graze-l May 2005: [SPAM] - RE: [SPAM] - Re: [Graze-l] [SPAM] - International competition and next
generation - Found word(s) farm in the Text body - Email found in subject - Email found in subject
Dick,
I suggest you become involved in a group that cause you to challenge
your way of thinking about how you operate your farm as well as it's
financial performance.
I am a member of a group that will be meeting in your state in early
July at Gary Burley's farm. Attendance for guests is by invitation only
but I will strongly suggest to Gary that he invite you. We all keep farm
financial records on the Cornell DFBS which I assume you are referring
to as well. We meet at least three times a year on a members farm to
review a farms practices and search out their strengths and weaknesses.
I am not aware that we have ever refused a dairyman to visit the group
and many have decided to join.
In a recent post Dave G. related that he was leaving the dairy industry
because his ROI wasn't high enough to allow for expansion. The groups
range of ROI dropping the one highest and one lowest for each year was
2004 5.28% to 15.81% . 2003 a tough year -1.19% to 7.28%. 2002 also
tough -4.69% to 4.93%. 2001 6.96% to 14.02%. 2000 -3.02% to 12.42%. As
you can see good years help but I can tell you that all members are
gaining from their own, as well as experience from others. Sharing
numbers is a requirement and that is hard for some people to do but it's
the best way to see potential improvement. I can assure you that folks
with the lowest ROI don't stay there but move up as new members join who
then do the same.
Dave Forgey
Dave, Let me expand on the 'trips' to Amity Farm. From a student from
Cornell--'Mr Conklin, you and Carol are the healthiest '50-'60 folks
I've ever seen'! Then we move on--all get to see and understand our farm
strategy, our genetic success(3 bulls in AI), but then, get to look at
the yearly financial computer print-outs of our financial trip over the
past 30 years. The faculty advisor of one group assured me--'You and
Carol are definitely going to heaven!' Wonderful, intelligent kids,
Dave. How do we get them to FARM? Dick Conklin Amity Farm Ft.Ann,NY
