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As a producer, it is very likely you have had to borrow money from a bank at least once in your career. In addition to having the necessary collateral, farming experience, good credit and many other requirements, your banker probably told you that you have to produce “good” financial statements for their review at least once a year.
Any successful business is dependent on an efficient and functional workforce. And, for a workforce to be productive, they must have the right environment. So, how can we set our employees up for success? We must first create a work environment that promotes the welfare of employees. We must also consider the effect employees’ personal health and well-being has on their performance at work.
When it comes to dairy production measures like milk production per cow, age of first calving and pregnancy rates, these are biological measures we think about every day.
Bob was a brilliant farmer. The problem was: Bob was a brilliant farmer.
Bob often went and bought equipment without his wife’s involvement in the decision … even though she was the one juggling the bills. (Bob’s wife is a 50-50 partner in the operation.)
Dairy farmer: “We employ 15 Mexicans here.”
Me: “Oh, are they all from Mexico?”
Dairy farmer: “I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
Me: “Then they’re not all Mexicans. That’s like calling me Canadian just because I’m a white girl.”
The arrival of spring is always welcome here in Wisconsin. Along with warmer temperatures and the promise of a new growing season, it’s also a great time to reflect on the goals we’ve set for our farm and get ready for the busy season ahead.
A year ago, there was a series in Progressive Dairy on the “Three Camps,” a discussion describing the different financial situations farm businesses might find themselves in as a result of the pandemic and outlining the prudent paths forward for those businesses.
I was walking around my business one day, and I pondered this thought: “Why am I doing this?” By “this,” I meant the business I was engaged in – automated car washes. In addition to my dairy consulting business, I had this side business operating automated car washes.
When you’re a successful farmer, you shape your world. It’s your job to level mountains and create new ones by sheer determination. You have many employees who work for you – and when you say “jump,” they say “How high?”
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