Progressive Dairyman - Progressive Dairyman

Trust. It’s the glue that holds together the relationship between the bank and the borrower. And just like any other relationship, trust can take years to build through communication, setting e...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/58852-the-four-part-financial-package-that-rebuilt-a-lenders-trust

Here is an unarguable fact: A high-functioning and effective farm team – with all team members in alignment and focused on achieving established farm goals – has a distinct competitive advant...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/57729-assemble-your-farms-best-team-of-experts

Whether joining a peer group or building an advisory board for your farm, dairy producers are finding value in learning from other producers and business owners facing similar challenges and seei...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/57638-advisory-boards-peer-groups-bring-additional-perspective-to-management-team

The American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) provides certification of animal scientists through examination, continuing education and a commitment to a code of ethics.

https://www.agproud.com/articles/57121-3-open-minutes-with-al-kertz

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Kimmi Devaney talks with Davon Cook about how peer groups and advisory boards can improve your farm by bringing additional perspective to yo...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/56124-podcast-davon-cook-advisory-boards-and-peer-groups-take-farm-management-to-the-next-level

With the profitability of your business at hand, who you choose to do business with is a critical decision. Who needs to be on your “external management” team?

https://www.agproud.com/articles/55660-choosing-suppliers-nutritionists-and-negotiating-through-their-value-proposition

Whether you milk 20 or over 1,000 cows, every dairy farmer experiences weighty issues such as managing tight cash flows amid rising input costs, reaching growth objectives through prudent expansi...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/54599-help-your-banker-help-you-talk-early-often-and-openly

Veterinarian is the name of the hat Kohtz is donning today as she does a routine herd health check for one of her Idaho dairy clients, though her hat rack is full of many.

https://www.agproud.com/articles/54807-balancing-the-hat-rack

For many of us, formal education ends in our teens or early 20s after completing classes in high school, technical school or college. In my opinion, that’s the point in life to kick off a lifet...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/35672-lifelong-learning-dairy-success-starts-with-commitment-to-learning

Employees that don’t show up for their shifts. Constant turnover. Subpar compliance and performance. When it comes to dealing with labor challenges, the struggle is real.

https://www.agproud.com/articles/35933-3-steps-to-grow-employees-into-loyal-leaders

Adapting to change will be a big part of survival in the dairy industry in the future, whether you are a producer, consultant or lender. King Hickman of GPS Dairy Consulting discussed dairy’s c...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/36113-change-leadership-how-to-execute-change-on-your-dairy

‘I HAD COVID-19’: A HOOF TRIMMER’S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH CORONAVIRUS William (Willie) Coyne is a hoof trimmer who travels throughout west-central Minnesota with his business, On the Mone...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/36611-3-open-minutes-with-william-willie-coyne

As dairy producers continue to look for ways to cut expenses, animal health programs often come under intense scrutiny. Is this vaccine necessary? Are there cheaper alternatives? How can we reduc...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/36654-spring-clean-your-vet-cabinet

A young audience member came up to me at a conference I was set to speak at last year and said (I’m paraphrasing, but not much): “Richard, I’ve read the conference program, and I see that y...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/36800-what-s-the-one-thing-that-leads-to-better-employee-engagement

Getting all employees on the same page is critical as we balance keeping our doors open for business with making major management changes in response to the current dairy markets. Above that, we ...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/36795-5-steps-for-effective-employee-meetings

This article title combines two important pieces of running a high-performing dairy. First, it embraces the acronym CANI (constant and never-ending improvement), which is its own subject. CANI st...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/36819-the-cani-concept-for-hiring-a-dairy-nutritionist

The television series Undercover Boss prompts business owners and executives to leave the comfort of their offices for an up-close look at the day-to-day operations of their companies.

https://www.agproud.com/articles/36839-uncover-these-5-hidden-opportunities-to-save-time-and-money

Crop managers and dairy managers with crops have been planning all winter for planting to arrive. Now it is time to be a doer (plant, spray, etc.). Right? Well, yes and no.

https://www.agproud.com/articles/36857-the-manager-s-challenge-my-time-during-planting-or-any-other-critical-time

Third-generation California dairyman Donny Rollin says he has seen the good, the bad and the ugly, but that’s a good thing. “I believe the combination of all three of those is what makes farm...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/36847-california-dairyman-credits-connectivity-and-employees-for-staying-in-business

Today’s dairy farm cannot be run by one person. To be successful in any industry, teams must be established to keep operations running smoothly. However, teams are a major investment.

https://www.agproud.com/articles/36901-leading-dairy-teams-tools-to-be-a-great-facilitator

Numerous agriculture meetings and events are held this time of year, as it’s the “slow” time. Of course, it seems no time of the year is slow anymore, especially if you are a dairy owner we...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/37008-why-you-need-to-be-stepping-away-from-your-farm-for-a-day

“Work/life balance” comes up for many young farmers, but it’s time to change our language to “choices we make to manage time” and take action.

https://www.agproud.com/articles/37068-manage-your-power-to-choose-on-your-farm

Of all the changes evident in the workplace of 2020, perhaps the most glaring is that most of us find ourselves surrounded today by an unprecedented five generations of workers.

https://www.agproud.com/articles/37067-leading-a-multigenerational-workforce-the-magic-is-in-the-right-mix

Are you aware that one-third of the farm population is injured annually? Do you want to see OSHA on your farm?

https://www.agproud.com/articles/37063-keep-in-check-dairy-facilities-safety-checklist

Imagine what the dairy business and agriculture will look like in 30 years. We all recognize that dairy and everything else is changing at unprecedented rates. In this article, I suggest leadersh...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/37117-learning-for-future-personal-and-business-success

Imagine this: Your employees, advisors and partners all in the same room, productively discussing issues and finding ways to improve farm profitability.

https://www.agproud.com/articles/37146-5-tips-for-leading-a-more-successful-team

Veterinary medicine continues to change, and more female vets are working on dairies than ever before. While physical strength will always be a challenge, these animal health professionals are re...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/37208-female-dairy-vets-brains-are-more-important-than-brawn

Dairy producers are committed to improving animal welfare every day, but the needs of the animal caregivers play heavily into it, said Dr. Michelle Calvo-Lorenzo, technical consultant for Elanco ...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/37306-wellness-of-dairy-employees-connected-to-better-animal-health

Your best employee should be in charge of feeding your herd, including weighing, mixing, delivery and monitoring rations. This individual can make or break the feeding program, rumen health and p...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/37508-focus-on-your-feeder

Whether the dairy is a smaller operation, with the family all pitching in on whatever job needs doing, or a large operation with round-the-clock specialized crews, effective teamwork is crucial t...

https://www.agproud.com/articles/37631-focus-on-strategies-for-team-effectiveness