Tough Conversations Are Needed to Develop a Brighter Future

“What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” We’ve all heard this quote or have been told this from time to time. My late father would remind me of this when I was a kid growing up on my family dairy farm. Generally, at the least opportune time, or so I thought—when we were attempting to break a stubborn two-year-old into the parlor or when the cows would get out in the middle of the night and we had to fix the broken fence.

The good thing about challenges is that is where real growth lies. When we are in our comfort zone—stagnate—we generally don’t push forward. On the contrary, when challenges face us, we often only have one choice—to get tough and persevere.

And this is what dairy producers do so well. They know how to roll up your sleeves and get tough. Producers across the U.S. did just that when the world shut down in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They all put one foot in front of the other, steadfast with dedication to feed the world.

But now times are different. Or at least they feel different. While the dairy industry has always been on a rollercoaster with milk prices, now we are faced with so many headwinds. From labor challenges to the rising cost of doing business to ongoing regulations. Getting tough isn’t the only ingredient it takes to push our operations forward.

It’s so easy to look backward at how we used to milk cows or how the dairy industry used to be. And, while we always need to remember our rich history that helped shape us where we are today, we must keep an open eye and open mind to the future because it’s unfolding at lightning speed.

The answers are far from easy and take lots of communication and calculated thoughts on how to strategically grow profit to generate longevity in the business.

While challenges are all around the dairy industry, so are opportunities. We are still a part of a great industry that has a bright future.