There are distinctive legal obligations associated with employees and independent contractors. For this reason, it is vital that farm workers are not misclassified as one or the other
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...
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...
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
Overseeing and coordinating multiple construction crews has its challenges. A few months ago, I was leading a project that required concrete to be poured
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...
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
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....
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
“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....
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
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
“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
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