In her first year of dairy consulting, Emory Bewley learned the classroom and the farm are two different forms of education. This gap is something most young dairy professionals often face – technical knowledge sets the foundation, but everything else is learned on the farm.

It is not uncommon to hear family members or employees complain about being micromanaged. Though the intentions of management are to ensure quality, timely and efficient production, their techniques for accomplishing this may leave employees feeling unappreciated, dissatisfied and inadequate.

For many cattle operations, "winging it" has worked remarkably well for decades. The founder knew what needed to be done, family members lived nearby, and decisions happened naturally throughout the day. Information was shared in the pickup, at the feedbunk or around the kitchen table.

Across all our farms, employees submitted thousands of comments voicing their opinions about their jobs. I've analyzed and condensed that feedback data to uncover the three most common complaints. Find out what they are.

Disagreements occur in our everyday lives, and many usually unexpected. The agriculture industry is not immune to disputes, and many times has the most difficult time finding help resolving disputes. Ranchers and farmers routinely enter into business deals, buy and sell land, lease property, secure loans and participate in government programs through the USDA or other federal and state agencies.

Custom forage harvesting helps producers avoid major equipment costs but only works when roles, liability and payment terms are clearly spelled out. Written agreements keep the arrangement a custom work contract – not an accidental partnership.

The 2026 Canadian Dairy Business Summit included two dairy producers who have successfully navigated the farm succession process. Paul MacLeod of Darcroft Farms near Embro, Ontario, and Clarence Markus of Markvale Holsteins near Beachville, Ontario, detailed their respective roads to completing their plans.

Healthy communication can be defined in many ways, but in general, all these ways include three main themes: clarity, respect and promoting understanding. Making sure you are building healthy communication habits, especially surrounding topics like your mental health, doesn’t just happen. It is a skill that is learned by practice and planning.