Taking on low milk prices

Posted on August 1, 2016 in Dairy Performance
Wautlet

By Rod Wautlet
The Class III futures are looking better than they were, but they still aren’t great.

The Impact of the Top 5 in 2016

Posted on February 16, 2016 in Dairy Performance
Sipiorski

By Gary Sipiorski
Most agricultural products are commodities.  That means corn looks like corn whether it is grown in Iowa, Brazil or China.  Milk looks like milk no matter where in the world the cows are milked. 

The market price of commodities moves based on supply and demand.  As the supply and demand of commodities change - or worldwide cow numbers change – the result is a rollercoaster ride of income on the local farm.

Vita Plus Dairy Summit 2015: Stepping Forward

Posted on February 1, 2016 in Dairy Performance

Vita Plus Dairy Summit, held this past December in Baraboo, Wisconsin, brought together more than 450 progressive producers from across the Midwest as well as leaders in dairy research and management.

Deciphering dairy data

Posted on December 4, 2015 in Dairy Performance
By Randy Greenfield You don’t have to know me well to know I like to work with data. Many producers aren’t quite as likely to get excited about data and spreadsheets, but I think everyone can appreciate the value in tracking dairy herd data to best manage health and performance. We not only have sophisticated

The dairy dozen: 12 key financial indicators (Part 2)

Posted on May 27, 2015 in Dairy Performance
By Gary Sipiorski Think about your last check-up at the doctor’s office.  What questions did your doctor ask you?  How did he or she determine you’re healthy or uncover any potential risks or problems? Now it’s time for you to be the doctor for your farm’s finances.  Pull out your balance sheet and cash flow

The dairy dozen: 12 key financial indicators (Part 1)

Posted on April 27, 2015 in Dairy Performance
By Gary Sipiorski Think about your last check-up at the doctor’s office.  What questions did your doctor ask you?  How did he or she determine you’re healthy or uncover any potential risks or problems? Now it’s time for you to be the doctor for your farm’s finances.  Pull out your balance sheet and cash flow

Vita Plus Dairy Summit 2014: The 20-Year Climb

Posted on December 23, 2014 in Dairy Performance
More than 400 dairy producers, Vita Plus consultants and industry peers came together December 10 and 11 for Vita Plus Dairy Summit 2014 in Red Wing, Minnesota.  Follow the links below for complete event coverage, including articles, videos, photos and speaker presentations. Business Management Weather for Agriculture:  What Will 2015 Bring? Dr. Elwynn Taylor, Iowa

The Sky is the Limit | Vita Plus Dairy Summit 2013

Posted on December 23, 2013 in Dairy Performance
More than 375 dairy producers, Vita Plus consultants and industry peers came together December 11 and 12 for Vita Plus Dairy Summit 2013 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  Keep reading for links to complete event coverage, including articles, videos, photos and speaker presentations.   Virtual Farm Tours Finger Family Farm, LLC | Oconto, Wis. | Tour

The interest rate dilemma

Posted on October 29, 2013 in Dairy Performance
By Gary Sipiorski Every expense on a dairy farm has an impact on the cash flow.  Those that remember the 16-percent interest rates of the 1980s have bad memories of how high interest rates can derail a checkbook. The question is:  “Are we on the interest rate edge of the 80s again?”  When deciding to

Another way to determine land values

Posted on July 1, 2013 in Dairy Performance
By Gary Sipiorski The real estate market has continued to see escalating agricultural land prices.  Many reasons have led to higher dollar sales, including grain producers who have seen a number of very profitable years and now have strong cash reserves.  Low interest rates and dairy producers seeking land for nutrient management have also been

Don’t lose money with too many replacements

Posted on January 4, 2013 in Dairy Performance
By Randy Greenfield Is your heifer-raising operation a profitable one?  How many heifers do you need to support your dairy herd’s turnover rate?  Should you consider culling some of your youngstock? If you are a Midwestern dairy producer, you’ve probably asked these questions recently. Historically, dairy producers have striven to maximize the number of heifer

Where do you invest your dairy dollars?

Posted on November 6, 2012 in Dairy Performance
By Gary Sipiorski With today’s markets, dairy producers are wearing their business hats around the clock.  Every dollar counts when looking at the long-term financial success of your business.  So when you make a profit, where’s the best place to invest your money and increase your potential for future success? The first step:  Know your

Don’t look back: Something might be gaining on you

Posted on September 5, 2012 in Dairy Performance
By Al Gunderson I recently came across an article I wrote for Progressive Dairyman back in June.  At that point, experts were forecasting a record crop and producers’ attention was focused on where the milk price might be for the rest of 2012 and into 2013.  After this year’s drought, feed prices have taken center

The ever-changing global economy

Posted on December 30, 2011 in Dairy Performance
By Al Gunderson Browse the Internet on your tablet or smartphone and you know we’re living in a global world where information flows across borders seamlessly.  That applies to economics too. The Greek debt crisis plunged the whole Euro zone into crisis and affected our U.S. markets.  A huge, global trading company placed a “bet”

Positioning your dairy financially for 2012

Posted on October 21, 2011 in Dairy Performance
By Gary Sipiorski The weather’s getting chilly, which means winter and the New Year are coming up fast.  It also means it’s time to once again time to take a hard look at your dairy business and position yourself financially for 2012.  Here are my top 10 things to look at as you plan: 1.

Dairy risk management: Understanding the basics

Posted on September 29, 2011 in Dairy Performance
(Editor's note:  In his 2011 article below, Randy Greenfield shares the basics of various dairy risk management tools.  A new tool to add to the list is the Dairy Margin Protection Program, as explained in the following 2014 update.  Contact your Vita Plus consultant if you're interested in further discussing these tools and strategies.) 2014