In South Dakota, you’ll find a 130-year-old dairy operation that runs on passion, perseverance and a focus on finding the right people. This dynamic trifecta is what makes up the unparalleled culture of MoDak Dairy.
Bateman’s Mosida Farms in Utah is named the 2024 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year by the IDFA because of their ability to innovate and diversify to better care for their cattle and land.
Technology is no stranger to the dairy industry. With all the new technologies hitting the market and endless new ways to handle the tasks on a dairy, it can be hard to determine what to implement on your operation.
Innovation can be defined as taking two things that exist and putting them together in a new way. This is exactly the case for Bar 20 Dairy the recipients of the IDFA 2023 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year award.
California dairy farmer, Steve Maddox found a newfound love for Amazon Prime, who hauled premium alfalfa dairy hay from his Logan, Utah hay ranch to his Riverdale, Calif. dairy farm.
Like many dairies, Desperado Dairy and Du Brook Dairy had a difficult time retaining dependable workers. That changed in 2018, when the dairy teamed up with the Florence West Prison to help fill the vacant positions.
Consumers are asking more than “Where’s the beef,” the slogan for the fast-food chain, Wendy’s, that debuted in the 1980s. Consumers now want to know where a piece of beef came from and the story behind it.
The problem seems straightforward—you need someone to milk cows, feed cows or feed calves. Insert COVID-19 and labor shortages now into the picture and the answer to fill those vacant positions seems complex.
Along with much planning, open communication, hard work and strong values have allowed Steinhurst Dairy to pass the torch from one generation to the next despite a string of grief and mountains of heartache.
Optimizing productivity and improving efficiency are top goals that are talked about in farm meetings. The big-ticket question is, “What can help a dairy producer launch their operation to the next level?”
Many dairy farmers have pushed pause on expansion projects due to the rising cost of lumber, while others are stuck in limbo not knowing whether to move forward or wait till prices decline.
“Please place the mask over your own mouth and nose before assisting others.” This rule shared by flight attendants is just as applicable on the farm as it is on a airplane.
While the process of finding an employee who fits the bill remains challenging, taking time to showcase your farm’s culture and making them feel a part of the team could help your new hire stick around a little longer.
Second only to feed costs, labor is a significant expense for most dairy farms. At the same time, managing labor requires a considerable time investment for dairy owners.
In addition, agricultural producers, as a group, tend to be very independent, do it ourselves types, and the transition into being people managers instead of maybe “livestock or crop managers” is not the easiest.
