Shari Van de Pol, founder of Cattleytics, appeared on season 20, episode 16 of CBC’s Dragon’s Den. Progressive Dairy Editor Matti McBride interviewed Van de Pol to learn more about the experience of appearing on national television.

Calf hydration management is one of the most critical and often overlooked components of successful calf raising. In the first weeks of life, calves are highly susceptible to fluid imbalance caused by environmental stress, management transitions and gastrointestinal illness.

There are quite a few reasons Paige and Marcus Dueck’s farm in Kleefeld, Manitoba, stand out from most. They milk their herd of 50 Brown Swiss with a tiestall automated milking system. They also farm 900 acres, own a nutrient management consulting business, raise two daughters and keep the barn doors open to tours.

Sensor-based soaking delivers cooling when and where cows need it and uses cow activity to drive system response. When nozzles open because a cow is present and close when she leaves, cooling becomes both more effective and more efficient.

Nearly 900 attendees convened in Red Deer, Alberta, for the 2026 Western Canadian Dairy Seminar on March 10-13. Sessions covered a variety of topics, such as milk components, heat stress, feeding trace minerals, calf management, biosecurity and more.

My new life on the farm was an adjustment not only for me, but for the people around me. Sharing my journey helped bridge that gap. What began as updates for friends and family slowly grew into a way of building understanding for people both inside and outside the agriculture industry.

Genetics provide a strong foundation for positioning herds to benefit from evolving milk pricing structures. While fat and protein have both shown gains of the past 30 years, the growing gap between them highlights the need for greater emphasis on protein in selection and breeding decisions.