Kansas Dairies: Success from the Front Lines 5/16/02

MANHATTAN, Kan. – In 2001, Kansas ranked 24th in U.S. milk production, posting an increase of nearly 35 percent since 1996. Behind Idaho and New Mexico, Kansas landed the third highest jump in production, largely due to the mega-dairy operations springing up in western Kansas.

The trend toward larger dairies finds many smaller producers facing hard times with daily struggles to sustain their operations, said Micheal Brouk, Kansas State University Research and Extension dairy specialist. There are success stories, however, among the smaller producers.

The push to get big or get out has created a pinch for some like Gary Foster, who milks 100 Holstein cows while farming more than 1,000 acres in Bourbon County.

Foster said the fork in the road of small to large operations has never been more substantial.

Production versus Financial Management

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Micheal Brouk, Kansas State University Research and Extension dairy specialist, outlined dairy production management tips:

* Strive for sustained and growing milk production.

* Strive for high reproduction efficiency.

* Keep the culling rate low.

* Keep excellent control of mastitis and lameness.

"A lot more goes into these interactions," Brouk said. "However, if you keep these things in line, you should be doing okay."

The scientist also encourages producers to review their debt load per cow, debt structure and cost per 100 weight of milk produced.

"There needs to be a balance between short-, intermediate- and long-term loans," Brouk said. "The spread has to allow things to work without unrealistic repayment schedules."

"The extremes exist to get big enough to manage help or be a master of all trades," Foster said. "I do 95 percent of all the carpentry, plumbing, mechanical work or concrete work. Since these professions charge such a high hourly wage, it works best to do it all yourself."

Foster, who earned the 2002 Kansas Distinguished Dairyman Award, outlined several practical pointers for small dairies based on his experience.

"If you’re looking for big bucks, dairy farming is not the way to go," Foster said. "It is a way of life and you must make the most of it. You must be committed to succeed."

* Keep up on records. "We’re a part of the Dairy Herd Improvement Association," he said. "My wife has the education, so she keeps up all of the feed rations and data. She reads new research to find what can be applicable to our operation. We are always trying to improve to get the bottom line higher."

* Go to meetings to get informed and recharged. "Most of the time, I knew of things I needed to be doing, but I just needed the extra boost to get them done," he said. "Everything changes year to year. [You] can’t sit back and do the same thing your grandpa did."

* Stay open to new ideas. "The older you get the harder it becomes, yet [you] must keep telling yourself to stay open," Foster said. "It takes a combination of things to make everything jive - it can be hard to stay on tune, yet when things cycle downward, pick up the slack and get back on track."

* Promote your product. "Share the farm with others and keep urban people aware of what it takes to put milk on the table or cheese on the burger," he said.

Jerry Spillman, milks 250 cows in Nemaha County while farming more than 100 acres of corn and rye for silage. In order to stay progressive, changes have been a common part of his operation.

"Twelve years ago, we made the switch to Jersey [cows]," Spillman said. "At the time, milk protein and components were the way to go for the future if producers were being paid by quality. We could house more head in a designated barn and utilize better feed management strategies."

To keep a handle on new efficiencies, Spillman outlined a number of watch points from breeding and feed management to milk marketing.

"We breed more for production and type," Spillman said, "while also looking at longevity and inbreeding."

Most recently, Spillman started to use embryo transfer in breeding heifers to increase diversity in genetics.

Building a direct circle of support, the Spillman operation utilizes nutritionists, veterinarians, Extension agents and agricultural lenders.

"I would encourage opportunities with the Dairy Options Pilot Program, a support system to teach producers new skills in management and marketing," Spillman said. "We have good help to help with everything."

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.