Whether it’s a five-man double-50, a small flat barn or a rotary, night shifts consistently show the highest deviation from standard operating procedures (SOPs). But the real question is, why? And more importantly, what can we do about it?

Employee performance is important to the success of any business. The company provides a fair and livable wage and expects a certain and appropriate level of effort and outcome in return.

The purpose of this article is to increase your comfort level in performance discussions. There are two types of performance discussions. The first focuses on training and assigning new tasks and/or responsibilities. The second is providing feedback on the execution of those tasks and responsibilities. The focus of this article is the latter – feedback – although all but the first section applies to both.

An important and often overlooked ingredient for skilled and engaged employees is investing in their growth and development.

Milking automation represents not only a technological advancement but a fundamental shift in dairy farm management. While automation simplifies processes, the human touch remains indispensable. Successfully managing employees requires finding the right balance between leveraging the power of technology and nurturing a supportive, engaged work environment.

Beef production business and ranch managers have been anticipating and preparing for the fall busy season including weaning, selling calves, vaccinations, fall calving, etc., for weeks. Now it is time for managers to be doers. Right? Well, yes and no.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines trust as “an assured reliance on the character, ability, strength or truth of someone or something; dependence on something future or contingent: hope.”