This podcast will cover current educational, research, and industry tools available to produce the highest quality dairy products - efficiently and effectively.
Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Dairy Team

In this Spanish Fridays episode, we share a list of books recommended for reading in Spanish and English. These suggestions are simply book recommendations for anyone interested in adding new titles to their reading list and exploring Spanish-language materials. Please take a moment to complete our listener survey and help inform the future direction of the Spanish Friday podcast. Survey link: https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2tVvyBvGOmQ3Y34 We'd love your feedback! The ISU Dairy News & Views podcast now has a listener evaluation. Your input helps us improve and bring you the content you want. Take a few minutes to fill it out here: https://go.iastate.edu/SPANISHFRI

In this episode, we sit down with experts from the University of Wisconsin to discuss best practices in colostrum delivery and how early-life management sets calves up for long-term health and performance. Raising Your Dairy Best Heifer Webinar - Colostrum Delivery Strategies Explained | Dr. Donald Sockett & Dr. Ryan Breuer: https://youtu.be/F4r3KluNjhY?si=idOrvz6uOf57h9wT We'd love your feedback! The ISU Dairy News & Views podcast now has a listener evaluation. Your input helps us improve and bring you the content you want. Take a few minutes to fill it out here: https://go.iastate.edu/ISUDAIRYPODCAST

In this episode of Spanish Fridays, we dive into the fundamentals of heat detection and insemination techniques in dairy cattle. Learn practical tips to identify estrus, improve reproductive efficiency, and enhance herd management. Whether you're a student, producer, or just curious about dairy practices, this episode provides clear, step-by-step insights in both Spanish and English. Tune in and take your dairy knowledge to the next level! We discuss the University of Georgia's Speaking Spanish to Improve Dairy Cattle Reproduction bulletin: https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/publications/B1344/speaking-spanish-to-improve-dairy-cattle-reproduction/ We Want Your Feedback! Help shape the future of the podcast by completing our quick listener survey: https://go.iastate.edu/SPANISHFRI

In this episode, we're joined by Melissa Cantor to discuss pair housing and how it is used in animal management systems. Melissa breaks down what pair housing looks like in practice, key considerations for implementation, and how it can influence animal behavior, development, and daily management. This conversation is helpful for producers, students, and anyone interested in learning more about housing strategies and management decisions in animal systems.

In this week's Spanish Fridays episode we explore the essentials of animal reproduction en español. Building on practical language and science, we walk through key reproductive concepts, helpful vocabulary, and real-world communication tips for dairy producers and learners alike. Featured Reading: We discuss the University of Georgia's Speaking Spanish to Improve Dairy Cattle Reproduction bulletin CAES Field Report We Want Your Feedback! Help shape the future of the podcast by completing our quick listener survey: https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2tVvyBvGOmQ3Y34 Whether you're a producer, student, or Spanish learner, this episode is packed with insights to improve both reproducción knowledge and bilingual communication skills.

Get ready for another chaotic, laughter-filled Spanish Friday as we dive into our next topic: salsa de ombligo fresca.

Learn key terms, phrases, and practical applications in both Spanish and English to help you navigate workplace protocols with confidence. Perfect for learners looking to expand their professional vocabulary while improving their Spanish skills!

In this episode, we dive into the essentials of record keeping in agriculture and farm management!

Better genetics, better calves, learn the tools shaping the next generation.

In this episode, we dive into the common challenges dairy producers face when raising calves. From feeding and health management to labor and time constraints, we discuss practical strategies to overcome bottlenecks and raise healthy, productive calves. Read along here: https://www.el-lechero.com/digital-edition/2025/15/1525pd-the-three-most-common-calf-care-challenges-i-see-on-farms.pdf

Join us for this week's Spanish Fridays session as we explore practical approaches to keep animals healthy and comfortable during cold weather. We'll cover key management strategies, environmental considerations, and preventative practices to support livestock well-being through winter conditions. Article: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/files/documents/strategies_for_cold_weather_calf_care-spanish_0.pdf

Join us as we dive into the world of positive biofilms, the good bacteria that can benefit dairy operations. Not all biofilms are harmful; some play a crucial role in maintaining microbial balance, protecting equipment, and supporting food safety. Join us as we explore how these beneficial microbes are changing the way we think about dairy processing, sustainability, and quality.

Celebrate the season with our Spanish Fridays Holiday Special! In this episode, we dive into the rich holiday traditions of Spanish-speaking countries, from festive foods and decorations to family customs and cultural celebrations. Join us as we explore how these traditions bring joy, community, and flavor to the holiday season.


Join us for Spanish Fridays, where we explore the world of agriculture in both Spanish and English! This episode dives into the care, health, and early life of newborn calves (becerros recién nacido). Perfect for livestock enthusiasts, students, and anyone looking to improve their Spanish agricultural vocabulary! Read along at: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/files/documents/Manejo%20y%20cuidado%20de%20becerros%20recie%CC%81n%20nacido%20y%20calostro.pdf

In this episode, we explore the quiet power of patience and persistence — tranquilo y constante. Whether you're learning Spanish, chasing a goal, or simply trying to stay grounded in a busy world, progress often comes not from intensity, but from consistency. Read along with us! https://dairy.extension.wisc.edu/articles/el-papel-de-la-previsibilidad-y-el-manejo-tranquilo-en-la-bajada-de-la-leche/

Join us as we dive into the world of dairy consulting and the cutting-edge use of lung ultrasound in herd health management.

Spanish Fridays is back with Episode 135! More information can be found here: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/bilingual-milker-training https://www.el-lechero.com/digital-edition/2023/05/0523pd-mastitis-101-fuenzalida.pdf

Join us this week to learn more about the milking routine and tips for connecting with Spanish-speaking team members. More information can be found here: https://www.agproud.com/articles/36721-el-lechero-the-milking-routine https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(24)01296-7/fulltext

Tune in for another special edition to grow your Spanish vocabulary and learn smart management practices for your employees!

To follow along as we disscus silage safety and try to learn some spanish too, here is a link: https://extension.psu.edu/seguridad-en-el-llenado-del-silo

In this episode we dissucuss more ways to practice spanish in order to use it on the farm while also talking about some other great resources! To read the article we are looking at, click here: https://www.el-lechero.com/digital-edition/2025/03/0325pd-beyond-hooves-the-human-element-in-tackling-lameness.pdf

In this Episode we cover everything related to Corn Silage Harvest Managemnet! Additional resources can be found below: Corn silage webinar: https://youtu.be/I9NKsOJwxP4?si=tnb3QkaVkqTCkIbc Corn Silage Chop Height Calculator: https://go.wisc.edu/CSCH-Calc

In this episode, we explore the benefits of understanding and communicating with your farm workers, while also sprinkling in a little Spanish along the way!

In this episode we will be diving into Corn Silage Safety with our special guest! More information on Silage Sagety can be found here: www.connoragriscience.com or www.sealprosilage.com Silage Safety Resources, Videos, and Coloring Book page www.connoragriscience.com/silage-safety Harvest Planning Resources https://www.connoragriscience.com/silage-success-system Dr. Bolsen KSU Silage Safety Video www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdTOBDhVCUg

In this episode, we dive into the latest research and practical strategies for managing uterine disease in dairy herds. This discussion highlights both challenges and opportunities in managing one of the most common issues affecting dairy cows.

In this episode, we sit down with Shelby Gruss to discuss the latest on corn diseases and what they mean for silage quality and livestock feed. From identifying field threats to managing harvest decisions, this conversation sheds light on strategies to protect both yield and feed value.

Your front-row seat to what's happening in Midwest cornfields right now. From wrapped tassels to unexpected growth patterns, we break down the science, scouting reports, and expert insights—all in one place. Whether you're walking fields or riding the sprayer, tune in for timely updates you can use this season.

Join us as we talk with Miguel Rangel, DVM, Recruiter & Consultant at Optimum Dairy Consulting, about the current challenges in dairy labor and practical strategies for recruiting and retaining a strong workforce.

Join us for an in-depth look at current dairy commodity trends, pricing pressures, and what's ahead for the industry. From global demand to feed costs, we break down the key factors shaping the dairy market outlook.

In this episode, we dive into the numbers behind Iowa's dairy industry, explore how June Dairy Month came to be, and break down the facts that highlight the importance of dairy in Iowa and beyond.

Tune in as the dairy team catches up with recent graduates of the Dairy Science Club at Iowa State!

Tune as we discuss current alfalfa conditions and best management practices for using PEAQ and cutting a high quality 1st crop alfalfa based on your farm's goals! Download the PEAQ factsheet and check out counties measuring PEAQ across the state to get an idea of where fields are at for quality.

Tune as we discuss current alfalfa conditions and best management practices for using PEAQ and cutting a high quality 1st crop alfalfa based on your farm's goals! Download the PEAQ factsheet and check out counties measuring PEAQ across the state to get an idea of where fields are at for quality.

Tune in as the dairy team covers upcoming dairy events and recaps of recent conferences!

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dairy team discussed dairy farm worker health, emphasizing the importance of biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of diseases like avian influenza (H5N1). They highlighted the active influenza season in Iowa, with a vaccination rate of 32%, far below the 70% goal. The team noted the high-risk areas for exposure and stressed the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Resources for biosecurity and health measures were recommended, including the Center for Food Security and Public Health and local public health departments. Respirators and Fit Testing | Health & Human Services Information for Farm Workers Spanish version of Information for Farm Workers Sioux County Community Health Partners Center for Food Security and Public Health - https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/

The 2025 Dairy Days event, organized by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dairy team, featured discussions on various topics including dairy industry surveys, feed pricing tools, and alternative forages. The event saw a high response rate to the dairy industry survey, with topics like farm transitions, financial sustainability, labor challenges, and beef-dairy integration being widely discussed. Local sponsors, such as Osage Vet Clinic and Alliant Energy, provided support. The team also highlighted the importance of health and safety education for dairy farm workers. A new Hay probe was offered as a prize to a participant who filled out an evaluation form.

Tune into this episode as the Dairy Team speaks with other extension specialist about their topics during Dairy Days! Learn more about Dairy Days at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/2025-iowa-dairy-days. Have ideas for upcoming podcasts? Submit them here https://go.iastate.edu/ISUDAIRYPODCAST

Listen in as the Dairy Team discusses our upcoming Dairy Days events! Learn more about Dairy Days at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/2025-iowa-dairy-days Podcast survey and topic ideas: https://go.iastate.edu/ISUDAIRYPODCAST

Tune in as the Dairy Team discusses the upcoming Farm Transition Conference on February 6-7. For more information visit https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/farmtransitions/ Have podcast ideas? Add them here at: Podcast survey and topic ideas: https://go.iastate.edu/ISUDAIRYPODCAST

Don't miss out on some learning opportunities during the early months of 2025. Get more information about each of the programs here: Urban Cow Weather Webinar Dairy Goat Webinar Series I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Shortcourse Got feedback about our podcast or ideas of upcoming topics? Let us know by taking this quick survey!

Tune as we talk about the upcoming farm couple getaway being hosted on Feb. 21-22, 2025 in Dubuque. Madi Skubal, dairy and crop producer, located in southeast Iowa shares her and her husband's experience with the getaway and the take home messages she is still using today. To learn more about the upcoming getaway check out: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/2025-farm-couple-getaway

Aspirin has never gone through the process of being approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in cattle. However, FDA considered aspirin to be of “low regulatory concern,” so its use in scenarios where a veterinarian determined there to be no other option for treatment was acceptable. The agency has now reversed that stance and released a letter to veterinarians emphasizing that aspirin use in dairy cattle and other food animals is prohibited. The webinar to view for further information can be found here: https://youtu.be/fcYVG-mNelo?si=evLWgTgjMJKEglo8 Have topics for another podcast? Let us know here: https://go.iastate.edu/ISUDAIRYPODCAST

Join Extension Dairy Team members as we reflect on 2024 and the events that took place in the dairy industry and what we are looking forward to in 2025! Have topics for another podcast? Let us know here: https://go.iastate.edu/ISUDAIRYPODCAST

Tune as we discuss details about the Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grant with Iowa Secretary Mike Naig and hear experiences from Iowa dairy producer, Ted Wolf. Find how this grant could help you support the purchase of labor-reducing technology equipment or on-farm processing equipment. Reminder grant deadline is Monday, December 2 at NOON. Grant details and application can be found here: https://www.chooseiowa.com/grants/dairyinnovation Got ideas or questions for upcoming podcast episodes? Share your thoughts with us and we'll include them in future episodes! https://go.iastate.edu/ISUDAIRYPODCAST

Join dairy team members as they recap key takeaways from the Dairy Industry Doubleheader, including talking points from Dr. Allison Vander Plaats on her experiences with automatic calf feeders and an update on where HPAI is in the US, along with Dr. Grant Dewell as he talks about the ISU Biosecurity Trailer. Got ideas or questions for upcoming podcast episodes? Share your thoughts with us and we'll include them in future episodes! https://go.iastate.edu/ISUDAIRYPODCAST

Tune in as Guest speaker Leonard Polzin with UW Madison spoke on the dairy price outlook this next year at the 2024 Ag Lenders Seminars!

Join us as the Dairy Team speaks about upcoming events hosted across the state of Iowa! For more information about the events visit: Ag Lenders Seminars: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/ag-lenders-seminars Dairy Industry Double Header: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/iowa-dairy-industry-doubleheader Review of Purposed Changes to Federal Milk Marketing Orders Webinar: https://go.iastate.edu/MILKPRICE2024

Tune in as the Dairy Team chats with producer Jeremy Peake and Dr. Larry Tranel about grass fed milk production! For more information on upcoming events mentioned in the episode visit: Agricultural Lenders Seminars: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/ag-lenders-seminars Iowa Dairy Indsutry Double Header: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/iowa-dairy-industry-doubleheader Review of Purposed Changes to Federal Milk Marketing Orders Webinar: https://go.iastate.edu/MILKPRICE2024

Tune in as Dairy Specialists Dr. Gail Carpenter and Jennifer Bentley talk all things corn silage with Margaret Quaassdorff, regional dairy management specialist with the Northwest NY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program. Got ideas or questions for upcoming podcast episodes? Share your thoughts with us and we'll include them in future episodes! https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9zSuiDurkdm5OPI

Tune in as the Dairy Team chats about cover crop resources for farmers with Dr. Mark Licht, Associate Professor and Extension Cropping Systems Specialist and Dr. Shelby Gruss, Assistant Professor, Forage Extension. Got ideas or questions for upcoming podcast episodes? Share your thoughts with us and we'll include them in future episodes! https://go.iastate.edu/ISUDAIRYPODCAST