Transition talks can be dreadful and pit parties against each other in an effort to find a long-term plan for the farm, but with the right approach, these talks can have an entirely different successful outcome.

“Sustainability” is undoubtedly a buzzword, and buzzwords elicit passionate opinions. Such is the dilemma of the word sustainability. It is a multifaceted, emotionally charged and oftentimes controversial topic.

For these three Pennsylvania dairy producers, their stories are each very different but have one commonality: working full-time on their family’s dairy operation wasn’t always their dream.

No half measures. If they were going to do this thing, Brian and Mary Heffernan knew they had to be all in. Even as self-professed serial entrepreneurs and big-idea people, the first-generation California ranchers were well aware from the beginning that this endeavor was going to take a massive amount of their own time and sweat, a dedication to seeking out and heeding solid advice, and maybe a little luck.

Nearly 750 dairy producers and industry representatives gathered in Denver, Colorado, on Oct. 24-26 to learn the latest updates about dairy policy, exports, dairy checkoff, economics and more at the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA) and National Dairy Board (NDB) annual meeting.

As business owners, managers and employees, our days are full of endless decisions and actions that affect the health, success and future of ourselves and our businesses.