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Post by JoshuaGA on Apr 3, 2012 20:58:04 GMT -5
and sit back and listen to Him laugh. I kinda thought I might have had this dairy all figured out by now and ready to start talking about building, dad getting sick sure has been a reality check, really thrown a wrench into our plans. Been so wrapped up in spring fieldwork and no real letup in site, not had a whole lot of time to work with the calves like I should. God only knows what kind of bind I would be in right now working with a dairy as well. Also more or less puts home the point for better or worse, as long as we have chickens, I do not have the luxury of walking away or taking another job, I have got to make this farm work for us. Been ruminating on that fact for nearly a month now, and though I haven't given up on the dairy, it is readily apparant I need a plan B. What that is just yet I don't know. I still got my hay business, although I feel like while I haven't maximized production or quality, I am quickly reaching my limit on acreage and still maintaining a rotation of some kind. Have my 28 heifers still, they should be breeding age June-July period. Looks like I may have to end up buying a bull to run with them, I know AI is simple, but I have not cannot get away to get to the school right now to learn unfortuantly. Really starting to think about purchasing a beef bull and breed them with, I have already had some interest in the heifers should I sell, and just sell the heifers and retain the calves and start a small beef herd, but I just don't know what the next few months hold yet. Just really at the point of needing to do something and not sure what to do, and driving myself crazy doing it, and still getting nowhere fast.
Sorry for the ramble, just been doing alot of thinking at night. No pity party, just unsure at the moment just what to do or where to go.
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Post by Wheels on Apr 3, 2012 23:25:17 GMT -5
Similar story here, planned for a dairy expansion last year, Week after we got the cash-flow all together and working, we found out dad had skin cancer. Waited a month to get that straightened out before going to our lender, Meanwhile I'm running my tail off trying to handle the chores and field work. Early October the lender turns us down, We didn't use a big enough # for production (the damn thing cash-flowed) and in thier eyes, I'm messing with my parents retirement and treating my brothers like slaves. It's not too big of stretch to say, without me, the folks would have had to sell the cows a long time ago. I put nearly 4000 hours in last year, and basicallly every penny I've made since college has been stuck into the farm, Most of my first half of the month milk check is going towards the Loan for the parlor I bought for this expansion. If anyone's getting rich here, it sure isn't me.
I've told a lot of people that if I was smart I'd sell my cows and get a paying job. but I really hate leaving my Dad in the lurch.
Needless to say, We've switched lenders and are going to try a modified plan this year.
Wheels
P.S. would it be posssible to get and AI service technichian out to sychronize/breed your hiefers?? If it was me, I'd at least breed them to a dairy bull. Kind of keeps your options open should plan A suddenly fall into place
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Post by JoshuaGA on Apr 4, 2012 4:11:17 GMT -5
We've talked to a neighbor who AI's, he seemed rather uninterested in the work at best. Not a big dairy area around here, have to do some searching. Not saying we wouldn't breed to a dairy bull, preferably Jersey, just a case of not being too sure where I'm headed at the moment. Dad is at least getting mobile enough to go back to gathering eggs, but he still cant walk houses or get to the field. Budget for the dairy already had a part time employee budgeted in, but the way it is going, if we do the dairy, it is more than likely now going to have to employ someone full time to be able to end up allowing some flexibility for these little events, and that brings its' own set of challenges, still have to run those numbers.
I'm sure it will all work out in the end, the picture just doesn't look to clear at the moment.
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Post by iadave on Apr 6, 2012 0:06:27 GMT -5
Hang in there! I have come out of deals like this quit well with new projects I had never dreamed of. Just keep the mental wheels turning and looking around.
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Post by johnwayne360 on Apr 6, 2012 5:48:46 GMT -5
I went through almost the same thing 13 years ago. Milking 40 cows, farrow to finish 75 sows..100 acres of hay, and 200 corn. Then dad got cancer, and i was all alone. Burns you out quick. Had some good neighbors help me with one crop of hay, but after that I was on my own. Made some bad decisions that year simply because I was too tired to think straight. Joshua, so this changes your plans a little bit, at least you have time to think about it, dont get too stressed, and things will work out.
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Post by JoshuaGA on Apr 6, 2012 11:29:22 GMT -5
I'm not real stressed yet, more of a case of sitting back and taking stock at the moment. Trying to develop a new income stream on this farm to support me, pretty much on the basis that there will be no more land coming into this farm as far as I can see, so I want to try to develop as much potential as I can out of this farm, to what degree possible. In any case I still have the wheels turning.
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Post by johnwayne360 on Apr 6, 2012 16:09:32 GMT -5
Just remember that you are no good to anyone if you get burnt out. Take care of yourself as well as your family. My biggest problem was that I thought i could do all this work, help mom out with dads needs and have a very active social life also. Dont cut out your social life by any means, but make sure you take care of yourself too. The rest will work itself out one way or the other.
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