2017 Pennsylvania Dairy Industry Producer Survey

Published by the Center for Dairy Excellence

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* 1. Is your operation CURRENTLY producing milk for sale?

Yes (move directly to question #2).

No (move directly to question #3).

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* 2. If you answered yes to question #1, what Pennsylvania county are all or most of your dairy cows housed in?

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* 3. If you answered no to question #1, please answer the following questions then scroll to the bottom of the survey and hit 'submit'.

What year did you exit dairying?

How many dairy cows did you have when you exited the business?

What was your approximate total, annual production when you exited the business?

What was your reason for exiting dairy farming?

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* 4. How many DAIRY COWS are currently on your operation?

Total dairy cows (including dry cows and first calf heifers):

How many of these total dairy cows are currently being milked (exclude dry cows):

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* 5. How many HEIFERS are currently on your operation, including heifer CALVES?

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* 6. How much milk was produced on this operation yesterday (one day's production, in pounds)?

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* 7. Approximately how many pounds of milk were produced on this operation in 2016?

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* 8. What was the typical Somatic Cell Count for your herd for the past year (only check one)?

Under 100,000

100,000 - 150,000

150,000 - 200,000

200,000 - 350,000

350,000 - 500,000

Over 500,000

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* 9. In what year was the primary operator born and gender of the primary operator?

Primary operator's year born?

Primary operator's gender (male or female)?

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* 10. How many other individuals (partners) are involved in the day-to-day management decisions for this operation? Include both family and non-family partners but exclude other hired workers.

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* 11. Referring to question #10, how many of these individuals are in the following age groups?

Under 40 years of age:

40 to 60 years of age:

Over 60 years of age:

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* 12. How many HOUSEHOLDS, including your own, share in the profit/loss of this operation?

Number of HOUSEHOLDS?

How many of these households have NO family relationship to the primary operation?

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* 13. When you consider retirement, is it likely a relative would continue the dairy operation?

Yes

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* 14. When you consider retirement, is it likely a non-relative would continue the dairy operation?

Yes

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* 15. In which type of FACILITY do you currently house most of your cows that are being milked?

Tie stall or stanchion

Free stall

Group housing such as bedded pack, compost facility, etc.

Other (please specify)

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* 16. In what year were your facilities last upgraded, expanded or significantly improved?

Milking facilities

Milk cow housing facilities

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* 17. Where do you see this dairy operation in the next five years?

Continuing milking cows (move directly to question #18).

Discontinuing milking cows due to retirement or selling of herd (move directly to question #19).

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* 18. Please estimate your number of milk cows in 2022.

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* 19. If you sell your herd within the next five years, what will be the most likely reason?

Retirement, no one to take over.

Better opportunities for off-farm employment.

Developer will buy land.

Shift to beef, cash crops, or other agriculture entity.

Health Issues.

Want more time for family and other interests.

Economics, can't make it financially.

Retirement, someone else is taking over.

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* 20. Approximately what percent (%) of your annual gross income is from the sale of the following:

Milk:

Beef / Veal:

Genetics / Breeding Stock:

Crops:

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* 21. Do you use a parlor milking system, and/or expect to use one in 2022? (Include all types of parlors.)

Currently (YES or NO)?

In 2022 (YES or NO)?

Do you use robotics or expect to in 2022 (YES or NO)?

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* 22. Do you use intensively-managed rotational grazing or intend to in 2022?

Currently (YES or NO)?

In 2022 (YES or NO)?

If you currently intensively graze your cows, then how many acres do you use to graze your milking cows?

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* 23. Did you invest in FACILITY improvements or additions in 2012-2017? (Check all that apply)

Cow comfort improvements

Housing facilities for milk cows

Housing facilities for heifers and dry cows

Feed handling systems including storage facilities

Milking system or facility

Manure handling systems including storage facilities

Renewable energy or energy conservation practices

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* 24. Do you plan to invest in FACILITY improvements or additions in the next five years? (Check all that apply)

Cow comfort improvements

Housing facilities for milk cows

Housing facilities for heifers and dry cows

Feed handling systems including storage facilities

Milking system or facility

Manure handling systems including storage facilities

Renewable energy or energy conservation practices

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* 25. (Check all that apply): In the last five years, have you done any of the following:

Have you used financial consultants or accounting services?

Have you been using a professional feed nutritionist on a regular basis?

Implemented a systematic breeding program such as a timed A.I. program?

Developed a written business plan for my dairy operation?

Developed a formalized succession or transition plan?

Have you used Crop Insurance?

Have you used Risk Management programs OTHER THAN Crop Insurance?

Have you participated in Risk Management education?

Have you had problems with milk quality or udder health?

If YES, to previous question, did you have enough assistance to help you correct the problem?

Have you had your premises tested for stray voltage?

Have you completed or maintained a manure management plan for your farm?

Did you use artificial insemination on at least 75% of your breedings?

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* 26. (Check up to THREE items): What are the THREE most limiting factors to increasing the size of your dairy operation?

I have no desire to expand.

Inadequate or unavailable labor

Access to financing

Family or other personal considerations

Commercial and residential development in my area

Concerns about how my neighbors will react if I expand my herd

Land availability

Excess debt

Risk too great

Lack of support and knowledge about how to grow my dairy business

Zoning / permitting obstacles in my township, or other regulatory obstacles

Other (please specify)

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* 27. (Check up to TWO items): The following statement best describes my farm's future:

I likely will need to modernize my facilities in order to meet my profitability and family goals.

I likely will need to grow the size of my herd in order to meet my profitability goals.

I likely will need to change my style of dairying (e.g. to grazing or to fee stall parlor) in order to meet my profitability goals.

I am confident in my ability to meet my profitability goals at my current herd size.

I am not confident that my profitability goals can be met through any action that I take.

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* 28. Crop and pasture acres questions?

What are the total crop and pasture acres on your operation?

What are the total crop and pasture acres owned?

What are the total crop and pasture acres rented?

What are the total acres used for feed on your dairy operation only?

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* 29. How important are the following in improving business performance for your dairy in the next 3-5 years?

	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
Increasing milk production per cow	Increasing milk production per cow Very Important	Increasing milk production per cow Somewhat Important	Increasing milk production per cow Not Important
Increasing milk components per cwt	Increasing milk components per cwt Very Important	Increasing milk components per cwt Somewhat Important	Increasing milk components per cwt Not Important
Improving udder health	Improving udder health Very Important	Improving udder health Somewhat Important	Improving udder health Not Important
Decreasing cost of production per cwt	Decreasing cost of production per cwt Very Important	Decreasing cost of production per cwt Somewhat Important	Decreasing cost of production per cwt Not Important
Stabilizing milk price volatility	Stabilizing milk price volatility Very Important	Stabilizing milk price volatility Somewhat Important	Stabilizing milk price volatility Not Important
Increasing herd size	Increasing herd size Very Important	Increasing herd size Somewhat Important	Increasing herd size Not Important
Maximizing milk price per cwt	Maximizing milk price per cwt Very Important	Maximizing milk price per cwt Somewhat Important	Maximizing milk price per cwt Not Important
Decreasing purchased feed amount/maximizing homegrown feed production	Decreasing purchased feed amount/maximizing homegrown feed production Very Important	Decreasing purchased feed amount/maximizing homegrown feed production Somewhat Important	Decreasing purchased feed amount/maximizing homegrown feed production Not Important

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* 30. (Check all that apply): What MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS do you expect to make within the next 5 years on your dairy operation?

Feed Management (feed analysis, grazing, utilize nutritionist, etc.)

Genetic Improvements (mating review, genomic testing, etc.)

Calf & Heifer Health Management (vaccination and nutrition programs, etc.)

Milking Herd Health Management (udder and reproductive health, etc.)

Environmental Improvements or Conservation Practices (buffer strips, manure incorporation)

Financial Management (accounting, profit teams, business planning)

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* 31. Rate the importance of these factors needed for your dairy operation.

	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
Facility Upgrades or Housing Improvements	Facility Upgrades or Housing Improvements Very Important	Facility Upgrades or Housing Improvements Somewhat Important	Facility Upgrades or Housing Improvements Not Important
Loan Availability	Loan Availability Very Important	Loan Availability Somewhat Important	Loan Availability Not Important
Labor Availability - (full-time, part-time, relief milkers)	Labor Availability - (full-time, part-time, relief milkers) Very Important	Labor Availability - (full-time, part-time, relief milkers) Somewhat Important	Labor Availability - (full-time, part-time, relief milkers) Not Important
Computerized Systems - (financial records, breeding or production records)	Computerized Systems - (financial records, breeding or production records) Very Important	Computerized Systems - (financial records, breeding or production records) Somewhat Important	Computerized Systems - (financial records, breeding or production records) Not Important
Outside Advisors - (financial, legal, nutritional consultants)	Outside Advisors - (financial, legal, nutritional consultants) Very Important	Outside Advisors - (financial, legal, nutritional consultants) Somewhat Important	Outside Advisors - (financial, legal, nutritional consultants) Not Important
Land Availability	Land Availability Very Important	Land Availability Somewhat Important	Land Availability Not Important
Milk Hauling Services	Milk Hauling Services Very Important	Milk Hauling Services Somewhat Important	Milk Hauling Services Not Important

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* 32. Have you received income from natural gas related activity within the past 5 years?

Yes

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* 33. If you received funds from natural gas related activity, did this:

Encourage investment in the modernization of your dairy operation?

Discourage investment in facitilites?

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* 34. Optional - We are asking for your email address so we can notify you of the results of this study and other information from the Center for Dairy Excellence in a way that avoids paying for postage (all information is confidential).

Name

Email Address

Phone Number