Management

What I hear from dairy producers and their managers right now is how hard it is to find good people in this job market. It is very easy to get caught up on what’s lacking or missing in the workplace and let the day-to-day operations take over.

Following the theme of the 2019 Progressive Dairy Operators (PDO) Triennial Symposium, “Managing disruptors on the dairy farm,” three dairy producers shared the methods they use to manage in this changing industry.

Sometimes I wish I didn’t have real-life examples of how I make mistakes. One harvest, I was the combine driver who backed into the fuel truck while I was unloading my auger for cleanout to move to the next field. I’ve had many accidents while backing up, so I should have checked my mirrors.

Dairyman Michael Johnson’s journey toward activity monitoring started several years ago when he realized his plate was getting too full to handle everything.

Why do banks require financial statements? Financial statements provide the bank reassurance that the operation is in compliance with covenants as set forth in their agreements.

Preserving the relationship with your banker is important during good times, and it is essential to your survival in times like these.