ration. 3. Many dairies don't have a labor problem. In fact, just the opposite: they are overstaffed and operating inefficiently. 4. Overlooking the value of good quality forages. Again, many of the problems that show up in a cow can be solved with good feed. 5. The trouble-shooting app ... When you are looking for the root of the problem ... try this: Open up the camera app on your phone, and hit the "selfie" button. The problem may suddenly become more clear. A pleasure to join you, Pauly, in telling your stories, and thank you to the Wisconsin Bankers Association for the opportunity!