Top Producer

How BoviSync and Integrated Tech are Creating a 'Digital Nervous System' for Modern Dairies

Thu, 14 May 2026 13:04:38 GMT

Across the American landscape, a silent revolution is rewiring the 250-year legacy of the dairy farm, transforming traditional barns and pastures into a high-precision digital nervous system. For operations like Abel Dairy in Wisconsin and Lincoln Dairy in New York, the manual grit of the past has met the cloud-based logic of the future, ensuring data flows as freely as milk and every decision is backed by real-time intelligence.

As the United States approaches its 250^th anniversary, the story of dairy is shifting from one of just getting by to one of mastering the margin. At the heart of this evolution is the death of the data silo and the birth of integrated, cloud-based management.

Steve, Allen and Nate Abel

(BoviSync)

The Wisconsin Blueprint: Wiring for Growth

For Steve Abel, a sixth-generation farmer at Abel Dairy, maintaining a legacy isn’t about looking backward — it’s about wiring the farm for a future his son Nate will one day lead. Three years ago, the Abels made a high-stakes move, expanding from a 2,000-cow operation to a 4,500-cow powerhouse. This wasn’t just about adding stalls or pouring concrete; it was a structural pivot toward precision.

At the center of the Abel expansion is an 80-cow GEA rotary parlor, but the true engine of the farm is BoviSync. By adopting this cloud-based central hub, the Abels eliminated the lag that has plagued dairy management for decades.

(BoviSync)

“We moved away from traditional data silos,” Abel explains. “For years, dairies struggled with double entry — the tedious process of recording data in one system only to manually type it into another. At Abel Dairy, that era is over.

“BoviSync networks with our sort gates, our feed software and even our hoof-trimming chute,” he says.

This connectivity transforms manual chores into automated workflows. The Abels no longer rely on traditional veterinarian pregnancy checks that require manual recording. Instead, they use blood samples and scanners. The results are uploaded to the cloud and downloaded directly into BoviSync. Because the software is linked to the farm’s sort gates, the cows are automatically identified and directed to the appropriate pens without a human ever having to check a clipboard.

Abel Dairy

(BoviSync)

The New York Perspective: Multi-Site Mastery

Thirteen hundred miles to the east, Bryant Stuttle, the herd manager for Lincoln Dairy in Auburn, N.Y., is navigating a similar digital frontier. Stuttle, a fourth-generation dairy professional, manages a complex multi-site operation for owners Dan and Nate Osborne. The system includes the home farm, Lincoln Dairy, and two satellite facilities, Ridgecrest and Gemini.

For Lincoln Dairy, the move to BoviSync two years ago was driven by a singular, ambitious goal: going 100% paperless.

“We operate as one herd across multiple farms,” Stuttle says. “The challenge with traditional software was how it handled multi-site data. We needed a system where events were tied to the facility, not just the cow. If a cow gets bred at one site and moved to another, we need to know exactly where that event happened to track technician performance and facility success. BoviSync made that seamless.”

Before the switch, the morning routine was often a source of frustration.

“I can’t tell you how many times we’d walk in on a busy herd-check day and the server hadn’t refreshed or a command line error meant the lists weren’t right,” Stuttle recalls. “You’d lose two hours of your day circling back to restart. Now, the guys grab their phones and go. There’s a level of confidence that the day is set up for success before we even start.”

The Human Element Removed from the Environment

(BoviSync)

The digital evolution isn’t limited to cow records; it has extended into the very air the animals breathe. In Wisconsin, the Abels installed the Agrimesh system to control ventilation and sprinklers in their tunnel-ventilated free stall barns.

“We wanted something that took the people out of the equation,” Abel says. “We don’t want an employee having to remember to open a curtain or speed up a fan because it warmed up at 10 a.m.”

The system calculates temperature, humidity and negative pressure in real time, adjusting tunnel fans and curtains automatically. It is a level of environmental consistency that ensures the cows remain cool in the summer and the barns don’t freeze in the winter, all without human intervention.

Similarly, at Lincoln Dairy, technology like SenseHub (formaly known as SCR collars) provides a constant heartbeat for the herd. These collars monitor rumination and activity across all three sites, feeding data back into the central hub. When combined with SenseHub sort gates, the system allows Stuttle’s team to identify and treat sick cows before they even show physical symptoms.

“Our reproduction is phenomenal — the highest it’s ever been,” Stuttle says. “Our cull and death rates are the lowest they’ve ever been. When you perform at that level, it all spells profit for the bottom line.”

The Power of Compliance and ROI

For both operations, the return on investment for these technologies isn’t just found in labor savings — it’s found in compliance.

“If you’re going to sell me a technology, it needs to make my employees more consistent,” Abel asserts. This focus on compliance ensures every vaccine is given correctly and every hoof is trimmed on schedule. At Abel Dairy, even the hoof-trimming chute is wired. A tablet mounted to the chute allows for instant data entry, eliminating the data lag of paper records.

At Lincoln Dairy, the technology allowed the farm to reposition two full-time labor units to other areas of the farm that needed more attention.

“It’s not just about doing the job with fewer people; it’s about doing the job better,” Stuttle explains. “The guys love it. I joke with them about going back to clipboards, and they just look at me and say, ‘Please, no.’”

The Heifer Pipeline

The digital nervous system also extends far beyond the home acres. Both Abel Dairy and Lincoln Dairy use Kansas Dairy Development (KDD) to raise their heifers. This creates a unique data challenge: How do you track an animal that is a thousand miles away?

“With KDD still being on DairyComp and us being on BoviSync, it was a challenge,” Stuttle admits. “But the BoviSync team figured out a way to translate that data daily. Now, I have my KDD file right in my system. It’s like they’re speaking two different languages, but the software acts as the translator. I have the same access to the data as the people on the ground in Kansas.”

This level of transparency allows both farms to right-size their herds. By using sexed semen, they can precisely determine how many replacements they need and breed the rest of the herd to beef. This beef-on-dairy pivot has become a vital revenue stream, providing a hedge against milk price volatility.

Advice for the Modern Producer: Avoid the Data Drown

With so much information available, the risk of data exhaustion is real. Stuttle’s advice to other producers is to focus on what actually moves the needle.

“Data management is the biggest opportunity in the industry right now,” he says. “But you can get drowned in it. Every salesperson will tell you their metric is the one that matters. You have to figure out what matters to you and look at it consistently, month in and month out.”

At Lincoln Dairy, that means focusing on hundredweight sold, transition cow success and pregnancy rates. By centralizing this data, the management team can stop worrying about whether the technology is working and start focusing on managing the people and the cows.

(BoviSync)

Legacy Powered by Data

As these two dairies demonstrate, the center of gravity for U.S. dairy is shifting. It is moving away from the localized, fragmented models of the past toward a high-precision, integrated future.

The 250^th anniversary of American agriculture is a celebration of resilience, but for the Abels and the Osbornes, it is also a launchpad. By integrating every gadget, sensor and software into a cohesive digital nervous system, they are ensuring their farm legacies will thrive for decades to come.

In Eden, Wis., and Auburn, N.Y., the lights in the barn are still on. But today, they are powered by data, driven by compliance and managed with a level of brilliance our ancestors could only have dreamed of. The U.S. dairy farmer has evolved from a milk man into a protein integrator, and the digital revolution is just getting started.

The Best Leaders Share These Three Behaviors

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:50:24 GMT

Leadership might sound like a big, formal word, but on the farm it’s really just about how you work with people every day. It’s how you talk to your team, how you handle mistakes and how you treat people when things get stressful.

When you’re just starting out, being a leader doesn’t mean you need all the answers or that you have to run everything perfectly. It’s okay to learn as you go. According to Marcel Schwantes, author of “ Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-ass Boss ,” when you’re just starting out, being a leader doesn’t mean you need all the answers or that you have to run everything perfectly. It’s okay to learn as you go.

He suggests regardless of the operation or title, strong leaders consistently rely on a small set of practical skills that can be learned, practiced and improved over time.

These skills include:

Show Real Interest in Your People

Take time to get to know the people who work for you, not just the job they were hired to do. Ask what they enjoy, where they want to improve and what they hope to learn next. That might mean running new equipment, taking on more responsibility or growing into a leadership role themselves.

“The best leaders genuinely want their people to thrive,” Schwantes says. “They’re willing to put the team’s needs first, share credit freely and take responsibility when things go sideways.”

He recommends supporting raises and added responsibility when they are earned and looking for chances to stretch people’s skills instead of keeping them in the same position. When employees feel genuinely valued, they take more pride in their work and show up differently every day.

Have Empathy

Many farm leaders were raised to believe emotions stay out of the workplace. Unfortunately in agriculture, empathy is often misunderstood as being too soft or letting things slide. But Schwantes notes empathy is actually one of the strongest leadership characteristics a person can have, because it helps leaders understand problems sooner and lead more effectively.

“Empathic leaders don’t just hear what people say; they understand the context, emotions and challenges behind it,” he says. “That perspective creates psychological safety, and safety unlocks creativity, problem-solving and collaboration.”

On a farm, this might look like noticing when a team member is struggling, checking in when someone seems overwhelmed or understanding the pressures your employees face at home. It’s about listening, recognizing stress and creating an environment where people feel safe asking for help.

Be Clear and Transparent

On a farm, clear communication makes everything run smoother. When your team knows what’s expected and why decisions are being made, they can work more confidently and avoid mistakes.

“A transparent culture builds trust and fosters collaboration,” Schwantes says. “When people feel safe voicing their thoughts, it deepens engagement and creates a more resilient, trustworthy team dynamic.”

Transparency also means being honest about challenges and inviting input. If something’s not working, your team should feel comfortable speaking up. The more open you are, the more trust you build — and the better your crew can handle the ups and downs.

Lead by Serving Your Team

A leadership role can feel overwhelming in some workplaces, but on the farm it doesn’t have to be complicated. Schwantes says it comes down to a few core skills — showing real interest in your people, practicing empathy and being clear and transparent.

Strong farms are built on strong teams, and strong teams are built by leaders who serve first. A leader who’s willing to jump in, listen and set a positive tone creates an environment where everyone can do their best work. And over time, that kind of leadership builds trust and creates a crew that’s ready to take on whatever comes their way.

Innovation in Every Drop: Apple Shamrock Farms Crowned 2026 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:40:02 GMT

In the heart of Northwest Pennsylvania lies an exemplary model of dairy innovation: Apple Shamrock Farms, LLC. With their recent accolade of being named the 2026 International Dairy Foods Association’s Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year award winner, the Waddell family showcases what it truly means to be modern dairy producers.

(Apple Shamrock Farms)

Founded in 1976 by Robert and Lorna Waddell, alongside their son Robert J., Apple Shamrock Dairy continues its legacy today under the leadership of seventh-generation farmer Josh Waddell. The dairy remains a true family affair, with Josh’s brother, Joe, as a farm partner (primarily working off-farm), his mother, Christine, managing the books, and his father, Robert J., overseeing the milk hauling side of the business.

Apple Shamrock Farms LLC exemplifies a holistic approach to innovation, integrating advanced solutions across every facet of their expansive 3,500-acre operation, which supports a 1,250-cow milking herd producing an impressive 38 million pounds of milk annually.

“There’s a lot of unique things that I think we do well, but cows are No. 1 around here. That’s what we built our business on and has allowed us to do what we’ve done,” Josh Waddell says. “We are truly honored to receive this recognition.”

(Apple Shamrock Farms)

Maximizing Herd Potential Through Data and Genetics
At the core of Apple Shamrock Farms’ operations in Townville, Pa., is their sophisticated approach to dairy management, primarily driven by data and genetics. The Waddells implement a high-tech Afimilk cow monitoring system that delivers comprehensive data analytics, allowing for precise adjustments in cow care and feeding. This meticulous approach is supported by strategic feed tracking software, which ensures optimal component levels in milk production. This all has helped Apple Shamrock consistently achieve high component levels with 94 lb. of milk, with a 4.35% butterfat, and 3.35% protein, respectively. This translates to 109.8 lb. of energy corrected milk.

“The scale of the business we are in, we need the high output from the cows,” Waddell says.

Beyond daily management, Apple Shamrock Farms is a pioneer in genetic advancement. Through the strategic use of IVF and genomics, they are actively shaping their herd’s future, selecting embryos from their highest-producing, functional cows to enhance genetics and improve herd longevity. This forward-thinking approach ensures they are milking the right cows and maximizing the potential of every animal, even with a significant percentage of 2-year-olds in the herd.

Apple Shamrock has sold a lot of replacement heifers over the years, and Waddell notes the buyers want genomics, but they don’t want to “buy a dented Mustang.”

Their commitment to excellence extends beyond sound genetics to meticulous transition and calving pen all-in, all-out management and with a constant focus on raising the best, healthiest calves they can.

(Apple Shamrock Farms)

Pioneering Environmental Stewardship and Resource Optimization
Innovation at Apple Shamrock Farms isn’t confined to the barn; it extends to robust environmental stewardship. The Waddells have implemented a comprehensive three-cell manure system with a low-maintenance sand separation system. This not only allows them to reclaim sand for bedding but also significantly enhances the potency of their liquid fertilizer. Critically, all liquid manure is injected directly into the ground, a practice that maximizes crop yields while drastically limiting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and preventing runoff.

Apple Shamrock effectively separates sand by mixing two gallons of “tea water” (thinner manure from cell three) with one gallon of sand-laden manure, then employing a large dewatering screen and stacking conveyors to create 35'-high sand piles for reuse after eight months.

“This innovative sand removal process has significantly improved our overall hauling efficiency by 20% to 25% and generated substantial savings on spreading equipment, enough to justify the sand lane’s cost even without sand reuse,” Waddell says.

(Apple Shamrock Farms)

Despite the system being designed for 1,200 cows and currently handling more, leading to some water quality challenges, Waddell says the farm prioritizes a straightforward approach, avoiding complex mechanical separation buildings and planning to expand storage to meet current herd needs.

Their commitment to sustainability is further evident in their extensive satellite cropping operation, encompassing 565 acres of corn and soybeans. At the satellite cropping operation and the home operation, guidance systems and precision planters are used. These practices collectively contribute to energy efficiencies and a notable reduction in GHG emissions, demonstrating a profound dedication to both economic and environmental sustainability.

“I used to call it the four-leaf clover, but our approach to sustainability is really a full circle,” Waddell explains.

A Model for Future Challenges and Industry Leadership
Apple Shamrock Farms is strategically positioned to meet future economic and sustainability challenges head-on. Their philosophy of “structured growth” focuses on maximizing performance and efficiency, driving high output while achieving significant labor savings. By coupling genetic potential with cow comfort, they aim for a more mature, resilient herd, ensuring long-term viability.

“Looking ahead, we first plan to optimize our dairy by first filling the remaining 200 to 400 cow capacity in their parlor to improve cash flow,” Waddell explains, noting a core focus for the next decade is eliminating “Josh spots,” inefficient areas requiring daily attention, and consolidating their dry cow, prefresh and calf operations into a single, highly efficient complex where specialized labor can focus.

Beyond their farm gates, the Waddells are recognized leaders.

“They are truly a testament to what can happen when innovation and creativity meet a strong work ethic and desire to progress,” says Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, in a nomination letter supporting Apple Shamrock.

(Apple Shamrock Farms)

The Waddell family actively participates in benchmarking groups, shares insights with peers and holds numerous leadership roles across the dairy industry and within their local community. Whether housing “foster cows” for a neighboring farm after a devastating fire or hosting school tours, their spirit of cooperation and advocacy for the dairy industry is unwavering.

“This spirit of support in times of crisis is what makes our agriculture industry great, the Waddells are a standout example,” Redding says.

Apple Shamrock Farms embodies what’s achievable when innovation converges with tradition and tenacity. As a paragon of modern dairy farming, they set a dynamic example for the future, proving hard work and creative solutions can propel the industry forward.

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Don't Break, Build: A Farmer's Playbook for Taking Control of Your Mind

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 19:49:03 GMT

It was already shaping up to be one of those days.

An unexpected bill is due, and the money just isn’t there. The kids are fighting again. Understandably, your wife is over it, and now it’s your fault. One of your employees just called to say the new group of wean pigs is sick. It’s all a part of a life, but sometimes it just stacks up to be too much.

“In a world of unpredictability with so many factors at play on any given day, it’s easy to be mentally or emotionally hijacked by elements out of our control,” says Athena Diesch-Chham with Restorative Path Counseling and Wellbeing. “Stress and anxiety thrive in this environment. However, the long-term effects of that are real.”

Farming stress will never go away, so how can you get more grit or become more resilient to that stress?

One expert says it starts by paying attention to the present.

“Don’t think about what happened yesterday or worry about what is happening tomorrow,” says Cheri Burcham, with University of Illinois Extension. “Focus on what you are doing and feeling in the very moment.”

Diesch-Chham likes to think of it as “being where your feet are.”

“So often brains are hijacked by stress and launch us mentally to a different space either in the past or in the future,” Diesch-Chham adds. “Mindfulness is just asking for our whole selves to be here in this moment, wherever our feet are planted.”

Pay Attention

This concept of truly being “in the moment” not only reduces stress, but research shows it can also lower blood pressure, increase immunity and reduce anxiety and depression, Burcham says.

When you intentionally notice where you are, you can recognize potential challenges sooner, says Abigail Cudney with Michigan State University Extension . Instead of habitually reacting to stress with intense anger, emotional shutdown, negative thinking or overthinking, this intentional awareness helps rewire the brain through a process called neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to grow and adapt to new experiences.

Consider the attention you pay when walking through the barn. You use all your senses to make assessments and determine what’s going on all around you.

“Whether it’s walking the barn or enjoying the fall scenery, naming something you are currently experiencing for each of the five senses is another way to practice mindfulness,” Diesch-Chham says. “This doesn’t have to be complicated – the whole goal is to bring mind and body to the same place.”

5 Senses Technique

Just Breathe

The fight or flight response animals have when stress strikes is the same thing that happens in people. As a review, the vagus nerve, which runs from the base of the brain and branches out to the organs, serves as a conduit of chemicals/hormones that are activated automatically/reflexively by the sympathetic nervous system. This is an involuntary and adaptive process that increases respiration and blood flow to prepare the body for quick and protective action, such as fighting or fleeing. Once the perceived threat has passed or been managed successfully, the stress response also passes and respiration, blood pressure, and heart rate return to a normal steady state, according to the Yale School of Medicine .

Through deep breathing, the vagus nerve can be stimulated intentionally to help restore, mitigate and even prevent these physical and psychological reactions. Slow, even breaths that originate deep within the abdomen stimulate the vagus nerve in a way that signals safety and cues the body and mind to relax, restore, and release chronic and unhealthy patterns.

“Deep breathing can be practiced anywhere and in so many ways – so it is very accessible and easy for farmers to practice,” Burcham explains. “Practice in the field or even while operating machinery.”

Let Go of What You Can’t Control

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of “being where your feet are” is realizing you can’t control it all.

“Working towards recognizing what truly is within our individual control and then choosing to focus our energy on managing what we can control to improve our overall mental health and stress, helps us remain resilient through the pieces that are outside of our control,” Diesch-Chham says.

Adversity happens. Markets will crash. Animals will get sick. Disease will strike. Families will argue. But you can recover faster from those stresses by staying grounded in the moment, aligning your thoughts and emotions with reality.

Resources to Help Build Resilience:
North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center

Mindfulness: University of Illinois Extension

Building Resilience with Mindfulness

3 Ways To Protect Your Ag Business from Cybersecurity Threats

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 14:59:14 GMT

Agriculture is in the bull’s-eye for threat actors trying to access business information. But as Chris Sherman says: “Our keys in the visor mentality” has many farmers trusting too much and putting too much at risk.

Sherman is the founder of Tech Support Farm, an IT and cybersecurity consulting business who works with farmers, co-ops, custom harvesters and more ag businesses to shore up their systems, lock down their sensitive information and stay attuned to emerging risks.

The FBI has listed agriculture as a critical infrastructure for cybersecurity.

So where do most farmers leave themselves vulnerable to hackers? Sherman shares these:

1. Email

Sherman points to email as the No. 1 priority for farmers on where to start in taking cybersecurity seriously.

“The amount of information and data we are sending via email leaves every farmer at risk — from our FSA staff, agronomists, banks and more,” he says. “Emails can be intercepted, all contents can be exposed, and no one is the wiser. It would be like a rural mail carrier, and when he drops the mail someone stands there opening it, reading it and closing the envelope and putting it back in the mailbox. Foolhardy to be using the free email services such as Gmail, Yahoo and others.”

Here are four steps to shore up your email:

Get a domain
Get a commercial email provider
Get a filtration software (which monitors what comes in)
Get a DMARC compliance service (which manages outbound emails, so no one spoofs you and encryption is done properly)

As an example of why this should be prioritized, Sherman tells the story of a farm business working on a land deal.

“A dad and son were just about ready to sign, and the dad got an email from the bank, at least it appeared to be from the bank, but it was a spoof encouraging them to e-sign,” he says. “And everyone signed, and it drained the bank accounts and blew up the deal.”

2. Be aware of your personal information shared, and embrace “herd immunity”

All to often, farmers don’t have passcodes on their phones.

“That’s like leaving your credit card at the bar,” Sherman says. “For some reason in agriculture we are running multimillion dollar businesses on residential-grade infrastructure.”

He says by the nature of the business, enrolling in government programs, immigration workforce programs (such as H-2A) and more, make your address, phone number and email readily accessible.

“It’s a wealth of opportunity for threat actors. We can’t leave our doors and windows open,” Sherman says. “So you have to protect yourself, and encourage your friends, neighbors and business partners to do the same. If we are all reducing our individual risk, we are reducing the overall risk.”

3. Use high-quality passwords

Sherman says good passwords are must-have on all your accounts, including your Wi-Fi.

“Too often, farmers have their password just be a duplicate of the network name. Or if a farmer’s favorite tractor is a John Deere 4450, 4450 is his pin for everything,” he says. “When we are on the internet, it’s like being in the big city, and you have to act accordingly.”

The Labor Conundrum: Navigating Workforce Shortages in the U.S.

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:49:27 GMT

In recent years, discussions around the slowing growth rate of the U.S. labor force have intensified. Rob Fox from CoBank highlights a pressing issue in the company’s latest quarterly report: the potential drag on economic growth due to labor supply constraint.

While the urgency of the problem seemed to subside temporarily, recent developments have brought it back into focus.

Demographic Challenges
Eighteen years ago, the U.S. boasted a fertility rate of 2.12 children per woman, surpassing the level necessary for a stable population. However, the economic upheaval caused by the Great Financial Crisis led to a significant decline in births, a trend that continues to this day. The fertility rate as of 2023 has dropped to 1.62 children per woman. The impact of these “missing births” is now becoming evident as this age cohort begins entering adulthood, coinciding with the retirement of the baby boomer generation. This demographic shift presents a dual blow to the labor market.

Fox says adopting technology — most obviously AI and robotics — will likely be at the core of any strategy to address oncoming labor shortages.

Participation Rates
Another pressing issue is the downward trend in labor force participation rates since 2000. Currently at 62%, a stark decline from the peak of 67%, this translates to approximately 9.7 million potential workers lost.

“Worryingly, this trend may be accelerating: 2.4 million working-aged people have dropped out of the labor force in the past eight months alone,” Fox says, noting some reasons include increased caregiving responsibilities, job skill obsolescence, mental health challenges and rising disability rates.

Immigration as a Balancing Act
For a brief period, immigration helped offset the labor shortage. Humanitarian crises, less restrictive immigration policies, and strong labor demand attracted nearly 9 million immigrants to the U.S. between 2022 and 2024. However, since late 2024, immigration levels have sharply declined. Additionally, the Trump administration’s plan to deport 1 million undocumented immigrants further complicates the scenario. Without a reversal in participation rates or policy changes, the worker pool will continue to shrink.

Agricultural Implication
These labor issues are particularly acute in rural areas, affecting industries like agriculture. Richard Stup from Cornell Cooperative Extension underscores the diminishing labor pool available for farm work. Countries like Mexico — historically a source of agricultural labor — are experiencing similar demographic changes. Economic improvements in these countries reduce the impetus for migration, further tightening labor availability.

“[The population in] Mexico, going forward, will begin to actually shrink,” he says. “It’s not just Mexico. There are a lot of countries in this situation.”

In addition to a smaller pool of workers willing to fill on-farm vacancies, economic opportunities in these countries — such as an increase in Mexico’s inflation-adjusted dollars — are reducing the push factor for migration.

“It means there’s more economic activity, there’s more job opportunity and there’s less push to leave Mexico and go to the U.S. for dollars,” he says. “There’s still a lot of push to come up here, but it’s not what it used to be.”

When looking at the data, Stup notes fewer young people are looking for work.

“The average age of foreign-born employees is about 42 years,” he says. For comparison, the average age of U.S. born employees on farms is 36 years old.

Stup says technology will be used in places where the work is repetitive and heavy manual labor. He also underscores the need for retention programs and attracting a diverse pool of workers. Skills such as critical and systems thinking, data savviness and comfort with animals will be essential for future dairy workers. Education, whether formal or through on-the-job training, is equally important.

The decreasing labor supply poses significant challenges that could hinder U.S. economic growth if not addressed. Without strategic interventions in demographic policies, a shift in immigration approaches, or incentives to boost labor participation, the labor market’s stability remains at risk.

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Recognizing the Best in Dairy: Apply Now for the 2025 MILK Business Awards

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 16:41:41 GMT

In every successful dairy operation, there are standout individuals and teams who go the extra mile, whether it’s through smart innovation, passionate advocacy or exceptional work ethic. That’s why the MILK Business Awards were created to celebrate those people and shine a spotlight on the best in the business.

This year’s application deadline is Aug 11 , and there are three opportunities for recognition:

The Young Producer Award
Are you, or do you know, a young dairy leader making a difference both on and off the farm? This award recognizes a producer 35 years of age or younger as of Aug. 1, who not only excels in their operation but is also a strong advocate for the industry through community and organizational involvement. If at least half your income comes from farming or related ventures, you’re eligible to apply.

Previous Winners:

The Leader in Technology Award
From precision feeding to data-driven herd health, dairy technology is evolving and so are the producers who adopt it. This award honors a dairy farm that has strategically implemented technology to improve ROI, labor efficiency and time management. Innovations can span anything from milking systems and nutrient management to genetics, automation and more.

Previous Winners:

The Employee of Excellence Award
Behind every great dairy is a team of outstanding employees who make daily operations possible. This award recognizes an exceptional team member, such as a milker, calf manager or feeding specialist, who plays a critical role in the success of the dairy. Nominations must come from the employer.

Previous Winners:

Why Apply?
In addition to national recognition, winners gain the opportunity to connect with top producers and industry leaders at the MILK Business Conference in Las Vegas. It’s a chance to share your story, represent your farm and inspire others across the dairy community.

Winners will be featured in MILK Business Quarterly magazine and will receive a trip for two to the 2025 MILK Business Conference, Dec. 2-3, in Las Vegas, including airfare, hotel and full registration.

Apply or Nominate by Aug. 11
Don’t miss your chance to be recognized for the impact you’re making. Whether you’re a young leader, a tech-driven operation or an employer who wants to spotlight your top team member, now is the time to apply !

Rural America is Facing a Mounting Labor Crisis

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:16:30 GMT

The American labor market is reaching a critical turning point that could tighten labor availability in rural industries and slow growth across the U.S. economy. A new quarterly report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange warns that demographic shifts and recent policy changes may start impacting businesses as soon as late 2025.

From livestock and crop operations to food processors and rural cooperatives, this labor shortage is becoming especially noticeable in the heart of America’s farmland. Many producers are already struggling to fill roles, and the challenge is expected to intensify in the coming months.

“Barring an unforeseen change in labor force participation rates or immigration policies, the pool of available workers is set to shrink sharply in the next few years,” says Rob Fox, director of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. “The problem will be even more serious in states with slower population growth in the Upper Midwest, Corn Belt and Central Plains.”

Demographic Pressures Mount

Fox says the warning signs have been building for years. Labor force participation has steadily declined, birth rates have dropped and immigration policy has become more restrictive.

Between 2022 and 2024, nearly 9 million immigrants arrived in the U.S., driven by global humanitarian crises and relaxed federal rules. While that influx temporarily eased labor constraints, Fox says it only masked deeper, long-term trends.

U.S. fertility rates have fallen from 2.12 children per woman in 2007 to 1.62 in 2023, meaning fewer young people are entering the workforce just as the last of the baby boomers retire. In addition, labor force participation has slipped from a peak of 67% in 2000 to 62% today. Nearly 2.5 million working-age Americans have left the labor force in the past eight months alone.

“There is no single reason people are stepping away,” Fox explains. “It’s a combination of rising caregiving responsibilities, job skill mismatches, mental health challenges and higher disability rates. These are complex issues that won’t be resolved overnight.”

Shrinking Workforce Hits Agriculture Hard

The effects are already being felt across rural America. Farms, food processors, equipment dealers and cooperatives are struggling to find and keep the workers they need to maintain daily operations. Seasonal labor has become harder to find and full-time positions, especially those requiring specialized skills or long hours, are increasingly difficult to fill.

In regions with slower population growth, such as the upper Midwest and central Plains, the challenge is even more acute. These areas often lack the population inflows that help offset workforce losses elsewhere in the country.

While labor has been tight for several years, Fox warns that conditions are poised to deteriorate further.

“What we are facing is not just a cyclical labor issue; it’s a structural one,” he says.

Border encounters have dropped sharply since August 2024, signaling a steep decline in immigration. Combined with rising political pressure to increase deportations, the agricultural labor pool could shrink even more in the months ahead.

“Immigration has long been a key pillar supporting the rural workforce,” Fox notes. “Without a steady flow of new workers, farms and agribusinesses will have to get creative, either by increasing wages, automating tasks or changing how they manage production.”

Technology Offers a Path Forward

In response, more agricultural businesses are turning to technology to help offset the labor gap.

“The key to addressing labor scarcity always lies in innovation,” Fox says. “AI and robotics are no longer limited to the factory floor. They are increasingly being used in fields, dairies and food plants.”

A recent Gallup poll found that nearly one in five workers already uses artificial intelligence in some form each week. At the same time, the cost of robotics has dropped by nearly half in the past decade, making automation more accessible for a broader range of farms and agribusinesses.

CoBank’s report notes that many farm supply customers are using new tools to increase efficiency, improve decision-making and free up time for employees to focus on higher-value responsibilities.

Planning for What Comes Next

As producers look toward 2026, a combination of labor constraints, volatile input costs and shifting policy landscapes will continue to shape decision-making. Fox thinks adaptability will be essential.

“Technology will be critical to agriculture’s future,” he says. “AI and robotics can help farmers do more with fewer workers, boosting efficiency and margins. But investment decisions must be made carefully, especially in this uncertain economic environment.”

Until clearer policies emerge on trade, labor and energy, rural America will need to prepare for continued pressure.

“This is a pivotal moment,” Fox concludes. “Farms that plan ahead, embrace innovation and stay flexible will be best positioned to succeed.”

The Best Time to Start Your Retirement Plan

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 21:07:56 GMT

Farmers historically have struggled to invest money in anything other than their farm operation. However, by investing in retirement plans including an IRA, a farmer can more easily save up for retirement and make the transfer to the next generation much easier.

The power of compounding is the financial seventh wonder of the world. Based on your annual investment return, you can determine how quickly your investment will double by dividing it into 72. For example, if you average 3% on your money, it will take 24 years to double. However, if you can earn 8%, then it only takes nine years.

The younger you start to invest, even small sums, the more money you will have at retirement. Let’s compare the results of placing $10,000 into a retirement account at either age 20 or 40.

The farmer who does this at age 40 and then pulls the money out at age 70 will have $100,627. However, the farmer who starts at age 20 will have $469,016, and if they can earn 10%, will have $1,173,909.

The cost of maintaining a solo 401k plan is very inexpensive and married couples can set aside at least $14,000 into an IRA each year. The fees on those accounts are minimal and you can make sure to invest in low-cost ETFs or mutual funds. High-cost funds could quickly reduce your returns substantially.

Most of the earnings will result in the last 10 years, so the sooner you get started, the more funds you will accumulate.

Risk Protection Benefits
There’s another big reason to make this investment. Funds in a retirement plan are fully exempt from bankruptcy, and we all know farming can be a very risky business. The full exemption does not apply to IRAs, but the amount that is exempt is fairly large.

This amount gets updated every three years. On April 1, 2025, the exemption amount was raised from $1,512,350 to $1,711.975 through March 31, 2028.

Most farmers have IRAs less than this amount, so it’s likely they will have a full exclusion if bankruptcy was to occur. Amounts rolled over from a 401k plan or other retirement account, including earnings associated on that account, are fully exempt.

In some states, IRAs are fully exempt or at least partially exempt.

The bottom line is to invest in an IRA or retirement plan. I hope you never need the protection, but it is a good insurance policy.

7 Health Insurance Solutions for the Self-Employed

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:50:40 GMT

If there is anything that could derail your business literally overnight, it’s a serious injury or illness in your family.

That’s why health insurance is an absolutely critical risk management tool, even though the cost of the insurance itself can also strain your business. While it probably won’t cover every medical expense for your family, it can protect you from the catastrophic effects of a major health event.

The majority of farm families agree with that sentiment, according to a 2017 study by HIREDnAG. The survey of nearly 1,000 farm families in 10 rural states found more than 75% of the respondents viewed health insurance as an essential risk management tool.

At the same time, however, many farm families still roll the dice by going without health insurance. The most recent USDA data on the subject shows more than 10% of U.S. farm households do not have health insurance, which is slightly higher than the general public. But even more telling is the type of farms that forgo it the most: dairy farms. They made up more than 40% of all farm households without health insurance, which is more than double any other type of farming enterprise.

Options to Cover Your Family

For those who are insured, many farm families rely on off-farm employment to secure health insurance — about 56% according to the USDA data. But what options are available for the rest of the families or individuals who wish to purchase their own coverage? Penn State University Extension’s Maureen Ittig, family well-being educator, and Ginger Fenton, dairy educator, recently presented a webinar where they shared the following suggestions:

Health Insurance Marketplace. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 created the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. Americans who do not have access to employer-sponsored health insurance can secure coverage through the marketplace, which provides credits for factors like income and family size. A handy calculator to estimate credits and plan costs can be found here . All ACA-compliant plans must cover 10 categories of services that includes things like prescriptions, pediatric care and emergency room services. Open enrollment for ACA plans is usually in the fall, but special circumstances can allow for enrollment throughout the year.
Medicaid/CHIP plans. Lower-income families may qualify for Medicaid and/or Children’s Health Insurance Program plans. These plans vary by state. They typically are less costly to families and may provide additional services, like dental and vision coverage, compared to ACA plans.
Association-based plans. Farm organizations and cooperatives may offer group plans to farmer-members. These organizations also offer guidance to help farm families understand the “language” of health insurance and aid in decision making.
HSAs. Using a Health Savings Account (HSA) is a popular way for farmers to maximize their health insurance dollars. HSAs are actual bank accounts that families fund annually and can be used to cover qualified health expenses. Any dollars not used can remain in the account for expenses incurred later on and even invested into higher-yielding financial funds. To access an HSA, the insured must have a High Deductible Health Plan, which can be accessed via insurance brokers, association-based plans, or the Health Insurance Marketplace. HSAs offer the “triple-treat” tax advantages of pre-tax contributions, tax-free growth and no tax on qualified withdrawals.
Skinny and gap plans. Some states allow for skinny plans that have lower premiums, largely because they are not required to offer the ACA-required 10 categories of services, like allowing entry with pre-existing conditions or maternity coverage. They also may have lifetime payout limits. Gap plans offer short-term, emergency coverage in some states. After 180 days, the insured must enroll for new coverage. They also may have exclusions and lifetime limits.
Armed forces health insurance. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, about 9% of U.S farmers are veterans. They and their families are usually eligible for TRICARE or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health insurance programs.
Healthcare sharing ministries. Several faith-based group health coverage ministries are available that share healthcare costs among their members. This is not health insurance, but many users find they are able to negotiate rates with providers similar to discounts offered to insurance companies. Enrollment may require specific belief systems and lifestyle choices (no tobacco or illegal drug use, for example). Users pay monthly fees similar to health insurance premiums. When they incur an expense, they pay their bills up front and then submit them for reimbursement.

The Penn State experts advised looking not only at costs, but also at the services your family might need, such as maternity and mental health coverage.

“The array of options available hopefully will allow you to pick an option that works best for you, your budget and your values,” Fenton notes.

Your Next Read:
A Promising Horizon for U.S. Dairy

Successful CEOs Do These 4 Things

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 16:13:23 GMT

I’ve had the privilege to sit down with many incredible leaders, including the CEOs and high-level managers of dairy farms and dairy businesses. Each one is like a case study on success, an opportunity to listen in for the common threads of the characteristics, habits and mindsets of those who are leading operations that are both profitable and reputable.

So, what do these leaders have in common when it comes to developing both strong teams and strong balance sheets?

In a recent conversation with third-generation CEO of T.C. Jacoby & Company, Inc., Ted Jacoby III states so clearly what I’ve heard from many others as he highlighted these four keys to success as a CEO:

Step 1. Hire talented people.
“Don’t be afraid to hire the best people you possibly can,” Jacoby says.

That means hiring people whose aptitudes and skillsets surpass your own. Choose those who will make your business better.

Step 2. Communicate a clear picture of what success looks like for them.
As Jacoby describes, the clarity of that picture must be catered to the style of communication an employee best receives.

He said, “Some people are very detailed thinkers, and they have to build concepts in their own brain based on many details. Others are generalists … they don’t actually get into the weeds on the details.”

Step 3. Equip them with the skills and resources they need to achieve that success.
Whether it’s the right tools or the best training, employ the talent you bring to your team with what they need to make that picture of success a reality.

Step 4. GET OUT OF THEIR WAY.

“It sounds easy, but it’s not,” Jacoby said. If you’ve hired really good people, if you’ve trained them well, if they know what success looks like and if you provide them with all of the resources that they require to be successful, your most important job is to get out of their way.

These keys to success build upon each other within an organization:

The power is in the PEOPLE.
The ability to SUCCEED is rooted in the ability to LEAD.
And great LEADERS have the ability to LET GO in order to empower others to utilize their talents and make decisions - even when that means making mistakes.

To hear more from Ted Jacoby III, listen to this Uplevel Dairy Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4iD8Qh6YqDvJajb7xGngJd?si=sLaT7-9FR1C9NqLW1CNf0A

Prevent Quitting: Keep Employees Top of Mind in 2024

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 15:57:14 GMT

As the calendar page flips to a new year, farmers are focusing on ways they can improve their operation in 2024. For many, labor – or lack thereof - sorted its way to the top of the ‘biggest headaches’ list. To help prevent this issue from reoccurring, Jorge Delgado, a training and talent development specialist at Alltech, says now is the perfect time to give your employee management plan a brief overhaul.

Before your best employee walks out the door, consider implementing the following steps to give retention and performance a needed boost.

Conduct Annual Reviews: “This is a concept many have of heard of but few people are using,” Delgado shares. However, he recommends treating annual reviews as a chance to sit down with each individual in your team to review expectations, goals, what needs to be improved and what needs to change.

“This is a good opportunity to hear feedback from your employees and share with them your appreciation in a very formal way,” he adds.

Go Over Mission Statement: Another important aspect to look over going into the new year is your farm’s mission statement. Delgado says if your operation doesn’t currently have a mission statement, this is the time to start creating one with your employees in mind.

“Let them be part of this process and include them in your mission statement,” he says.

Review and Update Protocols: Similar to looking over your farm’s mission statement, reviewing protocols is another important area to analyze.

“This is an area that often gets lost in time,” Delgado says. “People start deferring from original protocols and make decisions that may not be the best for your operation and/or animals. Get together with employees and/or your veterinarian to update information and procedures.”

Perform an Anonymous Survey: “An anonymous survey can help you find information to improve your internal culture and to discover areas of improvement,” Delgado says. “You will be surprised with the information generated from this kind of survey.”

Delgado suggests creating a questionnaire with simple questions that can help you finding opportunities about your organization.

Adjust Payroll: When was the last time you reviewed your employees’ salaries? According to Delgado, many workers might be due for a raise that was forgotten during the year.

“This is also a good time to adjust those numbers based on inflation and other costs,” he adds.

Terminate Bad Apples: While labor shortages continue to be one of the biggest issues facing agriculture, not every employee is cut out to work on our operations. Delgado agrees, adding, “There are some employees who just don’t fit in our culture or business mode. The new year can be a good time to start thinking about how to replace those individuals in our business.”

Calculate Annual Turnover Rate: Chances are you may have had a few employees leave your farm in 2023. Was this number higher than previous years? Lower? According to Delgado, it’s important to keep a pulse on your farm’s turnover rate.

“Find areas to improve on if this number is too high for your operation,” he adds.

Start Planning an Educational Calendar: As the chapter closes on 2023, Delgado says now is a good time to ask your employees what they would like to learn in 2024 and set up dates in your new calendar.

“Consider also reaching out to external resources to get them on your calendar” Delgado “They can offer free, professional training.”

Plan Social and Cultural Events for the Coming Year: Farming is a stressful occupation for both farm owners and employees. Therefore, it’s important to keep fun activities on the calendar to increase morale and engagement. Consider hosting a team dinner or

“Employees value the social aspect of any organization,” Delgado says. “This also helps with retention and motivation.”

Review Safety Guidelines: No matter the time of year, keeping employees safe should always be top of mind. Going into 2024, set intentions to review and update safety guidelines to ensure every position in your operation has a plan.

“If you don’t have a safety plan, you need one,” Delgado shares. “Review what went well and what went wrong this year. Use this information to increase safety around the farm.”

For more on labor, read:

Become a More Anticipatory Leader

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 02:21:55 GMT

Dave Mitchell uses his two-decade career in corporate HR to coach businesses on improving company cultures and reaching peak performance. And he says he’s not afraid to slay some dragons when it comes to tools many businesses may rely on, but don’t provide the service leaders are seeking.

“There are some things that we’ve adopted over the years that really aren’t particularly useful and I think in some cases even detrimental to our performance,” he says.

For example, he encourages leaders to stop using employee surveys.

“It’s just a waste of money. It’s offensive, and it does more harm than good,” Mitchell says. “Employee surveys don’t fix the problem. To be a great leader and reach peak performance, you have to get feedback in a more genuine and immediate way.”

He says today, leaders need to become more anticipatory managers—and identify and address problems much quicker.

“Leaders need to be plugged into what’s happening on a daily basis,” he says. “The people that have authority need to be better aware of what’s really happening and the people that know what’s happening have to have a conduit to educate those people that have the ability to make change.”

Mitchell has noticed a large trend of too much distance between managers and the work being done. This has created a dangerous gap for problems to linger, grow larger and cause major issues.

“As such, leaders must build in systems in their culture that reconciles that distance,” he says. “The fact that leaders don’t know what’s going on, doesn’t mean they don’t have plenty to do, so they often wait until they hear something.”

Mitchell uses “people preventative maintenance” a method to identify problems while they are still small—before they are exacerbated.

“We have a tendency just to wait until something becomes so obnoxious to the employee that they’re willing to storm into someone’s office and complain about it, and by that time, this is probably beyond the tipping point,” he says.

He says more and more organizations are using this method and building in the mechanisms to make problems known earlier.

Hear more in The Scoop Podcast:

Ag Economist Talks Trends To Watch In The Livestock Industry

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 18:46:20 GMT

After a tough couple of years in the livestock industry, Scott Brown, an ag economics professor at the University of Missouri, says there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. He recently joined the Top Producer podcast to share what he believes is on the horizon for beef, dairy and pork producers.

Rebuilding In Beef
Brown shares the current state of the beef industry began forming in 2020. And after three years of drought in cattle country, as well as significant liquidation, there’s a supply shortage.

“I think it’s taken us longer than maybe we typically would have thought to get some rebuilding to happen,” Brown says. “You add on top of that costs have just continued to go higher, so the prices we need for cattle to generate the interest to grow herds are very different today than just a few years ago. A lot of that’s at play.”

He expects to hit 2026 before there is significant growth in the country’s beef cattle herd.

“At some point, there will be enough profitability to get more beef cows back in the herd,” Brown says. “I think the operations will also continue to get bigger on the cow/calf side.”

Improvement In Pork
Coming off of a year Brown likens to 1998 for pork producers, he says the financial side is showing signs of improvement.

“By April, we were starting to see hogs that might have been in the black again for the first time in several months,” Brown says. “There’s still a lot of them that have probably a reasonably deep financial hole to climb back out of given how tough 2023 was, but it’s good to see some positive news on the pork side.”

He adds productivity has been phenomenal and anticipates international demand to play a large role in the future.

“Even though we’ve been losing sow inventories in the country, productivity has more than offset some of that and suppliers continue to run fairly high,” Brown says. “The pork industry generally has been really good about getting international demand to grow in some new places. Central America, Mexico and now some smaller Central American countries are now taking some pork from us. That’s a great longer term move for the pork industry.”

Expanding Demand In Dairy
Like the pork industry, Brown says dairy experienced a tough 2023 due to low prices.

“Dairy markets are the most demand inelastic markets we have in agriculture. But when supplies out strip that demand just a little bit, we can get some fairly low prices. I think that happened in 2023,” he says. “Cheese has been one of the most important demand-side factors. How do we continue to expand that side?”

Looking ahead, Brown says prices have improved in dairy and at the same time, lower prices for corn and soybeans are helping producers as well.

Hear more on the Top Producer podcast .

John Phipps: Is There Really a Shortage of Truck Drivers?

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 16:07:06 GMT

Cast your mind back to early 2022 and the headline-grabbing Trucker Shortage . My conclusion then was there wasn’t much hard data to substantiate that alarm. There has always been a need for truckers and perversely there seems to have always been ample qualified workers to fill it.

It didn’t take an economics degree to figure out the problem: truckers simply weren’t being compensated enough to entice and keep workers. Now a year and a half later the headline is the demise of one of America’s largest trucking companies – Yellow Trucking – and the end of 30,000 jobs they represent.

(Farm Journal)

Freight companies are struggling now with reduced demand, which threatens even more trucking jobs. At some point most of us begin to wonder about these alleged shortages. Adding to the muddled picture of jobs and pay is the historically low unemployment rate which emphatically illustrates how small the pool of potential employees is.

Related Story: Walmart Will Now Pay Starting Truck Drivers $110,000, Could It Backfire and Make the Nationwide Trucker Shortage Even Worse?

For trucking, which is often a career step up from entry wage employment, increases in the minimum wage by many states has helped low-wage employees keep up.

Since the pandemic, the surprising strength of low wage compensation compared to skilled or managerial wages removes some motivation for workers to consider a trucking job. Note the inversion after the pandemic of which income quintile is seeing greater wage increases.

Trucking companies have long dealt with astonishing turnover rates since the prospective employee pool was large and already qualified. New CDL licenses are issued to about half the current trucker numbers each year. Short-lived shortages are not limited to employees either.

Related Story: SHIP IT Act Could Save Truck Drivers Up to $10,000 and Cover CDL Costs

I started looking back at the numerous “shortages” and dire predictions of the last few years. At least some semiconductor chips, for example, are in now surplus, even a glut. We’ve discovered more new sources for lithium than anyone imagined. Ditto for copper, cobalt, and phosphates.

It appears markets can remedy shortages faster than we have imagined, and the few stubborn scarcities are sidestepped with alternative solutions. Not always, but certainly more than the hysterical headlines suggest.

There will always be warnings about trucker shortages, I suspect, but not from truckers.

7 Reasons Your Best Employees Quit

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 21:11:54 GMT

Learn how to avoid these frustrating and deal-breaking mistakes

Yes, recruiting members for your team is extremely difficult. But before you spend your time and energy on that challenge, focus first on your current team.

“Put retention in front of recruiting,” suggests Mel Kleiman, president of Humetrics, a human resource consulting firm. “Become a place that people want to work, and then when people hear you have an opening, they come to you.”

How do you prioritize retention? Analyze why employees leave your farm. Many times, their departures fall into these categories.

1. Substandard Co-Workers: “The good employees aren’t paid enough to cover for or put up with the hiring mistakes,” Kleiman says. Don’t force your good employees to compensate for others who are lazy, indifferent or undependable.

2. Mind-Numbing Tasks: New employees are often handed boring and repetitive jobs. Even in downtimes, come up with meaningful work, suggests Erika Osmundson, director of marketing and communications for AgCareers.com. Find ways to make roles on your farm fun or challenging.

3. No Attention or Authority: “When a supervisor is so busy fighting the fires created by problem employees, he or she never has any time for his best people,” Kleiman says. Many times, this busy leader also fails to delegate authority to capable employees, leaving those employees frustrated.

4. No Training: Forgot that often-repeated phrase that training is not a good investment because “they’ll leave in three months anyway.” Establish an ongoing training plan, suggests Wesley Tucker, University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist. “Utilize multiple methods to ensure employees absorb and retain critical information,” he says. “Look for opportunities for both formal and spontaneous training.”

5. No Chance for Advancement: Do you share insights about future opportunities or positions? Recognize how advancements drive retention and job satisfaction. “A lot of times, we hire young people and think they are great,” says Dave Allen, president of Agri-Search, a placement firm for agricultural jobs. “So, you let them go do their thing. But, if you forget about them, they will be gone in two years.”

6. Lack of Respect: Employees need positive recognition, Kleiman says. “Praise in public and criticize in private,” he says. Many times, supervisors avoid positive feedback for fear the recipient might ask for a raise – this is the wrong approach.

7. Scheduling Conflicts: When an employer promises “flexible hours,” but it turns out “flexible hours” means having to work whenever and however long the manager wants them to, good employees look for the exit door. “Structure work schedules to allow for flexibility,” Osmundson suggests. “Maybe you can work shortened hours during certain parts of the year. Look for unique ways you can offer flexibility.”

Learn more tips on how to lead your team at the at the 2021 Top Producer Summit. Register now!

Read More

10 Tips for Finding Allstar Employees

Build A Talent Pipeline

‘Tis the Season for Appreciation

Pasture to Plate: A Culture-Driven Beef Business

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:09:52 GMT

The Ducheneaux family reconnects consumers with their food source

Kelsey Ducheneaux-Scott sat on her front porch, stared out across rolling pastures and thought, “What the hell did I do?” She had just heaved box after box into freezers in the living room, kitchen and laundry room — carefully dispensing 1,700 lb. of ground beef.

Exhausted from the haul (and hoping the circuits wouldn’t blow due to strategically placed freezers) Ducheneaux-Scott couldn’t believe the sheer amount of work before her. How was she going to sell so much grass-fed burger in three months, before her next butcher appointment? Anxiety and stress seeped in during that cold March night in 2020. Little did she know how quickly that product would move.

“COVID hit and there was no beef in any of our stores,” Ducheneaux-Scott recalls. “We sold out of that 1,700 lb. in a matter of three weeks. People realized how easily local grocery stores can be disrupted here in rural South Dakota.”

(Farm Journal)

PASTURE TO PLATE

With a focus on feeding those around her, Ducheneaux-Scott is leading a transformation of her family’s operation. DX Ranch was established in the 1930s near Eagle Butte, S.D., on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. It began with beef cattle and draft horses.

Today, Ducheneaux-Scott and her husband, Monte Scott, work alongside her family raising quarter horses and 280 head of cow-calf pairs in a regenerative production system.

“I am a fourth-generation rancher on DX Ranch, and I’m the 125th generation to steward this landscape,” Ducheneaux-Scott says. “We’ve focused on ensuring we’re not just thinking about the livestock above ground but also thinking about the livestock below ground.”

(Farm Journal)

FATHER-DAUGHTER DUO

For her entire life, Ducheneaux-Scott has worked alongside her father, Zach Ducheneaux. That was until early 2021, when Ducheneaux was selected by the Biden administration to serve as the Farm Service Agency administrator (he received the call for the position while they were at the sale barn).

Luckily, Ducheneaux had prepared his daughter to be a leader on the ranch and in life. They are members of the Lakota tribe, which is a matriarchal society.

“My dad never let me think I couldn’t do something because I was a girl,” Ducheneaux-Scott says. “He empowered me to believe I could do things better because I was a girl and had a different perspective.”

After college, Ducheneaux-Scott wanted to be a rancher and bought into the family’s cowherd in 2016.

“I was obsessive in watching those calves grow that year,” she says. “I might as well have had names and birth certificates for every calf.”

After selling that calf crop, Ducheneaux-Scott headed back to the ranch and pondered the future.

“I drove through two counties that face food insecurity,” she says. “I thought, golly, the system is so broken. We have up to 80,000 head of cattle grazing on 3.2 million acres here on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation, and there isn’t any local beef being packaged and made available for purchase. The beef grown here is phenomenal, but none of us get to actually eat it.”

At home, she scribbled down a bunch of ideas and started a business plan. That plan morphed into DX Beef , which has a simple mission: Provide nutritious and local beef that improves its communities.

The direct-to-consumer business featuring their 100% grass-fed beef has expanded in the past two years and is helping the family move away from the commodity market model.

“For the first 90 years of our existence, we’d largely been victim to the commodity markets just like everyone else,” Ducheneaux says. “Behind the effort of Kelsey, in 2020, for the first time, we sold more beef in the box than we did on the hoof. A tremendous advocate for buying, selling and serving

locally, she’s found a way to provide healthier, grass-finished beef to our fellow reservation residents at a price they can afford.”

In 2019, the family sold 12 head of cattle through their business. In 2020, they sold close to 80. This year the total will top 110.

All beef is processed and mostly sold through their online store. To meet local needs, it is sold by the pound or portion of the whole beef. They even do wholesale orders for nearby restaurants.

(Farm Journal)

CULTURE AND TRADITION

The hurdles of small-scale direct marketing are difficult to overcome. Yet Ducheneaux-Scott is seeing great success thanks to her marketing and organizational skills. Through storytelling, which is rooted in their Lakota culture, the family uses technology to share the story of their ranch and products.

“Family comes before the dollar in this operation,” Ducheneaux says. “We’re not solely about monetizing the value of that product, and we realize there are other values to our beef.”

(Farm Journal)

Their story is shaped by their love and respect for the 7,000 acres of tribal land they manage through a tribal lease.

“I’m a grass and soil nerd,” Ducheneaux-Scott says. “Soil health is so critical to a resilient ecosystem. Our grazing system is focused on mimicking nature. This ecosystem evolved from having cloven-hoofed bison and other wildlife graze at a pace that allowed for a robust rest period, so we practice rotational grazing.”

The DX Ranch herd is an Angus base, influenced with breeds that will help the cattle handle the sometimes-brutal central South Dakota climate, Ducheneaux-Scott says. From changing their calving season to May to decrease cattle stress to steadily increasing soil health, the Ducheneaux family aims to work with Mother Nature.

“We have flexibility in our management so we can listen to what the landscape is telling us because she knows better than we do,” Ducheneaux-Scott says. “We

are simply another biological species that’s a part of this greater ecosystem.”

Listen as Kelsey Ducheneaux-Scott discusses her operation with Andrew McCrea on the “Farming the Countryside” podcast:

OTHERS BEFORE ONESELF

As a producer, business owner and member of her nation, Ducheneaux-Scott says she is driven by the opportunity and honor to feed others.

“I’ve come to appreciate having someone tell say your beef tasted good or how they brought their family together around our product,” she says. “Those are the experiences that make feeding cows in a blizzard, slopping through the mud to check calves and sleepless nights all worth it.”

(Farm Journal)

Snapshot of DX Ranch

Operation: DX Ranch includes quarter horses and 280 head of cow-calf pairs in a regenerative production system on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation near Eagle Butte, S.D. The ranch is also home to DX Beef, a direct-to-consumer business featuring their 100% grass-fed beef.

Family: Following in the footsteps of her father, Zach Ducheneaux, Kelsey Ducheneaux-Scott is the fourth generation of her family to ranch. She and her husband, Monte Scott, work with several members of her family in the operation.

Leadership: Ducheneaux-Scott is the director of programs for the Intertribal Agriculture Council, which provides a voice for the Native American community on ag policy and programs. In 2021, Ducheneaux was selected to lead the Farm Service Agency, where he oversees 10,000 employees.

Travel to Gettysburg, S.D., and virtually visit DX Ranch.

Horizon Award Honors Husband-and-Wife Team for Their Drive and Focus

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:59:42 GMT

Each year, Top Producer recognizes a producer under the age of 35 who demonstrates excellence in the business of farming, specifically marketing, finance, technology and family and employee relations. Congratulations to Martin Angus, the 2022 recipient of the Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon Award. Brendan and Elaine Martin were recognized at a ceremony held Feb. 14 during Top Producer Summit in Nashville.

Brendan Martin learned early on that cows equal cash flow. He started building his herd in high school with the goal of one day owning his own farm.

Growing up in the Shenandoah Valley near Mt. Solon, Va., Brendan began building equity and his farming dream through heifers, custom hay bailing and hard work. His reputation attracted the attention of a neighbor who was looking to slow down. The neighbor wanted a young, energetic farmer to purchase his cow herd and lease his 280-acre farm. Brendan stepped up to the plate.

Today, Brendan’s diversified and multi-faceted operation is a team effort with his wife, Elaine. In addition to their 280-acre home base, they lease around 600 acres of pasture and farmland. They raise corn, alfalfa, small grains and hay, and their cattle operation includes a registered Angus and commercial Angus herd, 210 fed cattle and 1,030 feeder calves. In the past couple of years, they have invested in their cattle facilities to increase cow comfort and feeding efficiency.

In 2019, the Martins added Blue Cedar Beef, a direct-to-consumer beef business. They ship beef all over the nation every week of the year. They also do custom mowing and litter spreading and recently added a trucking business. Their team includes two full-time and two part-time employees. Brendan also owns a large animal mobile veterinary practice, Valley Herd Health. Elaine specializes in record keeping, payroll and financial management for the farm, as well as keeping a close eye on the cattle herd.

As the Martins look toward the future, their goal is not to have the most cows or acres. They are motivated by their return on investment and creating generational impact in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.

Take a trip to Martin Angus with this video from AgDay.

The Horizon Award is sponsored by Corteva and Pioneer. The winner receives an all-expenses-paid trip to Top Producer Summit; virtual mentoring sessions from Kristjan Hebert, the 2020 Top Producer of the Year; and a DJI Phantom 4 Drone, courtesy of Corteva.

The Online Top Producer Summit is set for Feb. 22-23 and will include live, on-demand and recorded sessions from the event in Nashville. Register now!

Set Micro Goals to Accomplish Big Dreams in 2023

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 15:03:21 GMT

It’s the season for setting resolutions. Does this motivate or overwhelm you? For most, it’s the second.

Why? We set lofty goals that are challenging to meet.

Instead of writing down these big audacious goals, Jon Acuff, an entrepreneur, speaker and best-selling author, has better advice: Set micro goals.

“A micro goal is a small action that generates big results; a micro goal punches above its weight,” Acuff says.

10 MINUTES FOR 30 DAYS

As you set your goals in life (prioritizing your family, running a profitable farm, etc.), brainstorm little steps you can take to impact those goals. Acuff suggests micro goals take 10 to 15 minutes and you do them each day for one month. Yep, we’re talking less than 10 hours for the entire month.

Here are a few Acuff recommends:

Read 10 pages of a leadership or development book each day. Feel free to find something not related to farming (it can even be fiction).
Encourage one person. It doesn’t have to be a handwritten letter with a wax seal. Just once a day say one encouraging thing to one person.
Walk, bike or run one mile. Essentially every day you’re moving your body for a quarter of an hour. Acuff likes the mile approach because at the end of the time frame, you have traveled 30 miles in a month.
Write down one thing for which you’re grateful — on paper with a pen or pencil. Recognize big and small blessings.
Spend 10 minutes planning your day. This is one of my favorites. Look at your calendar, check your to-do list and make a plan to accomplish the big things.

You can pick one or 10 micro goals to do for one month. Regardless of the number, you’ll see the results. What if you miss the third day? No big deal.

“We’re not aiming for perfect,” Acuff says. “Even if you only do your habit for 50% of the month, that’s infinitely more than you were going to do if you didn’t set the goal. So don’t let perfectionism steal the joy of a micro goal.”

Want more inspiration to accomplish your goals? Watch Jon Acuff present at the 2021 Top Producer Summit .

2025 Ag Workplace Trends: What Employers are Saying

“What are you hearing out there? Are employers still hiring?” These are common questions posed to AgCareers.com as a job board and human resources service provider specific to the agriculture and food industry.

To help agricultural employers compete for top talent, we not only analyze what is happening on our job board and learn from conversations with employers, but we also aim to identify issues, opportunities and trends by surveying agricultural employers in our annual HR Review.

Pressure is on for Employers
AgCareers.com recently analyzed the 2025 Agriculture and Food HR Review data to provide an outlook of what agricultural employers experienced in 2024 and what they expect in 2025. Retention continues to be top of mind for employers, persistent even into the focus of recruitment strategies in the new year. Employers are also feeling the pressure to get compensation right, along with concerns about rising wage rates. Most employers are experiencing recruitment difficulties, amplifying compensation and retention issues.

Agricultural employers need people, and keeping those they already have in place is a top priority. Staying on top of how to reward their employees is essential to retention. From flexibility to bonuses and appropriate salary increases, employers in the industry are increasingly aware of the competitive nature of keeping their top talent while enabling the ability to effectively recruit new talent when posed against both competitors inside and outside the industry.

The AgCareers.com HR Review details employers’ plans for salary increases, workforce development and training, benefits and more.

Your Next Read: A Winning Mentality Motivates This Illinois Livestock Industry Teacher, Coach and Mentor

Majority of Ag Economists say U.S. Agriculture is Ending the Year in a Recession

A sharp drop in net farm income among row crop farmers has held a hefty grip on the ag economy this year. 2025 isn’t forecast to be much better, with margins expected to be in the red again for all major row crops. The high input and high interest rate environment, coupled with low commodity prices, is a recipe that could also mean more consolidation in agriculture in 2025.

The eroding health of the overall farm economy was the emphasis of the latest Farm Journal Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor, which is a survey of nearly 70 leading agricultural economists from across the country.

When asked if agriculture is either currently in a recession or on the brink of one:

56% of ag economists responded by saying agriculture is currently in a recession, which is up from the 53% who responded that way in October.
And 81% of economists surveyed said the U.S ag economy is on the brink of a recession, which is a significant jump from the 56% of economists who responded that way in the October survey.

One of the main reasons more economists didn’t respond that ag is already in a recession, is the fact the livestock sector is doing better than expected at the beginning of the year.

Farm Journal asked economists to weigh in on whether they thought agriculture is currently in a recession. Economists in the anonymous survey said:

“A recession is a sustained period of economic decline. We may not be able to say the entire agriculture sector is in recession, but the row crop sector has been in economic decline since 2022 and looks like that will continue into 2025.”
“I would argue we are largely already there...incomes have already fallen...used machinery values have fallen...but there is room for more decline from the livestock sector should those prices turn lower. Land values holding up are probably the one thing in my opinion that has yet to give, and that MAY only be a matter of time. “
“Farm income has already dropped considerably from the 2022 peak, and the crop sector is seriously affected. There are many downside risks in 2025 that could make a difficult situation worse.”
“I believe we are already in a recession. Farm income is and has been declining, and I don’t see a reversal of this in the next 12 to 24 months given policy uncertainty, surplus inventories, large ex-U.S. production, and likely declines in export viability.”
“Higher interest rates are making it hard to manage debt that is outstanding and likely to come with next year.”
“Some producers have not built an adequate asset base to weather these low returns and will be forced to change their business in an attempt to survive.”
“Negative profit margins relative to recent years are driving capital investment and land prices lower, reducing the financial position of agriculture amid lower income.”
“Specifically for the row crop sector, we are looking at another year of negative returns and that really wears on liquidity and puts pressure on longer term solvency.”
“Prices are too low to pay input costs and create a profit. At the moment, producers are fighting to break even.”

However, not all economists agree agriculture is in a recession. One economist points to land prices as the reason why.

“It is hard to say that agriculture is facing a recession when land prices are holding the way they are,” said one economist in the anonymous survey. “It appears that (many) full-time, commercial-scale row crop producers have used their working capital on recent land purchases and have nothing left to withstand a financial shortfall. Frankly, the current conversation about passing economic relief will go to those that have overextended their means to buy land the last couple years.”

Concerns About Consolidation

Another year of negative margins could create more consolidation in the row crop sector, according to economists. The latest Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor found 94% of economists think the current environment of low commodity prices and high input costs will accelerate consolidation in row crop operations and allied industries .

“Some farms are expanding while others are leaving the industry. It is interesting to compare the percentage of U.S. businesses that go broke in the first 10 years to the percentage of U.S. farms that go broke in the first 10 years. The role of government intervention has really limited the realized risk in agriculture and, as a result, lowered the ability for young producers and ranchers to get into agriculture and increased the consolidation of land.”
“A sustained period of high costs and low prices will likely result in some farmers going out of business sooner than expected, which may be due to point of financial need or stopping by choice ahead of that. When farm consolidation is accelerated, there are fewer farmers buying inputs. Even if the acres are the same, fewer input retailer are needed to serve the customer base. Also, we have greater pressure on the whole industry as big farmers grow.”
“Low-cost producers, and those without any land rents or borrowing costs, are better equipped to weather a downturn in the farm economy.”
“Average margins are typically higher for larger farms. They also have more ability to borrow money.”
“The only way to survive is to increase quantity (number of bushels) and low margins.”
“Those who have managed well, kept production costs low, and have responsible cash balances should be in a good position to expand, absorbing those who made poor choices or experienced bad luck. Lending and federal disaster payments could delay this some. So, the magnitude of this is uncertain.”
“People will always be entering and leaving the industry, but when returns are low, more people leave because they have to, rather than because they want to.”
“The last time we were at the start of a commodity down cycle in 2014/15, it presaged a wave of consolidation in input developers over the next several years, such as Bayer/Monsanto; Dow/Dupont; ChemChina/Syngenta; Mosaic/Potash.”
“Operations and allied industries will expand to find additional economies of scale, one of the few options on the table to help with the tough financial situation.”

What to Watch in the Ag Economy in 2025

The health of the farm economy into the new year relies on a number of factors. What happens in South America with crop production will have a major impact on commodity prices in the U.S. However, economists said there are other factors to watch, including what happens with the incoming Trump administration.

Nov./Dec. Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound)

When asked, “What are the two most important factors driving agriculture’s economic health today as well as in12 months,” economists said:

“South American production and input costs.”
“Farm financial conditions: there’s been a little price improvement recently, but still high costs mean 2025 is likely another year of negative margins for row crop producers. 2. Relative global competitiveness: We continue to see cropland area expansion in Brazil and, at the same time, they have a more favorable biofuels policy and are expanding trade agreements.”
“Congressional efforts to deliver economic and natural disaster aid, and U.S. agricultural export markets.”
“Declining commodity prices and associated margin squeeze.”
“As a sector as a whole, the livestock sector returns are important to the overall health in the short run. In 12 months, how the markets adjust (input prices, crop prices, and cash management/debt levels).”
“Demand side: uncertainty about renewable energy policy and potential international market loss through trade disputes. Production side: outlook for labor availability, given political rhetoric. Overall margin compression on lower commodity prices (likely larger Brazilian production forthcoming) and sustained high interest rates.”
“If 2018 is any indication, in 12 months we are likely to see adverse effects of tariffs, as well as immigration policy changes.”

Future of the Farm Bill

The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor also asked economists to weigh in on when they think Congress will pass a new farm bill, as well as if Congress votes on an extension this year, is it necessary to raise reference prices for producers.

Nov./Dec. Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound)

Nov/Dec Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound)

See previous results from Farm Journal’s Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor.

Buoyed by Stronger Support from Rural America than 2016, Trump Wins Second Term as President

Donald Trump won all battleground states in a virtual red wall while the blue wall (Pa., Wis., Mich.) cratered for Democratic challenger Kamala Harris as she faced the greatest political comeback in U.S. history.

Trump also won battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia and was close in Nevada and Arizona, two states not yet officially called. It looks like Trump will eventually garner over 300 electoral votes. Trump is the first candidate in over a century to reclaim the White House after losing it. Trump, who won election in 2016 as the 45th president, now will be the 47th and just the second candidate in U.S. history to win nonconsecutive White House terms.

The Republican Party was on track to win the popular vote for the first time since 2004.

“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump told supporters as he declared victory.

Trump garnered even stronger support in rural America versus his still robust rural vote in this first administration. That is likely a backlash against the ag policy moves of the Biden/Harris administration that focused on underserved and minority rural citizens.

Trump also won strong support among working-class voters. The AP VoteCast survey, which included more than 120,000 registered voters nationally, showed he won 55% of voters without a college degree. That was up from 51% in 2020 in his race against Biden. Harris, meanwhile, struggled to pull together the diverse coalition that elected Biden in 2020, and she was weighed down by negative views of the economy under the Biden administration.

— It’s Trump’s GOP and his party has changed in a massive realignment. It now focuses on the working class, younger Americans, including young Black men, and Hispanics. It already focused on rural Americans; Trump gained even more rural votes in this election.

—“A new star is born,” Trump said in his acceptance speech: Elon Musk, who helped Trump and the GOP in campaign funding and messaging. It is unclear what role Musk will play in the next Trump administration, but the president-elect previously said he wants Musk to lead an effort to make the government more efficient. Of note: Musk vowed to keep his political action committee going beyond the presidential election, a sign the world’s richest person is building a political machine to support Trump.

— Republicans did much better than most expected in Senate races, with a likely pickup of four seats, to 53 (perhaps more), up from their 49 total in the current Congress. They include:

• West Va.: Open seat (Joe Manchin). Jim Justice (R) beat Glenn Elliott (D)

• Mont.: Incumbent Jon Tester (D) lost to Tim Sheehy (R)

• Ohio: Incumbent Sherrod Brown (D) lost to Bernie Moreno (R)

• Pa.: Incumbent Bob Casey Jr. (D) lost to Dave McCormick (R)

• Mich.: Open seat (Stabenow). Elissa Slotkin (D) is clinging to a 4,600 vote lead over former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers.

• Wis.: Incumbent Tammy Baldwin (D) is slightly ahead of Eric Hovde (R)… after late results from Milwaukee and Racine put her in the lead.

• Nev.: Incumbent Jacky Rosen (D) leads Republican Sam Brown in both Washoe and in Clark County, where the outstanding vote likely benefits her. With many absentee ballots, this race may not be called for a while, much like the 2022 Senate contest.

• Ariz.: Open (Kirsten Sinema). Ruben Gallego (D) beat Kari Lake (R)

• Neb.: Incumbent Deb Fischer (R) squeaked by Dan Osborn (Independent)

• Texas: Incumbent Ted Cruz (R) beat Colin Allred (D)

• Current GOP Sens. Deb Fischer (Neb.) and Ted Cruz (Texas) both won their races that Democrats thought they had a chance of winning.

— What the GOP Senate tally means: This will mute to some degree GOP Senate moderates in the new Congress, including Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), newly elected John Curtis (Utah) and Bill Cassidy (La.). The Senate GOP count gives Republicans powerful leverage in tax and spending battles.

— Several House races are still too close to call, but it appears Republicans will hold on to its narrow majority in the chamber. But Democrats were leading in some close races and several California races could still tip the House chamber to the Democrats. If the GOP keeps control of the chamber, that means another contentious House Speaker vote perhaps changes in its rules.

— Election winners include:
• Trump and his campaign strategy. Also, Trump’s victory coattails helped Republicans win a few Senate contests previously mentioned and helped keep the House in GOP control.
• GOP issues, including the border, tax/economic/inflation policy, energy, reduced regulations and a push for a reciprocity trade policy.
• Sen. Steve Daines from Montana played a significant role in the 2024 Senate races as the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). In this position, he was responsible for leading the Republican efforts to flip control of the Senate from Democratic to Republican majority.

— Losers include:
• Kamala Harris who mostly refused to answer questions and make clear the policies she wanted. Her strategy of focusing on abortion and women voters was not enough to beat Trump.
• Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who led the maneuvers to get President Joe Biden to relinquish his re-election run for president and pushed Harris to pick Tim Walz of Minnesota as her vice president when election experts thought she should have picked Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro.
• Harris’ campaign strategy that at the end relied on elite musical entertainers, a failed strategy that Hillary Clinton also tried. Nearly $16 billion were spent this election season, with Democrats spending a lot more than Republicans. The GOP saw the benefit of podcasts, which were a free way of getting their message across to voters.
• Pollsters who underestimated Trump voters for the third consecutive presidential election. Another loser: Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, who on Saturday predicted Harris over Trump in Iowa by 3 points; Trump won the state by double digits. Her poll turned out to be an outlier.
• President Biden’s family who helped push him to run for re-election only to wait until it was very late to see him pushed aside and forced to drop out.
• Most of the mainstream (legacy) media who clearly favored Harris and did several things that showed their bias.

— Now what?
• Trump should have learned from mistakes during his first term and will not likely make poor choices of some Cabinet and other personnel who ended up writing negative books about him.
• Trump’s Cabinet: The new GOP Senate next year will be able to provide the votes for Trump to get the Cabinet he wants. Unclear is what role RFK Jr. will play in Trump 2.0. He would not likely be confirmed by the Senate for any Cabinet position.
• High odds that a Trump favorite, Doug Burgum of North Dakota, will come into Trump 2.0 administration, perhaps as Energy Secretary, Burgum will bring ag-related interests relative to the RFS and tax incentive programs like 45Z/Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). On global climate policy, Carbon Brief said Trump’s return to the White House would likely result in the U.S. missing its climate pledges “by a wide margin,” though it noted that some Biden administration policies such as a mammoth clean-tech spending program may “prove hard to unpick.”
• The lame-duck session of Congress may be encouraged to complete lingering business, including fiscal year (FY) 2025 funding, disaster aid, and perhaps a new farm bill and an ag economic aid measure.
• Foreign policy: Trump will take a more aggressive role in foreign policy rather than the near pacificist approach taken by Biden/Harris.
• Supreme Court: In the next few years, one to several existing SCOTUS members could likely depart.
• Republicans are now in position to reshape the federal judiciary.

— Budget reconciliation: With Republicans capturing the White House and Senate, and perhaps keeping control of the House, that means several budget reconciliation measures until 2026 elections could alter that situation. That means higher odds that Trump will get a lot of what he wants relative to 2017 Tax Act policies which mostly expire at the end of 2025.

— During the first days of his second term, Trump will issue executive orders dealing with border issues and energy-related matters, topics which Biden altered in recent years. Trump will also put into play that for every new regulation, up to ten regulations must be swept away.

— The ag sector will focus on Trump 2.0’s trade policy. Trump has said “tariffs” is his favorite word in the dictionary and has consistently said he would use them against China. He has also said he would put 10% to 20% tariffs on imports from other countries, but that is seen as leverage in discussions with countries for a key goal of his new term: reciprocal trade agreements. Key will be if former U.S. Trade Rep Robert Lighthizer comes into the new Trump administration as most expect and if so, under what role. It may be as Commerce or Treasury Secretary. Trump recently said he would slap on tariffs against Mexico if their new president doesn’t comply with holding illegal immigrants into her country.

— International reactions to Donald Trump’s return to political prominence:
• Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu referred to the outcome as “history’s greatest comeback,” signaling strong approval and a continued bond between the two leaders.
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to Trump as a “friend,” reflecting close ties and potentially anticipating cooperative efforts.
• Cautious optimism from Western leaders: France, Britain, and Italy’s leaders expressed a diplomatic hope for future collaboration, signaling their willingness to maintain stable relations with Trump while hedging their tone.
• Far-right leaders in Europe cheered, indicating ideological alignment or a belief that Trump’s policies resonate with their political goals.
• Measured Response from Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave restrained praise by highlighting appreciation for a “peace through strength” approach. This suggests caution from Zelensky, likely stemming from Trump’s past relationship with Russia and potential implications for Ukraine’s security situation.

— Market reactions:
• Bitcoin is bullish on the news as Trump and Musk are supporters. Bitcoin jumped to a record high above $75,000.
• U.S. equities will likely show a continuation of higher levels as Trump’s wins will mean better tax/investment opportunities than if Harris had won.
• Banks, brokers: Robust stock markets and an end to the Biden administration antitrust crackdown should mean more profits for banks and brokers… and less regulation. Bank of America, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Charles Schwab and Goldman Sachs are all up 6% or more in premarket trading.
• Treasury yields jumped, and the dollar surged on the election results (While Trump has advocated for a weaker dollar, many investors say his policies will achieve the opposite). Treasury yields are soaring on the view that Trump’s agenda — more spending, low taxes, tariffs, restricted immigration — will fuel inflation. The 10-year US Treasury note edged towards 4.5%, a level not seen in about six months, before pulling back a bit. Bitcoin spiked to a record and the Mexican peso lost as much as 3.5%.
• Oil, gold: A stronger greenback makes dollar-denominated commodities more expensive for international buyers, so crude and precious metals are falling.
• The yuan weakened the most in two years and Chinese stocks fell on the specter of Washington slapping tariffs of up to 60% on Chinese goods. The move could further weaken the world’s second-largest economy and disrupt global supply chains.
• Ag markets will be cautious over Trump’s aggressive trade policies. Soybeans dropped given concerns about trade tensions with China, the biggest buyer.
• Federal Reserve policymakers will watch to see if Trump’s policies via across-the-board tariffs and aggressive tax cuts are inflationary.

— A key state ballot issue in South Dakota is poised to have gone against carbon pipelines. This referendum let voters decide whether to uphold a pipeline bill that was passed by legislators. With 82% of votes in, 60% have voted no and 40% voted yes. A no vote would mean the state law in question would be rejected and that raises fresh questions about the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline and similar projects.