Successful Dairy Producers Effective Managers
NEW HOLLAND (Lancaster
Co.) While there is no one
‘ ‘cookbook*' recipe to dairy profi
tability, there are some success
stories for dairy farms that are the
result of “managing like crazy,’’
according to Gary Snider, director
of consulting services. Farm Cre
dit of Western N.Y.
Snider spoke to about 200 dairy
fanners during the Agri-Basics
Annual Dairy Seminar held last
week at Yoder’s Restaurant in
New Holland.
Using data compiled by the
Agrifax Benchmark Program and
used by Farm Credit, Snider listed
key elements that have gone into
making dairy farms successful in
his region.
In one true-life example, Snider
cited the aggressive management
of a newlywed “college couple”
that used the money for their hon
eymoon all $4,000 to purch
ase a mixer wagon. They quickly
boosted average milk output per
cow from 16,000 to 21,000 poun
ds. With the help of good neighbors.
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MANOR MOTORS SANDY LAKE IMPLEMENT B.H.M. FARM EQUIP.,
On Rte. 553 Sandy Lake, Pa. INC.
Penn Run, Pa. 15765 412-376-2489 Annvllle, Pa,
412-254-4753 717-867-2211
C.J. WONSIOLER BROS.
Quakertown, Pa.
GRUMELU 215-536-7523
FARM SERVICE New Tripoli, Pa.
Quarryvllle, Pa. 215-767-7611
717-786-7318 Olay, Pa.
215-987-6257
HERNLEY’S FARM
EQUIP., INC.
Elizabethtown, Pa.
717-367-8867
said Snider, they also invested
$50,000 in a new bam.
Snider said these managers are
typical of the new “college cou
ples" right out of Penn State or
Cornell that are “goal-driven, not
afraid to change, and are wise and
conservative investors.”
The program placed the most
successful dairy farmers into five
basic groups:
• Managers who are good with
cows, with 21,956 pounds of milk
sold per cow.
• Labor efficient, with
1,049,721 pounds of milk per
worker per year.
• Can obtain a great milk price,
about $14.27/CWT. .
• Tight with money, producing
milk at $10.44/CWT.
• Good “utility infielders,”
producers who are good at manag
ing and working with “a lot of
things,” said Snider.
The best producers had no con
trol over the milk price, but still
managed to raise their own lives
tock (heifers are the equivalent to
-V. J
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Mages
For the way you farm today
NICHOLS FARM EQUIR.
Bloomaburg, Pa.
717-784-7731
B. EQUIP., INC.
Wayneaboro, Pa.
717-762-3193
“money in the bank,” said Snider)
and kept costs down. Also, they
keep totals of milk sold per worker
high, use capital debt effectively,
maintain adequate liquidity ova 1
expenses, develop many skills in
response to changes, and have
surplus buffers in place to cope
with fluctuating pice and chang
ing weather.
“We love these guys,” said
Snider. “They’re great farmers
and excellent to do business
with.”
In “managing like crazy,” the
most effective earners believe
nothing is sacred (they don’t keep
“favorite cows”), they wipe out
any previous dairy traditions, and
don’t hold to “paradigms” (the
belief that the way we do business
has been the way we always do
business).
“The successful producers are
excellent feeding managers” who
can balance and utilize feed cor
rectly and can “tighten up the
shop’ ’ (not spend on items until the
profit is made), according to
.**■»*&***/
HOLTRY’S EQUIPMENT
Roxbury, Pa.
717-532-7261
While there is no one “cookbook” recipe to dairy prof lia
bility, there are some success stories for dairy farms that
are the result of “managing like crazy,” according to Gary
Snider, director of consulting services, Faim Credit of
Western N.Y., far right. Snider was one of the speakers dur
ing the Agri-Basics Annual Dairy Seminar held last week at
Yoder’s Restaurant In New Holland. From left, Jerry M.
Swisher, Jr., dairy agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension;
Dr. Will Hoover, professor of dairy science, West Virginia
University: and Snider.
Snider. tance of proper grazing material
One of the ways to keep costs selection and how important it is to
down effectively and improve herd maintain the pastures so the mater
health is through the correct appli- ial is palatable and is readily avail
cation of pasture rotational graz- able to cows.
ing. The important considerations Dr. will Hoover, professor of
are forage quality, availability, and dairy science, West Virginia Uni
selection, according to Jerry M. versity, said that it is important to
Swisher, Jr., area dairy agent, Vir- look at the interactions of feed with
ginia Cooperative Extension. the rumen,
Swisher spoke about the impor-
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We gather together on
this holiest of holidays
to bring you tidings o
of comfort and joy! ,
Thanks to ajj* 0 v "
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5 ZOOK MOLASSES CO. GOOD FOOD INC. 1
- HONEYBROOK. PA LEOLA, PA S
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 24, 1994-C5
(Turn to Pag* C 7)
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