In 2016, the CDC published data on suicide rates by occupation from 2012 to 2015. It was one of only a few articles that attempted to summarize suicide rates by occupation. This data showed that farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers had a suicide rate higher than the general population.

For several Washington dairy families, Thanksgiving provides an annual opportunity to engage with their urban neighbors and help to put dairy products and other Thanksgiving staples on the holiday tables of thousands in need each November.

We are all familiar with the common stressors in agriculture. It’s easy to point to price swings, government regulations, land competition, weather and disease when we talk about stress on the farm.

Having a clear understanding of debt, whether long-term or short-term, fixed or variable, can help develop a strategy. 

Quality beef is in high demand. One look in the beef section of a grocer’s cooler or a night out with a good steak dinner testifies that quality beef fetches premium prices.

There are a lot of farmers in their 30s and 40s who don’t know what their future looks like.  The truth be told: 77% of farms don't have a succession plan. And this obviously has a lot to do with why only 12% of farms pass onto the third generation!

It recently came to my attention that employee retention is an issue in most businesses today, and we are an outlier in this area. Sourcing employees and employee retention is a common question we receive during tours and community presentations.