WEBVTT 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:15.060 Breaking free from the chains of the past Where 00:00:15.060 --> 00:00:18.820 truth moves faster than a Holstein calf No law 00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:21.660 waiting on some printed page We're charting new 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:25.300 ground in the digital age From genomic codes 00:00:25.300 --> 00:00:29.120 to robot facts We cut through the noise, no hold 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:32.460 them back not your daddy's dairy news tonight 00:00:32.460 --> 00:01:03.119 we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, 00:01:03.579 --> 00:01:06.719 where we challenge dairy's sacred cows with hard 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:10.359 data and bold insights. I'm your host, and today 00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:12.400 we're about to flip everything you think you 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:15.459 know about working hard on the farm. What if 00:01:15.459 --> 00:01:17.560 I told you that the hardest working dairy farmers 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:20.319 in your area might actually be the least profitable? 00:01:20.939 --> 00:01:24.379 Sounds crazy, right? Well, groundbreaking research 00:01:24.379 --> 00:01:27.500 from Ireland's Teagasc just proved that 51 -hour 00:01:27.500 --> 00:01:30.900 workweeks consistently outperform 70 -hour grinds 00:01:30.900 --> 00:01:34.920 by 20 % ROI. We're diving deep into why strategic 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:38.120 rest beats relentless grind, how flexible milking 00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:40.760 systems are revolutionizing profits worldwide, 00:01:41.140 --> 00:01:43.659 and why your brain might be your farm's most 00:01:43.659 --> 00:01:47.280 valuable and most neglected asset. This isn't 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:50.280 feel -good wellness talk. This is hard economics 00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:52.750 that could transform your operation. Stick around, 00:01:52.930 --> 00:01:55.609 because what you're about to hear will challenge 00:01:55.609 --> 00:01:58.010 every assumption about dairy farming success. 00:01:59.049 --> 00:02:01.609 Welcome back to the Bullvine Deep Dive, the show 00:02:01.609 --> 00:02:03.969 that digs deep into the topics that matter to 00:02:03.969 --> 00:02:07.810 dairy producers. That's right. And today we're 00:02:07.810 --> 00:02:09.870 tackling a really interesting feature article 00:02:09.870 --> 00:02:11.889 from the Bullvine. It's certainly got people 00:02:11.889 --> 00:02:13.710 talking, and we're going to break it all down 00:02:13.710 --> 00:02:16.509 for you. Yeah, we are. Today we're diving into, 00:02:16.750 --> 00:02:19.629 well, it's a crucial topic, really. It challenges 00:02:19.629 --> 00:02:22.620 one of the most... kind of ingrained myths in 00:02:22.620 --> 00:02:24.879 our industry. Which one's that? The idea that 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:27.740 working harder always means earning more, you 00:02:27.740 --> 00:02:30.539 know? We're going to unpack why those long, long 00:02:30.539 --> 00:02:32.439 hours might actually be costing you profits, 00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:35.879 real money, not making them. Exactly. Our deep 00:02:35.879 --> 00:02:38.719 dive today is based on the 51 -hour dairy profit 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:41.580 advantage from the bullvine. And it brings some... 00:02:41.900 --> 00:02:44.020 Frankly, eye -opening research into the mix, 00:02:44.139 --> 00:02:46.900 especially data coming out of Ireland. It looks 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:49.639 at how strategic rest, you know, smarter scheduling, 00:02:49.819 --> 00:02:52.280 can actually lead to significantly higher returns. 00:02:52.620 --> 00:02:55.259 It's really about working smarter, not just, 00:02:55.259 --> 00:02:58.379 you know, grinding out longer hours. So get ready 00:02:58.379 --> 00:03:00.180 to maybe question everything you thought you 00:03:00.180 --> 00:03:03.520 knew about dedication on the farm. Because the 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:05.719 numbers, well, once we dig into them, they tell 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:09.080 a very different story. And potentially a very 00:03:09.080 --> 00:03:12.060 profitable one for your operation. Okay. Okay, 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:14.500 so let's unpack this core idea. The article puts 00:03:14.500 --> 00:03:17.120 it right out there, and it is pretty provocative. 00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:20.520 It is. What if the hardest -working dairy farmers, 00:03:20.620 --> 00:03:22.319 the ones putting in all the hours, are actually 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.180 the least profitable, consistently? It kind of 00:03:25.180 --> 00:03:26.860 turns everything on its head, doesn't it? It 00:03:26.860 --> 00:03:28.840 absolutely does. And what's fascinating, I think, 00:03:28.939 --> 00:03:32.340 is how the article immediately challenges, well... 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:35.120 our industry's identity, really. For generations, 00:03:35.259 --> 00:03:37.979 we've glorified this always working mentality, 00:03:38.340 --> 00:03:40.060 haven't we? We've treated burnout like it's some 00:03:40.060 --> 00:03:41.879 kind of badge of honor. You push through it. 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:43.960 Right. Like it proves your commitment. Exactly. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:46.879 But the research, as the article points out, 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:49.460 suggests this is a myth that's costing farms 00:03:49.460 --> 00:03:53.259 millions. It really forces us to ask that uncomfortable 00:03:53.259 --> 00:03:57.000 question. When did never stopping become more 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:01.099 important than never failing? That's a good question. 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:04.919 It feels like there's this, you know, deep -seated 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:08.860 societal pressure within dairy, within agriculture 00:04:08.860 --> 00:04:12.259 generally, equating sheer hours worked with success. 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:14.319 Oh, definitely. You hear it all the time. Yeah. 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:16.339 Like the longer you work, the more dedicated 00:04:16.339 --> 00:04:19.100 you must be. And before, you know, the more successful 00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:21.220 you should be, or at least how people see you. 00:04:21.480 --> 00:04:23.180 You've hit on something so true there. It's a 00:04:23.180 --> 00:04:26.300 cultural norm, deeply rooted. You see it in conversations 00:04:26.300 --> 00:04:28.560 and the expectations we put on ourselves, our 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:31.079 teams. Even how we talk about our neighbors, 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:33.779 right? If someone is doing 14, 16 hour days, 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:36.319 seven days a week, there's almost this unspoken 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:39.379 judgment. Like, are they really pulling their 00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:41.459 weight? Are they truly committed? That subtle 00:04:41.459 --> 00:04:44.040 pressure. But this article, it really pushes 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:46.240 back hard on that. It's suggesting this isn't 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:49.180 just, you know, inefficient. It's a harmful myth. 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:52.139 With real, tangible consequences for the business. 00:04:52.420 --> 00:04:55.160 And it backs that up with hard data, specifically 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:58.120 from the Irish Agriculture and Food Development 00:04:58.120 --> 00:05:01.180 Authority, TGASC. They did this really insightful 00:05:01.180 --> 00:05:03.459 study. Okay, tell us about that. Well, they compared 00:05:03.459 --> 00:05:06.720 the top 25 % most efficient dairy farms with 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:10.740 the bottom 25%. And the key finding is genuinely 00:05:10.740 --> 00:05:13.319 eye -opening. Almost shocking, really. Right. 00:05:13.399 --> 00:05:15.379 The most efficient farmers worked, get this, 00:05:15.540 --> 00:05:19.680 on average, just 51 .2 hours per week. Managing 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:23.620 about 112 cows. 51 .2 hours. Okay. Now contrast 00:05:23.620 --> 00:05:25.819 that with the least efficient farmers. They were 00:05:25.819 --> 00:05:28.959 logging a staggering 70 hours per week. 70? 70. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:32.019 Managing virtually identical herds. About 113 00:05:32.019 --> 00:05:35.439 cows on average. Wow. Okay, so we're not talking 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:38.199 a small difference here. That's what? nearly 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:41.360 19 extra hours every single week. 19 hours, yeah. 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:43.560 For the same size herd, basically. That's almost 00:05:43.560 --> 00:05:45.920 two full extra work days every week. Where were 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:47.639 those hours going if they weren't boosting the 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:50.199 bottom line? Exactly the question. And the conclusion 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:53.500 from TGASC was, well, pretty blunt. And it's 00:05:53.500 --> 00:05:55.540 worth repeating. They said, the greater profitability 00:05:55.540 --> 00:05:58.199 achieved on the most labor efficient farms indicates 00:05:58.199 --> 00:06:00.699 that the extra workload on less efficient farms 00:06:00.699 --> 00:06:03.120 does not contribute to farm profitability. So 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:06.060 basically wasted hours. Think about that. Those 00:06:06.060 --> 00:06:09.019 19 extra hours weren't just unproductive. The 00:06:09.019 --> 00:06:11.579 article implies they were actively wasted. They 00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:14.019 likely contributed to higher risk, more errors, 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:17.300 more stress. And ultimately lower returns. Precisely. 00:06:17.300 --> 00:06:19.740 It really drives home that powerful point in 00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:24.019 the article. Dedication without design is incompetence 00:06:24.019 --> 00:06:27.990 disguised as virtue. Oof. That's strong. it is 00:06:27.990 --> 00:06:30.730 strong but it highlights a crucial truth doesn't 00:06:30.730 --> 00:06:33.250 it it's not just about clocking hours it's about 00:06:33.250 --> 00:06:36.089 the quality the strategic impact the thought 00:06:36.089 --> 00:06:39.209 behind those hours it is stark and maybe a bit 00:06:39.209 --> 00:06:41.889 you know jarring if you identify strongly with 00:06:41.889 --> 00:06:43.939 your work ethic but What I think the article 00:06:43.939 --> 00:06:46.319 is getting at isn't that dedication is bad. No, 00:06:46.420 --> 00:06:49.000 not at all. But that blind dedication, just working 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:50.939 for the sake of working, can actually hurt you. 00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:53.060 It makes you ask, OK, is my effort actually yielding 00:06:53.060 --> 00:06:55.420 results or am I just busy being busy? Right. 00:06:55.540 --> 00:06:58.199 Are you busy with low value stuff or is maybe 00:06:58.199 --> 00:07:00.740 the fatigue itself leading to poor decisions, 00:07:00.839 --> 00:07:02.860 things missed? Well, the article immediately 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:05.779 tries to quantify some of that. Which really 00:07:05.779 --> 00:07:08.220 brings it into sharp financial focus. It talks 00:07:08.220 --> 00:07:12.720 about $15 ,000 to $67 ,500 in avoidable losses, 00:07:12.939 --> 00:07:16.279 directly tied to errors driven by fatigue. And 00:07:16.279 --> 00:07:17.879 these aren't just abstract numbers, are they? 00:07:17.939 --> 00:07:20.160 These are things that, well, you listening probably 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:22.540 recognize. Things that hit the bottom line hard. 00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:24.920 Like what? Give us some examples. Okay, think 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:27.920 about missed heats. A tired operator, maybe they 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:30.680 overlook subtle signs. That costs you, what, 00:07:30.779 --> 00:07:34.290 $3 to $5 per cow per day. For 21 days until the 00:07:34.290 --> 00:07:36.509 next cycle. Right, that adds up fast. For a decent 00:07:36.509 --> 00:07:39.269 -sized herd, say 200 cows, that's potentially 00:07:39.269 --> 00:07:42.149 an extra $600 to $1 ,000 per missed heat. Then 00:07:42.149 --> 00:07:45.490 there's nutrition drift. Being overtired leads 00:07:45.490 --> 00:07:48.069 to inconsistencies in feeding. That hits milk 00:07:48.069 --> 00:07:50.629 production, cow health. And mastitis. Yeah, the 00:07:50.629 --> 00:07:52.970 article notes mastitis incidents can jump 15 00:07:52.970 --> 00:07:55.569 -20 % when operators are fatigued. That's higher 00:07:55.569 --> 00:07:58.290 treatment costs, dumped milk, maybe more culling. 00:07:58.310 --> 00:08:00.310 It all adds up. Huge impacts. And what about 00:08:00.310 --> 00:08:02.129 equipment? Does fatigue play a role there too? 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:05.860 Absolutely. Operator error, often fueled by exhaustion, 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:08.240 drives roughly a quarter of equipment failures. 00:08:08.579 --> 00:08:11.420 Think about that. Costly repairs, unexpected 00:08:11.420 --> 00:08:13.740 downtime, right when you need the machinery most. 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:17.459 It ripples through the whole operation. And then 00:08:17.459 --> 00:08:20.569 there's the people side. Staff turnover. Always 00:08:20.569 --> 00:08:24.430 a killer. Huge. It can run 22, 43 % in our industry. 00:08:24.689 --> 00:08:27.769 That's massive costs for recruitment, training, 00:08:27.910 --> 00:08:30.189 losing that know -how, plus the drain on your 00:08:30.189 --> 00:08:33.450 own time managing it. And injuries. Yes. Let's 00:08:33.450 --> 00:08:35.110 not forget the human costs, which has direct 00:08:35.110 --> 00:08:37.509 financial consequences. Injuries. The article 00:08:37.509 --> 00:08:40.129 highlights that even a minor tractor injury can 00:08:40.129 --> 00:08:43.190 wipe out $6 ,000 in gross income just during 00:08:43.190 --> 00:08:45.750 recovery time. That's before medical bills or 00:08:45.750 --> 00:08:48.419 the personal toll. So you add it all up. Missed 00:08:48.419 --> 00:08:50.779 heats, mastitis, breakdowns, turnover, injuries. 00:08:51.019 --> 00:08:53.820 These are direct financial hits. And often you 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:56.279 can trace them back to being overtired, stuck 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:58.580 in that dedication without design cycle. So it's 00:08:58.580 --> 00:09:01.299 clear that grind isn't just inefficient. It's 00:09:01.299 --> 00:09:04.279 actively eroding profit and increasing risk for 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:06.200 the farm and for the people. It's a real wake 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:08.139 up call, isn't it? That the old ways might actually 00:09:08.139 --> 00:09:11.000 be holding you back. Yeah. So if working longer 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:14.179 isn't the answer, if it's actually harmful, then 00:09:14.179 --> 00:09:17.100 what is? And that's where the article really 00:09:17.100 --> 00:09:20.149 pivots. It talks about the 51 hour advantage. 00:09:20.190 --> 00:09:22.730 Right. Offering concrete ways to actually achieve 00:09:22.730 --> 00:09:25.110 that sweet spot, moving from just identifying 00:09:25.110 --> 00:09:28.649 the problem to showcasing real research backed 00:09:28.649 --> 00:09:31.289 solutions. OK, this is where it gets really interesting 00:09:31.289 --> 00:09:33.789 for me, because it's not just saying work less. 00:09:33.889 --> 00:09:37.330 That's too simple. It's about strategic redesign. 00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:40.700 a mindful restructuring of how you run things. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:43.440 Exactly. So let's dig into how things like flexible 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:46.419 milking, smart automation, and crucially, protecting 00:09:46.419 --> 00:09:49.440 your own brainpower, how these become profit 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:52.200 levers. Yeah. The article is clear. Strategic 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:54.879 rest, structured schedules, these deliver measurable 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:57.500 returns. Yeah. Fewer fatigue -driven errors. 00:09:57.639 --> 00:09:59.740 It's not just about feeling better. It's about 00:09:59.740 --> 00:10:01.460 better business results. And one of the most 00:10:01.460 --> 00:10:03.620 compelling examples is flexible milking. The 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:05.679 article frames it really well as a profit lever, 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:08.519 not, you know, a concession. Right. Because often 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:11.000 you might worry, if I milk less often, surely 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:13.379 production will drop. It's a natural fear. But 00:10:13.379 --> 00:10:15.700 the New Zealand experience, specifically looking 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:18.059 at John Toddy's farm and his shift to a 10 and 00:10:18.059 --> 00:10:21.320 7 system, well, it kind of debunks that fear. 00:10:21.580 --> 00:10:23.639 Yeah. His farm is a fantastic case study. So 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:26.559 10 and 7, that's milking 10 times over seven 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:28.960 days. So some days less than twice a day. Exactly. 00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:31.080 A reduced frequency on certain days. And the 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:34.309 result? Pretty remarkable. His production, milk 00:10:34.309 --> 00:10:37.090 solids per cow, held steady, actually ticked 00:10:37.090 --> 00:10:41.190 up slightly, 377 kgms to 378. So no loss there. 00:10:41.309 --> 00:10:44.090 None. None. But here's the kicker, where the 00:10:44.090 --> 00:10:46.590 profit lever really worked. He cut farmworking 00:10:46.590 --> 00:10:51.590 expenses by 4 .3%, dropped from $4 .90 per kgms 00:10:51.590 --> 00:10:55.669 down to $4 .69. Wow, 4 .3 % just from changing 00:10:55.669 --> 00:10:58.210 the schedule. Yeah. Milking smarter, not just 00:10:58.210 --> 00:11:00.149 more often. And that cost reduction plus steady 00:11:00.149 --> 00:11:02.149 production, what did that do to the bottom line? 00:11:02.350 --> 00:11:04.789 It led to an incredible boost in profit per hectare, 00:11:04.830 --> 00:11:09.429 up 60 .3%, 60%, from around $2 ,270 up to over 00:11:09.429 --> 00:11:11.669 $3 ,600. All right, those aren't small changes. 00:11:11.710 --> 00:11:13.809 That's transformative. Absolutely. And it wasn't 00:11:13.809 --> 00:11:16.470 just him. DairyNZ trials confirmed it too. No 00:11:16.470 --> 00:11:18.389 statistically significant difference in milk 00:11:18.389 --> 00:11:20.509 solids across various flexible milking schedules. 00:11:20.909 --> 00:11:23.769 So the message for you listening is clear. Smart 00:11:23.769 --> 00:11:26.179 schedule design can protect your yield. maybe 00:11:26.179 --> 00:11:28.659 even improve it slightly, while dramatically 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:30.980 improving well -being and profit, you really 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:33.279 can have both. Challenges that old assumption, 00:11:33.460 --> 00:11:35.799 doesn't it? Yeah. More milking equals more profit. 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:38.120 Not necessarily. Not necessarily at all. Okay. 00:11:38.179 --> 00:11:40.340 So that's flexible milking. What about automation? 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:43.480 AMS, robotic milking. The article mentions that 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:45.840 too, right? It does. And it frames automatic 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:49.120 milking systems, AMS, not just as a tech upgrade, 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:52.720 but as a crucial labor liberation strategy. I 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:55.379 like that term, liberation. Yeah. Tell me more 00:11:55.379 --> 00:11:57.980 about that. Well, look at Australian AMS herds. 00:11:57.980 --> 00:12:00.259 They report comparable physical and economic 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:03.019 performance to conventional parlors. So financially, 00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:05.720 it holds up. But the real benefit, the liberation, 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.519 is how it lets you redeploy your labor, often 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:11.879 your own time, to higher value work. Ah, right. 00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:15.240 Away from the routine pit work. Exactly. NSWDPI 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:18.919 findings show these herds, maybe 150, 240 cows 00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:21.179 on three, four robots, getting good production 00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:24.419 numbers. Around 20, 26 kilograms per cow per 00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:27.700 day, maybe 2 .17 milkings a day. But the key, 00:12:27.820 --> 00:12:29.200 the managers aren't just putting their feet up. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:32.100 No. What are they doing? They're redirecting 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:34.720 that time, often 15, 20 hours a week, freed up 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:38.419 into crucial stuff. Detailed herd health monitoring. 00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:41.879 Precision pasture management. Big picture business 00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:46.879 oversight. Strategy. So using the tech to free 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:49.220 up the human brain for its highest and best use. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:52.299 You got it. Which leads perfectly into maybe 00:12:52.299 --> 00:12:55.039 the most important and often overlooked profit 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:57.559 lever. The cognitive link. The cognitive link. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:01.580 The article stresses. Your brain, the operator's 00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:04.360 brain, is the highest value asset on the farm. 00:13:04.649 --> 00:13:07.470 period. And it puts the demands of modern dairying 00:13:07.470 --> 00:13:10.169 into perspective, saying it requires the cognitive 00:13:10.169 --> 00:13:13.049 performance of a tech CEO. That's quite a statement. 00:13:13.149 --> 00:13:15.129 It is. But think about it. Genomic selections, 00:13:15.409 --> 00:13:17.990 ration optimization, SEC management, interpreting 00:13:17.990 --> 00:13:20.690 all that data, milk marketing. These are complex, 00:13:20.830 --> 00:13:23.110 high level tasks. They really are. You make one 00:13:23.110 --> 00:13:25.389 core decision on genetics, maybe because you're 00:13:25.389 --> 00:13:26.850 exhausted. And that ripples through your herd 00:13:26.850 --> 00:13:28.970 for generations. It affects productivity, health, 00:13:29.110 --> 00:13:31.190 everything. Or getting rations slightly wrong 00:13:31.190 --> 00:13:33.269 because you're too tired to focus. That hits 00:13:33.269 --> 00:13:35.830 feed efficiency, cost, cow health right away. 00:13:35.990 --> 00:13:39.009 And managing SEC, interpreting AMS data, market 00:13:39.009 --> 00:13:41.929 strategies. Yeah, these aren't simple shores. 00:13:42.149 --> 00:13:45.809 Not at all. Yeah, the danger is real. Many farmers 00:13:45.809 --> 00:13:47.950 are making million -dollar decisions on four 00:13:47.950 --> 00:13:50.769 hours of sleep. The article uses that great analogy. 00:13:51.110 --> 00:13:53.429 Which one? Running exhausted is like operating 00:13:53.429 --> 00:13:55.769 a high -precision rotary on contaminated oil. 00:13:56.070 --> 00:13:59.419 Huh. That paints a picture. It might turn, but. 00:13:59.580 --> 00:14:01.360 But it won't be precise. It won't perform well. 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:04.220 And it's heading for a breakdown. Yeah. But is 00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:06.639 it just about feeling tired? Or does the article 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:09.379 get into what actually goes wrong cognitively? 00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:12.279 Impaired judgment. Slower reactions. It touches 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:14.720 on that. And the health implications, too. Remember 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:17.639 that University of Iowa research cited long -term 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:20.600 ag work associated with a 46 % higher odds of 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:24.519 dementia. 46%. That's staggering. It's sobering. 00:14:24.750 --> 00:14:27.230 And it underlines the long -term impact. Short 00:14:27.230 --> 00:14:29.450 -term, burnout just kills critical thinking. 00:14:29.629 --> 00:14:32.309 Your genetics choices suffer. DMME balance gets 00:14:32.309 --> 00:14:35.250 sloppy. SEC control slips. Bad capital decisions 00:14:35.250 --> 00:14:37.570 get made. Your ability to make optimal choices 00:14:37.570 --> 00:14:39.870 is just compromised. Right. But what about the 00:14:39.870 --> 00:14:42.210 flip side? Does rest actually help cognition? 00:14:42.769 --> 00:14:45.649 Yes. And this is fascinating, maybe counterintuitive 00:14:45.649 --> 00:14:48.450 if you're stuck in the always work mindset. The 00:14:48.450 --> 00:14:51.610 article points out that leisure, hobbies, time 00:14:51.610 --> 00:14:54.970 off. It actually improves memory. attention, 00:14:55.110 --> 00:14:57.929 processing speed. So taking time for fishing 00:14:57.929 --> 00:15:01.690 or reading or family, it's not being lazy. It's 00:15:01.690 --> 00:15:03.990 strategic mental restoration. It builds the very 00:15:03.990 --> 00:15:06.370 skills you need for those complex farm decisions. 00:15:06.690 --> 00:15:09.429 It's an investment. And the USDA data backs this 00:15:09.429 --> 00:15:11.929 up. The productivity growth difference. Yeah, 00:15:11.929 --> 00:15:15.049 the ERAS data. Larger, well -managed herds grow 00:15:15.049 --> 00:15:18.409 productivity around 2 .99 % annually. Smaller 00:15:18.409 --> 00:15:21.889 farms. only 0 .63%. And that growth comes from 00:15:21.889 --> 00:15:25.070 tech, efficiency, scale, not just longer hours. 00:15:25.289 --> 00:15:27.149 So the takeaway here is huge. Protecting your 00:15:27.149 --> 00:15:29.070 brainpower isn't a luxury. It's a core business 00:15:29.070 --> 00:15:31.529 asset, foundational to your success. Give your 00:15:31.529 --> 00:15:33.649 brain the fuel and rest it needs. Couldn't agree 00:15:33.649 --> 00:15:35.610 more. It's about ensuring you can make the best 00:15:35.610 --> 00:15:38.389 decisions day in, day out. Okay, this next section 00:15:38.389 --> 00:15:40.720 of the article. It really hits home. It moves 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:42.740 beyond just the efficiency numbers, doesn't it? 00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:44.879 It talks about the human toll, the financial 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:47.759 drains of this always -on mentality. Yeah, it 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:50.480 calls it the industry's dirty secret. And it's 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:52.440 a conversation we absolutely need to be having 00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:54.600 more openly. It raises that tough question for 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:56.440 everyone listening. When you push yourself to 00:15:56.440 --> 00:15:59.860 the absolute limit, what hidden costs are you 00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:02.220 actually racking up? Right. Because the mental 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:05.879 health crisis, those silent profit killers, they're 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:09.549 directly linked to these insane hours. The article's 00:16:09.549 --> 00:16:12.629 blunt, always on, is basically financial suicide 00:16:12.629 --> 00:16:15.210 in modern dairying. It's not just about failing 00:16:15.210 --> 00:16:18.990 to earn more. It's about actively compounding 00:16:18.990 --> 00:16:22.309 risk, magnifying errors. And draining your decision 00:16:22.309 --> 00:16:24.909 -making ability, the very thing that drives profit. 00:16:25.070 --> 00:16:27.789 It's a vicious cycle. When leadership is exhausted, 00:16:28.070 --> 00:16:30.720 everyone pays. The cows, the people, the finances. 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:32.840 And poor farmer mental health isn't separate 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:35.139 from the business, is it? It directly links to 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:37.860 herd outcomes, profit erosion. Absolutely. And 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:40.279 the article lays out the stark reality of the 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:42.899 mental health crisis. The statistics are, well, 00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:45.379 they're tough to hear. Give us the numbers. Depression 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:48.299 affects 29 .3 % of ag producers. Compare that 00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:51.360 to 8 .4 % of U .S. adults generally. Yeah. Anxiety. 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:54.539 Right. 27 % of producers versus 19 % general 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:58.149 population. Significantly higher. Wow. That's 00:16:58.149 --> 00:16:59.970 really high. And it's even worse for beginning 00:16:59.970 --> 00:17:03.610 farmers. In the Midwest, 58 % report mild to 00:17:03.610 --> 00:17:07.529 severe symptoms. And nearly 90 % cite too much 00:17:07.529 --> 00:17:10.009 to do, too little time. That farmer quote really 00:17:10.009 --> 00:17:12.490 captured it. The farm has an insatiable appetite. 00:17:12.609 --> 00:17:14.809 It will just eat everything if you allow it. 00:17:14.849 --> 00:17:17.089 Yeah, it resonates, doesn't it? And this isn't 00:17:17.089 --> 00:17:19.789 just stress. It leads to clinical burnout. A 00:17:19.789 --> 00:17:23.170 review found severe burnout among 13 .7 % of 00:17:23.170 --> 00:17:26.309 farmers globally, hitting 25 % in New Zealand. 00:17:26.630 --> 00:17:29.420 25%. One in four. And the most heartbreaking 00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:33.140 stat, suicide rates. Male farmers, ag managers, 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:36.799 43 .2 deaths per 100 ,000, nearly double other 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:39.000 occupations. That's just awful. Hearing those 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:41.380 numbers, especially suicide rates, it really 00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:43.099 underscores the immense pressure. That dirty 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:44.880 secret label feels right. We're talking lives 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:47.660 here. Absolutely. And beyond the tragedy, think 00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:50.740 about innovation. Burnout kills it, reduces creativity, 00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:53.400 makes thinking rigid, blocks adoption of new 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:55.819 strategies, which just makes the financial pressure 00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:58.880 worse. It's a trap. A downward spiral. And beyond 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:01.299 the big mental health picture, the article also 00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:03.640 points to those hidden financial leaks from fatigue, 00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:06.599 right? Things we see but maybe don't connect 00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:09.259 to being overworked. Exactly. Like injury risk. 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:12.579 Working more than eight hours a day, your injury 00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:15.880 risk shoots up dramatically. Agriculture's fatal 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:19.700 injury rate is already high, 21 .5 per 100K, 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:22.940 over six times the all -worker rate. Six times. 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:25.000 And many of those aren't just accidents. They're 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:27.700 preventable consequences of fatigue. Often, yes. 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:30.740 A momentary lapse due to being overtired. And 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:32.660 then there are those constant, smaller leaks 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:35.180 eroding profit. Like the missed heats we mentioned. 00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:38.640 $3 .05 per cow per day for 21 days. That adds 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:42.109 up. Mastitis up 15 -20%. More treatments, lost 00:18:42.109 --> 00:18:44.450 milk, operator error causing maybe a quarter 00:18:44.450 --> 00:18:47.769 of equipment failures, unexpected costs, downtime. 00:18:48.130 --> 00:18:51.109 And that high staff turnover again, 22, 43 percent. 00:18:51.269 --> 00:18:53.789 So expensive. Recruitment, training, lost knowledge, 00:18:53.950 --> 00:18:56.509 all made worse if the boss is exhausted and on 00:18:56.509 --> 00:18:58.369 edge. For sure. And the article even mentions 00:18:58.369 --> 00:19:00.529 a banking connection. Bankers report stalled 00:19:00.529 --> 00:19:02.569 loan work when farmer mental health issues aren't 00:19:02.569 --> 00:19:04.390 addressed. Really? So banks see the link, too. 00:19:04.589 --> 00:19:07.529 They do. It underscores it perfectly. Profitability 00:19:07.529 --> 00:19:10.049 and wellness are not separate. They are link. 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:12.640 business variables. Yeah. Ignoring the human 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:15.599 cost isn't just tough. It's financially irresponsible. 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:19.140 It threatens the farm's future. This whole section 00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:21.579 just drives home that the cost of overwork is 00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:24.180 so much deeper than we usually think. It's systemic. 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:27.500 It affects people and profits profoundly demands 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:31.000 a change. Yeah. So what does this all mean for 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:33.279 you listening? Maybe you're feeling that pressure, 00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:35.980 recognizing some of these costs. The good news 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:37.720 is the article doesn't just leave you there. 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:40.579 It offers a path forward. The 90 -day transformation 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:43.960 to a 51 -hour workweek. Exactly. A concrete, 00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:46.720 actionable plan, backed up by those global success 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:49.400 stories. It's a roadmap, not just theory. Okay, 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:51.420 let's get practical then. How does this 51 -hour 00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:53.900 challenge work? Why does it work? It works because 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:57.069 it forces discipline. Time, ROI discipline, return 00:19:57.069 --> 00:19:59.069 on investment for your time, makes you focus 00:19:59.069 --> 00:20:02.109 on delegation, smart scheduling, using tech effectively, 00:20:02.309 --> 00:20:04.829 turning hours saved into better execution everywhere 00:20:04.829 --> 00:20:07.049 else. Right. So break down the 90 -day plan. 00:20:07.250 --> 00:20:09.990 What happens first? Days 1 to 30 are all about 00:20:09.990 --> 00:20:13.509 assessment. Getting a baseline. First step. A 00:20:13.509 --> 00:20:17.390 time ROI audit. Meticulously log your hours by 00:20:17.390 --> 00:20:20.329 task. Use an app, a spreadsheet, whatever works. 00:20:20.509 --> 00:20:22.190 But not just logging time, right? You need to 00:20:22.190 --> 00:20:24.490 categorize it. Critically important. Tag each 00:20:24.490 --> 00:20:28.250 task. Is it high -value CEO work, genetics, finance, 00:20:28.509 --> 00:20:30.670 systems, people, medium -value nutrition oversight, 00:20:31.009 --> 00:20:33.809 repro checks, or low -value routine milking, 00:20:33.930 --> 00:20:36.630 feed delivery, basic fixing? This shows you exactly 00:20:36.630 --> 00:20:38.269 where your time goes. Okay, makes sense. What 00:20:38.269 --> 00:20:39.569 else in the first month? A health and errors 00:20:39.569 --> 00:20:42.279 audit. Document your sleep, stress levels, near 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:44.559 misses, treatment slips, breakdowns. Build a 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:46.779 fatigue risk ledger. Make those invisible costs 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:49.519 visible. And tech. Tech due diligence. Model 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:52.460 the ROI for automation, AMS, monitors, auto feeders. 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:54.200 Where could it save you the most labor? Solve 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:57.299 bottlenecks. And finally, a team baseline. Quick 00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:59.259 survey with your staff. Find easy delegation 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:01.740 wins. Identify training needs. Get that honest 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:04.440 picture first. Got it. So that's month one. Assess. 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:08.109 What about month two? Days 31 -60. Optimization 00:21:08.109 --> 00:21:09.970 and scheduling. Start making changes based on 00:21:09.970 --> 00:21:12.410 the audit. Implement one pilot automation or 00:21:12.410 --> 00:21:14.849 outsourcing play. Maybe contract out slurry hauling. 00:21:14.869 --> 00:21:17.269 Try some monitoring tech. Something manageable. 00:21:17.470 --> 00:21:20.210 And your own hours. Hard cap them at 60 per week. 00:21:20.390 --> 00:21:23.309 Fix start finish times. Create boundaries immediately. 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:26.599 Force the discipline. And test flexibility. Yeah. 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:28.880 Introduce one flexible element, maybe a four 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:31.119 -on -four off for the team, or just one single 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:33.380 milking day a week for yourself. Test fatigue 00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:36.140 relief without tanking yield. See how it feels, 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:38.759 how it works. And that midday reset. Crucial. 00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:41.880 Establish protected 90 -minute midday reset for 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:44.240 the main decision maker, especially on high -stress 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:47.000 days. Not just coffee. Genuine mental downtime. 00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:50.319 Recharge the brain. Preserve decision quality. 00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:53.700 Okay. Month one, assess. Month two, optimize 00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:55.799 and schedule. What about the final month, days 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:59.180 61, 90? Lock it in and measure. Progressively 00:21:59.180 --> 00:22:02.420 reduce hours. Aim for 55 by week nine. Hit that 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:05.279 51 by week 12 through ongoing delegation and 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:07.160 automation. And track the results. Absolutely. 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:09.640 Track those metrics you baselined. Missed heats, 00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:12.859 missed status, downtime, staff turnover intent. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:15.480 See the improvement. The article lays out expected 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:18.099 ROI for a 500 -cow herd. What kind of numbers 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:20.420 are we talking? Saving 15, 20 labor hours a week. 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:24.460 That's maybe 15K, 20K a year. Covering two, three 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:28.220 pounds milk per cow per day. Could be 45K, 67K 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:31.460 a year. 15 % lower treatment costs. Another 8K, 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:34.059 12K. These are real numbers. Significant potential 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:37.160 savings and gains. Definitely. And finally, cement 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:40.279 that weekly downtime. One solid four -hour no 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:42.740 -farm block for the principal. It's not lazy. 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:45.000 It's essential for preserving decision quality 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:47.500 and having the bandwidth to implement new ideas. 00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:49.480 And the article shows this isn't just theory, 00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:51.759 right, with those global examples? Exactly. Those 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:54.019 innovators proving work harder is dead. Look 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:56.079 at Ireland again, TGAS, showing top farms hitting 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:58.519 51 hours, finishing earlier, being more profitable. 00:22:58.890 --> 00:23:01.930 That 119 count example, farming effectively under 00:23:01.930 --> 00:23:04.369 3 ,000 total hours a year, principal working 00:23:04.369 --> 00:23:07.130 47 hours a week. It's possible. And the Netherlands, 00:23:07.430 --> 00:23:10.109 sustainable farms earning more. Yeah, over 28 00:23:10.109 --> 00:23:13.410 ,500 more, led by craftsmanship, strategy, smart 00:23:13.410 --> 00:23:16.210 AMS use. Better profit, better work days. UK 00:23:16.210 --> 00:23:19.549 examples too. Flexible road us. Dury Farms, four 00:23:19.549 --> 00:23:22.450 on four off, 10 -4 schedules, plus that pastoral 00:23:22.450 --> 00:23:24.849 care for the team. Hollings Hill Farm moving 00:23:24.849 --> 00:23:27.960 from 3x to 2x milking. Right -sizing the herd, 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:31.400 hiring a herds person, sharpened execution and 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:34.819 quality of life, clear patterns of success. It's 00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:36.599 really important, too, to quickly touch on the 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:38.400 U .S. scheduling and compliance side of things 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:41.900 because that landscape is changing fast. Critically 00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:44.660 important. Federally, yeah, many ag employees 00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:47.380 are exempt from overtime. But states, they're 00:23:47.380 --> 00:23:49.180 getting much stricter. You have to know your 00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:51.359 state's rules. Like California. California is 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:53.559 moving to overtime after eight hours a day. or 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:56.779 40 week by 2025, double time after 12 hours day. 00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:59.299 Washington's already at 40 hours week overtime 00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:01.940 for all ag workers. Oregon, New York. Oregon's 00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:05.059 phasing down to 40 hours by 2027. New York's 00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:08.079 phasing down from 56 towards 40 by 2032 with 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:10.420 some tax credits to help. So you absolutely need 00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:12.279 to plan schedules and budgets for this. You can't 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:13.819 just assume the old federal exemptions apply 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:16.859 anymore. No way. And OSHA highlights fatigue 00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:19.549 hazards too. They recommend predictable finish 00:24:19.549 --> 00:24:22.730 times, minimum rest, fatigue checks. It aligns 00:24:22.730 --> 00:24:25.230 perfectly with this 51 hour idea. It's about 00:24:25.230 --> 00:24:28.569 safety, productivity, sustainability, not just 00:24:28.569 --> 00:24:31.009 avoiding fines. OK, so this gives a really solid 00:24:31.009 --> 00:24:33.029 framework. Understand the problem, implement 00:24:33.029 --> 00:24:35.970 solutions, navigate the rules, move from awareness 00:24:35.970 --> 00:24:39.029 to action. That's the goal. So after all that 00:24:39.029 --> 00:24:40.990 discussion, all the research, the case studies. 00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:43.960 What's the key takeaway for a farmer listening 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:47.279 right now? What can you do starting today to 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:49.700 move towards that 51 -hour advantage to really 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:51.819 change things? Well, connecting it all, it's 00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:54.019 clearly about a paradigm shift, isn't it? It's 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:56.099 not about doing less or being less dedicated. 00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:58.400 It's about doing what matters most and doing 00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:01.240 it better with a sharper, rested mind. Okay, 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:03.099 so number one, what's the first step? Track your 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:06.259 hours. Simple as that. Start this week. Use an 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:09.710 app, a notebook. Log your time by task. Categorize 00:25:09.710 --> 00:25:12.190 it high, medium, low value. See where your time 00:25:12.190 --> 00:25:15.029 actually goes. Aim for that 51 -hour sweet spot 00:25:15.029 --> 00:25:17.809 eventually. Research shows just being less exhausted 00:25:17.809 --> 00:25:20.529 can boost productivity 15 -20 % through better 00:25:20.529 --> 00:25:23.109 decisions. Powerful insight from a simple tool. 00:25:23.349 --> 00:25:24.990 Can't manage what you don't measure. Makes sense. 00:25:25.150 --> 00:25:28.309 What's next? Maybe test flexible milking, like 00:25:28.309 --> 00:25:30.329 those kiwis. You don't need a massive overhaul 00:25:30.329 --> 00:25:32.509 overnight. Try shifting just one milking day 00:25:32.509 --> 00:25:34.670 to a flexible schedule. See how the team responds. 00:25:34.849 --> 00:25:37.009 Watch your milk solids. Remember, John Toddy. 00:25:37.420 --> 00:25:40.519 Held solids, cut expenses 4 .3%, boosted profit 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:43.440 per hectare, 60%. Even a fraction of that. Yeah. 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:45.220 It's worth experimenting, right? A calculated 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:49.019 step. Good idea. And automation, AMS. Think about 00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:51.519 it strategically. Not just cool tech, but a way 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:53.519 to free up your management time for high -value 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:56.160 tasks. Aussie farms show comparable economics, 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:59.720 but managers gain 15, 20 hours weekly for oversight, 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:02.440 strategy. That's 15K, 20K, and potential labor 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:04.680 savings right there. Reinvest it in the business 00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:07.380 or your well -being. Work smarter. And that well 00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:10.619 -being point. Protect your cognitive capacity 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:13.519 like it's your best cow. Exactly. Your brain 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:16.140 is your most valuable asset. That Iowa dementia 00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:18.859 research, 46 percent higher odds. That's serious. 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:22.400 Schedule actual downtime weekly. Have hobbies. 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:25.359 Let your mind recharge. Your million dollar decisions 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:28.319 depend on a sharp mind. Treat it that way. So 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:30.980 important. OK, last actionable insight. Start 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:33.829 the 51 hour challenge now. Document your decision, 00:26:34.029 --> 00:26:37.049 quality, error rates, productivity. Compare it 00:26:37.049 --> 00:26:39.890 to those brutal 70 -plus hour weeks. The research 00:26:39.890 --> 00:26:41.529 pretty much guarantees you'll see improvement, 00:26:41.589 --> 00:26:44.150 not decline. It's an investment in your farm's 00:26:44.150 --> 00:26:46.849 future, and crucially, your own quality of life 00:26:46.849 --> 00:26:49.269 and health. Okay. And that provocative thought 00:26:49.269 --> 00:26:51.289 to leave people with. Yeah, think about this. 00:26:51.390 --> 00:26:53.950 Why do we invest so much in cow comfort bedding, 00:26:53.970 --> 00:26:56.970 fans, sprinklers, but often basically nothing 00:26:56.970 --> 00:26:59.849 in operator cognition? and the well -being of 00:26:59.849 --> 00:27:01.430 the person making all the critical decisions. 00:27:01.710 --> 00:27:03.930 Good question. When leadership quality drives 00:27:03.930 --> 00:27:08.329 yield, components, SEC, repro, which side of 00:27:08.329 --> 00:27:10.890 history will your operation choose? Will you 00:27:10.890 --> 00:27:14.150 be the smart, rested, 51 -hour farm outperforming 00:27:14.150 --> 00:27:17.049 tired competitors? Or stick with the old ways, 00:27:17.230 --> 00:27:20.049 risking profit and burnout? Something to chew 00:27:20.049 --> 00:27:22.170 on. Definitely something to think about. Great 00:27:22.170 --> 00:27:24.890 points. That's about all the time we have for 00:27:24.890 --> 00:27:27.089 today's deep dive. Yeah, flew by. For more articles 00:27:27.089 --> 00:27:29.450 and insights like this, be sure to visit www 00:27:29.450 --> 00:27:32.490 .thebullvine .com. And don't forget to subscribe 00:27:32.490 --> 00:27:34.369 wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss 00:27:34.369 --> 00:27:36.750 our next deep dive. Thanks for listening. That's 00:27:36.750 --> 00:27:39.210 a wrap on today's episode of The Bullvine Podcast. 00:27:39.809 --> 00:27:42.329 If this research got you questioning your own 00:27:42.329 --> 00:27:45.509 70 -hour weeks, good. That means you're thinking 00:27:45.509 --> 00:27:48.150 like the profitable farmers we talked about today. 00:27:48.589 --> 00:27:51.190 Head over to thebullvine .com to read the full 00:27:51.190 --> 00:27:54.380 article. complete with all the data, case studies, 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:57.819 and your 90 -day transformation roadmap. You'll 00:27:57.819 --> 00:28:01.220 find everything you need to start your own 51 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:04.619 -hour challenge. Remember, in an industry where 00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:07.940 margins are razor thin, efficiency isn't optional. 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:11.319 Working smarter beats working harder every single 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:14.579 time. The most profitable farmers already know 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:17.700 this secret. The question is, will you join them 00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:21.059 or keep grinding yourself out of business? Until 00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:23.619 next time, Keep challenging conventional wisdom 00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:26.960 and keep those profits growing. This is The Bullvine, 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:29.380 where the truth about dairy doesn't always taste 00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:31.299 sweet, but it always pays off.