Consultants

3 Open Minutes with Demetrio Bautista Ortiz

jenn@agproud.com — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Progressive Dairy connected with Demetrio Bautista Ortiz, a hoof care consultant with Save Cows Network, to discuss on-farm training, employee engagement and creating a support network for improved hoof health on U.S. dairy farms.

Planning your automated milking barn: Essential considerations

dmeihak@lely.com — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The decision to invest in a new automated milking barn represents a significant step toward modernizing your operation. With it comes the opportunity for enhanced efficiency, improved cow welfare and higher revenues. The success of a project hinges on meticulous planning that considers the intricate interplay among numerous factors.

Partnering with farm consultants to enhance hoof health management

lerickson@zinpro.com — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Lameness negatively impacts milk production, fertility and longevity, making proactive hoof care essential for any dairy operation. By partnering with farm owners, on-farm consultants can play a crucial role in enhancing key skill sets and implementing a comprehensive hoof health management plan.

Building the best team for dairy production performance goals

arose@lelycentermidatlantic.com — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

A strong profit team can be the key to taking control of your farm’s success, no matter the size. With the right people at the table and a clear plan in place, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your business goals.

Manure management and planning for the year ahead

kkelderman@puck.com — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Producers can limit their risk exposure to costly mistakes in manure application by finding a custom application company that has the experience and knowledge to responsibly complete the job. A professional in the industry would have the proper equipment for your dairy operation, the range of knowledge needed for success and the capacity to get the job done in a timely fashion.

Maximize your team meeting outcomes before they start

gpapoi@jefo.com — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

It pays to get the most out of farm meetings because animal well-being and productivity are usually involved. Whether discussing nutrition plans, health protocols, farm management strategies and more, our experiences point to one overarching factor that maximizes meeting time: preparation.

Dairy producer finds value in synchronized data

karen@agproud.com — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

With multiple data sources collected in a single platform, dairy producer Allan Kutz is able to see more information in less time. In particular, he is better able to see how his fresh cows are performing by days in milk (DIM).

The four-part financial package that rebuilt a lender’s trust

completemanagementconsulting@gmail.com — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 09:15:04 -0500

Trust. It’s the glue that holds together the relationship between the bank and the borrower. And just like any other relationship, trust can take years to build through communication, setting expectations and following through.

Assemble your farm’s best team of experts

bhagenow@vitaplus.com — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Here is an unarguable fact: A high-functioning and effective farm team – with all team members in alignment and focused on achieving established farm goals – has a distinct competitive advantage over a farm that operates without a team.

Advisory boards, peer groups bring additional perspective to management team

kimmi@agproud.com — Fri, 19 May 2023 12:30:58 -0400

Whether joining a peer group or building an advisory board for your farm, dairy producers are finding value in learning from other producers and business owners facing similar challenges and seeing their businesses from new perspectives.

3 Open Minutes with Al Kertz

kimmi@agproud.com — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 15:24:48 -0400

The American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) provides certification of animal scientists through examination, continuing education and a commitment to a code of ethics.

[Podcast] Davon Cook: Advisory boards and peer groups take farm management to the next level

kimmi@agproud.com — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Kimmi Devaney talks with Davon Cook about how peer groups and advisory boards can improve your farm by bringing additional perspective to your management decisions.

Choosing suppliers, nutritionists and negotiating through their value proposition

bill.earley@adm.com — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 12:33:34 -0400

With the profitability of your business at hand, who you choose to do business with is a critical decision. Who needs to be on your “external management” team?

Balancing the hat rack

matti@agproud.com — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 23:13:48 -0500

Veterinarian is the name of the hat Kohtz is donning today as she does a routine herd health check for one of her Idaho dairy clients, though her hat rack is full of many.

Lifelong learning: Dairy success starts with commitment to learning

orthlanddairy@gmail.com — Tue, 25 May 2021 17:33:26 -0400

For many of us, formal education ends in our teens or early 20s after completing classes in high school, technical school or college. In my opinion, that’s the point in life to kick off a lifetime of learning.

3 steps to grow employees into loyal leaders

shaun@futurecow.com — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 19:21:04 -0500

Employees that don’t show up for their shifts. Constant turnover. Subpar compliance and performance. When it comes to dealing with labor challenges, the struggle is real.

Change leadership: How to execute change on your dairy

ebarge@centerfordairyexcellence.org — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 16:30:36 -0500

Adapting to change will be a big part of survival in the dairy industry in the future, whether you are a producer, consultant or lender. King Hickman of GPS Dairy Consulting discussed dairy’s changing environment and shared strategies for staying ahead of the curve during the recent Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence (CDE) dairy industry roundtable meetings.

3 Open Minutes with William (Willie) Coyne

peggy@upleveldairy.com — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 21:27:06 -0400

‘I had COVID-19’: A hoof trimmer’s personal experience with coronavirus William (Willie) Coyne is a hoof trimmer who travels throughout west-central Minnesota with his business, On the Money Hoof Care. He’s young. He’s active. He’s healthy. And in May, he contracted the coronavirus.

Spring clean your vet cabinet

tyler.j.majerus@gmail.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 13:00:01 -0400

As dairy producers continue to look for ways to cut expenses, animal health programs often come under intense scrutiny. Is this vaccine necessary? Are there cheaper alternatives? How can we reduce the vet bill?

What’s the one thing that leads to better employee engagement?

richard@contentedcows.com — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 13:00:01 -0400

A young audience member came up to me at a conference I was set to speak at last year and said (I’m paraphrasing, but not much): “Richard, I’ve read the conference program, and I see that you’re going to be speaking on employee engagement later today.

5 steps for effective employee meetings

becky@agristaffusa.com — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 21:25:05 -0400

Getting all employees on the same page is critical as we balance keeping our doors open for business with making major management changes in response to the current dairy markets. Above that, we must also prioritize the health and safety of our people.

The CANI concept for hiring a dairy nutritionist

chad@bestaxis.com — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 21:24:15 -0400

This article title combines two important pieces of running a high-performing dairy. First, it embraces the acronym CANI (constant and never-ending improvement), which is its own subject. CANI stems from the Japanese philosophy Kaizen. On the surface, it represents that nothing is ever finished or declared perfect; rather there is always room for improvement.

Uncover these 5 hidden opportunities to save time and money

completemanagementconsulting@gmail.com — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:36:05 -0400

The television series Undercover Boss prompts business owners and executives to leave the comfort of their offices for an up-close look at the day-to-day operations of their companies.

The manager’s challenge: My time during planting (or any other critical time)

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 13:00:01 -0400

Crop managers and dairy managers with crops have been planning all winter for planting to arrive. Now it is time to be a doer (plant, spray, etc.). Right? Well, yes and no.

California dairyman credits connectivity and employees for staying in business

juliawrites@earthlink.net — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 21:25:58 -0400

Third-generation California dairyman Donny Rollin says he has seen the good, the bad and the ugly, but that’s a good thing. “I believe the combination of all three of those is what makes farmers so innovative, faithful, proud and humble,” he says.

Leading dairy teams: Tools to be a great facilitator

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 22:32:14 -0400

Today’s dairy farm cannot be run by one person. To be successful in any industry, teams must be established to keep operations running smoothly. However, teams are a major investment.

Why you need to be stepping away from your farm for a day

bhagenow@vitaplus.com — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 14:00:01 -0500

Numerous agriculture meetings and events are held this time of year, as it’s the “slow” time. Of course, it seems no time of the year is slow anymore, especially if you are a dairy owner wearing many hats, such as milker, feeder, crop manager, people manager, “waste management technician,” repairman, marketer and more.

Keep in check: Dairy facilities safety checklist

liz@encore-consultants.net — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 14:00:01 -0500

Are you aware that one-third of the farm population is injured annually? Do you want to see OSHA on your farm?

Leading a multigenerational workforce: The magic is in the right mix

richard@contentedcows.com — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 14:00:01 -0500

Of all the changes evident in the workplace of 2020, perhaps the most glaring is that most of us find ourselves surrounded today by an unprecedented five generations of workers.

Manage your power to choose on your farm

elaine@elainefroese.com — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 14:00:01 -0500

“Work/life balance” comes up for many young farmers, but it’s time to change our language to “choices we make to manage time” and take action.