thinking about the dairy bussiness

Anonymous-0 · Mar 16, 2014

I grew up on a dairy farm! Left the family farm 12 years ago when i was 18 thought grass was greener on the other side wanted away from the cows! got a job traveled all over the as a equipment operator! Got sick of ttaveling got a job about a year ago running excavator for the garbage company! Started two years ago renting 20 acers first year bumped up to 40 last year! Got about 70 so far for this year! But that keeps me busy during spring and fall! Lately been thinking about milking cows again! I just dont know if it would be worth milking like 20 to 30 cows! I would half to rent a dairy farm but thiers a few empty dairys sitting around! Anybody making money with a small herd! I will still work my job but the cows need to make a profit!

Anonymous-0 · Mar 16, 2014

a few of my thoughts, milking is a full time job, all of the small dairies around here are gone, you can't even find a milk truck for a small pickup anymore around here

JD Seller · Mar 16, 2014

The margins in the dairy business are just not there for most small dairies any more. It has become a volume business. You need to be able to buy your feed in semi load lots and sell your milk the same way.

You will find it hard to get a milk truck to haul the milk for 20-30 cows anymore. I would recommend some other type of livestock over dairy anymore. Also with an off farm job your schedule would be more flexible with other livestock over dairy farming.

valleview · Mar 16, 2014

I milked Registered dairy cattle for many years and miss it a little. Are you prepared for a 365 day a year job? What about family- are they behind it 100%?
With a small number of cows, you will need to market value added product such as cheese or go organic. That adds a level of complexity that many people find to be too much trouble. If you live in a good area, maybe you could rotationally graze and keep your costs really low- sometimes that works if your debt level is low. Think it over carefully and good luck

T in NE · Mar 16, 2014

Get yourself a dozen beef and you'll have enough cattle work to remind you that you actually don't really miss milking cows.

redforlife · Mar 16, 2014

dairys in my area have all either gotten bigger or got out of business. a couple amish guys in the area are milking a small herd but I just really don't see how they are making any money at it. a 3rd amish guy had to quit milking his small herd because he wasn't making anything. My opinion is there wouldn't be any money in it unless you own your own land, raising 100% of your own feed, and milking alot of head.

notjustair · Mar 16, 2014

There's a little money in cattle right now but you just won't make it with a small dairy. Get some cows and a bull. Pairs are really bringing good money. Feeding in the driving snow and muck might remind you of the "good old days".

Janicholson · Mar 16, 2014

Article today in the Star Tribune ((Twin Cities)
Milk consumption is down in the last two years more than any period prior. With mechanized/automated systems on the big daries, and the regulations that must be met to sell high value milk, I would not do it. Cattle or hogs might be a more easily started, and stopped more reddily than dairy. Jim

Cas · Mar 16, 2014

Before you go any farther, get a piece of paper and pencil it out.
When we were milking cows, there were over fifty smaller dairy farms in our area. Today there are four. Two 60 cow dairies,one 1000 cow herd, and one 2500 herd. Land is all tied up and even if one wanted to start it would be tough.
Farmland in our area is elling for $8500 to $10000 an acre. Only comes up sale maybe not even once in a lifetime.

Geo-TH,In · Mar 16, 2014

I too grew up on a dairy. At 18 I went to college. Retired at 55, moved back to the country. Before I return to work or back to the dairy, I'll bang my head against a brick wall until the urge goes away.

JMS/.MN · Mar 16, 2014

Of all farming/off-farm job options, trying to dairy is the worst. Can"t do justice to either job when you try doing that. Maybe consider being a part-time milker on a large dairy if you want to keep your fingers in the business?

IrvIA · Mar 16, 2014

How you gonna milk a cow with missing fingers?

Sorry, I just couldn't help myself.....LOL

Eldon (WA) · Mar 16, 2014

(quoted from post at 16:57:38 03/16/14) I grew up on a dairy farm! Left the family farm 12 years ago when i was 18 thought grass was greener on the other side wanted away from the cows! got a job traveled all over the as a equipment operator! Got sick of ttaveling got a job about a year ago running excavator for the garbage company! Started two years ago renting 20 acers first year bumped up to 40 last year! Got about 70 so far for this year! But that keeps me busy during spring and fall! Lately been thinking about milking cows again! I just dont know if it would be worth milking like 20 to 30 cows! I would half to rent a dairy farm but thiers a few empty dairys sitting around! Anybody making money with a small herd! I will still work my job but the cows need to make a profit!

I have a brother raising a family on around 30 cows and some beef. It can be done, but it is a full time job for him.

JD John · Mar 16, 2014

I make my living off of 35 cows. I don't think you could do your best trying to work and milk. It isn't fair to your boss or the cows, just not enough time in a day to devote to both. If you got this milk thing in your blood and can't get rid of it, find a local small dairy farmer and make friends with him. See if you can milk on a week end for him, so he could have a day off. The business side of dairy is getting scarey, prices, regulations make it difficult. Best advice would be don't do it if you can't put 100% of your time into it! Email is open if you want to talk more...John

JMS/.MN · Mar 16, 2014

Super good advice!!! I grew up with dairy, went back to dairy after military and college, starting farming from scratch.....family averaged one day off per year. 6 kids gained much with farm chores, all hard workers and successful now. Neighbor tried milking 25 while having a factory job....swing shift, milking at all hours....never amounted to much. All too typical. Other farming/job options can work, but not dairy.

oldtanker · Mar 17, 2014

Funny how time flies. In 72 when my sister married into a dairy farm it was one of the largest farms in the area, close to 700 acres, 50 head of beef and a 38 cow dairy. Supported two families. Now it's my BIL and nephew farming it. Over 1000 acres, couple hundred head of beef and 40 milkers. It takes to two of them just to keep up with it and sometimes they have to hire extra help. As far as dairy goes it's small by todays standards. They buy supplements but raise all their own feed. They haven't lost on the dairy unless you figure in the 4,000 bushels of 7 buck corn they fed them last year that they could have sold. I just don't see how, running 20-25 head, renting a farmstead, that you could make it work. Not while working a full time job.

Rick

Bruce from Can. · Mar 17, 2014

Just a thought or two from a "lifer". I will never try to tell anyone ,not to chase their dreams. But you will need a good plan and a very willing and capable wife to pull this off. If your wife can milk one shift a day, or some thing like that, or has a real good off farm job , and carries your dream, or loves you so much that she will work to see your dream become reality, then there will be no stopping you. But if she is not on side, I think that I would sit down and let the urge pass. Bruce

Bret4207 · Mar 17, 2014

If you own the land and have the facilities already and if there are local dairy co-ops or plants that will work with you and if you have some help available and if you are willing to work 24/7/365 you might make a go of it. Otherwise it's a real, real tough market to get into and not go broke.

Geo-TH,In · Mar 17, 2014

Bret,
You forgot one thing, cheap labor, a large family.
There were 6 kids in my family. We had to get up
early, do our chores before the school bus came.
Get off the school bus, it's back to work 9-10 pm.
George

Russ from MN · Mar 17, 2014

I just read an article in Minneapolis star-tribune about how milk consumption is declining. I would think it would be a bad business to get into, too many people willing to work for nothing or can't do math!

Massey farmer · Mar 17, 2014

Sometimes when you try to be a smart a$$ you just look like a dumb a$$.

Super-H-Mike · Mar 17, 2014

I know of one local guy milking around 40 and making a living. But he is using his Dads barn and has help from his Dad, Mom , and wife. He is working hard and likes being his own boss . Last time I talked to him though, it sounded like he was starting to burn out on it...

NY 986 · Mar 17, 2014

20 to 30 cows is not enough unless the operation is being handed to you debt free and you have a wife with a good off farm job. Even at 50 to 60 cows you would need to hit the ground running with a RHA of 27,500 pounds and preferably over 30K. The scary thing is with this recent period of good milk prices dairies are increasing cow numbers so when the next bust cycle hits it will be especially vicious. I agree with whoever said become a relief milker for maybe one or two shifts and scratch your itch that way. Planning to start with 30 cows or so with a herd average in the low 20's is just beating your head against the wall IMO.

ss55 · Mar 17, 2014

I don't think Russ was trying to be a wiseguy. Around here in central Minnesota, most of the small dairies have quit the business. It's not just the older guys that reached retirement, but guys in their 30's and 40's are quiting too. Most have quit within the last five years. Some changed to grain farming, some rented out their ground, and some raise feed for the larger dairies. As you drive down county roads you see a lot of empty dairy barns and empty poultry barns. The dairies left are mostly between several hundred to several thousand cows.

thinking about the dairy bussiness

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