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

Use your Use your resources!resources!

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

S.W.O.T. S.W.O.T. AnalysisAnalysis

SStrengths

WWeaknesses

OOpportunities

TThreats

S.M.A.R.T. GoalsS.M.A.R.T. Goals

SSpecific

MMeasurable

AAchievable

RRelevant

TTimely

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

Use your Use your resources!resources!

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