Name: MaryGrace Erickson

Job title: Dairy Nutritionist

Company: CSA Animal Nutrition

What education are you bringing with you to this position?

I received a Ph.D. in dairy science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where my dissertation focused on protein and nitrogen metabolism in lactating cows and animal science undergraduate education. Prior to that, I completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal sciences at Purdue University.

Please describe your agricultural background.

In my childhood, I milked dairy goats before and after school, which developed my work ethic, optimism and appreciation for agricultural stewardship. I also participated in 4-H, collegiate judging and groups, and industry associations. I was strongly influenced by my mother’s ag journalism and marketing communication consulting profession. She often involved my siblings and me in discussing agriculture issues and innovations, which shaped our education and career paths.

What territory will you cover?

I am based near St. Paul, Minnesota and will primarily support nutritionists, feed mills and dairy producers in the Upper Midwest.

What are your new responsibilities?

I am responsible for shaping nutrition strategies that support the profitability and long-term sustainability of our clients. This includes providing nutrition services (evaluating diets and ingredients, providing research-based recommendations, troubleshooting challenges) as well as connecting customers with nutritional technologies that improve income over feed cost. I’m excited to join the data-savvy, research-driven team at CSA as we develop advanced diet evaluation and optimization tools such as our CSA Model. Overall, I aim to connect clients with the forefront of dairy nutrition research, innovative analytical tools and effective nutritional technologies.

What previous positions have you held?

Most recently, I held a postdoctoral research and extension appointment at the University of Minnesota, where I worked with producers to document their progress on environmental stewardship and improve methods to measure manure greenhouse gas emissions. Prior to my Ph.D., I completed summer research experiences and held internships with the USDA Livestock Behavior Research Unit and Provimi. I have also served as an independent consultant on several data analysis and communication projects with clients in agriculture.

Who has made the biggest impact on your career?

I was fortunate to have exceptional academic mentors – notably Liz Karcher, Michel Wattiaux and Erin Cortus – who stretched my creative, analytical and technical skills. Early on, I was an undergraduate researcher for Tamilee Adolph, whose advice has continued to shape my path. My time at Purdue, UW – Madison and the University of Minnesota connected me with lifelong friends and collaborators. Finally, I’ve learned immensely from working with exceptional farmers and dairy professionals in the Upper Midwest.

How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?

The focus of my Ph.D. research was protein and amino acid nutrition and how inconsistent nutrient supply affected productivity and efficiency. This made me well prepared to support producers in optimizing protein nutrition and troubleshooting diet implementation. I’ve also done research and extension on environmental stewardship and gained expertise with environmental models and assessment frameworks. This enables me to advise on nutrition, nutrient management and sustainability topics. Finally, I have strong analytical skills and a passion for data visualization. I’m excited to support clients in getting more out of their data to help them in the decision-making process.

Why did you choose this company?

This company stood out to me for its innovative, people-first approach. The team is bold about exploring new ideas, embracing emerging technologies and pushing the industry forward. This approach means that we work with forward-thinking clients. After over a decade as a researcher, I was eager to work with like-minded individuals, and apply my technical skills to drive practical results. Ultimately, it was the right fit to continue strengthening my connections within the Upper Midwest dairy industry, while joining the company’s highly-respected team of experts in nutrition, data science, supply chain management and laboratory services.

What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?

My first goal is to build strong, collaborative relationships with nutritionists, farms and feed mills across the Upper Midwest that make this company the go-to resource for practical, science-driven support. In research and extension, the classic answer to any question is “it depends.” To me, this speaks to a need to work one-on-one with clients: integrating data sources, extracting insights and aligning with the latest research and regulations. Additionally, I’m eager to build tools that move beyond standard, out-of-box nutritional models. My team has already blazed some trails in rethinking feeding guidelines and management tools. I’m hopeful I can make my mark, too.