Latest News From Taylor Leach

7 Tips You Need to Know to Keep Employees Warm
7 Tips You Need to Know to Keep Employees Warm

To create a safe and comfortable work environment for your farm employees, it’s important to address the specific challenges posed by cold weather on the farm.

3 Leadership Trends You Need to Adopt in 2024
3 Leadership Trends You Need to Adopt in 2024

For long-term success, farm leaders should regularly assess the landscape of their operation and adjust their strategies accordingly.

Santa Will Drink More than 5 Million Gallons of Milk This Christmas Eve
Santa Will Drink More than 5 Million Gallons of Milk This Christmas Eve

Whether it’s whole milk, 2%, eggnog or chocolate, Santa sure loves to drink the good stuff – real milk from real, hardworking dairy farm families!

Prevent Quitting: Keep Employees Top of Mind in 2024
Prevent Quitting: Keep Employees Top of Mind in 2024

These 10 steps can help keep your employees from walking away.

Does Your Farm's Culture Pass This Easy Test?
Does Your Farm's Culture Pass This Easy Test?

Prioritizing culture is often overlooked when it comes to employee management and retention.

Big News: House Passes Bill to Bring Whole Milk Back to School Menus
Big News: House Passes Bill to Bring Whole Milk Back to School Menus

More than a decade after banning whole and reduced-fat milk from being served during school lunches, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted in support of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.

Determination is Key to South Dakota Dairy’s Rich History
Determination is Key to South Dakota Dairy’s Rich History

Farming has run deep in the Moes family roots for the past 130 years. Today, the fourth and fifth generations continue to keep their ancestors’ dreams of farming alive.

Senator Urges USDA to Take Action on Nation’s Milk Carton Shortage
Senator Urges USDA to Take Action on Nation’s Milk Carton Shortage

Schools across the nation have a crisis on their hands – a milk carton shortage that doesn’t seem to have an end in sight. But could the USDA provide assistance? One U.S. Senator thinks so.

A Hot Meal a Day Helps Their Employees Stay
A Hot Meal a Day Helps Their Employees Stay

One dairy’s unique approach to employee retention.

Young Wisconsin Brothers Break Record for World’s Largest Grilled Cheese
Young Wisconsin Brothers Break Record for World’s Largest Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese is a staple food for children across America. But two Wisconsin brothers decided to take their version of grilled cheese sandwich to the next level.

Florida Company Breaks Record for World’s Largest Charcuterie Board
Florida Company Breaks Record for World’s Largest Charcuterie Board

How much cheese does it take to craft the world’s largest charcuterie board?

Walmart Announces Plans to Build $350 Million Milk Processing Plant in Southern Georgia
Walmart Announces Plans to Build $350 Million Milk Processing Plant in Southern Georgia

America’s largest retail store has announced its plans to build a $350 million milk processing plant in Valdosta, Ga.

5 Big Reasons to Soil Test This Fall Instead of Spring
5 Big Reasons to Soil Test This Fall Instead of Spring

With crops slowly coming in off the fields, now is a good time to start thinking about soil testing. Here are five reasons why fall testing may be more ideal than spring.

Farmers Share Weird Field Finds During Silage Harvest
Farmers Share Weird Field Finds During Silage Harvest

Farmers have learned to live by one of life’s biggest lessons – always expect the unexpected. But sometimes even the unexpected can still cause us to pause and scratch our heads.

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What an El Niño Event Could Mean for Fall Weather

Weather patterns have been anything but predictable this year thanks to El Niño. However, one meteorologist says America’s heartland may start to see wetter weather conditions just in time for fall.

“Cave-Aged” Blue Cheese Breaks World Record for Most Expensive Cheese
“Cave-Aged” Blue Cheese Breaks World Record for Most Expensive Cheese

Would you pay $32,000 for "cave-aged" blue cheese?

Check These 5 Items Off Your Mid-Year Financial Check-In
Check These 5 Items Off Your Mid-Year Financial Check-In

Conducting a mid-year financial check-in serves as an opportunity to review the progress you've made toward goals set at the start of the year and make plans for the remaining months.

What’s Your State’s Favorite Ice Cream Flavor?
What’s Your State’s Favorite Ice Cream Flavor?

Can you guess your state's top five favorite ice cream flavors?

11 Ways to Practice Random Acts of Kindness on the Farm
11 Ways to Practice Random Acts of Kindness on the Farm

Don’t let day-to-day farm tasks stand in your way of showing some extra gratitude to your hardworking employees.

5 Traits All Great Farm Leaders Should Possess
5 Traits All Great Farm Leaders Should Possess

To boost employee retention, farms need leaders who can effectively inspire and guide others. The job often requires its leaders to possess a handful of characteristics not necessarily used on other areas of the farm.

Ireland Proposes Culling 200,000 Cows to Help Meet Climate Goals, Farmers Push Back
Ireland Proposes Culling 200,000 Cows to Help Meet Climate Goals, Farmers Push Back

Ireland's Agriculture Minister has been looking into various ways to reduce methane emissions, including culling 200,000 cows over the next three years.

When is Alfalfa Ready to Cut?
When is Alfalfa Ready to Cut?

With alfalfa being one of the most important forage crops on the farm and feed prices on the rise, it’s critical to ensure your stand is harvested in a timely manner to maximize quality while preserving quantity

14-Year-Old Registered Holstein Breaks Record for Lifetime Milk
14-Year-Old Registered Holstein Breaks Record for Lifetime Milk

The record for most lifetime milk produced by a registered Holstein cow has been broken once again in 2023. This time by Nor-Bert Colby Connie, a 14-year-old Holstein owned by Nor-Bert Farm in Bremen, Indiana.

Who Should You Hire?
Who Should You Hire?

Screen potential employees for these qualities.

FDA Proposes New Guidance: Labeling the Nutritional Differences of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives
FDA Proposes New Guidance: Labeling the Nutritional Differences of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives

The FDA recently unveiled a new draft guidance that, when finalized, will provide the industry with FDA’s view on the naming of plant-based food products that are marketed and sold as alternatives to milk.

Here’s Why Grocery Stores Could be Smaller in the Future
Here’s Why Grocery Stores Could be Smaller in the Future

As real estate prices skyrocket and labor becomes harder to find, the blueprints for future grocery stores may soon start to downsize.

Kansas Dairy Farmer's Manure Mural Born Out of a Labor of Love for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs
Kansas Dairy Farmer's Manure Mural Born Out of a Labor of Love for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs

With no GPS equipment, Kansas dairy farmer Rob Leach freehanded the number 15, the jersey number of Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The result? A 100% organic manure mural to celebrate the Super Bowl.

10 Things You Need to Know About National Pizza Day
10 Things You Need to Know About National Pizza Day

With 350 slices of pizza eaten every second in the U.S., it’s clearly appropriate to dedicate a national holiday to one of America’s favorite foods: pizza.

‘Dairy-Based’ Alternative Meats Could Become a Reality
‘Dairy-Based’ Alternative Meats Could Become a Reality

There's now an 'alternative' to alternative plant-based meats. And the first ingredient just might shock you.

How Little Accomplishments Can Lead to Big Wins
How Little Accomplishments Can Lead to Big Wins

The calendar has flipped to a new year and many producers are asking themselves what adjustments need to be made on their operation as they head into 2023. Here are a few small action items that can lead to big results.

25 Questions to Ask Your Farm Employees in 2023
25 Questions to Ask Your Farm Employees in 2023

Letting an employee know how he or she is performing can encourage the employee to perform at a high level, and letting the employee know he or she has fallen short can help reinforce expectations.

Six Straw Alternatives to Get You Through a Bedding Shortage
Six Straw Alternatives to Get You Through a Bedding Shortage

If you are experiencing a shortage in your straw supply, here are six bedding alternatives to consider.

A Look Inside the Late Queen Elizabeth’s Dairy Farm
A Look Inside the Late Queen Elizabeth’s Dairy Farm

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, recently passed away at the age of 96. The late queen, who was well-known for her soft spot for animals, had a herd of 200 registered Jersey cows.

John Deere Adds Three New Forage Harvesters to its 2023 Lineup
John Deere Adds Three New Forage Harvesters to its 2023 Lineup

John Deere recently announced it will add three new Deere-powered self-propelled forage harvesters to its 2023 lineup – the 9500, 9600 and 9700.

6 Tips to Keep Farm Employees Safe When Temps Rise
6 Tips to Keep Farm Employees Safe When Temps Rise

These scorching summer temps are not only taking a toll on crops and livestock, but farm employees as well.

Today is No ‘Udder” Day – It’s Cow Appreciation Day!
Today is No ‘Udder” Day – It’s Cow Appreciation Day!

While both beef and dairy farmers appreciate their animals each and every day, the second Tuesday in July serves as a day of national recognition.

Five Easy Steps to Develop a Paid Time Off Program on Your Farm
Five Easy Steps to Develop a Paid Time Off Program on Your Farm

To stay competitive in the labor market, consider adding an attractive paid time off policy to your farm business to help keep you and employees happy.

America’s Top 10 Favorite Ice Cream Flavors
America’s Top 10 Favorite Ice Cream Flavors

Thermometers are boiling across the country as the heat of the summer sets in. Thankfully, July marks the start of National Ice Cream Month. Why not cool off with a scoop or two of your favorite flavor?

Air Force Pollution Forces New Mexico Dairy to Euthanize 3,665 Cows
Air Force Pollution Forces New Mexico Dairy to Euthanize 3,665 Cows

Art Schaap, owner of Highland Dairy in Clovis, New Mexico, has been living a nightmare for the past four years. His nightmare is finally coming to an end, but not without the heartache of euthanizing 3,665 cows.

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Is ‘Tornado Alley’ Expanding East?

Science suggests "Tornado Alley" may be expanding

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The Three Things You Need to Know to Keep Your Farm Data Safe

Cyberattacks happen every single day, and they’re creeping into rural America. Here's what you need to know to protect your operation from cybercrime.

North Dakota Signs Emergency Order to Help Recruit Truckers to Deliver Milk
North Dakota Signs Emergency Order to Help Recruit Truckers to Deliver Milk

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, singed an emergency order on Tuesday that is meant to ease a shortage of truck drivers to deliver milk to schools, business and other customers.

Should We Expect Above-Normal Temperatures this Spring?
Should We Expect Above-Normal Temperatures this Spring?

Despite frigid temperatures and large accumulations of snow, official forecasts are pointing towards above-normal temperatures in the months ahead.

22 Reasons to Keep Dairy in Your Diet for 2022
22 Reasons to Keep Dairy in Your Diet for 2022

Keeping dairy in your diet can actually help you achieve your New Year's goals.

What’s In Your Farm Employee’s “Hidden Paycheck?”
What’s In Your Farm Employee’s “Hidden Paycheck?”

While it’s easy to get defensive about the amount of money your employees should be receiving, there are often various benefits provided that contribute to an employee’s “hidden paycheck.”

Flood Update from Canada: “When We Got to the Calves, They Were Up to Their Chins in Water”
Flood Update from Canada: “When We Got to the Calves, They Were Up to Their Chins in Water”

Richard Bosma, a dairy farmer in Abbotsford, British Columbia, is just one of the many farmers in in British Columbia who was forced to evacuate.

Canadian Dairy Farmers Hit Hard by Devastating ‘Atmospheric River’ Floods
Canadian Dairy Farmers Hit Hard by Devastating ‘Atmospheric River’ Floods

Canadian dairy farmers have recently been hit hard by two days of torrential rains, causing animals to be evacuated and milk to be dumped.

Americans Expected to Purchase 161 Million Pounds of Butter for the Holidays
Americans Expected to Purchase 161 Million Pounds of Butter for the Holidays

Americans are expected to purchase 161 million lb. of butter between the second week of November through Christmas.

Americans Expected to Purchase 161 Million Pounds of Butter for the Holidays
Americans Expected to Purchase 161 Million Pounds of Butter for the Holidays

Americans are expected to purchase 161 million lb. of butter between the second week of November through Christmas.

Don’t Play Favorites with Your Farm Employees
Don’t Play Favorites with Your Farm Employees

Here are five bad habits to break to be a better farm leader.