Employees

Healthy individuals = Successful farm businesses

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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?

Talent retention: Keys to building a sustainable workforce

rafael.q@ag.tamu.edu — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The U.S., like many countries around the world, is facing a continuous decline in its agricultural workforce. The word transition accurately reflects the concern experienced by many cattle producers, who recognize their production depends heavily on the availability of labor.

Equipment, chemistry and people: A three-tier checklist for modern parlors

shaun@futurecow.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Milking parlors perform at the intersection of three forces: equipment performance, chemical effectiveness and human compliance. Each one can elevate milk quality or quietly sabotage it.

Conducting a potentially emotional conversation

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

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.

From worker to leader: What next-gen farmers need to know

rena@tomorrowiscoming.com — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Transferring responsibilities and effective delegation

don@dontyler.com — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Developing and retaining talent through bilingual training programs

semejiaturcios@alltech.com — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

If there’s a phrase that rings true in the ears of any business owner or manager, it’s that “a business is only as good as its people.” And in a world where automation is rapidly transforming many industries, the cattle business remains one of the few that still relies heavily on people.

Can you actually eliminate gossip?

don@dontyler.com — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Two employees are having a conversation about work, and one mentions that they heard that a co-worker of theirs is having marriage problems. A lengthy conversation, based mostly on unfounded information, ensues. One of those employees then tells the rest of the employees about all the personal struggles their co-worker is experiencing.

No labor, no beef: The H-2A program’s ranch-saving value

info@headhonchossa.com — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The H-2A temporary agricultural workers program isn’t a backup plan anymore – it’s the only legal, reliable and proven labor solution for the modern farmer or rancher. The question is no longer if you’ll use it, but when.

Onboarding and employee development to increase engagement and retention

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Recall how you felt or how you would feel if you hired an employee who left after a day, three days or a week. Unfortunately, this is common today. In fact, research shows that approximately half of all new employees seriously consider quitting in the first week.

Trouble finding quality employees? Consider developing one

rossabronson@gmail.com — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

Most agree that a labor shortage is becoming one of the biggest challenges facing the agricultural industry in the coming years. Many producers are already experiencing the crunch. The question then becomes, in addition to retaining current employees, what steps can the industry take to find qualified employees?

Eight tips for beef business employee recruiting in 2026

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:37 -0500

In today’s world, your recruitment should have three components: continuous marketing of your ranch/farm business, recruitment materials and a recruitment blitz.

New safety training resources for cattle feed industry

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Agriculture has been one of the most dangerous industries for decades. That's why a team of researchers and safety experts have developed the Feedyard 15 Program, a free safety training curriculum available for cattle feedyard operations.

Addressing employee complacency

don@dontyler.com — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Sometimes a business owner or manager may be confused by the change in behavior of an employee who is usually productive and pays close attention to details. They could see employees fail to work at their normal pace, make unusual mistakes, do low-quality work or spend too much time talking.

Ranch performance evaluations

rossabronson@gmail.com — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Employee development: Investing in your beef production business’s future

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

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

A cowboy’s approach to employee retention

rossabronson@gmail.com — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Those in charge of a business and its employees have a direct influence on the culture and ethics of the workplace. Leaders should pay close attention to the culture they create.

Will a technology specialist soon fill a position on your ranch?

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

“Help wanted: Full-time, farm-based IT and technology specialist.” Will technology’s rapid advancement drive these types of advertisements in the near future?

The manager’s challenge: People during the fall busy season

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Creating, building and maintaining trust

don@dontyler.com — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

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.”

3 steps to help employees be happier at work

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

What makes the difference between employees who are happy at work and those who are miserable?

Taking a deeper dive into water safety

jdavidson@progressiveag.org — Fri, 24 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

While June 20 marks the official start of summer, for many it begins as soon as the school year ends. As kids kick off their summer break, filled with outdoor activities under the hot sun, it is still important to keep one subject at the forefront – safety!

Healthy sensations: Protect your hearing and vision

jdavidson@progressiveag.org — Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Humans have five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. Our bodies receive signals through sensory organs, which include our eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin.

A cowboy approach to motivation

rossabronson@gmail.com — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The ranching industry often prides itself in long days and hard work. “There is always something to do” is the motto!

Spring into safety this planting season

jdavidson@progressiveag.org — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The agriculture industry in the U.S. continues to remain the most dangerous, with farming ranking among the most hazardous occupations.

Managing common workplace distractions

don@dontyler.com — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Our family members and employees have many distractions that can affect their productivity and efficiency if not managed in an appropriate manner.

Working during the holidays

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

As you know, farming businesses cannot completely stop for holidays. You and your employees, however, are members of families and social groups that have holiday expectations, traditions and plans.

Workplace abilities requiring no talent

don@dontyler.com — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 12:37:49 -0400

Many business leaders and managers complain that they can teach new employees how to do all the tasks required for the job, but too often prospective employees lack the character and attitude necessary to fit their company culture.

3 tips for writing an effective job description

rossabronson@gmail.com — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Higher wages being paid across the country create a disadvantage for an industry that already fights to keep margins at a profitable point. Those who do a good job recruiting and taking care of qualified employees will have the upper hand.

Addressing risks and language barriers for immigrant feedyard workers

aaron.yoder@unmc.edu — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 11:47:13 -0400

Studies have also determined that some 50% of feedyard workers are Latino. Combining the inherent risks of a feedyard with a language barrier that significantly hampers communication can set the stage for serious incidents and injuries.