"Outsourcing Feed and Fieldwork: Sharing the Experience of Successful Small Dairies"

Farmers in eight case studies share their experience managing their dairies as purchase-feed operations (buying feed or hiring out fieldwork) or doing custom machinery work. Both dairy business models help farmers of small dairies use their resources of time, talent, and capital more efficiently.

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Table of Contents

Printing Directions
Title Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
Summary Points for Successful Business Relationships

(divider page "Case Studies")
Case Study: Adam Liddle - Entering the Dairy Industry by Outsourcing Feed
Case Study: Dave Hewitt - Outsourcing Fieldwork to Focus Dairy Management
Case Study: Bob McDougal - Outsourcing Feed to Overcome a Limited Land Base
Case Study: Lyle Purinton - Outsourcing Fieldwork and Feed to Adapt Operations of a Dairy
Case Study: Unc Brock - Custom Machinery Operator - Working for Neighbors
Case Study: Dave and Will Randles - Selling Feed to Increase the Operations of a Small Dairy
Case Study: William McIntyre - Selling Feed to Enjoy His Retirement
Case Study: Bob Jr. and Sandy Weir - Reducing Hired Labor by Outsourcing Fieldwork

(divider page "Deciding to Outsource Feed and Fieldwork")
Deciding When to Outsource Your Feed and Machinery Work
Cropping: Should You Tool Up or Gear Down
Owning Machinery versus Hiring a Custom Operator

(divider page "Business Relationships")
Contract Feed Production Arrangements
Working Successfully with a Custom Operator
Dairy Specialization and Building Business Relationships
Guidelines for Writing Contracts for Custom Hiring
Contracts, Insurance, and Potential Liability

(divider page "Financial Management")
Cash Flow Planning: Past and Future
Retirement Planning is Important

(divider page "Forage Quality")
Relative Forage Quality
Interpretation and Use of Silage Fermentation Analysis Reports
Sample Fermentation Analysis Report

(divider page "Pricing Crops")
Considerations for Purchasing Standing
Valuing Forages Based on Moisture and Nutrient Content
Pricing Hay - Adjusting for Quality
Pricing Standing Hay
Table - Haylage Price Conversions for Dry Matter
Table - Corn Silage Price Conversions for Dry Matter

(divider page "Farm Machinery Costs")
Farm Machinery Economic Cost Estimates for 2002
Estimating Farm Machinery Costs
Worksheet: Machinery Cost Analysis
Change Your Haylage Harvest to Save Time, Money, and Forage Quality

(divider page "Alternative Machinery Arrangements")
Sharing Farm Machinery
Equipment Sharing and Other Joint Ventures
A Shared Harvest - Machinery Cooperatives

(divider page "Websites")
Websites with Useful Information for Outsourcing Feed and Fieldwork