I accidentally stumbled upon Kirk Kardashian’s first-ever book early this fall. I read the advanced copy his publisher sent me and interviewed him shortly after the book’s release date. Click here to view my one-on-one with him. In summary, the Vermont-native’s manuscript is the best compilation of all of the gripes I’ve ever heard from dairy producers about why their industry is perpetually plagued by squeezed margins. Its throw-the-kitchen-sink-at-it approach is aided by Kardashian’s careful research into the historical context for how current industry scapegoats – such as sexed semen, ethanol, dairy policy and Federal Milk Marketing Orders – have, over time, impacted the difference between what it costs a farmer to produce milk and what he or she gets paid for it. From beginning to end, the book portrays a milk margin that has been squeezed thin and is perpetually getting thinner.

In the past several months, there have been several articles published in Progressive Dairyman about direct tanker loading (DTL) of milk at the dairy farm. The third article in the series concluded with a suggested discussion topic concerning the use of silos and chillers for milk cooling and storage. This article will look at several possible cost-saving advantages to this system that dairymen should consider when expanding or building new facilities. Every farm is different with different circumstances, so some considerations will have more significance than others on individual dairies.

Building a new milking facility – or renovating an old one – can be nerve-racking. There are so many decisions to make, and you need to move quickly so production can begin as soon as possible. But as we uncovered, it doesn’t pay to cut corners by installing equipment that isn’t up to the task. You may save a few dollars in upfront costs, but if your system is inadequate to allow for proper cleaning, your premium losses will be criminal.