MANAGEMENT

Let’s face it, finding and retaining good employees is becoming a major hurdle on many dairy farms. The economy is picking up, which leads to more competition for employees.

When times get tough, it’s time to sharpen your pencil and dig in. It’s no secret the dairy industry is in a downturn; we’re facing low prices and increasingly tight margins.

Ah, yes, one of the dairy manager’s most cringe-worthy duties, creating the employee schedule. You think you have it all figured out, and then someone needs a day off, or better yet, your employees want a different schedule all together.

As 2018 comes to a close, it is time to plan for 2019. As your dairy business continues to change, business planning becomes more critical than ever.

When someone mentions A.I., minds in the dairy business immediately think about artificial insemination. However, this article will focus on a different type of A.I. Regardless of our personal views on the issue, artificial intelligence (A.I.) technology is here to stay and should not be ignored.

Editor’s note: This article is the second in a two-part series. Click here to read part-one "Are your ready and equipped to lead business succession?"

In the first article, which appeared in the Oct. 1, 2018 issue of Progressive Dairyman, I focused on the leadership, parenting and mentoring required by parents from birth of their children to the time they do or do not return to the dairy farm business.