Dairy Diary

There was a time, not so long ago, when the widespread use of tractors transformed how farmers worked the land and the crops they grew, increasing productivity and efficiency. Now, robotic harvesting systems and machines using artificial intelligence to scan fields for weeds and diseases are the innovations transforming the sector. Biotechnology, precision agriculture and communication, and information technologies hold the promise to enhance global food security, improve sustainability and tackle the impact of agriculture on the environment, increase the efficiency and competitiveness of farming operations, and enhance resilience to manage risks like climate change.

The carols. The lights. The department store advertising. The television specials. During this time of year, messages of festivities, food, and family are everywhere. But there’s still plenty to do on the farm – the chores won’t do themselves.

Most conversations about multigenerational farming tend to also lead to conversations related to succession planning. Fortunately, a multitude of resources is available to support sound succession planning: this article is meant, instead, to bring focus to some of the day-to-day joys and challenges of having multiple generations working together to steward the land — and feed the nation.