We are all familiar with the common stressors in agriculture. It’s easy to point to price swings, government regulations, land competition, weather and disease when we talk about stress on the farm.

Having a clear understanding of debt, whether long-term or short-term, fixed or variable, can help develop a strategy. 

There is an increased focus on the feed industry and hay markets as producers scramble to determine how they will combat low forage supplies this winter.

Increasing feed costs. Weather. Mastitis. Working with family. Sick calves. Changing contracts. Paperwork. Bad silage. Your brother-in-law. The list of stressors on a dairy farm is long. Unfortunately, most of them are also chronic. 

Whether your parlor is five or 25 years old, there is always room to improve. Data can help unlock parlor potential and take performance from good to great. The key is understanding the data and reviewing it routinely.

It comes as a surprise when some of your herd’s top performers drop off in milk. Nothing has changed regarding cow management, and you verify the diet is still high quality.

Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing on your farm?  
The truth is: On a lot of farms, partners couldn’t tell you what their other partners are planning on doing the next day.

“Every front door looks beautiful” is one of my favourite Irish sayings. It came to mind in Deadwood, South Dakota, where I was listening to the woes of a young ranch couple.