News

Farmer improves operation with lean principles

AA northern Indiana farmer has found success in applying lean principles to his operation and says other farmers could do the same.

Ben Hartman of Clay Bottom Farm says lean farming is all about reducing waste and increasing profits.

He says it allows farmers to align production with the marketplace.

“No matter if it’s commodity crops, milk, or vegetables- you want to know who your customer is and deliver precisely what they want,” he says. “That’s how you stay in business.”

Hartman tells Brownfield lean farming should work for all sizes of farms.

“One side is identifying what customers want and then on the other side is getting rid of the waste, which is any activity that’s not in service or adding value for your customer,” he says. “Any size and type of business or farm can benefit from identifying waste and getting rid of it.”

He says overall it can free up capacity, time, energy, and money to improve production.  

Audio: Ben Hartman, Clay Bottom Farm