We also suggest changes to help a dairy operation move into the desirable range. Many dairy producers do not have the desire or the resources to make the changes necessary to compete with the most competitive farms. Even when they have the desire, limited resources make some of these measures difficult for the average dairy producer to achieve. Producers who will not or cannot achieve the desired ranges may continue to operate and support a family for many years. However, primarily because of inflation, those who do not make changes to become competitive can expect a declining standard of living over time.
Competitiveness requires a commitment to constant improvement and change.
Even these measures will change over time. Dairy producers who want to stay competitive must continue to improve, modernize, and change. For example, a dairy farm family with better than average management must increase the number of dairy cows on their farm by approximately 60 percent every 10 years to maintain their standard of living. Most of that increase is required to offset inflation. Historically, a dairy farm manager has needed to increase cow numbers by 50 percent every 10 years just to offset the impact of inflation.