Latest News From Hogs Resource Management

Succession planning is difficult and time-consuming, but it is also a key step for a business that can grow into the future. Regardless of where you are in the process, you can always take another step.

After 30 years working in the field of rural mental health, Ted Matthews understands the factors that stress farmers and knows how to help them.

A little bit better is a little bit better, said Ted Matthews, director of Minnesota Rural Mental Health. Matthews dispels myths about mental health, counseling and anxiety on the farm.

Life on the farm is unpredictable at best – especially when many factors impacting your day are out of your control. Here's why it is important to be proactive when it comes to farm management. 

Up to $12.06 million can be passed to your loved ones upon death, exempt from federal estate tax. While living, you can also gift $16,000 annually to as many individuals as you'd like. Of course, some exceptions apply.

What makes a good family farm transition? It is difficult to achieve a good farm transition without at least doing well in each of these C's.

Gratitude is like a muscle, the more you exercise it the stronger it becomes.

The critical nature of the ag industry has required many ag employers continue business operations as normal. AgCareers.com’s annual Agribusiness HR Review survey of ag employers assesses employers’ COVID responses.

Here are five bad habits to break to be a better farm leader.

McDonald’s is committing $5 million and partnering with AgMission, a global collaboration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture and to develop and implement climate-smart farming solutions.

The newest tax proposal in Washington would impose a tax on billionaires. A farm tax expert warns the proposed changes could turn into a trojan horse for farmers and result in higher taxes within a decade.

When it comes to recruiting new talent, today’s hires want to know where they are going next. Twyla Stevens says new employees no longer want to just come in and work. They want to know what's next. 

It’s early. You haven’t had coffee. Everyone knows what needs to be done. You don’t have time. The excuses go on about why you don’t need a morning meeting for your team. But some suggest rethinking that choice.

Think about the tasks and duties that fill your day. Do you continually put some off? Are there ones you just don’t like? If so, it’s time to delegate.

Being the victim of a crime can be a traumatic experience. Whether it’s a break-in at your farm or an animal activist trespassing on your property, John Sancenito says how you respond can make all the difference. 

As a former police detective and terrorism expert, John Sancenito understands that it’s hard for people, especially farmers who have the tendency to be self-reliant, to involve the police when a break-in occurs.

My 28-year-old nephew, Brooks, was a multi-generational farmer and father of 4-year-old twins. His death by suicide is a tragic and poignant indicator of a problem that is drastically increasing, a reader shared.

When a mental health crisis hits, Shannon Ferrell, Oklahoma State University ag law specialist, outlines seven resources to keep handy in the event you are the first responder to help someone in need someday. 

It started with a broken baler. The farmer panicked. He had recently lost his brother to cancer and his father to old age. Not to mention he had 2,500 acres to farm, 250 beef cows to attend to and his crop just froze. 

“Suck it up buttercup.” This familiar phrase is one many farmers and ranchers learn early in life: be tough, self-reliant and resilient. But experts say that approach doesn't work when dealing with stress.

Staffing, competition, culture and flexibility were important considerations for ag organizations in 2020. The pandemic impacted almost all aspects of daily work life. Here's a look at AgCareers.com's latest report.

Solar energy falls into the renewable energy category, and its growth has skyrocketed over the last few decades due to lower installation costs and consumer demand for more sustainable energy.

The only certainty during spring planting is uncertainty. Farmers face many challenges: too much rain, too little rain, long hours, crop diseases and pests, machinery breakdowns.

Why don't we finish goals? Jon Acuff, best-selling author and motivational speaker, says we often focus on the wrong thing when we talk about our goals. Here's what he says it takes to finish the goals that matter.

As the animal protein industry continues to find innovative ways to decrease the carbon footprint of animal products, a new resource guide may help move those efforts forward.

The surge of COVID-19 cases across the country is hitting rural hospitals especially hard. Many aren’t equipped to handle critical patients. Now some hospitals are unable to send patients to urban hospitals for care.

If your workload on the farm is starting to reach its breaking point, you may be experiencing burnout.

Two years after becoming an independent company, Elanco Animal Health Incorporated unveiled its first sustainability commitments on Tuesday.

It’s not easy to be a successful food company. According to a recent research study, major food companies are experiencing a drop in sales and intensified competition from smaller players.

Turn the tables and seek insightful answers to better manage your farm.

Barn fires move fast. In less than four minutes, a fire can fill a barn with smoke and completely engulf it in flames in less than five minutes. Here are 10 tips to help you protect your barn.

More than 100 million food boxes have been distributed in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

FMCSA seeks public comment on a proposed pilot program allowing commercial motor vehicle operators to take one rest break—up to three consecutive hours but no less than 30 minutes—during every 14-hour on-duty period.

Trade war. Ethanol headaches. Daunting price outlooks. 2020 has been overwhelming for farmers so many reasons – and that’s not even considering the rug that really got pulled from under us, says John Phipps.

In times of tighter margins, it’s more important than ever to know that you are living within your means. Just as every farm is unique, so is every family’s needs when it comes to living standards. 

If we’ve learned anything throughout 2020, it’s that in order to survive these crazy times, we have to learn how to adapt. This especially holds true for those who hold leadership positions.

Drought. Floods. Early frost. Heat waves. Everyone knows agricultural production is highly sensitive to changes in weather and climate. A new report takes a look at how agricultural systems are impacted by those changes.

COVID-19 has exposed a lot of issues in our food supply chain, said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN). One of the things that he's focusing on is preparedness in the future event of a crisis.

The rise of low-density residential development is causing more and more challenges as people move into closer proximity with animal agriculture.

Here are 15 favorite tech tools used by farmers daily.

According to the poll, conducted May 29, 80% of the producers approve of the president’s performance.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) introduced legislation to help protect the food supply after the COVID-19 crisis has placed an unprecedented strain on farmers, workers, food banks and families.

Agribusinesses re-evaluate employee retention efforts.

It’s not just lonely at the top anymore. Americans are feeling more isolated than ever at all levels of the work chain. So, what's an employer to do?

Farm and ranch groups are launching Farmers for a Sustainable Future, a coalition committed to environmental and economic sustainability.

Food companies and farmers must adapt and adopt to purpose-driven purchasers.

Consumers used to want farmers to be local, healthy or safe, but a new word is topping the chart this year, according to a new global study by Cargill. In a word, consumers want farmers to be sustainable. 

Know the signs and report unusual activities.

Last December’s early onset of winter weather combined with heavy snow cover may mean some manure storage facilities are nearing capacity. Spring rain has a way of making spring field work difficult, slowing the progress of emptying in-ground manure storages. What to do?   

Last December’s early onset of winter weather combined with heavy snow cover may mean some manure storage facilities are nearing capacity. Spring rain has a way of making spring field work difficult, slowing the progress of emptying in-ground manure storages. What to do?