Articles
Five tools to address stress
Stress management is an essential business skill in today’s agriculture. As a farmer, you have a responsibility to maintain your mental and physical health just like you have a responsibility to maintain your farm equipment.
Take a systems approach to people-management on your farm
A system is a series of interconnected parts that drive an organization forward. A “systems approach” to human resources management on your farm considers the interconnectedness of all the efforts you’ve made to make your farm a great place to work. It includes every aspect of the employee life-cycle, from the first time a prospective […]
Benefits of Sleep for Mental and Physical Wellbeing
Have you noticed feeling more irritable or less able to think clearly and concentrate after a night of bad sleep? You’re not alone. Sleep is as essential to your overall health as food and water are. Experience has probably shown us how essential good sleep is for how well our brains and bodies work the […]
What’s next for the family farm: Resources help when making decisions
Farm succession planning has a lot of technical components that require accountants, consultants, tax specialists, and attorneys to figure out how and when the transition will happen. Read how Extension helped this family farm successfully transition to the next generation of owners.
Wisconsin Agricultural Land Prices 2023
This report provides a statewide overview of agricultural land values across Wisconsin in 2023 based on a statistical analysis of actual sales and now includes the weighted average price of agricultural land sold in Wisconsin.
2024 Dairy Margin Coverage: Enrollment and Policy Updates
Dairy producers need to stay informed about the latest developments of the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program so that they can make timely and informed decisions for their operations.
February is Heart Health Month — Achieve a Happy Heart!
Stress is everywhere. It’s a part of life, from breakdowns, financial struggles, the weather, relationship issues, and isolation that often lead to stress. Stress can become problematic when it makes us feel overwhelmed or continues for a long time.
Make Your Strategic Goals A Reality
The season of New Year’s resolutions is upon us. This time of year, we start reflecting on what we have accomplished and what we would like to achieve in the year ahead. Before jumping right into those new resolutions, take some time to remind yourself of your big-picture or long-term vision for yourself and your farm business, set strategic goals to align with your vision, develop an attainable plan of action, and identify who is responsible for each part of the plan.
The Dairy Situation and Outlook for 2024
This presentation given for Hoard’s Dairyman provides an overview of dairy markets, examining recent trends and future directions dairy demand and pricing could go.
Review recordkeeping methods and retention standards in the new year
This article was originally published in Progressive Dairy. For many farmers, farming is widely viewed as a “way of life” rather than as a business. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers an activity a trade or business if it is conducted with a profit motive. Profit is defined as income or receipts greater than expenses, […]
Is it time to rethink employee onboarding and training?
In this recorded Badger Dairy Insight webinar, UW-Madison Division of Extension Farm Management Outreach Specialist Jim Versweyveld discusses onboarding and training for dairy employees and discusses how interactive learning experiences can help build confidence by allowing dairy workers to actively participate in their own training.
House Passes Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act
The House of Representatives cast votes on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (House Resolution 1147) . Whereas, the bill revised requirements for milk distribution under the National School Lunch Program, managed by the Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Coping Better Episode 7 | F.A.R.M.(ing) a Healthy Future
Big dreams – big goals – long waiting times. Ever find yourself in a pattern of waiting for happiness at the end of another rainbow? In this episode we talk to Joy Kirkpatrick, Farm Succession Outreach Specialist for UW Madison, Division of Extension and Center for Dairy Profitability and Serge Koenig, a Conservation Technician in Sauk County. Serge and Joy remind us that it’s those small, daily goals that bring us satisfaction everyday and help us feel that sense of accomplishment.
Coping Better Episode 6 | Growing Towards the Positive
Did you ever find yourself in the middle of your worst day? Sometimes life provides us with moments to respond or react and we have to choose. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Paul Fricke, Professor, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at UW Madison and Sue Sharp, the owner of Driftless Life Coaching. Sue and Paul share with us their own “oh no” moments to help highlight opportunities that come when we pause and reappraise situations so that we can respond in ways that help us learn and grow.
Coping Better Episode 5 | Cultivating Compassion and Community
Compassion is a powerful way we connect with others – but how often do we extend it to ourselves when we really need it? Not often enough. In this session we talk with Amanda Coorough, Health and Wellbeing Educator, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Division of Extension and Shawn Monson, Program Coordinator, Farmwell Wisconsin, a service of Southwest Wisconsin Community Action Program. They not only share with us why self compassion is so important to our well-being, but they provide examples of how self compassion can be a source of strength in very difficult times.
Coping Better Episode 4 | Being Present for a Strong Agricultural Future
Taking a moment to appreciate the simple things in life not only helps us stay safe, but keeps us rooted in the present and allows us to plan for a better, less stressful future. In this episode we speak with Dr. Larissa Duncan, State Specialist for Health & Well-Being at the Division of Extension and Faculty at University of Wisconsin – Madison and David Unbehaun, a Richland County farmer whose family has been on the land for four generations. They explain how a little bit of mindfulness can go a long way in helping to cope with daily life stressors and prevent us from not dwelling on things outside our control.
