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Farm Horizons • April
3, 2017 • Page 11
Small farm survival Carver County Dairy Expo speaker shares tips
By Starrla Cray Amidst all the big dairy operations, can a small farm still survive?
Dr. Jeffrey Bewley, extension dairy systems specialist with the University of Kentucky, says“ yes” – but success won’ t happen by accident.
“ The reality is, economics are tougher for small farms than they are for larger ones,” he said at the 25th annual Carver County Dairy Expo Feb. 20.“ We’ re working at a competitive disadvantage from the beginning.”
During his presentation,“ Small Giants: Strategies for Small Farm Survival,” Bewley drew wisdom from the book“ Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big,” by Bo Burlingham.
Although the book isn’ t specific to the business of farming, Bewley said some of the same principles apply.
Become a‘ small giant’
A few“ small giant characteristics” include:
• Leadership – Successful leaders know who they are, what they want out of their business, and why. Bewley recommended reading the Harvard Business Review in addition to dairy-focused magazines. The magazine is focused on strategy and innovation ideas for managing a business.
• Community – Companies are rooted in the communities where they do business. Bewley said farmers are generally quite good at this, and he encouraged them to“ keep it up.”
• Employees – Workers are engaged.( On a small farm,“ employees” are often the children in the family.)
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