MANAGEMENT

Editor’s note: This article is the first in a two-part series. Click here to read the second-part of the series "Transitioning your dairy farm business is more than a generational transfer".

I meet farmers who are in the fifth or even sixth generation on their farm. I have met a few with double-digit generations. My wife and I both have brothers on Century Farms that are transitioning to our nephews. 

“Family quarrels are bitter things. They don’t go according to any rules. They’re not like aches or wounds. They’re more like splits in the skin that won’t heal because there’s not enough material.” —F. Scott Fitzgerald

A family business can provide incredible opportunity to the founding generation and to successive generations. However, in our time consulting with family owned-and-operated dairies, we have seen many instances where the business irreparably damaged the family relationship.

Ron St. John of Trenton, Florida, got his start in the dairy industry like many others: by being born into a farming family. His farm business has taken a long journey from his father’s 67 cows in a small, northern New York town to the herd’s current status as the largest freestall dairy in Florida that may seem unique to some.

When we think about health and safety, the first thought that comes to mind is policies and procedures, and usually training. This thought process is not wrong. These are aspects of a complete health and safety program that should be adopted in every workplace, no matter the type, in order to keep every team member safe and returning from work healthy each day.

Is your farm right for value-added dairy? In most cases, the question asked is: “Is value-added dairy right for your farm?” but maybe it is worth considering the reverse of that question when deciding whether to pursue a value-added dairy operation.

It seems like every month there’s a new precision dairy monitoring technology introduced to the dairy market.