The key to success in diversifying: Finding the right people

Kylie Lusk for Progressive Dairy

The Webb family and their partners at Heglar Creek Dairy in Declo, Idaho, led a virtual roundtable discussion at the 2021 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit, sharing their story of how hard work and a positive attitude have contributed to their growth and success.

Five generations ago, the Webb family moved their family and dairy operation from Utah to Raft River, Idaho. The family has now expanded into an empire, with agriculture as its roots. The family now has two separate milking facilities, after outgrowing the original herringbone parlor in 1991. The new robotic dairy started milking 1,000 cows in December 2018.

See how this dairy operation diversifed in beef, custom calf raising and more.

Weekly Digest: Links to webinar, papers on negative PPDs

NMPF moving toward request for limited FMMO hearing

Earth Day: Dairy’s sustainability highlighted

April-May risk management calendar: The floor remains important

Progressive Dairy Industry Happenings: April 19, 2021

John Deere Attachments: Versatility for Productivity

Grain drill calibration: Get it right

Ben Craker for Progressive Dairy

A lot of attention is paid to new technologies used to seed row crops like corn and soybeans. However, the accuracy of mechanical grain drills gets much less focus.

As technology has progressed with new seed coatings, improved hybrids and genetic traits such as herbicide resistance, the cost of seed has increased. This cost comes with the benefit of increased yield or improved feed value, but none of that is possible without first establishing a good stand.

3 ways to calibrate a grain drill

Making the most of manure

Manure is not a liability; it’s an asset. Producers should start viewing manure with the rose-colored glasses it deserves.

Read more.

Setting your employees up for success

Becky Rodriguez for Progressive Dairy

Any successful business is dependent on an efficient and functional workforce. And, for a workforce to be productive, they must have the right environment. So, how can we set our employees up for success? We must first create a work environment that promotes the welfare of employees. We must also consider the effect employees’ personal health and well-being has on their performance at work.

To have a successful workforce, it is important to establish proper work systems and protocols. Create regular work schedules with consistent days off. Keeping your farm well-staffed will help reduce overworking your employees, which can lead to fatigue, injury and burnout.

You don't have to know a lot about other cultures, but you do need to respect them.

Getting ahead of heat stress

We hope to have positive conversations with the public about dairy farming, animal welfare, nutrition and sustainability, but we must also prepare for the negative attention we will undoubtedly receive from animal welfare activists.

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What is a farm truck?

Allen Schaeffer for Progressive Dairy

Sometimes simple questions are the hardest to answer, like what is a farm truck (FT)? Is that any truck on a farm property? Is it a pickup truck? Can it be an SUV? A semitractor trailer? A flatbed with a fifth wheel? Is it just in the eye of the beholder? It’s not as simple as that, of course.

An FT designation is a legal one that both the federal and state levels dictate exact qualifications for. There are also a range of exemptions for different commodities (livestock, grain, logs and on and on …) and that list is a mile long and changing often, best viewed online (Federal Highway Administration - Freight management and operations). And that is not to mention the special exemptions that arise where governors can issue emergency orders or declarations that modify operating conditions or other requirements, providing special waivers to address unique situations – like extreme weather events or the need for waivers of hours of service for CDL drivers to address other unique economic or supply circumstances.

Learn some of the rules of the road.