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Something I forgot to add lastnight, because I remembered it today. After thinking what WR said, there are some miscalculations on his part. You see, just because one big operation (beef or dairy) has say 2000 animals, it does output more than a farm with 100 animals, its obvious NO KIDDING! However, simple math can counter that. If you have a beef or dairy farm with 100 animals, it would take 20 farms to equal that one farm. It would benefit 20 familys, vs 1. A lot of the buisnesses out there like the big farms, because it is easier to deal with one place, vs 20. The milk companies rather pickup 75,000lbs of milk a day at one farm, vs 20. It costs them more to travel from one farm to another, and another etc. It is why the government wants to keep the big farms in buisness, and can give a crap about the little guy. So the big operations do feed the population, but twice as many family farms can equal one giant farm. If it was 5000 animals, it would take 50 100 head dairy farms. This county had over 3000 farms, it now has 600-800, still some family farms. What I find interesting is the fact that im told by experienced dairymen that the big farms aren't nice and shiny, and all dandy. But ah well, family farms will continue to die off as the big farms get bigger, because they get breaks, etc. Sorry its true, whether you like it or not.
Now as far as the organic note and big farms. A few weeks ago we received some info, about those huge farms wanting to get into the organic market, and the companies who sell the organic products wanting to tap into the big farms as well. Well this is a classic, big buisness trying to screw up something good. You see, the 2000-5000 cow dairies, atleast some want to get in on the high prices that organic offers. So what they want, and the companies want, is to make some of the requirements leinant, basically let them use some feeds that aren't organic, and other practices not allowed. This way they could be "organic" and get in the market. The organic milk market is 2% of the entire milk market, its small and a hot market. I talked with someone @ organic valley, and he said they projected a shortage for them this year (2005). So obviously the demand is increasing. Organic milk for a 1/2 gallon is 3.00 in the store, it is almost double what regular milk is, which went up to 1.70 1/2 gallon, from 1.60. But what I wrote is true. Recently there was a review of this proposal by those companies, to let certain things fly. Anyone who wanted to be heard could have gone down and spoke in front of congress. Interesting stuff, and yet again another corporate stunt.
wemilk's comment:
"milkstoolcowboy,
I agree with you. I hope his rhetoric doesn't influence to many people.
Been here a while. First post."
You know whats funny? Anyone I talked or talk to, told or tell them my plans, and these are people who have been in the buisness for a long time, have told me it sounds like a good plan. Also what makes that comment funny, I keep hearing about small operations that have low overhead, and the person makes a nice profit. But it is interesting reading how some make out, and it seems some are struggling, yet the next guy over is doing well and making a nice little profit. It is very obvious it is management, whether it is animal health or expenses. There are many ways to lower expenses, and many ways to run a farm in general. Currently my costs per day are low, because I do not spend a ton of cash on grain, and other stuff. The dairy herd will cost more, thats a no brainer, however I do find it interesting people doing the exact same thing as I plan to do, and they make money. But maybe people shouldn't listen to my "rhetoric", because others are doing the same thing I plan to do and are doing well, ah well ignorance is bliss.
Jeff
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