The growing pains of farm consolidation and volatility of milk prices have partly soured Wisconsin's dairy industry. The number of milk cows on Wisconsin farms decreased from 1.81 million in 1975 to 1.45 million milk cows in July 1996. While Wisconsin still had the most dairy cows in July 1996, it ranked 11th of 22 milk-producing states in milk production per cow. Smaller dairy farms have consolidated into larger operations to increase efficiency and open opportunities for better management. However, sometimes when farms grow too fast, small problems can become big problems, says Larry Swain of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Rural Development Institute.
Some farms move too fast and too big, instead of being good before getting big.
This trend may change, however, as farmers receive more management training. Some farmers are learning how to analyze trends in their business to find areas they need to improve, Swain says. With that training, farm consolidation should offer more free time for farmers to manage their operations. As farmers reach retirement, many wish to keep the farm in trustworthy hands. By sharing a milk check and receiving heifer calves, the young farmer builds his herd while the farm owner reduces his labor time and takes steps to leave the business.