MONETT, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist Reagan Bluel is a self-proclaimed “science geek.” She likes pawing through the latest science journals to keep on the cutting edge of dairy research that could improve the bottom line of Missouri dairy producers.

“Sometimes useful farm management information is in scientific jargon that is just not very user-friendly,” she says. So Bluel translates the findings to boots on the ground in her podcast series, “Dairy Science Digest.” The podcasts get to the “meat and taters” of new research in simple language, she says. Podcasting allows busy dairy producers to listen when and where it is convenient.

Last fall, Bluel had reached out to the then-editor of the Journal of Dairy Science, Matt Lucy, to highlight articles in the peer-reviewed journal. When Bluel was a graduate student in dairy science at MU, she and Lucy had worked together on to identify the relationship between nutrition and reproduction in cattle.

When COVID-19 forced MU Extension to shut down face-to-face trainings in March, Bluel realized she needed a new way to serve dairy producers. Even before the pandemic, dairy producers often find themselves somewhat socially isolated because they need to be at the farm for twice-a-day milkings, seven days a week, 365 days per year, she says.

The downtime forced Bluel to push the reset button. “We’re all too busy with work, home and community activities,” she says. “I had found myself falling away from seeking the latest dairy science research because there just never seemed to be enough time.”

Bluel decided to produce a short podcast that would highlight just “need to know” info from the Journal of Dairy Science.

Without access to professional video and audio resources, Bluel challenged her husband and children to help her create “Dairy Science Digest.” Her husband played the ukele music that opens each episode. Her children helped her learn new technology to produce the podcast.

Bluel interviews leading dairy science researchers across the country for the podcasts. She condenses the interviews to under 30 minutes.

You can find the free podcasts at dairy.missouri.edu or email Bluel at bluelrj@missouri.edu.

Images available for this release:

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MU Extension dairy specialist Reagan Bluel breaks down scientific research for dairy farmers in a new podcast, 'Dairy Science Digest.' She was recently named interim superintendent of MU's Southwest Research Center. Photo courtesy of Reagan Bluel.

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Dairy Science Digest logo.