Sometimes, we look at neighboring farms that seem to have a secret sauce to their success. They make success look easy. They get a lot of work done. But just like great barbecue, there are no shortcuts and no single secret sauce. Success on these top-tier farms is a series of repeatable elements that work together.

Goal setting is important to both personal and business success. Goals help us work toward desired results and provide a point of guidance. They can be aimed at short-term issues, long-term projects and everything in between. No matter what type of farm you have or what stage you or your farm are at, goal setting is important. There are several questions to consider when setting goals.

Agriculture has been one of the most dangerous industries in the U.S. and worldwide for decades. Since 2015, Aaron Yoder, the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health at UNMC research director, has led a team of researchers and safety experts to develop the Feedyard 15 Program, a free safety training curriculum available for cattle feedyard operations.

As the year winds down, December offers a unique opportunity for reflection – both looking back at the successes and challenges of the past year and setting your sights on the future. It's a moment to evaluate your business from all angles and ensure it’s aligned with your long-term goals.

The purpose of this article is to increase your comfort level in performance discussions. There are two types of performance discussions. The first focuses on training and assigning new tasks and/or responsibilities. The second is providing feedback on the execution of those tasks and responsibilities. The focus of this article is the latter – feedback – although all but the first section applies to both.

Running a multigenerational family business is no small feat. Passing on a successful operation where multiple generations are motivated to work, take risks and raise their families is yet another feat. But each is possible, even highly likely, by following this blueprint for motivating the next generation.

Those in charge of a business and its employees have a direct influence on the culture and ethics of the workplace. Leaders should pay close attention to the culture they create. 

One of the key fears of aging farm founders is the conflict they anticipate when the farming heir has access to millions of dollars of land and the siblings who are off to other careers do not have the same net worth opportunity in their future. Or do they?

Tyrell sits down with John R. Erickson, author of the beloved Hank the Cowdog book series, for a meandering and insightful conversation about the animals we live and work with, recovering after wildfires and educating the public about livestock agriculture.