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As farmers, you plan for future.  Future crop rotations, increased herds, capital purchases, and hopefully even some well-deserved time off.  Unfortunately, what many businesses neglect to plan for is the PEOPLE.  The people who work on your farm and support your vision. It's easy to neglect people management because it's not easy nor clear cut.   People are the principle asset of any business.  Without good, well-trained people, your business may get stuck. But great businesses focus on their people as much as they do the production. Does managing employees have to be stressful?  No Does it have to be reactive? ...

The farm to-do list never ends. There is always one more thing to be done, and then another chore pops up that needs taking care of. And of course, the weather always plays a factor in determining what does or does not get done and when. Many farmers are overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work to be done. What is the answer? Prioritization and time management! However, prioritization is not a skill that comes naturally to most farmers. How do you decide what is more important than another equally important task? Stephen Covey's Time Management Method You may have...

You want great, long-term employees on your farm. It doesn’t happen by chance. It takes effort. Yet when many farm managers hire a new employee, they tend to throw them to the wolves with little or no guidance. Too often good employees quit. And no one knows why. The answer may lie in HOW you bring a new employee onboard. It takes time and effort. Don’t leave it to chance. My latest blog post gives you the checklist you need to onboard employees. Use it to help them become outstanding, long-term team members. Click here to download the full article:...

Dairy farmers are essential, and we knew this before any health crisis arrived. Even with COVID-19, many farms are carrying on with daily work, and not much has changed. As owners and managers of the dairies, you each make certain the cattle are cared for, fed and milked on a set schedule, regardless of what is happening in the world around you. There is plenty of work to do and plenty of help needed. Amid all the vulnerability and uncertainty encompassing the COVID-19 epidemic, what actions are you taking to ensure your employees feel safe at work? Do they feel...

Who really fits the bill? Gallup has found "companies fail to choose the candidate with the right talent for the job 82% of the time." Download this checklist This astounding statistic is one business owners should avoid at all costs.  Because it costs the business.  A poor manager can drive away quality employees, create divides within the teams, decrease employee engagement and drag good people down.  These results all cost your business money. When it's time to fill a managerial role on your farm, take the time to select and train the best candidate.  Avoid just "moving someone up" to...