ZISK. An app made and used by dairy farmers. This is its newsletter.

Here's the DIRT. We aren’t your typical ag e-newsletter. We cover interesting, wacky, and exciting agriculture news, stories, memes, and videos. In all seriousness – the milk, corn, and soybean markets, and up-to-date ag news and information can be found on our ZISK APP.

MILK PRICES

DOC'S RUMINATIONS

Insights from Dr. Kevin Hoogendoorn, DVM, Creator and Owner of the ZISK dairy app.

“Big Habits Made Easy”

Did you know that 41% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions? And that by the end of the year only 9% are successfully keeping them? That means that 78% of us fai!. The more interesting part is that a majority of us are confident that we’ll keep those goals when we set them. So, what gives?

One large reason we fail is that we set unspecific goals like….lose weight….live healthier….save money….get in shape….spend more time with my spouse or children….what do those even mean? We can’t measure them and we don’t know if they’re working…..so we lose focus and stop our new habit fairly quickly.

Another reason our resolutions fail is that we make them unrealistic. I want to save $20,000…. lose 40 lbs….look like Arnold Schwartzneggar….,etc. These goals are just too big! When we don’t reach them quickly, meaning in 2 weeks, we lose interest and resort back to our old habits.

Frustrating, isn’t it! But, how do we win? The answer is easier than you think….go SMALL. I recently read a book by Caroline L. Arnold called Small Move, Big Change. She encourages us to make small, manageable changes. Instead of saying, “I’m going to keep the house clean and picked up” decide on a small goal like making the bed each morning when you wake up. It’s something you can do and you will likely keep doing it. That small change will lead to other small changes and before you know it, you’ll start making other small parts of your house neater too.

A few years ago I attended a talk by John C. Maxwell. He painted a great story picture with two thoughts. You have a tree in your back yard that you want to chop down. It’s a BIG tree! You pick up the axe and start chopping. After 45 minutes your hands are blistered, you’re sweaty and tired and you stop……nowhere near having the tree chopped down. That was such an unrewarding experience that you leave the axe lying on the porch for the rest of the summer. Now, the other option. You make a resolution to pick up the axe EVERY DAY and take 5 swings at the tree….CHOP….CHOP…. CHOP….CHOP….CHOP. Then you set it down. Tomorrow morning you go outside and do the same thing….CHOP….CHOP ….CHOP…. CHOP…. CHOP. This is an easy goal! You keep doing it day after day….and guess what, eventually the tree falls. (Another secret is that some days you have more energy and commitment, and you’ll take more than 5 chops at the tree. But see, the minimum of 5 does that for you.)

How many small BIG things could you do on your dairy farm? Maybe you ask every employee to commit to picking up 1 piece of trash each day. How long would it take for your farm to be neater? Maybe you resolve to spend 10 minutes over a cup of coffee with your spouse each morning no matter how busy you are. Whatever it is, if you start small and KEEP DOING that small thing, it will be a BIG THING before long.

UDDER STUFF

Award-winning Atkins has garnered substantial recognition throughout his career, including the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Male Vocalist and BMI’s (Broadcast Music, Inc.) “Million-Air” Award. With numerous top hits, his songs, including Number One Song of the Decade “Watching You,” hit the airwaves frequently. Additionally, he has produced six Number One singles and eight Top 5 singles.
 
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Platinum-selling artist’s current solo studio album, Caught Up in the Country, reveals an artist who is confident enough to know that making your best music can require patience and experimentation. The results are his most daring collection so far – touching on emotions and sounds that continue to expand his range – from the twangy celebration of the album’s title track (featuring the roof-raising vocals of The Fisk Jubilee Singers) to the slow-burn cover of Jason Isbell’s “Cover Me Up.”
 
With 3.8 billion career streams under his belt, Atkins prevails as one of the most powerful voices in country music. Overall, he was the second most-played male artist of the decade. He sold more than 11.4 million units and earned 10 career Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum RIAA certifications to date, including his latest Gold-certified single, “Caught Up in The Country,” which also set the record for longest-running single (at the time) in Billboard Country Airplay history at 57 weeks. Atkins has performed on NBC’s TODAY Show, Good Morning America’s Strahan & Sara, and FOX & Friends.
 
Reminder: If you plan to attend the 2024 Central Plains Dairy Expo, PLEASE register before arriving. Click here to register.

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December 7, 2023

centralplainsdairy.com

AG TECH

What does IT look like on your dairy?

Information technology (IT) systems are an integral part of any business – dairies are no exception.

At one point or another, every dairy has had one of the following: a milk harvest machine, a tractor or an old computer monitor decorated with fly feces.

While the milking parlor and tractor have regularly scheduled maintenance – with good reason, as the improper function of either of these implements could greatly hinder productivity – that dirty computer monitor tells a different story. Computing technologies are a necessity but not one that is often a priority.

Computers and the software on them are essential for data collection, computing, communication and more on a dairy, but they do not directly influence cow health or milk production. Because of this, regular maintenance is often put on the back burner. However, having a sound information technology (IT) system on your dairy can aid in productivity all over the farm.

‘Is my dairy big enough to worry about IT?’

While it may be more common for a business located in an office building to have an IT department, it is important for dairies of any size to have one too. An IT department on a dairy might not have a full-fledged team of employees dedicated to making systems and software run smoothly, but taking time to install the proper equipment and protocols associated with a dairy operation could save a lot of time, money and headaches.

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Matti McBride

December 15, 2023

progressivedairy.com

agproud.com

'TIS THE SEASON

Shining bright in Sunnyside: J&K Dairy partakes in lighted farm implement parade

Every year during the first week in December, J&K Dairy drives a spectacularly decorated swather in one of the most unique lighted parades in the Northwest.

The Sunnyside Lighted Farm Implement Parade, which is one of the oldest farm implement parades in the nation, features dozens of tractors, combines and antique farm equipment – each uniquely decorated with thousands of twinkling Christmas lights. This enchanting festival of lights pays a unique tribute to Sunnyside’s agricultural heritage and was established in 1989.

Of the many parade participants, fourth-generation dairy farmers Jason and Karen Sheehan of J&K Dairy, located in Sunnyside, Washington, enjoy driving their decorated swather in the parade every year.

“The parade has been a long-standing tradition,” Karen says. “I grew up in the Sunnyside area and the local farmers got together, put lights on their implements and they drove downtown Sunnyside. It was a very cool thing to have happen because there was nothing like it around. Since then, it has grown and grown into something our community has been known for.”

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Audrey Schmitz

November 24, 2023