Bovine Banter
Bovine Banter focuses on management, production, and profitability to help make farms more successful. Join the Penn State Extension Dairy Team for informal educational conversations with dairy producers, industry representatives and Penn State faculty and research. Each week we will cover hot topics in the dairy industry that will help dairy producers become more profitable. Guests will compare research with experiences of what has and has not worked on their farms and provide tips to help make you more successful.
Episodes
106 episodes
24.2: Organic Dairy Production Tips with Dr. Brad Heins
Join Emily Fread as she interviews Dr. Brad Heins, an organic dairy production professor at the University of Minnesota.
Organic Dairy Myths, Answered
Jim Lawhead from Penn State Extension interviews Dr. Amy Kraus from Horizon Organic Dairy about the myths surrounding organic dairy farming.
23.3 Comfort in Important for Calves, Too! w/ Dr. Jessica Mitchell
Join Extension Dairy team member, Dr. Jess Mitchell to learn about her research on calf housing and comfort and why it is important to keep calves comfortable, too.
Hoof Health and Cow Comfort with Hoof Trimmer Chad Ripka
Join Dairy Educator Emily Fread as she interviews long-time hoof trimmer Chad Ripka about common hoof health problems and solutions.
Hooves and Health: Interview with Ag Engineer, John Tyson
Jim Lawhead interviews Penn State Ag. Engineer John Tyson about the impact of facilities on cattle health, primarily hoof health.
Episode 22.6: Farmer Perspective on Forage Management with Zane Itle
Episode 22.5: Pasture Management with Dave Hartman
Join Dairy Educator Emily Fread as she interviews Dave Hartman, Program Director of the PA Grazing Lands Coalition. about pasture management. Dave raises Angus cattle and Katahdin sheep on a 170-acre farm in Montour County.
Episode 22.4: 2025 PA Corn Silage Crop Recap
Join dairy educator Kasey Hower and agronomy educator Zack Curtis from Penn State Extension as they discuss this year’s corn silage crop as well as some upcoming opportunities to learn more about this topic during a webinar series.
Episode 22.3: Precision Nutrition Research with Dr. Leoni Martins
Meet new Penn State Extension dairy team member and faculty researcher, Dr. Leoni Martins as he shares about his work in the area of precision nutrition. Host: Ginger Fenton, Guest: Leoni MartinsImage credit: Penn State Dairy...
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Episode 22.2: Highlighting PSU Grad Student Research
In this episode, Jim Lawhead interviews 2 PSU grad students about their research on the fat nutrition of dairy cows and the economics of cropping strategies.
Episode 22.1: Penn State Feeding Assessments
Crops play a crucial role on dairy farms, and forages are arguably the most crucial part of a dairy diet. Feed costs on a dairy farm represent about 75% of total expenses and, in most cases, can make or break a business. Penn State Extension ca...
Episode 21.6: Transitioning the small family farm with Tiffany Kline
Episode 21.4: Thinking about Agritourism on Your Farm w/ Dr. Claudia Schmidt
In this episode, we'll talk with Dr. Claudia Schmidt, a Penn State faculty member, who will share her insight and observations about agritourism as a way to diversify the farm business. Episode host and guest: Ginger Fenton (host) w...
Episode 21.3: Farm Transitions for Success.
Join Angela Breneman and Michael Peachey from Acuity Advisors and CPAs July 15th on Bovine Banter to discuss farm transition. Angela and Mike discuss who needs a succession plan, what should be in a plan and how to start a conversation wi...
Episode 21.2: Diversifying for the next generation with Hayley Painter of Painterland Sisters
Join Dairy Educator Emily Fread as she interviews Hayley Painter of Painterland Sisters Organic Skyr Yogurt. Hayley, and her sister, Stephanie, started Painterland Sisters to help stabilize the milk market for their farm located in Tioga County...
Episode 21.1: Farm Transition and Diversification with Jersey Acres Farms and Stone Mountain Wine Cellars
"Join dairy educator, Kasey Hower, as she chats with Kent, Kyle, and Chad Heffner with Jersey Acres Farms and Stone Mountain Wine Cellars located in Schuylkill County Pennsylvania. The Heffner’s have a unique operation where they milk 200 head ...
Episode 20.5: The impact of HPAI on Dairy Markets with Colin Kadis
Join Dairy Educators Emily Fread and J. Craig Williams as they interview Colin Kadis from EverAg. Colin talks about how HPAI has impacted dairy markets.
Episode 20.4: A Farm Safety Conversation with First Responders
In this episode, dairy educator Daniela Roland talks with first responders Steve Brown and Rob Nese about farm safety and emergency response on the farm. They share practical tips for implementing farm safety and insights that farmers can use o...
Episode 20.3: Manure Storage Safety
Join Angela Breneman, Dairy Management Educator, and John Williamson from Team AG for tips on how to keep you, your family, and your employees safe around manure storage systems this spring
Episode 20.2: Focusing on Family Health and Safety on Farms with Dr. Florence Becot
In this episode, Dr. Becot shares her insights about multiple generations working on the farm with considerations for health insurance, childcare, and keeping everyone safe on the farm. Episode host and speaker: Ginger Fenton ...
Episode 20.1: Chemical Safety on Your Dairy Farm
Join dairy educator, Kasey Hower, as she speaks with Ed Crow and Jamie Kopco from the Penn State Extension Pesticide Education program on the importance of chemical safety on your dairy farm. Their discussion includes considerations you should ...
Episode 19.4 Current Research on Transition Cows w/ Dr Adrian Barragan
Extension veterinarian, Dr. Adrian Barragan, shares current research being conducted on transition cows focusing on the role of inflammation, precision technology applications for management, and hypocalcemia. Host: Ginger Fenton; G...
Episode 19.3: Using DHIA and Health Records to Identify Subclinical Ketosis in Your Dairy Herd
Join Penn State Dairy Educators Kasey Hower and Micheal Lunak as they discuss how you may use your DHIA and health records to identify subclinical ketosis in your dairy herd.
Episode 19.2: Transition Cow Nutrition w/ Dr. Heather Dann
Join Dairy Educator Emily Fread as she interviews Dr. Heather Dann, President of the W.H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, NY. Dr. Dann grew up on a dairy in New York State and has been researching transition cow nutrition and ma...
