With the financial crunch being experienced in the dairy industry, many farms are analyzing every aspect of their business to see where money can be saved. The cost of labor and its impact on the overall cost of production, means a dairy manager needs to measure, evaluate and monitor labor efficiency.

Ask yourself the following question: • Why do the United Way and essentially all other fundraising efforts set a specific fundraising target rather than raising as much as possible? The answer is that the goal-setting research and everyday experience clearly shows that working toward a goal increases motivation and performance and greatly enhances the probability of success.

Causative faith has been on my mind lately. Causative faith is the power that makes miracles happen. That kind of faith is needed to heal the sick, ward off destructive powers and change the outcome of a tragedy.

Demand cost of production Dear Editor, Farmers why do you think you don’t deserve the cost of production for your milk?

People who live in Chicago, Washington, D.C., or San Francisco inner cities lock their doors at night. They are careful where they travel within the city. They all have friends who have been mugged, had homes burglarized, cars stolen or lives taken. They travel the city in crowds like schools of fish.

August and September are the times of year when dairy cows in some areas are dry or close to going dry. Now is a good time to review your overall management program, but especially for dry cows. Pregnant cows If you do not have a recent pregnancy check, have a veterinarian check the bred cows and heifers that have not been confirmed pregnant to verify that they are pregnant. Some cows will lose their calf in the summer heat.

Conflict is a daily reality for everyone. Some conflicts are relatively minor and easy to handle. However, others of greater magnitude require a strategy for successful resolution or else they will create constant tension and lasting enmity in the business. Knowing how to manage and resolve these conflicts is important for the overall success of your business. Conflict is not necessarily bad. Properly managed, moderate doses of conflict can be beneficial. Conflict is the root of change and allows people to learn and grow. It stimulates curiosity and imagination, and relieves monotony and boredom. After conflict, closer unity may be established.

I have had the privilege to visit dairy herds which consistently achieve high milk production and excellent reproductive performance. Some major common characteristics among these herds are: 1. Commitment to maintaining a high heat detection rate or submission rate to first service. The strategies to accomplish this vary among herds but include one or more of the following systems:

Heat stress is an economic cost for U.S. producers. It is estimated that hot weather costs dairy farmers $900 million per year in reduced milk production and reduced fertility. In addition, heat stress is an animal welfare issue, as severe heat stress can result in death. Animal behavior can provide insights into how and when to cool dairy cows. We will review the behavioral responses to heat stress and examine results from studies looking at two common methods for cooling dairy cattle: shade and sprinklers.

Good relations among members of a business are critical for success. Good communication skills are an important element for the development of good relationships. Poor communications starve a relationship while good communications nourish it. This is true regardless of whether you are a member of a committee looking at starting a business or a member of a team operating a business. So, improving communication skills is important for success. But this doesn’t just happen. Both the receiver and the sender must work at developing verbal and listening skills.