We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
Think about your last check-up at the doctor’s office. What questions did your doctor ask you? How did he or she determine you’re healthy or uncover any potential risks or problems?
Now it’s time for you to be the doctor for your farm’s finances. Pull out your balance sheet and cash-flow records. Take a look at the following 12 ratios to determine your financial health.
Not only do farm accidents have a direct impact in the physical and emotional toll on the individuals involved but also an indirect effect in a loss of profits for the farm business.
Mary Bauer, a compliance assistance specialist for the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA), posed the question, “Do you have a good safety program or are you just lucky?”
Values are our cherished beliefs and have a huge impact on our behavior. If your life activity is aligned with your values, then you likely look forward to how 2015 plays out. If you aren’t getting what you need and cherish, then you are likely highly frustrated.
Last year, we talked about several issues that can affect the bottom line of your dairy business. Oftentimes we are so busy with the daily routine we fail to stop and think if the things we do are cost-effective or not. Let’s consider more ways to save time and money.
With an annual cost of more than $900 million in lost production, heat stress takes a serious toll on U.S. dairy production. Despite large capital investments in cooling equipment, milk production and reproductive performance drastically decline on many dairies during periods of heat stress.
There is a lot to think about when hiring an employee, including recruiting, interviewing, checking references and selecting the right individual. Don’t let those efforts go to waste by not following through as they are welcomed into the farm.
Since Jan. 1, 2000, about 85 percent of the milk regulated by Federal Milk Marketing Orders has used multiple component pricing (MCP) to pay dairy farmers. Under federal order MCP, dairy farmers are paid for their milk production based on pounds of butterfat, protein and other solids. Combining the values of these components equals the federal order Class III price.
The hiring process can be compared to assembling pieces of a jigsaw puzzle – gathering resumés, checking references and conducting interviews – all with the ultimate goal in mind to find the right fit for the farm.
Life on a farm never slows down. Between employees not showing up, calves being born and mechanical breakdowns, it’s easy to see how something like safety on the farm can be overlooked. That is, until something bad happens.
There is increased pressure from consumers for dairy farmers to minimize their impact on global warming by reducing energy consumption. Even though energy use is not a large portion of the total production costs on a dairy, it only makes economic sense to make the most efficient use of energy on the farm.
RSS
