Uplevel Dairy Podcast

What does it take to be a successful, profitable and competitive dairy farm business? This is the podcast for dairy owners, managers and advisors who are after their next level of success. Join Uplevel Dairy host Peggy Coffeen each week as she sits down with the industry’s leading dairy producers and thought leaders for real conversations about business, management and leadership.

Uplevel Dairy Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Peggy Coffeen, with 367 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Peggy Coffeen hosts Uplevel Dairy Podcast, a business show with 367 episodes published.

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  Episode #371

  371 | Breeding for the Bottom Line: Genetics That Work in the Real World

  Aug 18, 202626 minS4

  Today on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Luke Getty of Ideal Dairy and Cookiecutter Holsteins in Eastern New York to discuss the role of genetics, technology, and long-term decision-making in building a successful dairy operation. Getty shares the evolution of the family-owned business, which has grown through strategic expansion while also developing a global genetics program. He reflects on the transition to Ideal Dairy, his early skepticism around genomics, and how seeing genomic outliers become top-performing animals changed his perspective. He also discusses how IVF, genomic testing, and intentional breeding decisions have helped accelerate genetic progress and support the dairy's growth. Getty shares how the operation approaches breeding for cows that are moderate in size, productive, healthy, fertile, and built for longevity, with a focus on traits such as strong feet and udders, high components, and mastitis resistance. He also highlights measurable improvements in herd health, including somatic cell count, and explains how genetics can support both current performance and long-term sustainability. United Sires is a partnership of well-known Holstein breeders from the United States bringing genetic solutions to dairy producers worldwide. Our mission, “Breed the Best, Better,” reflects the work we have been doing on our farms for generations. As multi-generational dairy farmers, we adhere to a simple yet powerful principle: We Milk What We Make. We understand the importance of breeding cattle that are profitable throughout their lifetimes, functional across all dairy enterprises, and aesthetically pleasing. Learn more at UnitedSires.com and follow on Facebook.com @UnitedSires and @unitedsiresofficial on Instagram. 00:00 Genetics Build Businesses 00:54 Luke’s Genomics Turning Point 03:06 Scaling Ideal Dairy Fast 05:19 Breeding the 10 Year Cow 06:33 United Sires Explained 08:18 Genetics for Every Market 10:36 EU Demand and No Holes Bulls 14:31 Health Traits and Happy Teams 16:10 Mastitis Gains You Can Measure 18:11 Risk Taking and Corrective Mating 19:10 Legacy and Next Generation 21:20 10 Year Vision and Advice

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  Episode #370

  370 | What the Top 20% of Farm Businesses Do Differently with Dr. David Kohl & Lynn Paulson

  Aug 13, 202633 minS4

  What will separate the most successful farm businesses from the rest over the next decade? Dr. David Kohl and Lynn Paulson of Bell Bank join Peggy Coffeen to discuss the economic and global trends producers should be watching—from consumer demand for protein and AI-driven agriculture to global competition, regenerative agriculture, the coming land transition, and relationship-based lending. They also break down what separates the top 20% of farm businesses: knowing the numbers, having a plan, managing risk, building strong relationships, and consistently doing the small things right. 00:00 – Economic & Global Trends 01:05 – Protein & Precision Agriculture 02:15 – Following the Consumer 03:01 – Global Competition 04:37 – The Changing Global Landscape 07:18 – Regenerative Agriculture 08:58 – Agriculture’s Story to Consumers 10:59 – The 2032 Land Opportunity 12:42 – Land Ownership vs. Control 14:04 – Advice for Young Producers 17:09 – Planning & Financial Management 20:23 – Family Business Accountability 22:01 – Relationship Lending 26:33 – What Makes a Good Lender? 29:01 – What the Top 20% Do Differently 30:32 – Excellence at the Margin

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  Episode #369

  369 | Beyond the Technology: The People Who Make Dairy Innovation Work

  Aug 11, 202632 minS4

  Technology may be changing the way dairies operate, but it still takes people to make it work. Today, we visit with Bailey Beck of Automated Dairy in Jerome, Idaho, to find out how she stepped into the dairy industry at just 22 years old, tasked with helping producers get more from the software, data and technology they were investing in. In this episode, Bailey shares how she overcame imposter syndrome, earned the trust of dairy producers and built her expertise by staying curious, coachable and willing to learn everything from cow management to electrical systems. She also opens up about balancing a demanding career with raising three young boys, the mentors who helped shape her along the way, and why, even as AI and automation advance, the human side of dairy innovation may be more important than ever. Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with tools they need to succeed. 00:00 Meet Bailey Beck 02:27 Her Role at Automated Dairy 03:21 Starting Young in Dairy Tech 04:13 From 4H to Software Support 05:44 Making Tech Actually Work 07:15 Early Win and Confidence 09:05 Be Coachable and Keep Learning 12:57 Mentors Who Made the Difference 14:15 Career and Motherhood Balance 17:38 Self Care and Staying Organized 18:15 Milc Group Tools in the Barn 20:41 Advice to Her Younger Self 21:50 Future of Dairy Technology 25:11 Most Rewarding Moments 26:08 Rapid Fire on Ag Advocacy 28:34 Networking for Young Pros

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  Episode #368

  368 | Sitting Down With The Next Generation of Golden E Dairy

  Aug 6, 202649 minS4

  Part two of The Uplevel Dairy Podcast features Chris and Tracey Elbe’s children—Ryan, Kim, Matt, and Kyle—discussing their roles at Golden E Dairy and how their dad intentionally “molded” each of them toward different strengths. Ryan oversees broad operations and improvements, coordinating with contractors and advisers; Kim focuses on calves, heifers, and some fieldwork while embracing change and learning ideas from social media; Matt handles shop work, spraying, and equipment problem-solving with a direct, impatient style; Kyle feeds heifers, does hay and fieldwork, and serves as the people-focused communicator with employees and others. Together, they describe choosing to stay on the farm as the dairy expanded and reflect on the challenges of farm transition planning, especially “what if” scenarios and finances, emphasizing the value of starting the conversation early and appreciating their parents addressing transition at a younger age. This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial.Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.Visit https://www.compeer.com/specialists/dairy 00:00 Meet the Elbe Kids 01:54 Roles on the Farm 03:38 Dad’s Quiet Molding 06:19 Why They Came Back 10:31 Each Sibling’s Strength 16:39 Succession Talk Realities 19:11 Advice to Start Now 19:54 Transition Timeline

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  Episode #367

  367 | Golden E Dairy: Building Dreams From the Ground Up

  Aug 4, 202642 minS4

  On the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen visits with the family behind Golden E Dairy in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, where first-generation farmers Chris and Tracey Elbe describe building their dairy from a 64-stall stanchion barn and 250 acres into a self-sufficient enterprise milking 2,900 cows, raising calves, heifers, and steers on site, and operating grain handling and soybean roasting. Chris recounts starting at age nine with calves as pay, learning through hardship, and taking calculated risks to expand from tie-stalls to a parlor and freestalls, then a modern facility with a double-32. Tracey, a former X-ray tech, shares adapting from city life, raising four children who all stayed in the business, and the challenge of letting go during transition. They emphasize hard work, listening to experienced people, strong employees, communication through weekly meetings, and concerns about land costs driven by non-farm uses. 00:00 From Nothing to Golden E 01:42 Chris Starts With Calves 03:07 Hard Lessons and Bankruptcy 03:54 Buying the First Farm 06:11 Tie Stall Grind to Parlor 07:23 Scaling to 2900 Cows 09:06 Tracey Finds Her Place 10:04 Raising Kids on the Farm 12:39 Family Roles and Mentors 16:54 Taking Smart Risks 20:39 Tech And Growth Strategy 22:20 Kids Roles On Farm 23:45 Weekly Meetings Transition 26:20 Big Dream Legacy 27:15 People Behind Success 29:56 Letting Go Of Control 33:57 Emotional Handoff Stories 37:05 Threats And Opportunities 39:06 Advice For New Farmers

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