Growing up, the only way she could get time with dad was by being in the barn. The only way she could gain his attention was by working hard on the farm and “being of use.”

We’ve heard in songs and sayings that “it only takes a spark” to light a fire, but sometimes it also takes several sparks a few different times to really get things going. At least, that was the case for our family farming business when it came to digging deep into the numbers and financials of our dairy and crop operation.

It’s hard to believe another June Dairy Month and National Ice Cream Month have come and gone. While it was the culmination of several creative campaigns celebrating dairy as a nutritional powerhouse and the dedicated farmers who bring us milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream and more, we can’t stop the engagement now.

Generally speaking, dairy producers are posting healthy margins right now. May milk prices were the highest on record, and 2022 prices are shaping up to be the highest ever, breaking the record set in 2014.

Just last month, Paul’s 9-year-old son held a knife to his throat, screaming he was going to commit suicide. This wasn’t the first time this had happened either – it was the fourth time in just a few months.

Predicting feed costs for 2022-23 is like predicting weather in July and August. Feed costs will be influenced by moisture conditions, degree days, delayed planting and delayed harvesting of legume/grass forages.

Communication is an important part of our daily life, with most of our communication being made up of verbal and nonverbal signals. It’s how we let others know what we are feeling, what we need and how we share our thoughts.

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

When I asked the group of cowboys in their black Stetsons what was the one thing they grasped after four hours of interaction, it was “importance of communication.” It is easy to say, but how do you put it into practice?