Dairy Farm Business Summary: New York Small Herd Farms, 65 Cows or Fewer 1998

Abstract

Dairy farm managers throughout New York State have been participating in Cornell Cooperative Extension's farm business summary and analysis program since the early 1950's. Managers of each participating farm business receive a comprehensive summary and analysis of their farm business. The information in this report represents averages of the data submitted from dairy farms in New York for 1998 with herds of 65 cows or fewer and no milking parlors. Small farms are facing increasing management challenges in their efforts to control costs and remain profitable. This publication reports the average performance and characteristics of small farms and the average of the top 25 percent of those small farms with the highest rate of return on assets without appreciation. Thus, not only can the average performance of small farms be used as a benchmark, but the performance of the most profitable small farms as well. Identifying strengths and areas for improvement by comparing your business to that of similar farms is an important first step in focusing attention on ways to improve the business.