The dairy industry in the Midwest is going through a major transition as dairy operators implement the latest technologies that help decrease their investment per animal and increase labor efficiency. The modern dairy technologies being implemented include freestall housing, milking systems with automatic cluster removal, TMR rations, drive-by feeding and automatic manure handling. Planning is an on-going dynamic process which changes from time to time based on the new options being offered. For many of our existing operators, the next change they make may be much more extensive than previous changes and require substantially larger amounts of time and analysis. The size and impact of any decision made is so critical that the use of several consultants to insure the correct course is selected is imperative.
Every business has a plan that is being followed.
It may or may not be written. It may be as simple as to continue doing what has be done in the past or an elaborate series of changes leading to an defined end result. If you have not updated your plan recently, it probably would be beneficial to take a close look at your business and the industry and determine if a change to your business plan is needed. When your develop your business plan, you should define the different strategies which may be followed and then evaluate each option based on the family goals, financial position and existing resources. A feasibility analysis should be conducted to insure sufficient resources are available and that the strategy selected will lead to the financial and quality of life changes desired.