Dairy owner John Brubaker of Knott-Run Dairy recently invited local reporters to learn more about his 350-cow operation in Buhl, Idaho.

Think about how we handle non-personnel problems – a sick animal, a wilted crop or a high somatic cell count. Even though we are all well-trained to address these issues, we still often treat symptoms rather than taking the time to analyze the problem to determine the real or root cause.

Note: This is the second article in a series about dairy culture.  All dairies have unique characteristics that support or detract from the operation’s productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. The key is to understand and then guide your dairy’s culture so the work gets done while personal team member growth is fostered and encouraged.

I once dealt with an 82-year-old man who drove into town – without a license – and changed his will just to prove he still mattered.

Excellence today is not a guarantee of success tomorrow. Even superstars can burn out. How can you create a business that constantly adapts and flourishes?

Editor’s note: This article is part of a series of articles to review the four most common management philosophies that dairy managers employ. The first article in the series appeared in the July 1 issue and reviewed the authority-obedience philosophy.

Einstein was quoted as saying “In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not.” We have spent several articles discussing the “how-to’s” and “what-for’s” of options as it pertains to hedging milk and feed in the futures and options arena.

“We have a team meeting on our dairy every two weeks. One of the topics we discuss during the meeting is things that need improvement. We review our protocols or provide re-training about important aspects of our dairy’s protocols."

“When it comes to money, ignorance is not bliss. What you don’t know can hurt you.” —Sandra S. Simmons, from the book Unleash Your Cash Flow Mojo: The Business Owner’s Guide to Predicting, Planning and Controlling Your Company’s Cash Flow

Legal battles between environmental groups and the dairy industry over land, air and water have been dragging on for the past several years. Complex regulations – and court interpretations of those regulations – impact the way dairies conduct their business.