By Peggy Coffeen, Progressive Dairyman Dairy farmers are among many business owners struggling to find and retain a labor force. Bauer explained the labor shortage affecting Wisconsin and other neighboring states' rural areas is the result of a gap in skills, enthusiasm and population; depopulation; retention; talent attraction; and immigration.
While reaching to achieve greater pounds of milk per pound of dry matter fed, Matthews and his team achieved greater cow health, longevity, and performance, and, most notably, they have been antibiotic-free for the last five years.
By Peggy Coffeen, Progressive Dairyman Training employees in the basics of dairy cattle handling can do more than save hours of labor, it can even save a life. Jim Lewis shared how many deaths related to dairy cattle most likely could have been avoided if people knew how to safely work with cattle according to their natural instincts.
By Karen Lee, Progressive Dairyman Following two industry presenters on robotic milking-related topics, Dan Wulfekuhle and Tom Pfaff each shared their stories and first-hand experiences in using automated milking systems.
By Jan Shepel Building a winning team has been important for Sleepy Eye, Minnesota hog farmer John Schwartz , who – with his brother – has built one of the top 25 hog operations in the nation.
Schwartz told Vita Plus Dairy Summit participants that it began with strategic planning and a mission statement: Producing quality pork and creating opportunity for rural communities .
Panelists: (left to right) Cody Heller, Heller Farms; Ignacio Escamilla, Heller Farms; and Vicente Ramirez, T&K Red River Dairy
Click to download panel discussion presentation
By Peggy Coffeen, Progressive Dairyman Taking the time to understand the culture of Hispanic employees can build loyalty and cut down on costly turnover.
During the Vita Plus Dairy Summit, Cody Heller, Cows R Us Consulting and Heller Farms Inc.,...
In a panel discussion, moderated by attorney David Crass of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, four dairy producers shared their unique situations with regulatory agencies that have taken an interest in the dairy industry. Read on to see what they learned and gather the advice they have for fellow aproducers.
OSHA - Brody and Jeremy Mahr, Mahr City View Dairy, Stanley, Wisconsin
In every business and industry there are challenges and opportunities. Dennis Dugan shared what he sees as challenges for today’s dairy industry and also spoke of the opportunities they are trying to conquer in Arizona.
The Dugan family moved its dairy business from Wisconsin to Arizona in 1962 due to the father’s lung condition that required a drier climate. Prior to moving to Arizona, the family milked 65 registered cows near Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The...
Chris Sukalski, Quality Dairy; Gordon & Cathy Speirs,
Shiloh Dairy; Jim Winn, Cottonwood Dairy
By Jane Fyksen, Agri-View
“Navigating Change in a Dynamic Environment” is the theme of the Vita Plus Dairy Summit in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On Wednesday, three Upper Midwest producers shared how they’re successfully navigating cow comfort, manure management and employee management.
LeRoy, Minnesota producer Chris Sukalski and her family co-own a 1,400-acre, 360-cow dairy...
OSHA has become a hot button topic in agriculture over recent months. Some dairy producers say they know safety policies on their farms need to be updated, but simply don’t know where to start.
Dr. David Douphrate, assistant professor with the University of Texas School of Public Health, said he’s here to help. Through his research and outreach work with the High Plains and Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and...
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