Management

This article was #19 in PDmag's Top 25 most-well read articles in 2010.

Summary: In the fall of 2009, it was hard not to come across a producer or dairy writer sharing an opinion about milk protein concentrates. In this article, Ben Yale pointed out that only a small percent of milk proteins are produced outside of the U.S. and that the term “milk protein” covered a wide range of dairy products.

Because this article was so popular, we asked Ben Yale a follow-up question:

For most dairy producers, the past couple of years have been like a roller coaster. An unprecedented boom in milk prices was followed abruptly by a gut-wrenching collapse. The run-up in feed and fuel prices last year has further eroded equity positions. The time to renew operating credit lines will soon be here.

Milk’ing par’lor – noun – a facility where equipment, cows, people and procedures come together for the purpose of harvesting healthy milk in a safe and efficient manner. While lengthy discussions could be written about each aspect of this definition, this article consolidates some important points about the management of milking parlors.

It seems as though every time you pick up a farm publication there is a headline about the high level of risk involved in today’s farms. High levels of risk also mean high levels of stress for most individuals. With so many other aspects of production, risk management and financial issues to worry about, you may think business and family communication is the least of your concerns. However, open and honest communication is even more important during times of high stress.

Organizing is establishing an internal framework for the business. An internal framework, called an organizational structure, is necessary if two or more people are involved in the business.

Milk harvesting accounts for almost half of the electricity used in dairies, but fine-tuning an operation offers ways to trim energy costs, a South Dakota State University specialist said.