Oct. 2 2023
When a person sets out to be a dairy farmer, they’re probably not doing it with the goal of leading a team of people. But that is an increasingly important role dairy farmers are taking on, whether...
Aug. 28 2023
In a recent podcast with Phil Durst of the MSUE Dairy Team and leadership expert Ben Lichtenwalner of Radiant Forest LLC, Lichtenwalner explained the simplicity and effectiveness of servant leadership...
July 20 2023
Dairy farmers in states including California, Minnesota, New York, and Washington have had their labor costs swell in recent years as their state legislatures implemented requirements for overtime pay
July 12 2023
As fast as agriculture is changing, some things have stayed the same. Most farms — over 90% — are still family owned and operated
June 29 2023
It’s often said that people don’t leave bad jobs; they leave bad leaders
June 13 2023
Overseeing and coordinating multiple construction crews has its challenges. A few months ago, I was leading a project that required concrete to be poured
April 24 2023
We all have the same 24 hours in every day to get work done, and farmers are experts at squeezing every second out of that time. Have you ever thought to yourself, “If I only I could be in two places...
April 3 2023
Workplace culture, employee engagement, appropriate resources, and supervisor trust are just some of the factors that affect how long people remain at your business and how you retain employees
March 16 2023
When we are close to something, it can be hard to see it for what it really is — successes and flaws alike — and dairy farmers are even closer to their farms than many other business owners....
Aug. 11 2022
This little article is intended to be a conversation starter.Did you know that U.S. commercial airlines flew more than 600 million passengers in 2021
July 11 2022
If you are looking to add employees to your farm or business, you already know that is a herculean task these days. That’s because the U.S. unemployment rate remains historically low at 3.6%. T
March 28 2022
“I decided to modify the protocol a couple of weeks ago” were the words of a novice employee from another group performing some analyses in my laboratory. The scenario was very concerning....
March 17 2022
Leading a business into the next generation or owner is a complex process that encompasses even more time and effort than the already complicated succession plans
Jan. 14 2022
culture. In the world of dairy, “culture” can take several meanings. It is defined as the beginning of cheesemaking where the microbes are infused throughout the milk
Nov. 8 2021
Whether it’s one part-time milker or a crew of employees, hired labor plays a role in the operation of many dairy farms
Oct. 4 2021
“It will be a disaster!” That was my thought last month when I learned that my laboratory technician was moving to another state and, therefore, leaving the laboratory in September
Sept. 3 2021
In a farm business, planning for an owner’s later years is an important aspect of a farm succession plan
Aug. 23 2021
As with any vendor on a dairy farm, companies and organizations that help farms install and run manure digesters have to approach the challenges and opportunities presented with a common mindset
Aug. 19 2021
Some farmers say that their greatest assets on the operation are their equipment, land, and animals
June 17 2021
It’s not often that you’ll hear a dairy farmer say, “I have too much good help.” Finding dedicated employees to accomplish everything that must get done on the farm can be time-consuming