Management
Warren Buffet saying, “Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2, don’t forget Rule No. 1” is widely known. Dr. Brady Brewer from Purdue University said it is unlikely that Buffet spends much time working in ag.
Three farmers share what they have done to keep their good employees, including how they hired some unique employees that have become a good fit for their operations.
It is hard to think about what our dairy operation could look like three to five years from now. Consider moving one thing on your to-do list off for another day and make time to talk about the future of your dairy.
More states are requiring overtime pay for ag employees. A recent USDA Ag Prices Report outlined that labor expenses were up 7.3.% compared to 2020 and is at a 20-year high.
Meetings are an inevitable element of business, but they can be a boon or a bore, depending on how they are run.
Often the first focus of a dairy isn’t on human resources, but more importantly on the day-to-day tasks. However, leading dairy experts strongly encourage producers to start dedicating time to HR.
Researchers continue to learn more about transition cow health and how it impacts subsequent milk production and reproductive outcomes. And the more they learn, the more they have discovered how inter-connected the elem
One common challenge that pretty much every dairy producer can comment on is labor challenges. While labor shortages are no longer a stark headline, they certainly continue to be a headache dairy farms are faced with.
A dairy farmer’s worst nightmare is to open an unexpected letter in the mailbox notifying them that they are being dropped by their processor. Solid communication between the processor and the farm is essential.
Dairy farms managers often push staff meetings aside for the sake of “getting things done.” However, sometimes formal meetings with staff are essential to communicate and problem solve.
Kevin Van der Poel, a co-owner of Focal Dairy, began an intensive, pasture-grazing business with a new spin on old dairy traditions. The business is not about producing the most milk. The New Zealander’s method is focused on efficiency, management and reduced costs.
As dairy price support levels become less and less relevant to cost-of-production levels, milk price volatility has brought cash flows from booming highs to crushing lows.
You can reduce the risk of a hay fire on your farm with these tips
Since Elanco acquired Posilac from Monsanto in 2008, it has made re-education about the dairy production technology a priority. The Indiana-based company has reached out to the entire dairy food chain to promote Posilac’s safety and its role in affordability and sustainability, says Dennis Erpelding, director of corporate affairs for Elanco’s international business division.
After months of depressed milk prices and high feed costs, most dairies have cut costs beyond what they ever thought was possible. Going forward, however, it may be time to re-evaluate some of these changes, or even consider adding some components back to the inputs to improve efficiency.
Once a dairy takes on employees, it is inevitable that at some point they will have to discipline or terminate one of them. Disciplining and terminating, like hiring, requires the employer to keep records. Dairy operato
Utilizing an effective management team can help you. As the owner or leader of your business, spend less time on the non-urgent and non-important tasks or duties that pop up every day.
Throughout the country, overtime laws continue to threaten the dairy labor force.
It doesn’t matter if your employees present clinical signs or if they feel “fine,” if they test positive for COVID-19, they need to leave the farm and self-isolate. Here are 4 steps to prevent future transmission.
Livestock production depends largely on the feeding program; and what you should feed your animals will depend on an analysis of the forage quality.
Grazing or feeding green sorghums, sudangrasses and sorghum-sudangrass crosses to cattle can be a bit worrisome because of the threat of prussic acid poisoning, but there are ways to mitigate that risk.
The Dollars and Sense contributors discuss herd health and reproduction.
The Dollars and Sense contributors discuss herd health and reproduction.
Advance preparation will save you valuable time if and when an emergency strikes your farm.
Developing cattle that will perform starts with proper management of the pregnant cow and continues on to the individual calf throughout its life.