D A I R Y I n i t i a t i v e s N E W S L E T T E R
V o l u m e 8 I s s u e 2 F a l l 1 9 9 9

10 Questions to Ask Yourself Now

LEE GROSS, University of Minnesota Extension Service, Stearns County
NOLAN ANDERSEN, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Dane County
MICHELLE WIEGHART, University of Wisconsin-River Falls

The end of this decade presents dairy producers with many opportunities. The following 10 questions are intended to help you identify some of the key issues related to a successful dairy business. A "yes" answer to each of these questions should give you confidence that you have the skills, interests, and resources needed for long-term success in the dairy industry. A "no" response (and, in some cases, a "maybe") indicates challenges to your business that need to be addressed.

This exercise will be presented in seminars around Minnesota and Wisconsin this winter. Contact one of the dairy specialists or dairy educators listed on the back of this newsletter for information on upcoming seminars. Resources to help you answer these questions will also be provided at each of the seminars.

1. Do I want to stay in the dairy industry and is dairying my passion?

2. Will staying in the dairy industry provide my family with the lifestyle we desire, including leisure time, income, and satisfaction?

3. Do I have the ability to have an 80-pound tank average?

4. Am I willing to put my equity at continued risk in the dairy industry?

5. In the past five years, was I in the top 20 percent of all dairy farms for profitability?

6. Do I prefer to work with people, computers, and vendors over cows, crops, and machinery?

7. Do I have two acres of land available for every cow and heifer for manure application, or are we willing to move our operation?

8. Will the land around my farm be in ag production five years from now?

9. Am I willing to work with professional ag advisors to supplement my production and management weaknesses?

10. Will the changes I have planned allow for the future growth and transfer of my business to the next owners?

D A I R Y I n i t i a t i v e s N E W S L E T T E R
Volume 8 Issue 2 Fall 1999

Dairy Initiatives	Dairy	Department of Animal Science

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