06/06/08 Taking time for dairy planning

As the Idaho dairy industry continues to grow one expert says farmers need to take some time to plan for the future. Jim Salfer works for the University of Minnesota extension service. SALFER "We've really been trying to encourage producers to set some time aside to really think about those long term goals that they might have and how they might best accomplish that. Also I think from a labor standpoint on you farm are you doing things the most efficiently you can?" Salfer says there's a new dairy environment these days; extremely high milk prices but constantly rising input costs. SALFER "I think producers are really trying to understand where they should be pricing corn silage at going into next fall. Should they be locking in corn prices and feed prices even though they're at historically high levels." Salfer says dairy farmers are so busy with the day to day activities they don't take the time to plan for the future and ask the questions that need to be asked. SALFER "Should you become an organic producer? Should you stay a conventional producer? Should you expand your business? Should you have your heifers custom raised? " Dairy farmers who took his advice and took time for planning say productivity increased and they actually had some time to take a vacation too. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott