Milk - General

The Best Ordinary Tuesday: Finding Glimmers in the Grind

Tue, 12 May 2026 18:50:26 GMT

We are the people of the next. On a farm, the clock and the calendar are our masters, but they are also our greatest distractions. We wait all day for the end of the day so we can finally pull off our boots. We wait all year for the next year to come, hoping for better margins, better weather or a better balance of the markets. We spend entire lifetimes working for the prize 2-year-old, the record milk production or the bin-busting crop that finally justifies the sweat.

But if we are honest, when those records finally arrive, they often feel like a destination we reached while we were looking out the window at something else. Because the truth of the farm life — the goodness we praise God for — isn’t found in the record books; it’s found on an ordinary Tuesday.

The Success of the Seconds

Success on our 750-cow dairy is usually measured in pounds, percentages and bushels harvested. We track data points with precision, seeking logic in the chaos, but the real successes of a farming life don’t always happen in the margins. Sometimes they are the glimmering moments that we too often take for granted because they don’t come with a trophy or a line on a balance sheet.

Think about the last time you worked cattle together as a family. It’s a task that can easily descend into shouted directions and frayed nerves. But then, there’s that moment where it all just works. No one has to say a word; you move in a silent, practiced choreography passed down through generations. Your father knows exactly where you’re going to move the gate; your children anticipate the next cow in the chute. In that fleeting minute, the legacy isn’t a legal document or a transition plan — it’s a heartbeat.

It’s the five-minute window in between filling the planter when a football appears from the back of the truck. The dust is still settling, the sun is high and, for 60 seconds, you aren’t a manager or an operator; you’re a dad. You’re a kid again yourself. Those spirals thrown over the tongue of the planter are the things we actually long for, yet we often treat them as interruptions to the “real work.”

Community Covered in Plastic

We saw it last fall during the long stretch of chopping. The silage pile was growing, the weather was turning and the exhaustion was setting in. Then, the high school varsity football team showed up — a dozen young men with more energy than sense, ready to help pull the plastic and toss the tires.

In the grand scheme of the year’s production, that couple of hours of help was a small fraction of the labor. But in the grand scheme of life, it was everything. It was the community showing up when the always-on nature of the dairy felt like too much to carry alone. It was the realization that the farm doesn’t just produce milk; it produces the character of the town. If you didn’t stop to see the goodness in those dusty, laughing teenagers, you might have thought it was just another chore finished. But it was the best Tuesday of the month.

The Prize of the Return

Then there is the greatest glimmer of all: the conversation you didn’t dare to script. It happens in the cab of the truck or while walking back from the parlor. Your oldest son, the one you’ve watched grow up in the shadow of this barn, looks at the horizon and says he wants to do what Dad does for a living. After graduating from college this spring, he is planning to come back to the family farm.

In that moment, the low margin and crummy weather lose their power. The audacity and faith required to keep a 750-cow and 1,800-acre operation running are suddenly rewarded. Not with a record milk check, but with the knowledge that the soil you’ve tended and the cows you’ve bred have a future beyond your own hands.

Searching for the Glimmer

The thing about these moments is that they don’t happen for 24 consecutive hours. They don’t last for weeks or months. They are seconds. They are glimmers of hope that we have to actively search for.

If we aren’t careful, we can finish the day thinking it was just another grind — another ordinary Tuesday where the equipment broke or the labor was short. But if we adjust our sails and shift our gaze, we realize that the days we’ve been longing for are happening right in front of our eyes.

The prize isn’t the 2-year-old in the show ring; it’s the 2-year-old grandchild sitting on your lap in the tractor. The record crop isn’t just the bushels per acre; it’s the harvest of memories with family by your side being made while the work was being done.

Praise God for the goodness that being a farmer is — not because it is easy and not because it is always profitable, but because it gives us the eyes to see that an ordinary Tuesday can be the best day we have ever asked for. We just have to be brave enough to stop waiting for the “next” long enough to see the “now.”

Don’t Push Pause: How a Near-Fatal Accident Made Our Farm Succession Plan Crystal Clear

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:57:37 GMT

The last Friday in February was supposed to be a victory lap for a winter well-spent. It was a rare 65°F gift from the Illinois sky. The kind of afternoon where the sun feels like a promise of the spring to come.

My husband, Scott, and our youngest son, Jacob, spent the afternoon moving cattle between sites. It’s a project that usually takes three or four hours, and as any farmer knows, the cattle rarely cooperate. But Jacob did. He was right there, shoulder-to-shoulder with his dad. Our oldest son, Tyler, was home from college for the weekend, helping on the dairy with cattle work. It was one of those perfect, productive days where everyone was basking in the sunshine, the rhythm of the farm moving in a steady, beautiful cadence.

When the clock hit 5:00 p.m., Scott was ready to call it a day. Our local high school boys’ basketball team had made it to regionals, and we wanted to be there to cheer them on. We climbed into our SUV, chatting about the chores we’d finished and enjoying the lingering warmth of the day.

We were only a mile from our farm when the world shattered.

It happened in a blink. A truck made a mad dash across the four-lane highway, blindsiding us. There was no time to swerve, no time to brake. The police report would later confirm what we already knew: there was nothing we could have done.

Everyone tells you that life can change in a split second, but until you are sitting in the wreckage of mangled steel, surrounded by a dozen deployed airbags and the smell of gunpowder and dust, you don’t truly understand it. As we hit, I felt the impact vibrate through my very bones. I immediately started to pray. “We will be okay. God, make us okay.”

Through the haze of smoke and shock, Scott’s voice was the only thing I could hear. He was a trooper, his own safety forgotten.

“Karen, are you okay?” he asked, over and over.

I wanted to scream that I was fine. I wanted to tell him I was right there. But the shock was a physical weight. My mouth opened, a moan escaped, but the words were trapped behind a wall of trauma. I couldn’t speak.

The rest of the evening was a blur of sirens, flashing lights and the sterile white walls of the ER. The ambulance took me away; the tow truck took what was left of our vehicle. We spent the night under fluorescent lights, but we walked away. We got to go home.

In the days that followed, a deep, heavy appreciation for life settled over our house. I am thankful to be writing this story, though I would give anything to have never lived it. But the most emotional moment didn’t happen at the crash site; it happened at our farm.

(Karen Bohnert)

Our children asked the question every farm kid fears: “What would happen if both of you had passed?”

I cried. But for the first time, I could answer them with certainty. I told them about the will. I told them it was all outlined, all documented. It took me losing both of my parents and my brother — and writing about other families’ succession plans gone wrong for years — before we finally sat down and finalized our own a decade ago.

I think back to my own parents. It took them losing their own son — my brother — in an automobile accident to finally lean forward and be brave enough to talk about their own will. They put a plan together soon after and revised it a few times over the years. When the time came that we eventually lost our parents, my sisters and I were so incredibly thankful we did not have to worry about the logistics during our grief. My parents had it all documented. They gave us that peace of mind.

Farmers, I am pleading with you: Don’t push pause.

Don’t wait for a sunny day to have the conversation. Or a rain day. The highway doesn’t care about your schedule. Don’t wait because it’s an uncomfortable conversation; it will never get easier. Don’t wait because you aren’t sure what is “fair” or what is “best.”

Start the conversation today. Meet with a lawyer. Get it documented. You can always change and revise it — we already have once since we started.

I am so incredibly thankful that today, my kids are out in the dirt helping on the farm instead of sitting in a lawyer’s office reading a will. I am thankful they didn’t lose their parents on an Illinois highway. But mostly, I am thankful that if the worst had happened, they wouldn’t have been left in the dark.

Don’t wait. Your legacy is too important to leave to chance.

Global Protein Demand Surges 2% Annually as Producers Navigate Volatile Markets

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 19:27:59 GMT

While global protein demand is growing at roughly 2% annually, livestock producers must navigate a complex landscape of regional shifts, disease risks and policy battles that will define the next decade of production.

“The Global Protein Outlook: Demand, Trade and the Supply Picture” panel discussion during this year’s Top Producer Summit brought together experts from the beef, dairy and pork industries to explore demand, trade dynamics and risks facing the livestock industry today.

Beef, dairy and pork experts explain how foreign animal disease and climate extremes threaten herds and what risk-management strategies producers can use to stay profitable.

(Farm Journal)

On the panel were:

Kenny Burdine, University of Kentucky agricultural economist
Stephen Cain, National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC)
Renee Strickland, Strickland Ranch & Exports, Inc.
Scott Hays, Missouri Pork Association

Five key takeaways from the discussion include:

1. Global protein demand is structurally strong, driven by population growth, rising incomes and a broad cultural focus on protein.

“Globally, we are seeing an increase in protein demand broadly across the board,” Cain summarizes.

He describes a few demand patterns:

Regions like sub-Saharan Africa and India: demand mainly from more mouths to feed, not big per-capita jumps.
Regions like Southeast Asia and China: both population and per-capita protein consumption have risen sharply.
Developed regions like the U.S. and Europe are in a fortified-protein trend: “We are cramming protein into everything,” Cain describes. “We have protein water on the market now … it’s across the world.”

Plant-based and alternative proteins seem to be a niche.

Burdine explains: “They’ve not taken any market share. It’s still kind of staying in that niche and not impacting the major protein categories.”

Cain adds the dairy alternatives are seeing category declines, with more consumers realizing milk is a whole food compared to the ingredient in an almond beverage.

2. Supply and trade are shifting toward more regionalized production and stronger competitors, but U.S. strengths in productivity and quality remain critical.

On the supply side, Cain explains rising demand does not always translate into equally increasing exports.

“We’ve seen that slow down,” he says. “More of that protein demand is being filled by domestic production, more regionalized players.”

He links this to some pushback against globalism and more inward-looking, domestic strategies. The U.S. remains a key exporter but faces growing regional competition.

Burdine adds while the U.S. has the smallest cow herd since 1961 , productivity gains mean more output per animal. He points out Brazil passed the U.S. as the largest beef producer.

“It’s not that there’s not competition out there, but we absolutely [have] a great advantage here in the states,” he says.

From pork’s perspective, Hays says the U.S. pork supply should stay steady into 2026, while global pork supply is shrinking. He predicts China may decrease 1.4 million sows, Spain is cutting numbers due to African Swine Fever, yet Brazil is continuing to grow its numbers.

3. Risk and resilience — disease, climate extremes and feed quality — are central concerns, making biosecurity, preparedness and careful storage essential.

Hays highlights herd health is the biggest concern for all livestock producers.

“What keeps every producer up is herd health,” he stresses.

He points out to these concerns today:

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS): PRRS causes “very, very significant losses” and takes a multiyear recovery
Foreign animal diseases – African Swine Fever, foot-and-mouth disease and New World screwworm .

“Foot and mouth should scare everybody at this conference,” he stresses. “We would lose all of those exports on all of those products, from dairy to beef to pork.”

From the cattle perspective, Strickland adds climate extremes are a concern for ranchers today.

“I also fear the climate change extremes that we’re all experiencing,” she says. “Extreme drought, extreme rains… that’s really challenging for me as a producer.”

More information about disease challenges facing the livestock producers today:

PRRS ‘Still Sucks’: New Strain Plagues Pork Producers in Ohio

Strategies to Help Raise PRRS-Positive Pigs

Is a World Without PRRS Possible? Two Veterinarians Say ‘Yes’

Help Protect the U.S. from African Swine Fever

African Swine Fever: What it means for America if it were to get into the country

What Do Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreaks in Europe Mean for the U.S.?

The Smell You’ll Never Forget: A Calf Infested with New World Screwworm

New World Screwworm: An Infestation, Not Infection

4. Consumer behavior shows both opportunity and caution: strong protein demand despite high prices, but some trade-down, weaker foodservice and ongoing debates over “ultra-processed” foods.

Burdine compares today’s protein enthusiasm to past diet waves like Atkins and South Beach, but emphasizes: “Consumer trends are always challenging, but it’s the most encouraging in my career.”

Two features about the demand craze he points out are:

How widespread it is across species and products, including eggs.
Price behavior — despite very high retail prices, demand remains strong.

Burdines explains this suggests a deeper, more durable shift for increased protein demand, not just a short-lived fad.

Cain adds in the protein world trade-down due to inflation and increasing costs is real, especially in foodservice.

He notes lower-income consumers pull back on fast food and quick service, which hurts cheese and dairy demand. Cheese consumption, which usually increases about 2% per year, fell 2% last year, which he says is largely due to weaker foodservice traffic.

Burdine adds that trade-down happens across and within species.

Hays emphasizes the new dietary guidelines are a big win for protein and specifically animal protein.

“We’re excited,” he says. “Pork is at the top on the left-hand side, but it’s more about shifting the conversation. We’re moving away from ‘animal fat makes you fat.’ Meat provides hard-to-replace vitamins and minerals, including in the fat portion.”

He did share concern about how ultra-processed concepts are being used.

“We’ve taken this word ‘ultra-processed’, and now it’s a household word. It is the single unit of measure [for] whether or not we should or should not eat something,” Hays says. “And we don’t even know what the definition of it is.”

He explains if ultra-processed is the only metric, a sausage patty and a honey bun look identical, which is misleading for real nutrition decisions.

Cain adds allowing whole milk in schools is a big win, but schools are facing a higher cost than skim and calorie caps that make menu-balancing harder.

5. Strategic actions for producers: robust risk management, efficiency and quality focus, diversification and a commitment to mentoring the next generation.

Cain encourages producers to use risk management and pricing strategies to help make them viable at today’s prices.

“If you’re not economically viable today, you’re not going to be economically viable tomorrow,” he says.

Burdine adds to think about risk management broadly considering price tools and protection from acts of God. This includes biosecurity strategies and insurance.

“Focus on efficiency and quality to stay competitive in good and bad markets,” he stresses.

Hays asks grain producers to protect feed quality. Poorly stored corn or DDGs (dry distillers grains) can create toxin issues that hurt animal performance and reduce demand.

“Your consumer really needs it to be high quality,” he stresses. “And we’ll buy more of it.”

Strickland encourages producers to diversify their income and not put all their eggs in one basket. Her business includes a ranch, export company and a non-ag title search company.

“When one of them is not doing so well, something else bails me out,” she summarizes. “If you’re in a position that you can diversify just a little bit, it can get you through the hard times.”

The final message was a question: Who are you mentoring and investing in? All producers need to consider how they are going to pass information on to the next generation and help them be successful and thrive.

Your Next Reads:
U.S. Cattle Inventory Hits 75-Year Low at 86.2 Million Head
What Do Consumers Buy in the Meat Aisle When Money is Tight?
New Dietary Guidelines Move Food Pyramid Closer to the Farm

This Thanksgiving Be Grateful for The Strength of Our Mothers

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 13:08:35 GMT

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the figures who have profoundly shaped our lives. This year, I find myself thinking about a striking statement from the legendary Coach Mike Krzyzewski, former Duke University and USA Basketball coach. He once advised, “Be as tough as your mothers.” This powerful message resonates deeply, especially with those of us who grew up as farm kids, where our mothers proved to be the unsung heroes of our upbringing.

The Unwavering Spirit of Farm Mothers
Mothers, if they are anything like mine, have faced the demanding realities of farm life with unyielding strength. These are women who fed calves in the sweltering heat of summer, irrigated pastures with children on their hips, and resolved marital differences amidst sorting cows. They managed household finances creatively, making ends meet even when the milk check was sparse, and they ensured that a family of eight was nourished from garden and freezer bounty.

My mother, in particular, embodies this strength. The oldest daughter of a U.S. Admiral, she once lived a life of luxury, familiar with Italian leather gloves, silk blouses, and fur coats. Yet, she embraced a new calling when she married my father, a devoted Oregon dairy farmer, and exchanged her glamorous wardrobe for rubber boots and ragged jeans. Despite this dramatic transformation, she never complained.

My late mother, Michelle getting ready to attend a formal event.

(Karen Bohnert)

Homemaker and More
After coming home from school to head to the barn to do farm chores, my sisters and I would race inside to a home-cooked meal prepared from scratch. Growing up with servants in a high-class setting, my mother learned to cook only after marrying my father, who humorously recalled losing 30 pounds in their first year of marriage. Yet she would remind him that he was doing ‘just fine now.’

Even when burdened by physical exhaustion or illness, my mom remained unwavering. She still managed to assist us with homework, ensuring that we not only comprehended the assignment but excelled at it, even if it meant staying up past midnight to solve complex algebra problems. She did this while nursing a sick newborn calf in the mudroom and baking pies for a 4-H banquet, lending yet another testament to a mother’s multitasking ability. Her ingenuity was a product of from being self-taught, reading the Merck Manual, learning from our veterinarian and her years of working in a hospital. Mom seemed to be able to do anything and everything.

My late mother feeding a flock of sheep in her Italian leather gloves and fur coat.

(Karen Bohnert)

Resilience in Adversity
My mother’s resilience manifested most profoundly when our family faced life’s harshest trials. When a house fire rendered us homeless overnight, she chose gratitude for the neighbors who welcomed us in. When one of her daughters nearly lost her leg in a farming accident, mom didn’t let her praying legs grow lazy, as she was grateful for medical advancements and her daughter’s recovery.

Values of Perseverance and Positivity
Among her most enduring gifts were the values she imparted—values characterized by a strong work ethic, kindness, gratitude and perspective. My mom never permitted self-pity to take root, a trait she exemplified in her own life. She instilled in us a perspective that transformed adversity into opportunity.

My three kids.

(Bohnert Farms)

Reflecting on the qualities I hope to impart to my own children, I wholeheartedly echo Coach K’s sentiment. I hope for my children to grow into individuals possessing the resilience and strength of their late grandmother. Her enduring legacy is one of tenacity, compassion and unwavering positivity—traits that are as essential on the farm as they are in life. This Thanksgiving, as you gather around the table, think of those that fill your heart with love, including your mother.

Breaking: USDA Warns of Avian Flu in Nebraska Dairy Farms

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:32:27 GMT

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories recently delivered surprising news. A dairy cattle herd in Nebraska has tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, marking the first known case of HPAI in cattle within the state. Although this outbreak within dairy cattle initially occurred in March 2024, it’s the first instance in Nebraska. As cases have been relatively limited to a handful of states, APHIS teams are on the ground, collaborating with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to carry out comprehensive investigations and assessments.

Though this detection significantly impacts the Nebraska cattle farming community, it will not alter USDA’s diligent eradication strategy for avian influenza. Biosecurity persists as a vital element in preventing the spread of disease. USDA strongly advocates dairy farms across the nation amplify their biosecurity protocols, particularly with the upcoming fall migratory bird season. Producers are urged to report any unusual clinical signs in their livestock or unexpected wildlife mortality to their state veterinarian to refine containment measures.

Consumer Health Remains Secure
An assurance to consumers remains crucial in times of such uncertainty. According to FDA, there is no cause for concern regarding consumer health or the safety of commercial milk supplies despite the detection. It is affirmed pasteurization effectively neutralizes the H5N1 virus. Milk intended for human consumption originates only from healthy animals, with milk from potentially impacted animals being safely segregated from the human food supply.

Lessons from the West Coast
Experiences from other regions can provide valuable insights into managing such outbreaks. A pertinent case is that of Zonneveld Dairies, Inc. in California, which faced HPAI outbreaks in October 2024. Jacob Zonneveld, the dairy’s president, reflected earlier this year at the 2025 California Dairy Sustainability Summit in Visalia on the challenges the outbreak presented.

With a sprawling operation of 10,000 cows and an equivalent number of replacement heifers spread across 6,600 acres in Laton, Calif., Zonneveld points out the challenges in preventing birds from accessing feed piles, emphasizing the role of biosecurity in treating infected cows, rather than prevention.

Like Nebraska, California dairies faced significant hurdles. In November, Zonneveld Dairies experienced a 15% decrease in milk production, signaling the peak impact of the epidemic. Despite a gradual recovery, production levels remain slightly lower compared to the previous year.

The persistent nature of avian influenza and its contingent effects on dairy farming call for an unwavering commitment to biosecurity and cross-sector cooperation.

Your Next Read:
Enhancing Biosecurity on Calf Ranches: Balancing Animal and Human Health

7 Health Insurance Solutions for the Self-Employed

Fri, 30 May 2025 15:59:39 GMT

If there is anything that could derail your business literally overnight, it’s a serious injury or illness in your family.

That’s why health insurance is an absolutely critical risk management tool, even though the cost of the insurance itself can also strain your business. While it probably won’t cover every medical expense for your family, it can protect you from the catastrophic effects of a major health event.

The majority of farm families agree with that sentiment, according to a 2017 study by HIREDnAG. The survey of nearly 1,000 farm families in 10 rural states found more than 75% of the respondents viewed health insurance as an essential risk management tool.

At the same time, however, many farm families still roll the dice by going without health insurance. The most recent USDA data on the subject shows more than 10% of U.S. farm households do not have health insurance, which is slightly higher than the general public. But even more telling is the type of farms that forgo it the most: dairy farms. They made up more than 40% of all farm households without health insurance, which is more than double any other type of farming enterprise.

Options to Cover Your Family

For those who are insured, many farm families rely on off-farm employment to secure health insurance — about 56% according to the USDA data. But what options are available for the rest of the families or individuals who wish to purchase their own coverage? Penn State University Extension’s Maureen Ittig, family well-being educator, and Ginger Fenton, dairy educator, recently presented a webinar where they shared the following suggestions:

Health Insurance Marketplace. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 created the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. Americans who do not have access to employer-sponsored health insurance can secure coverage through the marketplace, which provides credits for factors like income and family size. A handy calculator to estimate credits and plan costs can be found here . All ACA-compliant plans must cover 10 categories of services that includes things like prescriptions, pediatric care and emergency room services. Open enrollment for ACA plans is usually in the fall, but special circumstances can allow for enrollment throughout the year.
Medicaid/CHIP plans. Lower-income families may qualify for Medicaid and/or Children’s Health Insurance Program plans. These plans vary by state. They typically are less costly to families and may provide additional services, like dental and vision coverage, compared to ACA plans.
Association-based plans. Farm organizations and cooperatives may offer group plans to farmer-members. These organizations also offer guidance to help farm families understand the “language” of health insurance and aid in decision making.
HSAs. Using a Health Savings Account (HSA) is a popular way for farmers to maximize their health insurance dollars. HSAs are actual bank accounts that families fund annually and can be used to cover qualified health expenses. Any dollars not used can remain in the account for expenses incurred later on and even invested into higher-yielding financial funds. To access an HSA, the insured must have a High Deductible Health Plan, which can be accessed via insurance brokers, association-based plans, or the Health Insurance Marketplace. HSAs offer the “triple-treat” tax advantages of pre-tax contributions, tax-free growth and no tax on qualified withdrawals.
Skinny and gap plans. Some states allow for skinny plans that have lower premiums, largely because they are not required to offer the ACA-required 10 categories of services, like allowing entry with pre-existing conditions or maternity coverage. They also may have lifetime payout limits. Gap plans offer short-term, emergency coverage in some states. After 180 days, the insured must enroll for new coverage. They also may have exclusions and lifetime limits.
Armed forces health insurance. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, about 9% of U.S farmers are veterans. They and their families are usually eligible for TRICARE or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health insurance programs.
Healthcare sharing ministries. Several faith-based group health coverage ministries are available that share healthcare costs among their members. This is not health insurance, but many users find they are able to negotiate rates with providers similar to discounts offered to insurance companies. Enrollment may require specific belief systems and lifestyle choices (no tobacco or illegal drug use, for example). Users pay monthly fees similar to health insurance premiums. When they incur an expense, they pay their bills up front and then submit them for reimbursement.

The Penn State experts advised looking not only at costs, but also at the services your family might need, such as maternity and mental health coverage.

“The array of options available hopefully will allow you to pick an option that works best for you, your budget and your values,” Fenton notes.

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A Promising Horizon for U.S. Dairy

What To Do If ICE Comes Knocking On Your Door

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 15:20:07 GMT

Immigration issues continue to be a significant concern for farmers nationwide, which means proactive measures and informed strategies are essential to minimize potential disruptions on the farm.

Understand the Immigration Enforcement Landscape
Due to resource constraints, comprehensive workforce roundups or enforcement actions are unlikely, with a primary focus on individuals engaged in criminal activities. In Idaho, for example, fewer than 20 field agents cover the state, and there are only 10 detention beds available, according to Rick Naerebout, CEO of Idaho’s Dairymen Association.

Individuals who lack a criminal record are often released after undergoing background checks while in custody, returning to their positions soon after detention, he adds. However, employing individuals with criminal backgrounds comes with the increased likelihood of an I-9 audit.

Proactive Strategies for Workplace Preparedness
To safeguard farms against unexpected ICE visits, Naerebout suggests the following proactive measures:

Designate private areas on your farm with clear signage, and ensure doors are locked to prevent unauthorized access.
Train employees to refrain from allowing ICE agents to enter or answering their questions. Instead, direct them to respond with, “I cannot give you permission. You must ask my employer.”
If an agent seeks entry into a private area during an ICE visit, farmers should verify a judicial warrant is in place and review its details closely for scope limitations.

“The administrative warrant is going to be issued by Homeland Security,” Naerebout shares. “The whole goal in this visit is to limit the amount of exposure to your facility, so limit the amount of exposure to your employees. You want to try and keep them as constrained and give them as little exposure to your facility as possible.”

Implement Effective Employee Communication and Record-Keeping
Jennifer Uranga from Mountain West Ag Consulting underscores the importance of clear communication and meticulous documentation. Often when ICE visits a farm, it’s to audit I-9s, search for specific individuals or conduct a raid with a warrant. Ensuring employees are aware of these procedures can alleviate stress and prevent absenteeism prompted by fears of ICE action.

Maintain an updated list of authorized personnel and contact information to share with employees, Uranga advises, thereby preparing them for regulatory visits without cultivating undue anxiety.

“Make employees comfortable with the fact ICE could show up on your farm. Any regulatory agency visit could make those workers nervous,” she says. “I think it’s so important to have a plan, talk to your employees and really be proactive in any of the I-9 employment paperwork process.”

I-9 forms must be complete and accurate given the legal obligation to retain the documents for each employee until a specified period of post-employment or hire date.

“Retain them until an employee is no longer working for the employer or three years after the date of hire or one year after the employee leaves, whichever is later,” she shares.

Farmers must remain vigilant and informed as they navigate the complexities of immigration enforcement. Developing comprehensive strategies can reduce risk and ensure farm operations proceed smoothly even amid potential ICE actions. As this landscape evolves, continued education and preparation are key to mitigate risks and maintain a stable workforce.

For further resources on the I-9 process, visit USCIS.gov/I-9 .

For more details on immigration, check out this State of the Pork Industry report:

Your Next Read: Rethinking the Term ‘Cheap Labor’ in the Dairy Industry

The Ultimate Gift: Dairy Farmer Becomes Lifesaving Hero by Donating Both His Liver and Kidney

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:58:23 GMT

When one thinks of a dairy farmer, the image often conjured is that of a hardworking individual, dedicated to the care of their cattle and land. Brian Forrest, who leads with a kind-hearted and giving spirit at his family farm, Maple Ridge Dairy near Stratford, Wisconsin, epitomizes this image and so much more.

Forrest works tirelessly alongside his wife, Elaine, and their five children, tending to roughly 2,000 cows and farming 4,000 acres. Although farming is undeniably a demanding job, Forrest thrives on the mixture of hard work and familial teamwork it entails.

Leadership Beyond Farming
Away from the hustle and bustle of farming, Forrest dedicates his time in boardrooms and volunteering on various committees and organizations. His contributions as a leader have not gone unnoticed as he was awarded the Dean Strauss Leadership Award at the Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Annual Meeting earlier this year.

“Ask anyone who knows Brian and they’ll tell you he’d give you the shirt off his back without blinking, as his track record clearly shows,” Shelly Mayer, Executive Director of PDP, shares. “I’ve had the opportunity to work directly with Brian for several years and I can say firsthand that he is one of the most thoughtful, compassionate people one could ever hope to work with.”

Maple Ridge has earned recognition on state and national levels, including Focus on Energy’s 2022 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award and platinum-level recognition in 2020 from the National Mastitis Council for the dairy’s consistently low Somatic Cell Count. Forrest was also named a 2021 Wisconsin Agriculturist Master Agriculturist. Forrest serves as Board Chair of Dairy’s Foundation and also served on the PDP board of directors for six years, acting as treasurer for three years. He’s an FFA alumnus and regularly supports the FFA.

A Selfless Donor
Forrest’s generosity extends beyond his time and expertise. In July 2019, he served as a living liver donor for his cousin Richard Gillette, who was battling end-stage liver disease.

“Richard is one of five brothers who I had always looked up to when I was a kid,” Forrest fondly recalls. “When they were young, all five of them came up from Illinois during the summer to help out on my dad’s farm in Stratford.”

Two of the five brothers died in their 50s - and Forrest didn’t want to see a third Gillette brother die before his time. And, as sick as Richard was in the spring of 2019, he was unlikely to receive a new liver from a deceased donor in time to save his life. Too many patients were ahead of him on the transplant list - and most of them were even sicker. Forrest offered to see if he could be a match.

“I thought maybe I could be a donor. I’m older, but I have O-negative blood.” After discussing it with his wife and giving it careful thought, he decided to go through with the donation.

A football fan at heart, Forrest knows that when it’s game day, rivalries don’t matter. Or least this was the case for the fourth-generation dairy farmer.

“He’s a Bears fan. I’m a Packer fan. But we were united the morning that we both met with our incredible surgeons,” Forrest remembers back to the day of live transplant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical Hospital. We joked together right before the surgery that after he gets part of my liver, he very well may come out a Packers fan! He beamingly shares that his cousin recovered well. “It was a tough road for a while, but it was all worthwhile.”

Four years later, Forrest donated a kidney to an anonymous recipient, demonstrating his willingness to help those in need yet again.

The kidney he donated went to a person in Virginia. The surgeon showed Forrest a picture of his kidney functioning perfectly inside the recipient the evening after his surgery.

“It was pink inside the recipient and doing its job,” Forrest shared emotionally. “It is all so remarkable.”

Both surgeries required others to pick up the ‘slack’ from Forrest back at the dairy. He proudly shares that he is lucky to have such a great village that could help out while he took 6-8 weeks to fully recover from both surgeries.

“I would do this again in a heartbeat,” he shares. “There is no price tag for giving someone life and the whole experience brought my family closer together.”

A Farmer’s Faith
Forrest says the feeling of helping someone else is hard to describe but incredibly fulfilling.

“I know God is driving the way,” he says. “I’m not sure what direction we are heading, but I know he is in the driver’s seat and I’m in the backseat.”

When it comes to farming, Forrest—like most farmers—believes in a better tomorrow. Before his surgeries, Forrest had to undergo a mental health evaluation, ensuring he was prepared for all eventualities, even the possibility of the surgery not resulting in success.

“I go back to the highs and lows of farming. With milk prices and Mother Nature, you must be okay with not being in control,” he says.

Forrest’s mindset of focusing on what can go right instead of what could go wrong is just his natural way of thinking. This positive attitude has helped foster a healthy and positive culture at Maple Ridge Dairy, where 34 full-time employees work in harmony.

“Our mission and values are communicated, and we all work towards the same goal,” he shares.

In an industry full of challenges and unpredictability, this Wisconsin dairy farmer stands out not just for his farming practices but for his exemplary character and unwavering optimism. Whether on the farm, in the operating room, or during acts of heroism, Forrest truly embodies a spirit of selflessness and resilience.

“I try to make more deposits than withdrawals,” he says. “There are good days and bad days, but we really need to focus on the good. My hopes are that others who hear my story also consider organ donation. UW Madison is an incredible resource and I’d be happy to talk to anyone whose heart has tugged on them regarding organ donation. I have no regrets.”

It’s Okay to Celebrate Your Wins

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 16:40:02 GMT

When my kids were younger and they’d come off the bus, my first question would always be, “Tell me three positives about your day.” Their responses varied from “We had pizza for lunch,” to “I got to sit by so-and-so on the bus” to “We got to watch a movie in class.” I wasn’t concerned about the specifics of these wins; my goal was to train their minds to see the good in every day. If I had asked them what went wrong, they’d probably have overwhelmed me with an endless list of grievances.

The same principle applies to adults, especially those in high-stress professions like farming. It’s so easy to focus on the negatives: a busted gate, a forgotten task, or poor time management. The list seems endless. However, when we ask ourselves what went right, it becomes challenging to pinpoint those positive moments unless we make a conscious effort to celebrate them.

Finding Joy in the Everyday
I’m not just talking about significant, life-changing wins either; those are easier to acknowledge. Yet, in farming and many other fields, those big wins don’t happen every day, every week, or even every month. It’s crucial to make a big deal out of every win, no matter the size. Throw a pizza party, provide tokens of appreciation, like gift cards, or simply brag a bit. These celebrations help remind us why we do what we do, especially when it feels like everything is going against us.

Recently, at our farm we experienced a significant win when we started chopping corn. Our insurance appraiser came to assess the crop, and while we suspected it was good, we were blown away when he announced our average—275 bushels per acre. I cried right then and there because it was a monumental win for us.

I follow up by sharing, we’ve had tough years where river-bottom corn was flooded out and we had to rely on insurance money. Some years, rain didn’t come, and yields barely reached half of what we got this year. Many years fell somewhere in between.

The Importance of Celebration
So, we celebrated this extraordinary crop under the hot sun with cold beverages and laughter as we reminisced about the past. We recalled the times when the kids were learning how to drive tractors and listened to the old-timers’ stories, which were probably more fiction than fact, but still enjoyable, nonetheless. We stayed up late and simply enjoyed each other’s company.

It sounds simple, but often we are conditioned to focus on what went wrong rather than what went right.

Changing the Perspective
The week after our celebration, I started asking my husband about his wins every day. Though he chuckled, knowing what I was trying to do, he joined in. Once you train your mind to see the good, it’s like switching from black and white to technicolor. Suddenly, you find yourself smiling more while feeding calves as you see your future standing right in front of you. A successful herd health check becomes a reason to tell all your employees. Moving cows from the barn to the parlor and spotting an excellent 2-year-old cow becomes a photo opportunity to share with the crew. The lights come on for all the right reasons, and you start building a positive culture that makes owning and working on your farm incredibly fulfilling.

So, I highly suggest giving it a try—start celebrating your wins, big or small. What have been some of your wins this year?

Professional Wellness Takes Center Stage for Veterinarians

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:12:08 GMT

Stress: It’s a factor in most professions, but particularly for veterinarians and especially for those just beginning their careers. The more it’s talked about, the better able veterinarians will be to cope with it. On Saturday, the AAVLD Plenary Session, taking place during the joint meeting of the U.S. Animal Health Association (USAHA) and the American Association of Veterinary Diagnosticians (AAVLD), addressed the topic of stress.

Michele Pich, President and Founder of Sundog Research and Support LLC, explains some of the factors that make the veterinary profession stressful:

Veterinarians are driven to perfection – they may have never failed at anything before
Long hours: 12-hour days, working holidays, working weekends and overnight work are typical within the profession
Never-ending flow of samples to test
Difficult losses: compassion fatigue is a common problem for veterinarians
Difficult work or home environment
Intergenerational/personality difficulties
Emotional toil
Burnout

“Everything is interconnected,” Pich says. “We don’t live in a vacuum. One case can trigger emotions and memories from many years ago.”

Moral Distress
Stress can be caused by “moral distress” too, Pich says. It’s “that experience of knowing the right thing to do but being in a situation where it might be impossible to do it,” Andrew Jameton explained in 1984. Pich notes it can mean knowing options are available for treatment; but, people choose not to or can’t afford the treatments needed.

To make matters worse, a survey of 900 veterinarians that Pich performed with her staff showed that 79% of those surveyed reported no training in self-care; and 71% of veterinarians reported no training in conflict resolution.

Awareness and Change
Pich says there are nine dimensions to wellness: occupational, intellectual, spiritual, social, emotional, physical, financial, creative, and environmental. Not all areas will be in harmony all the time, but it’s a matter of learning how to cope with stress.

“Change what you can, and don’t let the rest consume you,” Pich says. She suggests developing and following these 10 habits:

Have regularly scheduled discussions about how to make the workplace better
Eat healthy and drink lots of water
Exercise regularly
Be kind to yourself
Enhance your awareness with education
Understand that those close to you may not be there when you need them most
Exchange information and feelings with people who can validate you
Clarify your personal boundaries: with clients, coworkers, etc.
Express your needs verbally (saying it to yourself is not the same as saying it out loud)
Take positive action to change your environment

(Source: www.healthycaregiving.com and www.compassionfatigue.org )

Industry Takes Action
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) listened to its members and in 2010, passed the following resolution: “The AVMA recognizes the benefits of pet loss support helplines and groups for pet owners, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students, and faculty at colleges of veterinary medicine and veterinary technology and lay employees of vet practices and encourages their responsible establishment.” (AVMA, 2010).

Since that time, the AVMA has created an entire section on its website to assist veterinarians with wellbeing, including a self-help assessment tool.

Editor’s Note: For more information, contact the Michele Pich at SundogRSLLC@gmail.com

Start Talking about the Succession of Your Family Farm Today

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 14:00:00 GMT

Tim Schaefer, the founder of Encore Consultants, says succession planning doesn’t have to be complicated and that there are not enough structured discussions happening on farms that talk about passing the farm onto the next generation.

“The longer this goes on, where we’re not talking about these deep and important issues, it becomes more and more uncomfortable to even start,” Schaefer recently told AgriTalk host, Chip Flory.

Schaefer shared that the 2017 USDA Census Report documented that 99% of all farms in the U.S. are operated by families, but less than a third have a succession transition plan in place.

The conversation about how the farming business is going to be transitioned from an established generation to the next generation is a conversation these families cannot afford to put off for another day.

“Nobody takes the farm to the grave with them,” Schaefer stated, adding that the first step to get a plan in place is to get owners and next generation farmers together in a room to talk about what the farm hopes to accomplish.

“What do we want for the future of this farm? Where are we strong? Where are we weak?” Schaefer asks. “Farms are constantly changing and they’re changing just right alongside the family and dynamics as well. So, it starts by having those detailed conversations but then also agreeing. Ultimately, you have to agree on a process. What process are we going to follow in this transition plan?”

While farms have changed considerably over the last decade, the next decade will likely see even more change, and Shaefer states that having those early discussions and writing goals and hopes down helps build a roadmap for the future.

“We so often take the people that we love -- our family, and key employees -- for granted more than what we should,” Schaefer says, sharing that talking about succession transaction is emotional as the senior generation feels like the succession isn’t just about the farm, but about their legacy.

Farmers work too darn hard to leave the succession plan of their family farm up to fate. To listen to the entire conversation with Tim Schaefer, dairy editorial director, Karen Bohnert and AgriTalk host, Chip Flory, click on AgriTalk-3-19-24-Tim Schaefer - AgriTalk - Omny.fm

Check These Succession Planning Stories Out:

In Their Own Words: Animal Activists Speak Out at 2023 Conferences

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 19:00:36 GMT

The Animal Agriculture Alliance works diligently to safeguard the future of animal agriculture and its value to society by monitoring the activity of animal rights extremists. Several of these extremist groups convened this past year for their annual conferences, discussing new tactics and strategies they plan to use against animal agriculture to rally around their missions of “total animal liberation.” While animal rights supporters make up an incredibly small percentage of our population, they are loud and aggressive and can mislead consumers about the animal agriculture community’s commitment to animal welfare, sustainability and other key topics.

So far this year, three conferences have been hosted – Direct Action Everywhere’s (DXE) Animal Liberation Conference (ALC), Humane Society of the United States’ (HSUS) Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) conference, and the Animal and Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit. Key topics at these events included sustainability, public health, legislation and animal welfare. It can be hard to hear comments coming from those opposed to animal agriculture, but it is important to monitor their activity and stay vigilant in whatever tactics may be coming next.

The 2023 DXE ALC was held in Berkeley, Calif., on June 9-14 and largely focused on DXE’s “Right to Rescue” campaign and recent thefts of animals from farms, however other sessions focused on strategy, specifically how to build a pressure campaign and how to align with fellow extremists. Here are a few quotes shared by speakers:

• “When we acknowledge that animals are individuals who deserve compassion, justice, and rescue, we inherently negate the idea that they are just objects to be bought and used, sold, and killed. These two perspectives, property and persons are intentioned with each other and with this campaign, we can bring this tension to the surface.”

• “Rescue is our moral duty to stand in solidarity with those who are oppressed.”

• “We are turning the criminal justice system on its head.”

• “Press can get charges dropped for activists and give you insider information.”

• “Taking your target, whether that is a company or an industry or a sector, figuring out what the Achilles heels are of those sectors of those industries, of those corporations, and putting pressure on those weight points to shift them to get them to do what you want or get them to just stop doing whatever they are doing.”

• “Goals might be something like stopping a slaughterhouse from being built, getting a company to drop fur, getting an animal relocated to a sanctuary from a zoo, and the corresponding visions to these goals are a world without slaughterhouses, a world where animals are not exploited for fur, and a world where zoos have been shut down.”

• “We most abolish animal ag to prevent the next pandemic.”

The Animal and Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit took place in Los Angeles, Calif., on July 27-30. This event was launched by ProVeg International and was billed as an opportunity to “explore and learn the latest knowledge, diversity of thought, and tools to effectively increase your individual and collective impact on systemic food system change.” The following key messages were shared by speakers:

• “One of the key strengths is mass protests because they can really create the conditions for transformation across the whole ecology, and really push the issue out into the public spotlight.”

• “There are also scientists that are using AI to decode animal language so that one day maybe they can advocate for themselves.”

• “We want to find any evidence that leads to more opposition to animal farming as a whole.”

• “This is a normalized atrocity in our in our food system. They [chickens] are kept in windowless houses, trapped in cages and crates raised their babies are taken away.”

• “When it comes to this cutthroat billion-dollar companies [Tyson, Smithfield, etc.], those are the entities that deserve no mercy. And if you want to ring the alarm on them, ring it.”

• “The court’s decision, it’s, you know, it not only upheld proposition 12 and laws like it like Josh pointed out, but it essentially gave a judicial green light so that we can keep working in the legislatures to free animals from suffering and extreme confinement.”

At the HSUS TAFA Conference, held August 5-6 in Springfield, Ill., animal rights extremists came together to discuss lobbying and current political efforts in the animal rights space, specifically concerning the fur community. The conference focused on advocacy and the importance of building relationships with lawmakers. Here are a few quotes shared by speakers:

• “You might be surprised, but the time is going to come when you’re going to need to get everybody together to get that point for the animals.”

• “State by state, scorecards have been rolling out on a state-by-state basis, which literally hold legislators accountable for the votes they take or don’t take for animal welfare.”

• “We really had to focus on public safety, threats of danger to people, and elderly when we’re talking about people who are abusing animals.”

• “Smaller cities and towns or local lawmakers are probably not going to have staff. We can get into bigger, midsize cities, larger cities as well as your state legislatures they will often have staff and it’s really important to not undervalue the staff. Staff are there to support the lawmaker, but their job is to also go deep and to really kind of understand these issues and to help the lawmaker understand the issues and why they are important and might be important to the community. So, meeting with a staff person is a really great opportunity to pull someone else onto the team. They can be an internal advocate.”

As members of the animal agriculture community, these quotes can be frustrating to hear. I want to remind everyone of their responsibility to speak up and be an informed voice for animal agriculture and sharing our story.

Read More:

Animal Rights Extremist Connections and Tactics Updated in New Reports

Bring Back Field Trips

Activists Continue to ‘Storm the Courts’

Investment that Pays: Teach Farm Kids How to Manage Money

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 14:45:39 GMT

You’ve taught your kids how to drive tractors, herd cattle and identify weeds. But have you passed on your money and management skills? Do they know how to purchase inputs, calculate payments or market grain?

“Many rural children will be operating a family enterprise someday,” says Val Farmer , a clinical psychologist and author who specialized in family relationships during his 30-year career. “Farms and ranches are big businesses that operate in a high-risk economic environment. An essential management tool for farmers is financial management.”

This topic is touchy. Likely your parents or grandparents didn’t open the books to you as an adolescent (maybe not even as an adult). Don’t leave your children in the dark, Farmer says.

“Children and young adults won’t automatically know how to do this without handling money and decision-making long before they reach management levels,” he says. “If adult children understand money management, they make better partners. Management philosophy is shared instead of being a point of conflict.”

When should you start teaching farm financial lessons? The earlier the better, Farmer says. His advice:

Let them handle and spend their own money.
Let them deal with limited budgets where they have to make choices. They learn the first rule of finances — don’t outspend your income.
Let them earn money for extra work beside their regular family duties. Make sure the pay is in line with community standards for certain jobs, so they get a connection between the world of labor and the cost of things.

Also, encourage regular savings. Farmer suggests letting them have their own checking and savings accounts and encouraging them to save toward future goals.

“Be a role model by living within your means,” he says. “Plan for purchases, save and make the purchases with cash on hand. Talk about what is smart and what is dumb — the hard times and the good times. Part of money management is learning to be generous, give gifts and use money to do good.”

When appropriate, find ways to give your children a stake in the farm. Once they become teenagers, Farmer says, allow them to participate in family business discussions.

“Even if they don’t have much to say, they will absorb information and learn about real risks and how decisions are made,” he says. “They will learn to reason with you about business and money matters.”

Projects in FFA and 4-H are great tools for teaching money and enterprise management. The cost of input and labor are calculated and learned, Farmer points out. They will see the payoff and learn the downside too — good training for a future partner someday.

“Caring and managing for their own livestock and other farm enterprises teaches entrepreneurial attitudes and skills,” he says. “They see how farming works and how income is generated through buying and selling, breeding, good health practices, and about absorbing mini-enterprise risks. The proceeds will help them pay for their college education.”

Of course, you may enter into an uncomfortable discussion or two once money is an acceptable topic to discuss. Work through these, Farmer suggests, and stay focused on your goal.

“Many farming operations fall apart in succeeding generations because parents have been too controlling and haven’t shared decision-making of dollars and cents financial management,” he says.

A Strategic Advantage: Develop a Decision-Making Process

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 19:24:37 GMT

The difference between strategy and serendipity is small when you are prepared, explains Mark Faust, president of Echelon Management.

How can you be ready, willing and able to lead your farm into the future? Start by developing a specific decision-making process.

“Have you put off decisions that could be of great benefit to your company? Do you sometimes feel as though you agonize over decisions?” Faust asks. “Here are a few tools that have helped many leaders with whom we work deftly make more effective decisions.”

BETTER WITH PRACTICE

Most leaders aren’t using any objective criteria or tools to evaluate the options available, Faust says.

“Instead, far too many business owners spin their wheels and then make decisions based on intuition, when a much more helpful and objective approach could be applied,” he explains.

Don’t become overwhelmed by all the decisions you must make for your business, advises Jay Parsons, University of Nebraska agricultural economist. As you analyze a decision, articulate your objective, rely on good information and focus on the big picture.

“Understanding decisions that need to be made today and decisions that can be made later and linkages between the two reveals much about the decision context,” he says. “Permission to focus on objectives rather than analyzing alternatives frees up creative thought and generates possible solutions that result in more flexibility and an increase in ability to deal with the future uncertainties being revealed as outcomes.”

Of course, you have valuable instincts based on years of experience and data. Yet, Faust says, you could improve your decision-making success by using more tools to evaluate your options.

“Frequently, there is an objectifying tool we can pull out and use to help make the decision more rational and meas-ured and thus give confidence to CEOs that they are doing the best they can in making that decision,” he explains. “Also, bringing in an objective outsider, someone who is not burdened with the concerns surrounding the decision, can offer a unique wisdom that can accelerate success.”

If the decision is between alternatives, your first step is to ask the following questions. Mark Faust suggests:

MUSTS: What are the “musts,” or non-negotiables, we cannot sacrifice? These are mandatory, measurable and realistic. This will sometimes sift out options that are not appropriate.

WANTS: What are the “wants” we would like to gain? See which of the previous “must” options will likely meet the most of your wants. List the specific wants behind each relevant option.

RISKS: What are the potential risks we need to consider? At this point, many decisions should become more clear if not obvious. Look for the most rational decision, which equates to the maximum benefit within acceptable risk parameters.

GAINS: What are the potential gains that could be realized? List the benefits behind options and consider if an option delivers a solid return with a reasonable likelihood of success.

For larger and risker decisions, business coach Mark Faust says you might need to increase your analysis and thought process. He suggests putting your decision factors from above into a spreadsheet. For each option, you will want to weigh the negative potential of the risk or positive potential of the reward.

For example, he says, you could rank a reward from 1 to 5, with these parameters:

1 = Some minor enhancement that only you would know about.

2 = A nice improvement that people around you could benefit from and see.

3 = A benefit that is companywide and people are talking about on a regular basis.

4 = Customers flocking to your company.

5 = A game changer for the company, industry, or more.

(Farm Journal)

After rating the reward potential, do the same with the risks, considering the following ratings:

-1 = A minor annoyance

-2 = A problem you could solve

-3 = A problem for which you would have to get help and it would be made public in the company.

-4 = A huge embarrassment

-5 = A problem so bad that it could harm your company.

(Farm Journal)

To make changes, Faust says, the rewards must be a 2 or more. Otherwise, you might as well consider other potentials. If the risks are -4 or -5, then you may want to eliminate that option.

Watch Mark Faust’s Top Producer Summit presentation on how to make smart decisions.

The Top 6 Survival Tips for Raising Teen Farm Kids

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:25:27 GMT

The toughest job in the world is that of being a mother. Raising children is tough. I think most moms would agree that they would take a toddler again over parenting a teenager. Raising teens is not easy and while many of those years are spent watching our children thrive, other times we are just trying to survive. Who is with me here?

Summer breaks mean longer days and while farmers love the endless sunlight to help with the endless workload, mothers might not share the same love. Summer means kids are home, and while that often means they can help more with the workload; it becomes a lot for parents at times. Sometimes when we are in the middle of preparing for county fair or baling straw is when the bellyaching occurs.

(Farm Journal)

The good news, or at least from my perspective, is that the older the teen gets the better the teen becomes. They learn the hard lessons that shape farmers to be the heartbeat of America, learning traits like commitment, working together and sacrifice.

Not long ago, I jotted down some survival tips when I found myself arguing with one of my teenagers. Let me assure you all, that I truly believe there is no better place to raise kids than on a farm. This especially holds true for teenagers who are finding their way and their purpose. There is always a job to do, and the landscape a farm provides is needed for a teen to figure out their purpose in life.

Fuel them up. Teenagers are growing at a rapid speed, so you must feed them. A LOT! I know this is a painful task, with groceries being so expensive, but my tip is to feed them some kind of protein before you talk to them. Feed your teens.

Establish boundaries. Those boundaries can be loosened the older and more mature they get. For example, my youngest son (age 13) has a rule that the phone is put up by 9 p.m. We let the kids know that phones are a privilege and when they are disrespectful, they lose privileges, like phones.

Establish expectations. This often means chores and what they are required to do around the farm, but also in the home. Sometimes when kids are having a tough time staying on task, I will write out what all needs to be done and then they can have time to hang out with friends, watch television or go fishing.

Step away. I began stepping away more. When it’s just the kids in the barn, they talk to each other — about school, about friends, about cows and farm life, and their problems. I think it’s healthy for open dialogue among siblings, and it is also healthy for kids to become their own problem solvers.

Fresh air. It cures just about anything. When kids have an attitude, scoot them outside.
Give them attention. While sometimes they might think they don’t need you (heck they might even be vocal to tell you that), spend time with your children. I would add, spend time with your children away from the farm and away from doing chores together. Grab ice cream in town together. Play basketball on the driveway together. Go watch a movie. Talk to them. Listen to them. Hug them. It’ll fill their hearts and minds, as well as yours.

Raising teens isn’t for the faint of hearts. It is a tough job. What tips would you add to this survival list?

Avoid These 4 Family Business Sins

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 17:34:48 GMT

Here’s how you can avoid committing these harmony-harming mistakes

Family business is tricky. Profit goals can clash with personality dynamics. Unqualified people might lead key positions. Talented and motivated children might feel stuck in a predetermined path.

“There is great power and commitment in a family business,” says Val Farmer, a clinical psychologist who specialized in family relationships during his 30-year career. “But the family must get along and the business needs to make money.”

To meet your family farm’s goals, avoid these common missteps.

UNDEFINED ROLES

Family businesses often require an all-hands-on-deck model. “Children and parents, husbands and wives, extended family members and different generations may serve as employees, managers, shareholders and advisers at various times,” says Cari Rincker, principal attorney with Rincker Law . “These overlapping and potentially unclear roles can be a source of conflict.”

Match family members to the roles that best suit them, she suggests. Create specific expectations for everyone and respect the boundaries of their duties.

“Clear responsibilities help create ownership of and respect for business roles,” Rincker says. “It is nice to know others can jump in when needed, but when roles become too blurred, conflict can result.”

BLURRY BOUNDARIES

Farm families can easily slide between business and family needs and priorities, but they need to separate the family dynamics from the business itself, says Rena Striegel, president of Transition Point Business Advisors . Conversations need to be clearly business discussions or family discussions.

“When we separate those, it makes it easier for farm families to communicate and make decisions together as a group,” Striegel says.

DETRIMENTAL NEPOTISM

Of course, you want to favor relatives in a family business, but they must be qualified. “Adult children or siblings who are lazy, selfish, addicted or dependent rob the rest of the family members in the business of enthusiasm and motivation,” Farmer says. “Working around someone while walking on eggshells or carrying their load is no fun.”

Analyze how you treat, motivate and promote family members versus non-family members, Rincker adds.

“If nonfamily workers are held to a different standard than family workers, they will be difficult to motivate and retain,” she says. “A level playing field in terms of treatment and advancement is essential. A merit-based culture that holds everyone to the same standards can motivate everyone, whether family or nonfamily, to achieve more.”

ECHO CHAMBER

Family members often find a groove or don’t want to rock the boat. As a result, original ideas or new strategies stop surfacing. To avoid an echo chamber, consider an advisory board, Rincker says.

“A board can help ensure business decisions are handled professionally,” she says. “Consider nonfamily board members as they can improve the business’s prospects of managing and attracting both family and nonfamily talent.”

The Best of Both Worlds

Well-run businesses take on the caring qualities of successful families, says Val Farmer, a clinical psychologist and author . On the flip side, well-run families take on business sensibilities of successful businesses. Farmer says these are the qualities of successful family businesses that find that perfect middle ground.

Share a vision and commitment for long-term goals. They invest money and time to improve the abilities of their members.
Involve its members in the process of management and leadership.
Have systems of communication in place where ideas at the operational level are heard and make a difference.
Delegate responsibility and decision making to the lowest level possible.
Give abundant recognition and appreciation for the work being done.

To access resources and tools to help guide your succession planning journey, visit FarmJournalLegacyProject.com

You can learn more about succession planning at the 2022 Top Producer Summit! You can hear from Rena Striegel, Paul Neiffer and Polly Dobbs! Register now!

Is Family the Most Important Part of Your Life? Prove It

Fri, 19 May 2023 15:44:37 GMT

Farming is getting far more complex, says Ted Matthews, director of Rural Minnesota Mental Health Support . It requires so much energy over a short period of time. Because of that, it’s more important than ever that farmers take care of themselves.

Things happen so fast on the farm that stress points can change so quickly, AgriTalk’s host Chip Flory points out.

“As farmers, you got to make hay while the sun shines,” adds co-host Davis Michaelson. “When the soil is ready, you got to put seed in it because tomorrow, it might be raining. Tomorrow, it might be different. You have to get it done now.”

That sense of urgency and frenzy makes it hard to keep stress levels down. Not to mention the constant pressure of financial security and farm profitability. Because of this, Matthews recommends focusing on what matters most.

“When I ask about the most important thing in their life, every farmer I’ve ever asked says family. Then I say ‘Prove it. Show them how important they are,’” Matthews says.

Spending time with family and prioritizing them shouldn’t be lip service.

“Show up, do things with your family and know that’s a part of the whole when it comes to farming,” Matthews says. “Farming is not just about planting and harvesting. It’s part of the family dynamic. It’s the bonds we create, and we don’t create bonds if we’re not working together.”

One of the best ways to relieve stress is to communicate. Stress can really interfere with our ability to communicate with each other, Matthews says.

“The more we pull back, the higher the stress level gets,” he says.

Good communication requires staying in touch with the rest of your family and team – paying attention to what they say and paying attention to their stress levels, Matthews adds.

“You can really show your team members respect by talking to them about the issues that might cause some stress going down the road and being sensitive to that,” Flory says. “It comes down to your number one thing, Ted, and that is communication.”

It’s true, Matthews says, that people can’t read your mind.

“They don’t know how you’re feeling or going through unless you tell them,” he says. “Your family loves you and will support you and help you through it. So, say it.”

Click here to download the eBook “Your Guide to Mental Health. ”

Read More about Mental Health & Wellness:

By Her Own Hand: A Farm Girl’s Miraculous Journey from Death to Hope

Pay Attention to Warning Signs of Stress

5 Ways to Work Through Difficult Times

Lack of Understanding Leads to Loneliness in Farmers

Toxic Grit: Is Our Greatest Strength Our Greatest Weakness on the Farm?

Stress: Action is Key

Farmers, Ranchers Have Ways to Manage Stress

Suicide Prevention: Your Worth Isn’t Measured By The Markets

Don’t Let Social Distancing Lead to Social Isolation

Connect With Farmers In-Person On Mental Health

Simple, Daily Habits to Help Manage Stress

When Your Trampoline Breaks: Avoid Isolation

Is Your Farm Prepared When Bad Weather Strikes?

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 18:57:37 GMT

Now that warmer temperatures are upon us, so is spring storm season. The wild display of weather this year has showcased flooding, tornadoes and more from coast to coast. This unpredictable weather underscores the importance of having a plan and be ready for whatever severe weather pattern could hit your farm.

Severe weather can be a detriment to your farm. Before bad weather hits, Country Financial offers the following tips to prepare your farm.

Take Inventory. Taking photos is a great way to inventory your belongings. Move cattle, feed, and equipment to higher ground in case of flooding, if possible. Stock up on extra farm supplies ahead of severe weather, like water and livestock feed.
Prepare Employees. Review emergency escape routes for each building. Remember this plan might differ depending on the weather event. Document procedures to account for employees. Create an emergency contact list for owners, employees, family members and supplies. Assign different roles and responsibilities to all employees, like who is responsible for calling emergency contacts.
Check Equipment. Ensure generators are in working order, turn off the propane supply at tanks and close any open chemical containers.
Check Insurance Protection. Meet with your insurance rep to ensure everything you own is properly protected. Also, discuss the process for filing a claim if a disaster strikes.

The Farm Bureau Financial Services offers these safety tips regarding tornados and flash flooding.

Tornadoes

On average, each year, 1,300 tornadoes are reported in the United States, and cause millions of dollars worth of damage. With winds that can reach over 250 miles per hour and the potential to travel up to 50 miles, tornadoes have a destructive potential that often puts them in the headlines. In the face of such a huge force of nature, what do you do?

Don’t remain in your tractor or vehicle. Find a low-lying area, such as a ditch, and cover your head with your arms to protect yourself from flying debris.
Don’t try to outrun a tornado with your vehicle.
Do have a plan for which buildings on your property provide the most protection. Basements are best, of course, but if you’re caught out during a tornado, a building with a strong inner structure, such as a barn, can be a safe haven. If you can, stay away from the outside walls of the building you take shelter in.

Flash Flooding

Intensifying rainfall has caused nearly multi billions in damage in the U.S. in the last few decades. Floods can be sudden and powerful, giving you little time to prepare. If you are confronted with flash flooding, there are a few tips to keep in mind:

Don’t attempt to drive through water over the road. You have no idea how deep it may be, and it only takes 6 inches of water to sweep a vehicle away.
Do avoid low-lying areas in your fields or on your property. During a torrential downpour, all that water has to go somewhere. You don’t want to be there when it arrives.
Do have an evacuation plan in place for your livestock, should you need to move them to higher ground.

Farm Grandpas are Simply the Best

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 21:18:38 GMT

There is something about grandpas that are often like a fine wine. They age better. A friend once told me that farm men often make better grandfathers than fathers, as they learned to slow down a gear or two and appreciate the kids that were around them a little bit more. I don’t know if that holds true for all the men out there, but I can tell you I think there is a nugget of truth that apply to most.

Grandpas can tell the best stories. Or at least my father did. His imagination grew a tad wild the older he got, and the grandkids laugh at stories that now are hard to recall if there is any ounce of truth in them at all.

(Farm Journal)

Grandpas were raised in a great generation that experienced challenging times and through those challenges, made them to learn to appreciate some of life’s most simple things. Like the importance of eating a family meal together or playing a game of baseball in the front yard before the evening milking. Or even enjoy a pitcher of mom’s ice-tea after fixing fence on a hot summer day. My kids remember Grandpa Bob’s smile and his ability to listen. I can tell you that he did that pretty good as a father, too.

(Farm Journal)

Grandpas like Bob Davidson can talk about borrowing money to put in a new milking parlor and simultaneously rebuild the family home after a house fire during the early 1980s. Grandpas can talk about the value of 4-H, FFA and the importance of hard work, sacrifice and commitment.

Grandpas taught their children and grandchildren how to give a proper handshake. “It’s important to look them in the eye and give them a firm grip,” my kids would reminisce saying. Although grandpa Bob, who milked many cows back in his day, had a heck of grip that left the kids thinking he broke their hand.

(Farm Journal)

Grandpa Bob loved to read classic novels, from authors like Steinbeck, Emerson and Kesey and followed the stock market religiously. He listened to classic music when milking cows and to NPR over the noon lunch hour to tune into Paul Harvey. Bob Davidson demonstrated to his kids and grandkids the importance of money management and being well-read, which he would say, “both will serve you well in life.”

(Farm Journal)

I wish grandpas never had to die. Especially the ones that sported bib overalls and rubber boots. So much more could have been taught and so many more stories could have been shared. Farmers—slow down and appreciate the little ones around you. Tell the stories that have shaped you and share the struggles that have challenged you. The younger generation is soaking it all in and I promise you this, they will reshare your stories and remember your advice long after you are gone.

Farm Kids Have the Heart of a Lion

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 13:53:43 GMT

In a world where labor shortages are felt in every corner, I often tell my children half of success is showing up. Add hard work to the equation, and they’ll find success in whatever they do in life.

Finding people who truly know how to work hard is becoming harder and harder. While plenty of worries grace my shoulders, one thing I don’t worry about is my kids’ work ethic.

Like most farm kids, my two sons and daughter have learned how to work hard simply by working side by side with older generations on our family farm. They have also learned how to be leaders.

This certainly holds true for all my kids, but it is especially true for my 16-year-old daughter, Cassie, who is a quiet leader. Sandwiched between two brothers, nobody told Cassie she couldn’t do something simply because she was a girl. She is competitive, determined and always willing to outwork everyone.

Our entire farm crew cheers when Cassie shows up to help — whether we are vaccinating dry cows, feeding calves, genomic testing heifers or moving cattle. They know when Cassie works, she has come to lend a helping hand and do all that is asked of her, plus more.

Cassie brings that same skill set everywhere she goes. Earlier this year, I watched her bring those farm kid, tough-as-nails traits to her high school varsity basketball team. What Cassie lacked in buckets made, she made up with steals and rebounds. She would leave the game with bruised elbows and bloody knees, as she went after every loose ball. Win or lose, Cassie brought the same A-game mentality to every single game.

(Farm Journal)

Brave and courageous — her middle school basketball coach described Cassie as having the heart of a lion. Not that long ago, Cassie received the Panther Pride award from her high school basketball team, which basically embodies the same heart of a lion motto.

Farm Kid Tough

Week-after-week, Cassie showed up, never complained and did everything asked of her. Her coach said what Cassie illustrates is hard to instill in people. Her ability to work hard, even when faced with adversity, is something most people don’t have in them. When the going gets tough, most people don’t get tough, they give up. Not farm kids such as Cassie.

(Farm Journal)

Remember, when the going seems tough, don’t give up. The younger generation is counting on you to showcase that you, too, have the heart of a lion. Be brave and courageous, even when milk prices drop, feed prices rise and the next chapter of your farm seems like an uphill battle.

Continue putting one foot in front of the other and working hard. Success will follow.

For more stories on farm kids’ resilience:

Out-of-the-Box Tips to Attract and Retain Good Employees

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 18:00:00 GMT

Farmers are faced with a long list of challenges, but labor easily rises to the top of being the one constant pain point that all farmers struggle with. Three farmers share what they have done to keep their good employees, including how they hired some unique employees that have become a good fit for their operations.

Arizona

Like many farmers, Casey Dugan of Desperado Dairy and Du Brook Dairy admits they had a difficult time retaining dependable workers at their Casa Grande, Arizona dairies. That changed in 2018, when the dairy teamed up with the Florence West Prison to help fill the vacant positions.

In 2018, Dugan signed up for a rural leadership program, called Project Centrl, where the group toured rural industries, including a prison. The head warden spoke to the group about the Arizona Correctional Institute (ACI) work program. Dugan worked with the warden, getting ACI to come out to tour the entire Dugan dairy operation.

“They were super excited because a dairy farm is very structured and requires year-round work,” Dugan shares.

Desperado Dairy and Du Brook both incorporated inmates into their workforce soon after, and Dugan shares that at one point they had as many as 30 inmates working for them, but COVID shut that program down.

“This was a very scary time for us,” Dugan says. “We instantly had to make some changes.”

Today, Dugan has a dozen inmates working for the dairies. He says the biggest lesson he has learned by working with the inmate program is that everyone needs a second chance, give them time to learn and properly train them.

“Most people question hiring inmates,” he says. “But these guys in the work program are model inmates, meaning they went to prison because they got two DUI’s or something like that. And they really just want to work.”

Tennessee

The 2019 Top Producer of the Year Winner, Jimmy Tosh from Henry, Tenn., is a trailblazer in many ways. His farm grew from 300 acres and 1,000 feeder pigs to more than 18,000 acres of corn, soybeans, canola and wheat, and 38,000 sows that produce 850,000 market hogs annually. He says he is a crop farmer that got into hogs.

“I went in with the intention of building three buildings and now we have built 300,” he says.

While the growth this northwest Tennessee farm has seen is indeed admiral, Tosh is quick to say it takes an army to get all the work done. Today, the team at Tosh Farms includes nearly 500-plus full-time employees. Tosh and his wife, Alonna, have two sons, Jamey and Jonathan, who are involved in the business.

Tosh teamed up with Hope Center Ministries with their long-term rehabilitation center that gives women a chance to start over through counseling, vocational training and love.

“It’s been really about the most excellent thing I’ve done both from a business standpoint and a personal standpoint,” he says.

Currently Tosh employs 20 women from Hope Center Ministries, with a dozen who has gone through the rehabilitation program and have come to work for him full-time.

“Labor is challenging, and this program has filled a need there, but that’s minor compared to the satisfaction of helping turn lives around,” Tosh says. “A life is worth saving. Anything you can do to help save a life is very fulfilling. Being able to get workers on the farm is a big benefit, but it’s a side benefit.”

Wisconsin

For the last decade, Juan Quezada has served as the director of employee safety at Milk Source in Kaukauna, Wis. He shares that Milk Source’s onboarding process sets employees up for success by outlining what’s expected of employees and the employer.

“We got dreams, they got dreams, we all have goals,” he says. “We have a lot of different programs.”

For example, the company offers English classes for Spanish-speaking employees and a Spanish class for employees wishing to learn that language.

With more than 700 employees, establishing a positive work environment is a key part of the success of Milk Source’s retention program.

“The employee knows if you really care about them, or if you really only care to follow OSHA rules,” he says. “For us, we care about employees, and they know.”

According to Quezada, Milk Source’s structural system starts with establishing trust in the leader.

“Whether that be a manager or supervisor,” he says. “It’s key that the owner does not overstep. This is very important for us because I hear sometimes it can cause more damage if the owner steps in like you don’t trust the manager.”

Milk Source carves out time every single day to gather employees, even if it is just for a few minutes, to quickly talk about leadership, perspective and animal care.

“It is very rewarding,” Quezada shares. “The small details make the difference.”

He also shares starting the day with a greeting, like ‘good morning’ can make all the difference in the world.

“You don’t have to give them something big,” he says. “Sometimes very small things make all the difference.”

Indeed, sometimes the small things are all it takes to help retain employees. And, sometimes we must look outside the box and look at what other resources are available to hire employees, that spells a win-win for both your dairy and your community.

For more labor stories, read:

The Empty Chair at the Thanksgiving Table

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 15:12:12 GMT

The memories of my childhood Thanksgivings fill my heart with gratitude. Mom’s pumpkin pie. The turkey leg. The homemade whipped topping. Football coming from the living room television tube. Extra seats around the table for neighbors or out-of-town guests. A dinner rule that allowed for an exception of not eating all that is on your plate and still getting a piece of pie. One day out of the year, mom was fine with her children not finishing their plate, which worked out nicely for a picky 9-year-old daughter.

But then slowly we had one less seat at the table. In 1995, my brother, Patrick, died driving a work water truck for his off-the-farm job. His children and wife would still make an appearance on Thanksgiving holidays and we all would reminisce; telling silly stories of Pat that made us laugh until they made us cry. Mainly because we missed our brother.

Thanksgivings were different once I moved east and took my first job in Columbus, Ohio. I found myself at a new table with co-workers and their families. The food was amazing and the traditions slightly different. Still, I laughed until it hurt and cried, mainly because I missed my family.

Thanksgiving birthed a new meaning once I birthed a family of my own. New traditions and new extended family members gathered around the Thanksgiving table. Although the table was much bigger, it felt smaller as if someone was missing. I remember smiling when my kids drooled over the dessert table and asked, “Okay mom, I can eat just turkey and a roll and still get pie?” Yes, some traditions live on.

The hardest Thanksgiving was in 2008. My husband, kids, and I made our way west to Oregon to spend Thanksgiving with my family. We were looking forward to this – as it was going to be the first Thanksgiving for me to do this since I got married. A few days before, my father had a massive stroke, landing him in the ICU for five weeks. On Thanksgiving Day, my sisters and I watched our ill mother, hooked up to oxygen, covered in warm blankets, wheelchaired to see her husband of 40 plus years. She held his hand, bowed her head and said a prayer. Afterward, we all went home to eat Thanksgiving dinner and through the grace of God, our mother still could have a helping hand in preparing. Even with 30-plus people around the table, the house felt quiet. Our father’s presence was deeply missed. Dad loved watching football. He loved the turkey leg and the homemade pies. Most of all, he loved his family.

The Thanksgiving my kids remember the most is when six months after my mom passed in 2011, we all decided to gather around the table back in Oregon. Still to this day, my kids remembered the menu – turkey and prime rib and that it was okay to have both. They remember the time with their cousins and playing football in the front yard. I remember the prayer that made me cling to my family a little tighter. The glue to our family was gone. My late mother was a tiny woman that left a big seat.

This Thanksgiving, I’m okay if my kids only eat turkey, a roll and pie, and football will be on the living room television and extra chairs will be available for the out-of-towners.

It is certainly hard to see the empty chairs around the Thanksgiving table. A lifetime of memories will make you smile and then cry. Count your blessings friend. You don’t know all that can change from one Thanksgiving to the next. A lot has changed for me over the past 25 years, but I’m still thankful for the simple traditions and the best family a farm gal could ask for.

EU Sees Lower Meat and Dairy Output as Weather and Disease Weigh

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 16:24:55 GMT

Meat and dairy production in the European Union is expected to decline this year and next as livestock farms feel the effects of drought, disease outbreaks and rising costs, the EU’s executive said on Wednesday.

A historic drought in Europe this summer has reduced availability of grass and maize to feed herds, increasing costs for farms also facing soaring energy and fertiliser prices.

Signs of dwindling livestock output have led farming groups to warn of tight supplies that could exacerbate high food inflation.

EU milk production is projected to fall 0.5% this year, with reduced forage supply encouraging some farmers to cut herd sizes and hot, dry weather reducing cows’ milk yields, the European Commission said in a short-term agriculture outlook.

The harsh summer weather also curbed fat and protein content in milk for processed dairy products, it said.

Like other observers, the Commission said early 2023 could prove difficult as dairy farmers face high feed costs during winter while consumer demand may weaken due to inflation.

For next year as a whole, it forecast a smaller 0.2% decrease in EU milk output. Assumed higher yields in normal weather mostly offset a decline in cow numbers, which were seen falling 0.8% after a 0.9% drop forecast for 2022.

For beef, feed costs were expected to reinforce a longer-term decline in herd numbers and contribute to a 0.6% drop in production this year before a smaller 0.2% decrease in 2023.

In addition to rising feed costs, the pork and poultry sectors have been weakened by outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) and avian influenza, or bird flu.

Pork output was forecast to fall 5% this year, notably due to a steep drop in Germany which has been badly affected by ASF, and then by 0.7% in 2023.

The poultry sector, disrupted by a bird flu crisis that is threatening to re-emerge, was expected to see production decline by 0.9% in 2022 and 0.4% in 2023.

(Reporting by Gus ; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

COVID-19 Surge Slices U.S. Demand for Big Thanksgiving Turkeys

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:57:13 GMT

CHICAGO (Reuters) - All summer, Greg Gunthorp slaughtered and froze 15- to 24-pound turkeys on his northeastern Indiana farm for Thanksgiving sales to retailers, restaurants and families across the Midwest.

But as surging COVID-19 cases prompted U.S. cities and states to urge Americans to stay home just weeks before the holiday, customers swapped out orders for whole birds for smaller turkey breasts.

As a last-minute shift toward small-scale celebrations upends demand for the star of Thanksgiving tables, turkey producers and retailers are scrambling to fill orders for lightweight birds and partial cuts.

“It was very stressful,” Gunthorp said. “It cut our numbers on being able to fill customer sizes that they wanted for turkeys - way too short.”

Gunthorp raised and sold nearly 7,000 pasture-raised turkeys this year, up 75% from a year ago. Restaurants and meat shops in major Midwestern cities, his primary clients, cut orders by 10% to 20%, but Gunthorp has made up the difference by partnering with online retailers, shipping turkeys as far away as Los Angeles.

Suppliers need to be nimble as about half of Americans plan to alter or skip traditional festivities due to local health advisories against big gatherings, according to market research firm Nielson. About 70% are planning a Thanksgiving with fewer than six people, compared with 48% last year.

Demand for smaller birds will trim turkey production to 1.445 billion pounds in the last quarter, down five million pounds from previous expectations, according to a Nov. 17 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We have seen our supply chain adjust to market disruptions and shifting consumer needs,” said Beth Breeding, spokeswoman for the industry group National Turkey Federation. “Like the rest of the country, it has been a challenging year for turkey production.”

While best known for beef, Nebraska-based Omaha Steaks this year offered 3-pound turkey breasts for the first time to cater to smaller Thanksgiving gatherings, said Nate Rempe, president and chief operating officer. The pre-cooked product sold out online, as some consumers are avoiding grocery stores.

Omaha Steaks also sold out of 10-pound turkeys earlier than usual, Rempe said.

“The number of individual Thanksgiving meals being prepared ... is going to be much higher because of the separation of gatherings,” he said.

Butterball, the largest U.S. producer of turkey products, shipped 1,900 truckloads of whole turkeys to grocers in the past two weeks, said Al Jansen, executive vice president of marketing and sales. Many major chains booked orders in the first quarter before the coronavirus outbreak, he added.

Retailers have slashed whole-turkey prices by about 7% to an average of $1.21 per pound, the lowest since 2010, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. That cuts the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people by 4% to $46.90, Farm Bureau said.

The decline is welcome news for the nearly 24 million households facing empty cupboards due to COVID-19-related job losses. Food insecurity has nearly tripled since the pandemic began, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

“Thanksgiving will not be a holiday that all Americans can enjoy this year,” said Joseph Llobrera, research director at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “Alarming levels of food hardship will last through the holidays and beyond unless policymakers immediately provide robust COVID relief.”

Some Americans who had relied on others to cook on Thanksgiving are ordering part or all of their meals from restaurants for the first time. Others simply do not want the hassle of preparing a feast for just a few guests.

“Thanksgiving is going to look very different this year, and we know there’s a lot of cooking fatigue out there right now,” said Tracy Hostetler, a vice president for Perdue Farms. The company launched turkey “ThanksNuggets” as an alternative to traditional turkey dinners.

In Houston, independent marketing consultant Anh Nguyen, 50, will dine with about 10 relatives on a smoked turkey from a local restaurant. Normally, three times as many of her family members gather to gobble up two 20-pound turkeys cooked at home.

“It’s a little weird,” said Nguyen. “Thanksgiving has been historically just one of the holidays where everybody is together.”

(Reporting by Christopher Walljasper and Tom Polansek; Editing by Richard Chang)

Labor Shortage or a Housing Shortage? Companies Aim to Fix One with the Other

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:54:03 GMT

Many companies take a ‘if you build it, they will come’ approach to filling open job positions.

“It’s a labor-market issue they’re solving, not a housing-market problem,” said Chris Herbert, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.

Facing a national unemployment rate of 3.6% as of April 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, along with record-high job openings and turnover, companies face the challenge of filling open positions.

To help attract employees to fill positions, meat packer JBS USA Holdings Inc., along with other companies such as Walt Disney, plan to add housing near job sites.

Both availability and affordability are among the top issues when it comes to finding housing for employees.

Where available housing doesn’t exist, companies might provide house and apartment options for employees to own or rent, in contract with employment.

On the flip side, employers in locations with high-cost housing might offer a housing subsidy to help with expenses.

This ‘Field of Dreams’ logic might help attract employees and encourage them to stay, filling the essential openings within companies.

Seize the Opportunities with New Tax Exemptions

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 06:23:29 GMT

Farmers who take advantage of current estate/gift tax laws can make sure more of their hard-earned dollars go to family and friends and not Uncle Sam.

That was a key message from Polly Dobbs, owner of Dobbs Legal Group, Peru, Ind., and Paul Neiffer, a certified public accountant and principal with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, to farm families attending the 2022 Top Producer Summit.

The exemptions addressed here went into effect Jan. 1, 2022.

Dobbs notes that upon a farmer’s death, up to $12.06 million can be passed on exempt from federal estate tax. A married couple can pass $24.12 million.

Another option: while living, you may give away up to $12.06 million of your assets ($24.12 million if married) exempt from the federal gift tax, reducing the amount of your exemption remaining at death.

For estates or gifts in excess of this exemption, the maximum tax rate is 40%, Dobbs adds.

During the online Top Producer Summit, Dobbs and Neiffer presented “Practical Succession Planning Strategies from Your Favorite Attorney and CPA.” Learn more here .

Generosity in Your Lifetime

If you want to give away a chunk of dollars to family and friends while you’re living, this is a great time to do so.

“The annual gift tax exclusion is $16,000 – to as many individuals as the donor wishes – without reducing the donor’s $12.06 million estate tax exemption or triggering a gift tax,” Dobbs says.

For years, Dobbs says the annual gifting amount without taxation was “stuck” at $10,000 per person. The new amount has been indexed to inflation.

“It’s $16,000 per person, so this is very powerful,” Dobbs says. “It’s (for) during your lifetime, so you can give away a lot of your wealth by using just the annual exclusion, and you still have the lifetime exclusion.”

A married couple would have $32,000 to give away per person, Dobbs adds.

“I tell couples, you could stand on the corner with your joint checkbook and hand out $32,000 checks to strangers walking by on the street,” she says. “It’s all sheltered by annual gift tax exclusions, and you’re reducing the size of your estate, and you haven’t even tapped into the big number.”

Act Soon

Dobbs says to check the laws in your specific state, however, because some still tax decedents on the dollars. She says inheritance or estate taxes deserve special attention in these states: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

“If you live in one of these states, get an advisor to work with you who is familiar with this,” encourages Neiffer.

In addition, the current estate tax exemption is temporary. It is set to last only until the end of 2025, so if you want to take advantage of it, Neiffer and Dobbs say don’t delay.

“Come Jan. 1, 2026, it’s going to revert back towards the 2017 level – about $6 million per person and $12 million for a married couple,” Dobbs says. She says the amount will be “about that” as it will be indexed to inflation.

Dobbs adds that the amount could change even before 2026, depending on any laws put in place between now and then. For instance, with midterm elections set for this fall and the general election in 2024, Dobbs says the outcomes could end up contributing to changes to the exemption amounts sooner.

“I want you to know what the law is now and be aware that this is a time to act,” Dobbs says. “This is potentially a ‘use it or lose it’ window of opportunity.”

Top Producer Summit: What Should Be My Tax Planning Strategy in 2022?

Paul Neiffer: Are You Ready to Report Your LLC to Uncle Sam?

John Phipps: I’ll Miss You, Schedule F

You can still register for the Online Top Producer Summit, which gives you access to content through March 31. Use the code “VIRTUAL” to take 50% off your registration fee.

Read more coverage of the Top Producer Summit .

How to Adopt Technology for a Win

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 16:27:42 GMT

Implementing a new technology can be both exciting and scary. It comes down to research, planning and communication. Setting up a plan for success in the beginning will increase the odds for a win at the end.

What the new technology does for the operation always seems to be the most exciting. However, does it make sense? How will the return be determined? Does it speed a current process up or slow it down? Does it eliminate a task or reduce labor? Does it produce valuable information that can be used to make future decisions? Is the information accurate? Sometimes a new technology can lead to more work and/or inaccurate information. It’s always best to dig into these factors and make sure the flaws have been removed.

The best way to learn more about a new technology is to see it in action. It’s important to visit operations that have had both success and failure. I sometimes tend to think about all the good things a new technology does and forget to question the bad. Just because something failed at one operation, doesn’t mean that it will fail at another. However, understanding the reason why is very important as one operations failure could lead to reasons why a new technology may or may not work well at another.

It’s critical to understand where the bottlenecks on the farm are. What are some of the things that can be done to relieve those bottlenecks? Sometimes a new technology is needed, while other times more training is needed. Are there certain jobs/tasks that could be done more efficiently with better training? A new technology can potentially make inefficiencies worse. Getting the basics mastered first is essential.

Communication plan

It’s necessary to understand all the offerings that come from a new technology. Will it be a good fit for the employees/managers? How will it be implemented? What is the service package behind the technology? Training is crucial when it comes to the service package.

The final step before implementation would be to understand communication. Who is going to be the leader? Employees need to know who to go to for answers. Will employees be comfortable communicating with the lead person? Does the lead person have patience? I suggest having a group message to keep the team in the loop on what is happening.

Implementing a new technology can lead to great things for a dairy farm. However, if the process is not fully understood it has potential to be a disaster. Doing research, developing an action plan and communicating are great ways to help ensure a win with new technologies.

For more on technology, read: