Dairy Stream

Members of the Dairy Business Association, Wisconsin’s leading dairy advocacy group, demonstrated the positive impact farmers can have when they come together to prevent unnecessary and burdensome local ordinances designed to limit the productivity of dairy farms.

Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guests Erin Tomasik and Paul Fetzer discuss the following topics: 

Rock Elm township local ordinance in Pierce County, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permits

Conversations leading up to the committee meeting

DNR meeting with the town board

Testifying at town board meetings

Bridging the gap

Monitoring local ordinances

Running for local office

About the guests

Erin Tomasik is the Community Relations Manager at the Voice of Milk, where she works to ensure farmer voices are represented on local policy issues. She supports the organization’s government affairs team as well as its permitting and regulatory efforts. Erin collaborates closely with members to connect them with resources, participate in important town meetings and advocate for practical change at the county level. With over 4 years of experience in agricultural advocacy, she has a strong commitment to supporting farmers and the dairy community. 

Paul Fetzer is a retired dairy farmer and his family is running Fetzer Farm in El Paso, Wisconsin. Where they milk 1,400 cows and farm 3,000 acres. Paul is a past DBA board member and was awarded the 2024 DBA Advocate of the Year. 

Resources:

DBA members help prevent local ordinance in Rock Elm, read here.

Nutrient Management Planning resource  

Livestock Facility Siting resource 

Contact DBA team

DBA policy priorities

Connect with Erin, email Erin at [email protected] 

Learn more about the Dairy Business Association.

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing [email protected].

Dairy Stream Rewind with Orion Samuelson on Jan. 13, 2021.

It was an honor to host the voice of agriculture. Dairy Stream's Mike Austin talks with farm broadcast legend Orion Samuelson about his over 60 years of broadcasting experience. Orion shares his favorite stories, gives advice, reminiscences on memories and shares future plans. 

WGN Radio shared a tribute to Orion here. 

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing [email protected].

The Dairy Streamlet is a condensed version of a long Dairy Stream episode and covers the high-level points of the conversation. If this topic interest you, then listen to the full episode on March 18.

Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guests Erin Tomasik, community relations manager and Paul Fetzer, retired dairy farmer and DBA member board member, discuss the recent burdensome local ordinance designed to limit the productivity of dairy farms in Rock Elm township. They discuss the local ordinance, collaborative efforts, monitoring local ordinances and running for local office.

Resources:

DBA members help prevent local ordinance in Rock Elm, read here.

Nutrient Management Planning resource  

Livestock Facility Siting resource 

Contact DBA team

DBA policy priorities

Connect with Erin, email Erin at [email protected] 

Learn more about the Dairy Business Association.

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing [email protected].

Details matter and our guest doesn’t miss a beat sharing insight on the challenges and successes with regenerative farming practices.

Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guest Alex Udermann of Meadowbrook Dairy Inc. discuss the following topics: 

Meadowbrook Dairy’s start in regenerative farming

Go-to cover crops

Making educated decisions

Soil health mentorship

Most impactful equipment for regenerative practices

Precision nutrient management practices

What consumers are asking

Conservation goals

Improving animal health from in-field conservation efforts

Perspective on feed additives

What’s next for regenerative farming

About the guest

Alex Udermann is a fifth-generation dairy, beef, and row crop farmer who operates alongside his parents, John and MaryLou, his wife Kirsten, and his brother Jake and sister-in-law Sam. Their farm focuses on regenerative practices including no-till, cover crops, and responsible nutrient and manure management. They also provide custom no-till planting, cover crop seeding, custom manure hauling, and direct-to-consumer beef sales. Alex serves as an active member and mentor with the MN Soil Health Coalition, helping educate farmers and communities on soil health practices   

Resources:

Meadowbrook Farm website

Follow Meadowbrook Dairy on Facebook.

UM-Extension article on the Udermann family

MN Soil Health Coalition website

Learn more about the Voice of Milk.

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing [email protected].

The Dairy Streamlet is a condensed version of a long Dairy Stream episode and covers the high-level points of the conversation. If this topic interest you, then listen to the full episode on March 4.

Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guest Alex Udermann of Meadowbrook Dairy Inc. discuss regenerative farming practices, precision nutrient management, what consumers are asking and what’s next for the future of regenerative farming practices.

About the guest

Alex Udermann is a fifth-generation dairy, beef, and row crop farmer who operates alongside his parents, John and MaryLou, his wife Kirsten, and his brother Jake and sister-in-law Sam. Their farm focuses on regenerative practices including no-till, cover crops, and responsible nutrient and manure management. They also provide custom no-till planting, cover crop seeding, custom manure hauling, and direct-to-consumer beef sales. Alex serves as an active member and mentor with the MN Soil Health Coalition, helping educate farmers and communities on soil health practices   

Learn more about the Voice of Milk.

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing [email protected].