Continuing education for professional hoof trimming is more than just reading articles and sitting in meetings. Finding opportunities where your practices and habits are put to the test to sharpen your skill set is the type of practice that separates exceptional professional hoof trimmers from experienced ones. 

Have you come to the end of a long day and still felt guilty about not working harder and longer? Have you felt guilty about not spending more time with your family and friends but kept working? Have you worked long hours but wondered whether you were making any progress?

The future of the dairy industry depends on more than technology, genetics or markets. While all of these are critical, the true future of dairy lies in recruiting, educating and supporting the next generation of dairy producers, managers and innovators.

In late January, PDP’s Managers Academy ventured off the mainland for its first-ever event in San Juan, Puerto Rico. With the theme, “Business Prime on Island Time,” the event challenged dairy producers and industry representatives to take a closer look at their business structure and how to position it for success into the next generation.

We hear it over and over again: The dairy industry is changing faster than ever. And it’s true. We’re all living it every day.

In today’s dairy industry, producers are constantly evaluating new technologies, equipment and management practices to improve the productivity, efficiency and profitability of our businesses.

I have had many conversations with my clients about past emotional conversations and assisting them in preparing for an upcoming conversation they fear may become emotional. This article is to assist you in preparing to succeed as a supervisor in those conversations.

You’ve been putting in the hours. You show up before dawn, you work, you haul, you fix, you hustle. That’s how every farm leader starts – by proving they can do the work.

One of the most challenging actions for business owners to take is to transfer some of their responsibilities to someone else. Most owners tend to be fiercely independent, driven by a clear purpose and focused on specific goals.

It’s easy in today’s dairy industry to feel like you’re falling behind. Keeping up with new advancements, practices and technologies could be a full-time job, not to mention training team members upon making a purchase decision and implementing the new system.