Where Do We Where Do We Go From Here?Go From Here?
Tina L. Struyk
Sheboygan County Extension
Dairy & Livestock Agent
UW-Extension Dairy Team
“Modernizing Wisconsin’s Dairy Farms”
Train-the Trainer Module
June 20-21, 2002
Getting StartedGetting StartedEvaluate your current situation
Understand your options
Gain knowledge Attend modernization seminars & workshops Visit farms Read popular press articles Talk with local service people
Define your goals Short-term & Long-term
HAVE AN OPEN MIND!
Getting Your Getting Your Business Plan TogetherBusiness Plan Together
It’s the brain cell of every managerIncludes all aspects of the business Financial Production Crops
Organize-you have most of the records already! Past financial records Milk and crop production records Herd Health records List of assets
Financial SupportFinancial Support
Bankers, lenders
Farm Service Agencies
Dairy 20/20 Early Planning Grant
Team:Team: A small number of people A small number of people with complementary skills, who are with complementary skills, who are committed to a common purpose, committed to a common purpose, performance goals and approach performance goals and approach for which they hold themselves for which they hold themselves mutually accountable.mutually accountable.
-Kazenbach & -Kazenbach & SmithSmith
A Team Approachto Dairy Facilities Planning and
Construction
FamilyVeterinarian
Crop ConsultantNutritionistEmployees
Farm ManagementConsultant
Lender/InvestorsMilk Plant
Land Conservation Representative
UW-Extension AgentFacilities Consultant
ContractorEquipment DealerProject Supervisor
Modernization Modernization Advisory TeamAdvisory Team
Who do they include? Owners or
stakeholders Nutritionist Veterinarian Extension Agent Banker Other service people Key People from the farm
Diversity & Knowledge is the
KEY!
Why advisory Why advisory teams?teams?
Expertise in specific areas
Teams divide the work up
Teams multiply the results
Benefits of an Benefits of an advisory team for advisory team for the producerthe producerMore effective communicationGreater source of ideasGreater return for time spentKnowledge of what others are doingEstablish prioritiesConfidence & more positive attitude
Benefits of an Benefits of an advisory team for advisory team for the consultantthe consultant
Better understanding of farm goalsIdeas from othersImproved skills in problem solvingMore profitable farmsImproved attitudes
Concepts of the advisory Concepts of the advisory teamteam
Identify farm challenges
Discussion and brainstorming
New ideas
Discuss advantages & disadvantages
Provide new options or suggestions
Formulate goals and action plans
The 1The 1stst meeting… meeting…Walk-thru
Introductions
Team roles
Ground rules SWOT analysisSMART Goals
Sheboygan County Sheboygan County Advisory TeamAdvisory Team
Consisted of: Owners & wives Accountant Banker Nutritionist Veterinarian Agronomist Extension Agent Contractor
Prior to expansionPrior to expansion280 cows
173 tie-stall barns
Milking took 6 hours with 4 milkers
60 lbs/cow/day
225 SCC average
12-16 hour work day
S.W.O.T. AnalysisS.W.O.T. AnalysisStrengths: Each member liked different
duties large number of animals Family Labor Excellent source of consultants
Weaknesses: Time Labor pool
Opportunities Land
Threats Milk price LLC Transfer Purchase animals/biosecurity
S.M.A.R.T. GoalsS.M.A.R.T. GoalsMilking 400 cows in a freestall/milking complex within 2 yearsHouse all cattle on main farmRenovate existing 173 tie-stall barn for heifersReduce individual work hoursDevelop organization chartsEstate transfer
Sheboygan County Sheboygan County Advisory TeamAdvisory Team
July 28, 1999 to August 23, 2000
Met 10 times
Began construction April 2000
Moved into new facilities August 2000
During the year During the year the team…the team…
Developed & implemented biosecurity plan Decided to have purchased heifers raised by a growerDesigned & built special needs barn Completed job preference survey for ownersFacilitated LLC transfer to next generation Developed organizational chart with job descriptions Developed employee handbook
Prior to expansionPrior to expansion280 cows
173 tie-stall barns
Milking took 6 hours with 4 milkers
60 lbs/cow/day
225 SCC average
12-16 hour work day
After expansion…After expansion…280 cows173 tie-stall barnMilking took 6 hours with 4 milkers
60 lbs/cow/day225 SCC average12-16 hour work day
570 cowsDouble 12 parlor6 ½ hours with 2 milkers for each milking 85 lbs/cow/day180 SCC average8-10 hour work day
Positive things the Positive things the farm had to say farm had to say about team…about team…
Liked team effort
Opened communication between family members
Resource people brought in a set of “fresh eyes”
Resulted in better planning
Confidence in what they were doing
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