D2O-Lancaster Farming Saturday, June 1,1985 Novice dairyman opts for purchased-feed operation BY SALLY BAIR Staff Correspondent MOUNT JOY - David Dum is a dairy farmer who never has to stop planting com because it is milking time. And he never juggles his time so he can mow hay while the weather is good. Dave puchases all his feed, which frees him for more cow oriented chores. But while he doesn’t spend time in the field, he does spend time at auctions looking for top quality hay to keep his cows producing. It’s been a little more than a year since he began renting facilities in West Hempfield Township, and his primary responsibility is his 55 cow herd of milking cows plus replacements. The herd was purchased intact, and it was a strong herd with good potential, but the stress of being moved showed in their first lactation production. situations at leisure, but when the For David, the decision to herd was located they had to move become a farmer was one which quickly because of other was made with the full knowledge obligations of the herd owner. Sam of what he was getting into - and adds, “I’m always in hopes that out of. He had been a design W e’U get caught up.” There is engineer with J.I. Case for three much maintenance, fence repair years and nine months when he and other chores to keep them busy and his family decided to give up between milkings, that security and go into farming. “We did a lot of budgeting The decision was not made through, using $12."00 milk, lightly, and Dave had ample ad- Financially we didn’t have any vice from his business partner and real surprises,” says Sam, father, Sam Dum, former Penn although they didn’t always fit State Extension farm their budget. He says candidly, management specialist. Sam and “The first six months were the his wife, Beth, are not just hardest on us. After 6-9 months we financial partners; Sam is en- were closer to our budgeted joying his retirement by working figures.” side by side with Dave. They found a lot of items which Dave explains one reason for his W ere simply hard to budget - things decision, “I always had an itch to hke scrapers, pitchforks and other farm, and we decided to do it necessary equipment, which just before it was too late and before adds up. Furthermore, Dave says, the security was too great to risk “We figure the first lactation was making the change. I also knew I fairly well lost.” needed to be young enough for the it took the second lactation for long hours involved in farming.” the cows to really take off, and that Once the decision was made, threw the budget off. Some cows they did not need to hurry to find a had been starting to peak, but location because Dave continuedjn because of the move “didn’t hold his job. They explored severaj* the peak,” Dave explains, options, including working with an Another factor was silage older couple who might be wishing purchased which was grown to retire in about ten years, renting during the notoriously dry 1983 facilities and land, and renting just summer. It was very low in energy facilities. and contributed to low production Just purchase cows along with the stress of the move. The decision to just purchase Their goal is to get to 16,000 cows was made, according to pounds of milk and 600 pounds of Dave, because, “We felt that cows f a t in the first year, and they are are going to make the money and nearly there, so it is better use of money right Limits on hay purchases away rather than investing in a continuing problem, and machinery for cropping.” They perhaps the biggest they have also felt it would be most beneficial faced, is finding good quality hay to purchase a herd intact, m- consistently in large enough eluding milking cows and young quantities to feed the herd, stock. Because of being forced to pur- Dave points out, “It is a good chase small lots of hay, Dave says, gt p° cows. Dum is purchasing all his feed, and concentrating his efforts on the milking herd, which he purchased intact. way to get started.” It was, in fact, the route that Sam had been suggesting to young people as a farm magement specialist. “I was suggesting that they put limited capital into livestock because it would generate more rapid cash flow.” He adds that for many small farmers, purchasing feed may be the cheapest way to go because of the huge investment necessary for equipment, and the time involved in growing your own. Sam adds that the most desirable way to start farming is to work as a hired man with an established farmer and have some of the pay go to acquire ownership of land and cattle. Of course that’s not always possible. Despite the lack of field work to be done, Sam and Dave agree that the start-up of the operation was hectic. They had investigated Dave, left, and Sam Dum look over their breeding program as they consider options. They are equal partners with their wives in this dairy operation which features dairy animals in rented facilities. “It is hard to keep the ration balanced.” Part of the reason for the unavailability of hay in large enough quantities, he says, is that “there aren’t any real big hay growers.” Most growers raise only 20-30 acres, and do it as a sideline to another operation. “It is not the main enterprise for these farmers, and it is often their last preference for their time,” he says. Consequently, much hay is overmature and loses palatabihty. Because hay is not sold on a protein basis, “looks and feel” are the prime criteria, and that can be misleading when it comes to balancing rations. The Dums are constantly testing each load and readjusting their rations. This changing of rations is not ideal for the cows who don’t get con sistency. A further problem in Lancaster County, according to Dave, is that horse people are looking for good quality hay and will pay top price. He says, “I can’t compete with horse people.” They are willing to pay much more than is profitable for a dairy operation. He adds, “For heifers and dry cows, there is a ready source of hay at reasonable prices.” Of course, a lot of time is spent attending auctions, and often a day is wasted because no suitable hay is found. Dave said, “Most of the nice hay we have bought has been through private contracts.” In fact, it is this difficulty which has forced them to decide to farm some of the rented acreage on the farm. Sam says, “We are not naive enough to believe that we can always make high quality hay, but it will be consistent quality and in large enough quantities that we will not always have to be read justing the ration.” They will purchase hay-making equipment and contract other work where timing is not as critical. Com silage has not been a problem. “We were able to pur chase some out of the field,” David says. Grain is purchased from feed companies. “It is very handy. It is hard to justify raising your own at current prices.” Other considerations There were some other eye openers in the first months. One item Sam says they under budgeted was the cost of breeding cows. “We weren’t figuring as many services per cow,” Sam explains. Dave said using higher priced bulls than originally anticipated also adds to those costs. Although Dave doesn’t need to worry about weather from a work •jp W 9 '=«» < "mm mm Milking is the primary responsibility, as Dave concentrates his work on the cows, and purchases his feed. This set-up made it possible for him to go into farming, since he didn't have to purchase land as well. schedule standpoint, he is just as concerned #s the farmer who crops. “I want it to be grand weather for the crop farmers so there will be reasonable feed available. I would like to see a week of sunshine now.” Other considerations for young people who wish to go into farming include locating in an area where services are available. Sam says, “There are very adequate dairy support services here.” Another factor is choosing a good farming area, according to Sam, so “people who know what’s going on can give you advice when you need it.” Sam has seen farming from both sides of the picture, and in many ways it is Dave who is following in his father’s footsteps. Sam, too, held a professional job before going into fanning in 1952. He says he was fortunate because he married a Lancaster County farmer’s daughter, and that farm became available to him. Located near East Petersburg borough, his home farm is now developed in housing, and it was this press of people and unavailability of land to expand which helped him decide to leave the farm and accept the position at Penn State in 1967. Now he has some full circle, and is again farming. He makes it clear that he could not have gotten started in fanning without the help and support of his in-laws, and he and his wife are pleased to be able i‘qsr 7 . * to assist Dave and his wife, Robin, as they begin their farming operation. Sam says that realistically they don’t see. owning land as part of their future. With a 2V2-year-old son, Paul, Dave points out another important financial consideration for those looking to do what he is now ex periencing. “They have to make sure they have some personal living money left over. You have to keep your family happy or you won’t make it. You have to take a serious look at what it costs to live. Things like health insurance must be figured in.” Another important item to take a look at is the need for someone to take over for you occasionally. “You need to get away to recharge,” Dave says. Dave and Sam figure that Dave is accepting at least one-third less income in farming than in his former job. In fact, it may be even lower, when vacations and other benefits are considered. Nevertheless Dave says, “People need to realize that we are building equity, not a cash income. It is a lifestyle, not a paying job, and farmers have to love what they’re doing.” For Dave, this venture into farming is a lifestyle that he loves. He is enjoying the challenges of starting up and is looking forward to the benefits which accrue over the years.
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