Managing a harvest crew like a sports team: do you specialize or cross-train?

Opinion

As I’ve sat on-and-off on the combine on my family farm, it’s had me thinking more about how we conduct ourselves when it comes to our harvest operations, and who does what — especially in operations that have employees. Everyone wants to be a part of harvest. It’s the most stressful time of the year, but also the most satisfying. You’ve worked hard all season to watch that crop grow, and have tended to its every need. It gives many a sense of accomplishment. Managing a crew can be difficult and present many challenges during the dog days of summer,…