Dairy Herd Management Articles:
More bang for your labor buck
A “rainy day list” can ensure employee productivity during down time and/or inclement weather.
Stars, workhorses and dead wood
Time to take stock of your workforce.
Become a leader
Getting the most out of your people takes more than management; it takes leadership.
Biometric time clock
With more than 20 employees to keep track of, using paper time sheets was becoming cumbersome.
Characteristics of trust
Agriculture has been transformed into a relationship business, which means that trust between employees and managers/owners is more important than ever before.
Trust and profitability
How important is trust to a business?
Top reasons why employees leave a job
Money didn’t even make the list.
Keep ‘em Smiling
Use these simple solutions to revive your employee-retention efforts.
A lost opportunity?
The bipartisan immigration reform bill was dealt a potentially deadly blow on the Senate floor the night of June 7.
Spanish agricultural thesaurus available
You can access this new tool online.
Bilingual dairy signs
Here’s an easy way to order the signs you need for your dairy in both Spanish and English.
Books help sharpen business knowledge
Find out what two business books made a difference for this producer.
Get them to take on more responsibility
Of your dairy is growing, you will probably need to hire more people and delegate some of your responsibilities to others. Sometimes, those responsibilities are technical in nature, like being in charge of breeding; while other times, they are supervisory.
Federal government Spanish-language Web site
The site offers links to online services — from verifying immigration status to applying for student financial aid.
Use pre-printed forms to gather important data
Doing so puts you more in control of the information you receive.
Online tool generates job descriptions
This tool allows you to write and print job descriptions quickly.
Are your protocols working?
Feedback and communication with your veterinarian are the best ways to keep treatment protocols working on your farm.
Consider spot checks
This producer uses periodic spot checks to help demonstrate the importance of getting the right amount of milk into each calf each and every day.
Clear communication needed
Many of the headaches in calf-raising come from a lack of communication between people.
If only you had asked
Don’t underestimate the power of asking employees to improve their productivity.
Consistent steps for effective milking
Milking calm cows, with clean, dry and well-stimulated teats — in a consistent manner — makes milking easier, improves the quality of milk and reduces the incidence of mastitis at the dairy.
What are the Benefits of Consistent Udder Prep?
Consistency in udder prep is one of the challenges that dairy farmers face with their employees, especially in large dairies where most of the work force is hired.
Consistency in feeding is the key
Cow comfort and nutrition are the most important factors which determine the cow’s health and performance.
Meet the needs of your cows — consistently
Due to industry demands, the modern milk cow is adapting to a new way of life. The way dairies are being managed today has forced the cows to change their natural habits due to the way they are housed in confinement, where they have to compete for food and space.
A smile goes a long way
Don’t underestimate the power of a smile and saying “hello” to your employees.
Use incentive programs wisely
Use this idea to get more out of your incentive programs.
Silence is golden
When it comes to compensation, learn why you are better off to keep quiet.
Why you need documentation
Good employee documentation can help protect you legally.
Traits of top managers
Find out if you provide your employees with the things they need to succeed?
Learn to motivate employees
Use these four steps to help motivate employees and improve performance.
Leading change through people
We live in an ever-changing world. Change is the only thing we can count on anymore, yet we all process change differently.
Listening skills seminar available
The one one-hour seminar is free and can be downloaded on the Internet.
Train employees on proper euthanasia techniques
Instructions are available in Spanish and English.
Get help on prescription drugs
Check out these resources to see if you qualify to get a discount card for prescriptions.
Knowing your SOPs pays at this dairy
Employees can earn a pay increase after completing an oral exam on the SOPs for their jobs.
Audio tool helps employees improve interpersonal skills
You can download free audio files from the
Avoid the buddy approach to management
Using this management approach can lead to problems
Tips for managing a multicultural workforce
Instead of focusing on the differences, managers should learn to build on what the different cultures have in common.
Good signage a plus
Bilingual signs at this dairy allow everyone to know where everything is.
Without immigrant workers, who will milk the cows?
With Congress now debating immigration reform, it is time for you to impress on your elected representatives how important immigrant labor is to the farming economy.
Labor-management publication for heifer-rearing
Check out this free on-line publication for help in dealing with labor issues specific to heifer raising.
Spanish audio tools available
You can download these audio files and use to help you learn Spanish.
Labor management help
You can access this free tool online.
Show employees the impact of their actions
Make sure they know the cost – both negative and positive – of their actions.
New use for a basketball
Try this training tip for new members of your herd-health team.
Does it show at work?
Here’s how to identify employees who are having personal problems.
How to reduce turnover inexpensively
Stop the revolving door.
Don't let drugs and alcohol undermine your workforce
In the dairy industry, employee management efforts tend to focus on procedures, work ethic, and training.
Use parlor-information systems to motivate milkers
A best-selling book on business management, “The One Minute Manager,” gets right to the heart of workplace problems, including the motivation of seemingly unmotivated workers.
What to do when a good employee turns sour
Use these ideas to help get performance back on track.
Regular meetings foster communication
Try this idea from a
Are you ready to write a handbook?
Take this quick test to determine if you are ready to write an employee handbook.
"Impromptu" meetings generate ideas
Sometimes a quick brainstorming session with employees provides just the idea you are looking for to fix a problem.
Foreign students a win-win for this dairy
International students rotate through different tasks at this
Talk it over
Dairy owners and managers need to learn how to adjust to different communication styles.
Labor Web site
Use this site to find the answers to the questions you have about managing employees.
Employee management guide available
"The Complete Guide To Managing Agricultural Employees," is a comprehensive reference manual designed for agricultural producers.
10 things a manager needs to succeed
These are best-management practices that all managers need to master in order to succeed.
Avoid trouble with immigration law
In these days of increased scrutiny of aliens in the
Labor law resource released
Handbook was designed to help agricultural employers understand and comply with federal labor laws.
SOP handbook available
Need help writing standard operating procedures for tasks on your dairy? Then, check out a new handbook from Penn State Dairy Alliance.
Motivate employees by meeting their needs
A seventh-grade teacher called the parents of one of her students. "I want to talk to you about your son," the teacher said. "I can't seem to get him excited about school. What should we do about it?"
Set monitoring protocols for SOPs
Now that you’ve developed written standard operating procedures, your next step is to decide how performance will be monitored.
Become a preferred employer
Four steps to build your reputation as an outstanding employer.
How to become a manager
Use these steps to help you make the transition from doer to manager.
Survey tells producers to improve feedback
An employee satisfaction survey of 296 employees on 30
Employees sign up for milking times
A calendar sign-up program has boosted morale at Rozenboom Dairy by giving employees added flexibility and freedom to control their schedules.
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