Each farm adviser uses a set of metrics from their area of expertise, but how do they all connect to your profitability? Are we even measuring the right things?

Let’s challenge ourselves to rethink how we approach safety on the farm this year. Do you have a dairy farm safety program in place? Is it written down? Do you have regular conversations with your crew about safety? Are your employees getting formal training? Do you make safety a top priority every day?

Whenever I think about family farm transition planning – I always think of a paradoxical statement. Yes, the landscape of transition planning in the dairy sector is becoming increasingly complex and yet the issues and opportunities many families face today have been the same for decades – they’re just now at a heightened level. 

At the workplace, team members often engage with potentially hazardous products. Exposure to these materials can lead to injuries or diseases, depending on the type of hazard present and the specific work conditions.

Human behavior can be challenging to change once habits are established. This might be one of the reasons some employers prefer to hire new, inexperienced employees, as compared to those who may bring previously learned bad habits to the job.

Uncertainty has loomed over Canada’s economy for the better part of the year. Graeme Crosbie, a senior economist at Farm Credit Canada (FCC), discussed the dairy industry’s trade environment and provide an update on the current economy.

I started writing columns 30 years ago, and I landed here in Progressive Dairy more than eight years ago. This will be my last column (for now). Letting go of this communication channel is a transition for me as I now have successors. I am activating what Shine’s author, Gino Wickman, calls the 10-year plan.