Feeding cattle used to be a pen-and-paper business. Now, more producers are relying on cloud-based software to streamline operations, but hesitation remains, especially if internet access is limited.

Fair compensation in family businesses requires clear roles, annual reviews, market research and balancing benefits.

I have had many conversations with my clients about past emotional conversations and assisting them in preparing for an upcoming conversation they fear may become emotional. This article is to assist you in preparing to succeed as a supervisor in those conversations.

Estate and succession planning can feel overwhelming, and it’s no surprise that many producers put it off. Many factors and unknowns come into play and can include: fear of losing your identity, not wanting to give up control, ego, fear of things changing and not wanting to hurt people’s feelings.

Whether the market is as strong as it has been recently or in a slump, the health and growth of calves are critical to long-term success. Producers need to adapt their strategies to ensure they maintain profitability as best possible.

Two employees are having a conversation about work, and one mentions that they heard that a co-worker of theirs is having marriage problems. A lengthy conversation, based mostly on unfounded information, ensues. One of those employees then tells the rest of the employees about all the personal struggles their co-worker is experiencing.

In today’s robust market, cattle producers have flexibility as aspects of the market are thriving, cattle prices are at a record high, and producers are witnessing a positive shift in revenues. When conditions are favorable, the critical question arises: What comes next?

What if having a safer workplace would help attract veterinary graduates to pursue their board certifications in large-animal practice? What if eliminating preventable work-related injuries could add 21 days of productivity to a large-animal veterinarian’s annual route?

It’s an exciting time when you can grow your herd – whether it’s adding more cows because you have more forage or additional acreage, retaining replacement heifers or other factors. This can also be a challenging time and strain on your current systems and processes, so let’s make sure you are ready for herd growth and set up for success.

Recall how you felt or how you would feel if you hired an employee who left after a day, three days or a week. Unfortunately, this is common today. In fact, research shows that approximately half of all new employees seriously consider quitting in the first week.