Business Management
Solid business management skills are essential as the dairy cattle industry grows more competitive, complex, and challenging. Dairy producers will find information and tools to utilize in their daily routines, as well as opportunities to connect with other professionals and dairy experts. Find resources for running a dairy operation – from market trends and insights to resources management, dairy herd metrics, record-keeping, and cash-flow planning.
Dairy Farm Management
While raising cattle and managing dairy production, dairy farm owners and managers need to also stay informed and adapt to changing variables such as cattle feed prices, dairy market trends, and regulations.
In this section, you can access many other Penn State Extension resources on dairy farm management, such as our milk production record book to monitor herd productivity, and feeding records for monitoring feed intakes and forage dry matters.
Information is also available for entrepreneurial dairy producers interested in value-added dairy products, such as cheese, butter, and yogurt. From resource planning and management to production, marketing, they can access a variety of all Penn State Extension insights on value-added dairy production.
Tools and Apps for Dairy Producers
Useful tools for dairy producers are also featured in this section, such as the Penn State Dairy Herd Metrics mobile application and the Milk Production and Feeding Records app.
Calculation tools allow producers to get a clearer picture of their dairy expenses and income and how they relate to other farm expenses. Such useful tools are the Farm Margin mobile application for calculating a dairy's break-even cost of production, the DairyCents Mobile App for income over feed costs, and the CropCents Mobile App for actual costs to produce home-raised feeds.
Dairy producers can also find records management systems for determining the actual costs of raising replacement heifers, colostrum management, metrics for monitoring culling strategies, protein and phosphorus monitoring, and many more.
Risk Management for Dairy Producers
Risk management for dairy producers accounts for volatility in milk markets, farm costs, and other factors, so that an unforeseen setback does not cost you your business.
Make the best of Penn State Extension resources on managing risk for dairy operations. Topics include managing income over feed costs, tracking milk prices and feed costs, using milk futures to lock in profitability, risk management for reproduction programs, dairy margin coverage, as well as many others. In addition to these, you could see how to use the USDA Risk Management Checklist to develop or assess your risk management plan.
Dairy Farm Finances and Market Trends
A profitable dairy farm is sustained by adept business and financial management. Dairy producers are constantly monitoring production costs and staying informed of market trends and impending regulations.
Here you can find numerous resources to keep up with market information and help your business stay profitable. Penn State Extension is regularly publishing Dairy Outlook information with current market trends. The Dairy Sense series is also a useful resource for various business management topics.
In addition, producers can find advice and tools for dairy finances, such as these five steps to monitor the financial health of a dairy business. Tips on cash flow management are also available, and you can download our annual cash flow tool to identify cash inflows/outflows for the dairy enterprise.
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ArticlesFinancing a Dairy Farm Modernization: What Your Banker Wants to Know
For major renovations or expansions, a lender will want a comprehensive financial plan that proves the farm's past profitability and justifies the expansion for further profits down the road. -
ArticlesFour Common Dairy Business Oversights Using QuickBooks™
Tips to help you get the most out of your financial records. -
ArticlesThe Importance of Understanding Your Tax Information
It is important to be "in the know" about your business's financial management. -
ArticlesTime-saving Tips for Record Keeping With QuickBooks™
Time is the one resource that is continually in short demand, especially when it comes to managing financial records. QuickBooks™ can help make book-keeping easy and efficient. -
ArticlesDairy Sense: What Is Soil Health?
Soil health affects soil fertility and production potential, which affects crop yields, quality, and production costs. -
ArticlesDairy Sense: The Value of Optimizing Heat Abatement
The short-term duration of hot weather can have long-term ramifications to total milk pounds for the year, components, reproduction, and milk income. -
ArticlesDairy Sense: Troubleshooting Low Milk Production
Experience has shown that there is normally not just one area that is causing low milk production or performance. It is usually multifaceted. -
ArticlesDairy Sense: Small Grain Silage for the Lactating Herd
Double cropping corn silage acres with a small grain is a strategy that provides additional forage inventory and maintains cover on fields. -
ArticlesDairy Sense: Sustainability of Component Fed Herds
According to the 2017 National Agricultural Statistics Service the average number of milking cows is 76. -
ArticlesDairy Sense: Reviewing the DHIA 202 Sheet
Records and data are commonplace when operating a dairy. The Dairy Herd Information Association (DHIA) provides both a holistic and current overview of what is happening with the cows. -
ArticlesDairy Sense: More Sugar, Please
Adding sugar to the ration can complement many diets and takes the pressure off starch as the only energy source used to maintain production and components. -
ArticlesDairy Sense: Keeping the Dairy Right Sized
Regardless of the dairy's herd size, there is one key theme that applies to everyone, a land base that matches the number of cows and heifers in the herd. -
ArticlesDairy Sense: Heat Stress Aftermath
Heat stress can impact animal performance weeks beyond the initial occurrence, lingering in the fresh cow period and ultimately affect overall production. -
ArticlesDairy Sense: Getting Those Extra Pounds of Milk
Focus on the first 100 days of lactation to find and fix bottlenecks that are limiting milk production. -
ArticlesDairy Sense: Getting Lost in the Minutiae
Trouble shooting herd problems can be very challenging and difficult. Take the big picture approach to solving problems. -
ArticlesDairy Sense: Facing Financial Angst
A good record keeping system and chart of accounts goes a long way to empower producers to take the first step in learning their breakeven cost of production. -
ArticlesEconomics and Effects of Accelerated Calf Growth Programs
Increasing heifer growth rates, regardless of the feeding strategy, improves the odds of earlier age at calving, which can dramatically lower heifer costs. -
ArticlesDairy Heifer Cost Variation
Dairy heifer replacement costs represent a large investment for all dairy operations. -
ArticlesJob Descriptions: The Building Blocks of Organizations
The primary objective of a job description is to help employees and supervisors reach a mutual understanding about important details of a job in order to avoid future problems. -
Tools and AppsJob Description Generator for the Dairy Industry
The Job Description Generator is an online tool that automates the process so preparing a job description is quick and easy. -
ArticlesStandard Operating Procedures: Developing and Implementing
The seven steps that you can take to develop and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). -
ArticlesStandard Operating Procedures: A Writing Guide
Standard operating procedures used in combination with planned training and regular performance feedback lead to an effective and motivated workforce. -
ArticlesLittle Things Can Make Big Difference in Dairy Farming
Becoming more aware of and focusing some time on the "little things" can have a big impact on productivity and profitability on dairy farms. -
ArticlesThe Seven Steps of Action Planning
Your team and the operation will encounter challenges or problems that must be overcome. We have outlined a seven-step process to assist you in solving problems. -
ArticlesTake a Bite Out of Those Dairy Losses
Managers can look at mortality numbers, feed shrink, and inventories of supplies to determine if changes could reduce these steady drains on profitability.
