Dairy grazing : dairy career paths (2011)

Abstract

Dairy producers face challenges as they enter, expand or exit the dairy industry. Those entering the dairy industry often find attracting financing difficult and may find that accumulating an acceptable level of equity to get started will take several years. Expanding dairy producers are often so highly leveraged they have little margin for error, making their businesses susceptible to failure due to production or price swings. Older dairy producers face the challenges of increasing age and the desire to accumulate cash for retirement rather than reinvest in their dairies. Without a plan for succession, a smaller farm may not generate enough revenue to pay attractive wages or attract experienced, productive farm employees. The net result of the challenges faced by dairy producers is a lack of reinvestment in an entire regional dairy industry. Pathogenic microorganisms