More Cows, More People

Dec 09, 2015

The dairy industry continues to trend toward larger herd sizes, farm owners find themselves managing people as much as they manage cows. The ability to manage people varies widely from farm to farm. In the past, human resource management was informal or nonexistent, but now employed labor has become the norm on many farms. Cultural diversity, communication and training are all human resource concerns for today’s farm operators, especially where agricultural workers are of different cultural backgrounds than their employers.

In the October 25, 2015 Hoard’s Dairyman article More Cows, More People UW-Extension Dane County Dairy & Livestock Agent Jennifer Blazek and Jackson County Agriculture Agent Trisha Wagner share the results of a survey conducted on 220 dairy farms to assess employee management on farm.

Three full detailed reports regarding the survey including farm employee characteristics, wages and benefits for farm employees, and human resource characteristic and challenges for Wisconsin farms, can be found at UW-Extension Farm Team’s Human Resource Management.

Source: uwex.edu

Video: CEOs of the Industry: John McIntire, Partner at Pike Pig Systems

CEOs of the Industry, Jim sits down with John McIntire, Partner at Pike Pig Systems, one of the most quietly impressive 26,000-sow operations in the U.S. John shares how he grew from operator to partner, how Pike built a people-first culture with long-tenured managers, and why they’re committed to weaning bigger, stronger pigs at 25+ days.

John breaks down how Pike stays efficient in a tough economic environment, the power of their shareholder-owned farm model, and how their work with PIC and a 240-head boar facility drives genetics and health outcomes. He also opens up about the innovations Pike adopts — and how they decide what’s truly valuable versus industry hype.

From Prop 12 and labor challenges to trade, consumer expectations, and sustainability, John chooses a hot-button issue and shares how Pike is preparing for the future. The episode closes with a rapid-fire “Fast Five” — mindset, leadership, daily habits, and three words that define Pike Pig Systems in 2025.

If you want a look inside a people-driven, purpose-driven, quietly elite pork system, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.