May 3, 2026

Driven Agriculture Adopts Automation to Address Labor Shortages and Improve Efficiency

Company Profile

Driven Agriculture LLC, based in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, is a family-owned manufacturer of Calves’ Choice milk replacer and distributor of OMRI-certified agricultural products. Originally founded in whitetail deer nutrition, the company has grown into a trusted provider of calf nutrition for dairy, beef, and veal producers—combining animal health expertise with responsive service to help farms improve performance, profitability, and long-term success.

Situation

Driven Agriculture faced growing challenges with labor shortages and physically demanding work. Employees were manually stacking 50-pound bags on pallets—a repetitive, strenuous task that limited productivity and raised safety concerns. The company needed a practical way to reduce strain, maintain output, and make better use of limited staffing resources—all without disrupting daily operations. They had already invested time exploring automation options but needed expert guidance to confirm the right direction and solution.

“The automation project with WMEP was easy—they kept everything organized and on track. They quantified and proved that this was the right solution.”

– Zach Anderla, Operations Manager, Driven Agriculture

Solutions

Driven Agriculture partnered with WMEP to evaluate automation solutions that could ease labor demands and improve workflow. WMEP assessed the production line, provided guidance on options, and helped strengthen the business case for the right solution. In just a few months, a new robotic palletizing system was seamlessly integrated at the end of the bagging line, eliminating the need for manual pallet stacking. “It helped address our biggest challenge, which is manpower,” said Zach Anderla, Operations Manager. “By putting a cobot at the end of the line, we freed that person up to do higher-value tasks and keep the plant running smoothly.”