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Farmers can make improvements in the details

An Extension educator says dairy farmers can improve profitability by identifying small management choices that inhibit milk production.

Marianne Buza with Michigan State University Extension tells Brownfield in times of low prices dairy farmers need to be analyzing the details.  “Small things on our farms such as maybe our reproduction or our cow comfort or other small management issues on the dairy farm are really causing that bottleneck.”

She says every farm is different, but farmers can learn a few of the common bottlenecks that can increase costs of production at upcoming dairy extension workshops.  “Heifer raising is often times, I would say, the third highest cost with feed being the highest cost on a dairy farm and labor being the second highest cost”  She tells Brownfield stocking densities also can affect profitability.

Buza recommends in the year ahead, farmers know their margins and keep financial information up-to-date.

AUDIO: Interview with Marianne Buza