One of the biggest differences between farmers who struggle to be progressive and make changes and those who possess the agility to tackle change boils down to structure and clarity.

“The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay.” Since this quote is from Henry Ford, it is approximately a century old. If this was true for his assembly line workers, it certainly is even more true today.

The program provides tools and resources to dairy owners and managers to help them identify strengths and opportunities related to employee engagement and build a plan to address and improve weaknesses.

“The process of ensuring the new employee has a great start, becomes engaged and stays is called onboarding.” Onboarding is more than just the orientation and training that have traditionally been our focus for new employees.

Whether you are new to needling cattle or a seasoned pro, the risk of injury or side effects from mishaps that may occur while performing this task are always present. 

Yes, employees do need training, accountability and incentives to stay on track. However, I generally find the core of most employee problems to be a lack of clear, intentional leadership.

Moving from one herd management software to another is a significant step. Your herd management software is the most important, yet least recognized, part of your business.

What causes the highest number of human injuries on dairies? Most of us think of machinery or confined spaces, but cattle actually hold the No. 1 position. Now, if I asked what causes the second-highest number of injuries, what would be your response?

Unmet expectations for performance and behavior are likely the greatest stressor for most, if not all, supervisors. A failure to meet animal or crop goals, arriving late for work and skipping an assigned task are all examples of unmet expectations.