No matter the size of your dairy, there is a constant stream of ever-changing information flowing from every area and facet of the farm. Cows, rations, calves, maintenance, calvings, receipts, crops, treatments, ordering, repairs, feeding . . . there are just too many areas to list.
All these aspects represent the regular turning of normal farm activities. It is a lot to keep track of. And no matter if you’re a family run farm or have more than a few employees, communication is key.
What is the best way to keep that open line of information flowing? Here is where the uniqueness of dairy farming comes into play. I bet every farm has their own way of communication that works best for their crew.
The most valuable tool, I think, in this area is technology. I’ve heard of many farms successfully keeping a text thread to keep everyone informed. Others are utilizing communication or note apps.
I’ll be honest; on our farm, the passage of information sometimes comes down to the old school sticky note. There’s no right or wrong answer for how to keep everyone on your farm informed. But I do think it’s an area where we all can learn from each other and implement new ideas.
So, how do you keep the communication of all the daily information flowing on your farm?
The author is a third-generation dairy farmer from Oregon where she farms in partnership with her husband and parents. As a mother of young sons who round out the family-run operation as micromanagers, Darleen blogs about the three generations of her family working together at Guernsey Dairy Mama. Abiqua Acres Mann's Guernsey Dairy is currently home to 90 registered Guernseys and transitioned to a robotic milking system in 2017.