Following the theme of the 2019 Progressive Dairy Operators (PDO) Triennial Symposium, “Managing disruptors on the dairy farm,” three dairy producers shared the methods they use to manage in this changing industry.

Two Midwest dairies shared their strategies for managing costs during the 2019 Four-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, held in Dubuque, Iowa, this past June.

Whether it’s a piece of ground you’ve rented for years, one that’s been passed down in the family for generations or an acreage up for sale a few miles from the home farm, there seems to be a “more is better” mentality when it comes to land ownership and control.

Due to the cyclical nature of the industry, resiliency is a valuable trait for dairy operations. But it’s especially important as operations return to profitability.

“We are just going to hang on and hope for better days ahead.” How many times have you heard fellow dairy producers proclaim those words – or even uttered them yourself?

If you look up the word resilience in a dictionary, you’ll find one definition says it’s “the capability of a strained body to return to its original shape after being put under stress.” Another defines it as “the ability to adapt or adjust to misfortune or change.”

The past 18 months have been tough on many dairy operators. Throughout this time, we have participated in many interesting conversations where operators are more focused on their future rather than the current environment.

Growing your dairy farm requires a strategic plan, one that positions it for success in the long term. That plan forms the basis for incremental growth, focused on putting numerous small steps together to achieve the desired end result. The key to this step-by-step approach is knowing beforehand what that final goal looks like and developing a strategy to achieve it.

“Nothing I say is going to change the economic outlook of the dairy industry,” John Blanchfield said, as he began his presentation on helping producers shockproof their finances in the current dairy market.

When contemplating renting a facility for animals, it can be difficult to know how to calculate the value. There are standardized formats for renting other properties and assets, but no simple formula for computing livestock facilities’ worth.