An environment for the people

BALTIC, S.D. — At Driftwood Dairy, managing cows is only part of the job — managing people is equally as important. Just ask Oscar Rivera, the farm manager responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the 5,500-head Jersey-cross dairy farm.

Rivera said he believes the key to success lies in keeping employees engaged and involved.

Since joining the team in 2021, Rivera has focused not only on herd performance but on creating a welcoming and positive environment. He stepped into the role as the farm was implementing a new rotary parlor and has since analyzed efficiencies to find ways to grow the farm.

“Using a parlor like this just helps a lot being able to bring more cows in and still be able to milk them in a 7-hour shift,” Rivera said.

During a recent DeLaval tour, attendees got a firsthand look at the new facility showcasing the technology and processes being used on the farm. But even with modern equipment, Rivera said success still comes down to the people.

Rivera’s tasks include managing the people on the farm, planning the day-to-day schedule and placing feed orders. His role also includes finding ways to increase milk production, with the long-term goal of expanding the herd in the coming years.

Today, he is thinking about ways to help Driftwood Dairy improve their statistics. The herd is averaging 72 pounds of milk per cow, with a butterfat content of 4.98% and protein at 3.76%. Rivera’s long-term goal is to increase that average to 75 pounds per cow, primarily by improving herd health and transitioning to a more youthful herd.

“We’re planning to sell the older cows and get a younger and fresher herd,” Rivera said. “Hopefully, with (more) first and second lactation (cows), the milk is going to go up to 75 (pounds per cow). That’s our goal for this and next year.”

That goal will not be met by herd changes alone. Rivera said employee engagement is just as important. One of Rivera’s tasks is sharing performance metrics of the herd with employees, including milk testing results and somatic cell counts, to help them understand how their work impacts the farm’s success.

“(I) try to get them involved in the everyday tasks and the results of it so they can tell (if) they’re doing a good or bad job,” Rivera said.

The culture of open communication, Rivera said has created a welcoming environment. This has led to some employees asking Rivera for updates on herd performance so they can improve as employees.

“We encourage a nice environment and try to keep our employees, so we don’t have to train guys every two weeks,” Rivera said. “There are guys that have been with us since (the farm) started a (few years ago) so that helps a lot.”

Employee retention can be seen as a big task to some, but Rivera has found that building relationships and showing appreciation goes a long way. With a staff of 34 employees, Rivera said he knows that building a team-like culture is imperative for the farm’s success.

One way he keeps building on the culture is by promoting continuous education. While milking cows in a parlor can become repetitive, Rivera said periodic training sessions and refreshers keep morale high and skills sharp.

Rivera’s dedication to growth is not limited to his staff; he too enjoys learning. His own journey in agriculture began through a veterinary medicine program in college in Mexico. It was there he found his calling working with dairy cows.

“I always worked with dairy cows in Mexico when I graduated, and that’s how I got involved in the dairy business,” Rivera said.

Now, with perspectives of different areas in North America and hands-on experiences on a few dairy farms, Rivera brings both technical knowledge and a people-first philosophy to his role at Driftwood Dairy.

The focus is not just on producing more milk, but on building a workplace where people feel valued and connected to the results of their labor.