MODERNIZING INCREMENTALLY
| Examples |
The
following are examples of farms that took steps based
on the firm foundation of good livestock husbandry
(low cull rates), profitable milk production, a solid
infrastructure, and achievable goals:
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Transitioning in
Increments,
Taking Steps that
Build Upon A Firm Foundation
As dairies in Wisconsin are continually transitioning their production
facilities to more profitable and environmentally friendly systems
they focus on several key functional areas. Milking, housing,
feeding, and manure storage are examples of such components to
a whole milk and animal production system. These are indeed the
areas which dairies are looking to improve to increase profitability,
quality of life, and environmental stewardship.
Balancing the land, labor, and capital involved in a dairy farm
can be complicated in adapting new systems especially in a volatile
market. Timing and risk management are key to a smooth transition,
with the goal being minimizing stress on the entire system.
Recently after recovering from knee reconstruction I was asked
by my physical therapist to balance on my “new” leg.
After giving it some practice I began to get comfortable, balancing
for a minute at a time. This was basic training for things that
were going to be literally thrown at me that I was catch while
maintaining balance. Gradually the objects got bigger or more
awkward to catch. Added to that later was a “wobble board”
for me to stand on. Such also is life on the dairy that we all
know and love. Taking on new systems one at a time offers an opportunity
to adjust our balance.
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