An overview of experiences of Wisconsin dairy farmers who modernized theiroperations

Wisconsin dairy producers who modernized their operations between 1994 and 1998 had positive feelings about their expansion experiences, accompanied b y increased production and improved profitability and quality of life. The average herd in this survey experienced increased production during the 5-y r period studied. Nearly all producers were satisfied with their expansion experience. The negative effect on milk production normally associated with expansion was minimal for most years and did not exist if all herds were s ummarized together. Managing labor appeared to be the most daunting challen ge facing producers following expansion. Respondents who built all new facilities observed higher production, greate r labor efficiency, and satisfaction with measures of profitability and qua lity of life than respondents who modified facilities or added no new facil ities. As herd size increased, milk production, labor efficiency, and satis faction with herd performance, profitability, and quality of life increased . Producers who built all new facilities spent less time on farm work, more time managing;employees, and had less difficulty finding, training, superv ising, and keeping farm employees than producers who modified facilities or added new facilities to existing operations. Larger herds were associated with an increased reliance on nonfamily labor. Managing labor appears to be an easier task for managers of larger herds. The most difficult challenges for producers who modernized their operations were with labor management, financing, and loan procurement, construction and cost overruns, and feet a nd leg health. Difficulties with expansion differed little between expansio n types (same type, some new, or all new facilities) or herd sizes.