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In a world of ever-expanding dairy operations and competitive milk markets, it is easy for farms and dairies to hyper-focus on the numbers. But Banner Ridge Farms in Platteville, Wisconsin, is taking a different approach: focusing on employees who can make their operation work smarter from the inside out.

The two most recent generations to operate Ideal Dairy LLC in Hudson Falls, New York, have something in common. They have each entered the business during a turning point in the farm and propelled it forward to be successful.

For many years, it has been my passion to more fully understand and manage robotic milking systems. I have spent countless hours watching animal videos and staring at the computer screen looking at the data robotic systems provide. It has been close to an addiction.

Compost-bedded pack barns have become an increasingly popular alternative housing system for the lactating herds of many dairy farmers in Kentucky and around the world.

Change – a terrifying six-letter word that most people hate. It’s no secret that, whether good or bad, change is difficult. Most of us, just like our cows, like routine. We like to know what to expect, and we like our comfort zones. However, as farmers know very well, change is inevitable. And many times, change is good; we just have to allow ourselves to welcome the change. When it comes to expanding your farm, you need to manage your employees mentally through the expansion as much as the physical expansion itself.

During the 2018 Vita Plus Calf Summit, Jan Ziemerink, CEO at Foerster-Technik North America, shared his advice on how to properly manage calf auto-feeders and avoid some common mistakes. Auto-feeder systems face many challenges, including temperature, moisture (humidity), dust, colostrum genetics, environment and ventilation. Overcoming these challenges is important for raising healthy calves on an auto-feeder.