DFBS: Intensive Grazing Farms, New York, 2001

Conneman, George J.; Grace, James W.; Karszes, Jason; Demaine, Dan; Putnam, Linda D.; Staehr, A. Edward; Bulkley, Steve; Degni, Janice; Barry, Judith

DFBS: Intensive Grazing Farms, New York, 2001

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 the farm business. This is the sixth year that a study of intensive grazing farms has been done. The farms included in the study are a subset of New York State farms participating in the Dairy Farm Business Summary (DFBS). Fifty-four farms indicated that they grazed dairy cows at least three months, moving to a fresh paddock at least every three days and more than 30% of the forage consumed during the growing season was from grazing. Operators of these 54 farms were asked to complete a grazing practices survey. Thirty-six of the farms did complete it. The investigators had special interest in practices used on farms with above average profitability. Therefore the study centered on 32 farms which were not first year grazers and on which at least 40 percent of forage consumed during the grazing season was grazed. These 32 farms were divided on the basis of net farm income per cow (without appreciation) above and below $574 which was the average for these 32 intensive grazing farms. Nineteen farms with net farm income per cow above $574 are in the “Above Average” group and thirteen farms with net farm income per cow below $574 comprise the “Below Average” group.

Description

E.B. 2002-12

Date Issued

2002-08

Types

report