How Much Money Do Farmers Make? The Numbers on a Dairy Farm!
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- Опубліковано 22 бер 2024
- Today we are talking all about the numbers on the farm. How many cows and tractors do we have? The current milk price. How many people work for the farm? Answering all of your common questions is the main focus of today's video. Thank you all for watching! Make sure to leave us more questions down below.
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Keep up the good work. Keeping tradition alive of the family farm. People who have never been raised on a farm will never understand the importance and value of what a farm life will teach you.
I could listen to your Dad all the time. His wisdom is immense. He seems so mellow. I'm glad you have a good relationship with your family.
Dad is absolutely spot on! No substitute for an agrarian lifestyle. Tragic how little it’s appreciated.
Thanks for sharing. What it all adds up to is lots and lots of work.7 days a week 365 days a year. Your a great example of a family farm.Thanks to all farmers who feed us so well and so cheap!! Thanks 😊.
Thanks for sharing. I grew up on a small dairy like yours with similar story. Our farm is gone now unfortunately. I have my own small fruit and vegetable farm.
Our dairy farm was such a flurry of activity every day. Everytime I pass an old abandoned dairy farm I think that farm was booming at one time. Sad the dairy industry doesn’t support small farms enough.
We milked 115 in tie-stall an 120 heifers etc etc. Lots of work, shoveling, huge bunker silos lots of tire throwing. 4 shoveled pens, barn all bedded by hand. People just don't knows how much goes into it. Great info an videos 😊
I love it! We were making 17 a hundred back in the 70's , and we thought we were getting rich, and they're still getting that! It should be 30 now! It is addicting, it gets in you and doesn't come out. You either have it or you don't. there were kids in my class that were from the farm, they couldn't wait to get away from it, not me, I couldn't wait to get out of school, because I would be daydreaming about if I was home, what I could be doing!
Thank you, Gierok Gentlemen, for a very informative summary of your operation. Your operation is very similar to ours, and I couldn't agree more with your philosophy on farming and family. If I were to differ with you on anything, I would put the ideal milk price somewhat north of $30, perhaps closer to the mid $40 range. Anything less makes it too hard for us to update, maintain, and reinvest in the land. Our farm has been in the family since the early 1890s when it was purchased by my great grandfather. For milk price comparison purposes, I have some of his milk check stubs from over 100 years ago; here is a sampling - From Hoards Creameries in Fort Atkinson (WI) his price for milk sold in February, 1897, was $.77/hundred. From Spring Brook Creamery, Fort Atkinson, his price for January, 1905, was $1.24/hundred. Then we jump ahead several decades - Milk sold to Steinhauer Creameries in March, 1939, was $1.09/hundred. I haven't run any of these prices through an inflation calculator, but I suspect our $19/hundred pay for early 2024 turns out to be somewhat less...which is why our spouses and children must obtain off-the-farm jobs just so we can enjoy the privelige of feeding our neighbors and the world.
Keith-
Well said sir!
I have been on my farm 53 years. I have never made money. Have always had an off farm job. But the value is this farm has raised 7 generations and we are working on an eighth and a ninth. Seeing my grand kids come back and experience the farm is what I live for. Number 5 granddaughter comes this summer
That's sad.
Your the richest man in the world when you have family by your side
@@user-of1pi9qs4x Right... But doing something for 53yrs and not making any money from it, and working another job.. Makes no sense.. I farm with my wife and daughter and 2 grandkids.
It wasn't meant to be sad
@@kenpalmer1900 I couldn't imagine being on my farm for 53 years and not making money, and working another job.
Regretfully farmers are 2% of the population, but the dynamics of world commodity pricing won't allow farmers to be in the top 2% earners. I am glad I grew up on a farm as your dad pointed out. Farming is a lifestyle with hard work, but many points of gratification on seeing one's kids/plans/crops/animals grow and thrive.
Farming is the only business where you buy "retail and sell wholesale" Very nice interview ! Nice to see a farm where animals are well cared for.
And pay the shipping both ways.
Your dad is great , coming from in big family also tradition is everything about farming. The roots are deep and the children need to realize how important that is to a successful farm. Your dad seems to be a very level headed person.
Excellent video. I could listen to you both all day. No wasted words and lots of smarts.
5 miles north of the town of Grand Meadow Minnesota my family farmed about 500 acres, about 350 owned and the rest rented and I believe we were milking 175 cows when the farm was sold in early 1981. My older brothers had a meeting considering buying the farm from my parents who were divorcing but decided against it. My mom looking back thought that if they had bought it from my parents they probably would have lost it in the 80’s. We had all Farmall, IH, Gehl, New Holland and gave Racine Implement a lot of business. I was 14 when the farm was sold. I missed it so much that for over 21 years I’ve rented pole barn storage on an old farm. I store my garden tractors, trailer and other Ford Ranger there. I barter with the owner in the summer and fall mowing the lawn in exchange for my storage. It helps for me to get out of the apartment.
I’m a retired small dairyman and I think your Dad did a great job explaining the workings and economics of a small dairy. We were hill farmers also.
Yes, it requires some outside income to make them feasible. And, I totally agree with his assessment of the huge value of raising kids on a farm. I wish my grandchildren could have had that opportunity. Even now, the dairy retired in the late nineties and I still get up early and like to work outside every day I can. Good video.
I avoided listening to this for as long as possible. My experience in the dairy history, which goes back to my great grandfather, covers over 125 years. My dream was always to be the 4th generation on that farm. Sadly, that dream evaporated. Through my grandfather's eyes, I saw the transition from horses to tractors, hand to machine milking, loose hay to bales. You mention $8 cwt prices in the 90's. While I was in HS/college during the late 60's to early 70's, if memory is correct, milk prices were in the $11 to $13 range. Then the 80's hit, massive stockpiles of dairy products (cheese and dry powdered milk) led to the dairy buyout program and poor prices. Oh, the pain I have seen on the farm. Farms that were prosperous - now, trash litters the yard, paint peels from buildings, empty barns. The survivor - A farm I milked at with 45 cows, 1972, now, 500 cows. Many times, I want to cry. Then, I hear the cowbells on your cows, and I know, it WILL be OK. ❤
Thanks for your story.
Yes, I understand how you feel. My dad tried to be in the dairy business pretty much all of his life. Had a small 40 acre dairy farm. But it didn't work out, so he became a milkman, and then worked at a small dairy plant at night cleaning the machinery and vats for pretty much the rest of his life. We still had one cow and 20 acres that he tried to farm while working full time. He passed away in 2015 at 94 and loved it all until the end. My brother wasn't interested and I couldn't do it, but my dad's love for it lives in me. I miss the farm too. I hope it works out for those who are still there for us all.
@@leahmollytheblindcatnordee3586 While riding the school bus in the 60's, we made a circle around 4 miles, there were 15 dairy farms on that part, barely 4 miles. A friend recently told me, give thanks and live in today's world. Anything else will drive you crazy. My grandfather was 68 when he sold the cows. He missed one milking in that time period. Not so naive to wish for the good ole days, but the memories are pretty good.
@@alanpranke3299I do agree, the memories are so much better than what I would find it like today. In the late fifties and early sixties, I lived about 2 miles from the school and lucked out. Because of the way the buses ran, I went to school on one bus at the end of their route and then a different bus and got off first. One year it started out that I was the last to get off. Very boring. But they were able to change that for us.
It is mostly farm land here yet, although most of it is crop related by one very large farm. But there are still some dairy farms left.
Thank you and your families for what you do for the world, feeding us!
What a great story. Dad sold the farm up the valley in 88. I miss the farm so much. Have a safe and blessed spring planting season
I'm 34 and milking, only sticking in it for the family side, my daughter 4 doesn't really care but my two little boys 2 and 1 love cows. Makes me sad that it'll probably end with me but at least they can grow up with it
Watched a pod cast earlier that had Millennial Farmer on where he admitted he made more from UA-cam & sponsorships than he does from farming.
You guys are living life the way it was meant to be lived! Always enjoyable and informative to watch. Thank You!
I started talking to a few people back in the mid 90s about trying to figure out a way to buy their herd out over time. When I first started working on dairies land around here was $700 an acre and by the end of the 90s it was $7000. There was just no way to make it. When I started working there were over sixty dairy farms in my county. Now there's six. I still milk cows a couple time a week to keep involved. But at 52 years old by the time I get done with milking I'm tired.
Doing my own AI was probably the most satisfying part of my 20 years of milking cows and trying to create show calves for my kids.
We are dairy farmers here in Vermont. Dad is absolutely right about the greed in this industry.
The hills. Lol That just floors me how you guys drive on that. I was a half hour north of spring green the other day and was at a farm, those hiills are just crazy steep. Compared to us in south central, you guys have mountains. Love your channel, keep sharing.
I enjoy your videos. We had a 105 tie barn in Canada, and milked for 42 years. We had roughly the same number of acres. We had Jerseys and usually had a 6% Butter fat 5% Protein. My hats off to you folks. Looks like you do a really nice job. Your farm stead looks very well kept, machinery well maintained and your cattle well cared for . All the best !
Your Dad and your family have so much pride in farming. Your farm hopefully will not be a thing of the past.
Keep the small Dairys alive for another generation. It’s up to us.
Jd is the best thing. I love the 7810 we have
Boy George nailed it. We start getting good milk prices and everyone adds to their herd and flood the market. If they could just be satisfied with a good price and not get greedy. Great video guys, it was cool to see the old pictures of the farm.
There is NO better place than the dairy farm to raise a family. George is 100% correct. And people love that 1066 because it’s the boss! RED POWER!!!
Thanks, guys. Great video.
Great Job, we have a hand full of dairy left in Michigan, in the county where I live.sad to see the family farm go.Thankyou for keeping the farm going
Being raised on a farm was the best
Getting up early to milk cows was not my thing
Every day was an adventure. Doing hay was my favourite
Thanks for all the interesting information even about your personal lives and how you manage to hang on to farm life. I worked on farms in the summer when I was in high school and absolutely loved it. But never had the chance to get into farming. I grew up north of Eleva in the Cleghorn area.
I liked the "On the eight day God created a farmer".
It’s unreal that in 1982 we were getting 13 dollars a hundred. And that it’s not much more now. So much lost with the loss of the small family farm. I grew up on a farm but did not possess the management skills to keep a farm going as I farmed for a few years on my own but also didn’t have the dedication it takes to keep on.
I know that the cows wear cowbells, whose idea was it and why? I love your videos about living and working on a small dairy
Amen !! If all kids could be raised in the farm community and learn at a young age work ethics and what the value of a dollar is , the entire country would be much better 🙏🙏 Thanks for sharing another Great video
From an economic point of view, it's almost impossible for a non-ag-business farmer to make a sufficient income. But, on the positive, you're building equity in your farm, critters and equipment (some of which depreciate). The most poignantantly, are family values and the willingness to work hard and long.
Your dad is absolutely correct on the milk prices.. they don't follow the cost of inputs and the American farmer seems to shoot themselves in the foot by constantly wanting more when prices do go up... small farms sell out to bigger farms and then the existing farm gets doubled in size ... hate to see more government involved but a quota or cap may be necessary to curb that issue
Working hillsides is a challenge for sure.
As a faithful followr of your channel, I am impressed at how you guys do the majority of maintenance on your farm. Your father is quite a mechancic! For instance, when you replaced the drag chail in the barn, that was a huge job but you got it done!
Patrick
I watch videos on dairy, beef cattle, and crop farming in the US and Europe. Have you considered dropping dairy farming and going into the crop or beef side of the business? I'm aware that costs vary in the various disciplines as well as yearly prices of farm products which you have little control over. The bottom line is farming is a tough business but it has rewards that bring you back year after year!
Agree 100% with you on best place to raise kids. I have no farming in my life whatsoever but I truly wish I could have. Great video. Thank you. 22:18
If money was no option what would you change or would you even change. Great video you can tell your family is very passionate to the farming side of life
Thanks very educational there's a lot behind the scenes one doesn't think about.
Nice to hear farm's history and for small farms to survive you need extra income to survive health insurance costly and equipment costs fuel seed and fertilizer costs just keeps going up love the videos and dad has great knowledge 😊😊😊
Farming master class from a truly successful family farm.
Great video. Thanks for sharing the statistics. We grew up in southern MN dairy country and farms like yours were everywhere in the ‘60’s. The 80’s really killed the small farm era and that area is all 2000 acre corn/bean farms. We’ve farmed part time since ‘82. We small guys still fill a critical role in rural America.
Another question.... you started years ago and grew into it but will the next generation or young folks be able to buy a farm, equipment, cows, etc,etc and make a living? Thank you!
I thought you might be interested to know that in Canada farmers are making about $45.00 per hundred weight for their milk. But it is impossible to get into it because of government supply management that limits milk quotas. The retail cost of milk is about $6.00 for 2% and 7.39 for 3.25% per gallon and is sold at a loss of about $0.50 per gallon in stores!
Your farm has a lot of character priceless
Your ratio of tractor horsepower to farmed acres is amazing. Growing up it seemed typical that it would be .5 to .75 horsepower per acre. For example if you ran 300 acres you might have an 80, a 50 and a 30 hp tractor.
Thanks for the background! I’m always interested to hear how operations get started and are run. Every story is unique and should be a source of pride, I know ours is and you should be proud of yours!
Howdy, I hope ya'll are doing well,
I couldn't agree with you more, the Family Farm is the very best place to raise a Family, and teach and show your a great way of life, the life experiences, skills you can only learn on a Family Farm, being 5th generation myself, I couldn't imagine growing up in any other place, nore would I want to, I have absolutely no regrets, or as Cole Sonne says it, " no regerts " lol Thank ya'll for sharing some of ya'll's life experiences, that was really Cool and interesting, I've always enjoyed watching your videos, look forward to seeing more, Stay safe, God Bless and Farm on my Friends
Thanks. These types of videos make me think about how I grew up and the comparisons/differences to the Gierok operation.
A nice bit of history and the way you all function!
I grew up on a dairy farm but the cows were sold off in 1978. We expanded to little to late and were forced to sell. I get my fix here by watching you.
Always ben on a Tabaco /Cattle/Hay farm All my Life & I Wouldn't Change it For The World ! i am n my very early 40's & i still Remember my grand paw talking about making money on the farm & it was simple you factor in all your spent money vs whats left after every thing was paid Including the farm & all the infrastructure Barns/sheds & All The Equipment tractors/Hay bailers/Rakes ext ext Then Fuel for it all and at the end of the year you would know if ya made a profit ! that is the way you must do it to really know if you are profitable or not & i see a lot of new youtubers & 1,2,3year farmers saying they made a profit on their second year farming & it just isnt True.. It is Impossible & i Think Some People Need Brutal Honesty rather than a sugar coated Lie ! I Know you done it long enough you know what's what But i am afraid some of these new to farming UA-camrs are going to cause some ppl to get in Way Over Their Heads ! Don't get me wrong I Love it & Wouldn't Trade it for anything But It is a Ton of Hard Back Breaking Work & it Absolutely is not no 9-5 40hr week in farming/ranching! The Farmer Is The Only man in ANY Business That is Forced To Buy Every Thing he Needs at Retail Price Nut is Forced To Sell Every Thing he Produces/Sales at Whole sale Prices & Even Fire sale prices some times !
Thanks for sharing the video. I can listen to your Dad all day. I'm close to him in age. I have to agree a farm is the best place to raise a family. I'm in Virginia but it is still farming. Yes I am with your Dad on everyone wants to produce more and flood the market and we can't keep prices up very long. Dairy, beef, hogs etc. Y'all take care and thanks for sharing the history of the farm. I enjoy watching the videos.
Great work and thanks for the explanation and love seeing the family farm still going strong.Now Im a loyal green machine guy,but have to admit love the old school IH 66 ,86 series.May all of you have a blessed tillage and planting season and you dad is truly a very wise man.
Thanks guys, right on with the values of the farm in your lives 👍👍👍👍👍 and the generations to come. 🙏🙏
Yea, similar type of operation we had back than only we had stantions milked 30 cows with de lavel buckets a transfer system. Most of the tractors that my dad had bought were used a was very maintained along with the choppers, wagons etc. But only one tractor he bought brand new back in the early 80’s was a Massey Ferguson 285 w/cab. I think it was around 30,000 dollars ? Overall I often think when my grandparents parents an my parents farmmed an how things have changed.
Hey Aaron and George I love watching your videos. With all the info. That this video has offered. I just wanted to say I wish that the small dairy farms were still able to be around because the children and adults that come from these farms respect the human race so mutch more then kids that grow up in town. There is so mutch work ethic that coming from farm kids. I grow up on a 40 cow dairy in the summing it was my uncle's farm. But when school started my parents lived in town so I did sports in school to stay busy. When I got out of tech. School in lacrosse with a diesel mechanic degree. I Got got hired at one of the dealerships in lacrosse and that was one thing that they really likes about there young teachs was alot of them came from farms. They would say that people that came from farms already now how to work hard. Keep up the great videos. Can't wait for spring😊😊
Excellent video telling your family’s story and how you operate it ! I was raised on a dairy and poultry farm And milked cows till 1998, So glad to hear your thoughts on farming today, yes it would be nice if there could be thousands of small dairy farms instead of mega dairy farms. . Always wishing good prices for you and your family !
Love the side hills. We have some real steep ground here in Vermont. Love hearing information from other parts of the country
Really enjoyed this one. Farming is a lifestyle.
Keep up the good work guys. What about your grandparent’s farms that you mentioned; do they still milk? Wish you all best from Europe.
Excellent video thanks for sharing the information that is very personal yet very informative especially for those who have no idea of the effort needed to maintain a farm including 3 non farm jobs to keep the place in operation. I grew up on a farm and although its been 60 years since I've been there (after college) I really appreciate the work of an average small dairy. I love seeing these videos, Thank you .
Great video keep up the hard work. I think in the future explain the 18.00 a hundred a lot of people don't know you get paid on weight. They think by the gallon or quart
I enjoyed everything in the video…the history of your family and the farm itself. Thank you for sharing it all!
Lumber milling should be able to add to your income in the winter.
Great video and informational as always! Love and appreciate the farmers and what you put into it for the people of the world! The Gierok dad is great and is my Favorite to watch and I learn every time I watch these videos! Keep up the hard work boys!
We need farms to feed everyone but we also need farmers because ethics in many current industries is waning
Like x 1000. Appreciate you all!
If you love what you do you never work a day in your life what a great way to live and raise a family God bless you
Have you thought about expanding? Maybe a 24 cow milking parlor would last a long time, with increasing the herd size and keep milking time down.
I ENJOY WATCHING YOUR VIDEOS AARON 😊
Thank you for sharing the information about your farming operation. I figured with the size of your operation there has to be an off farm income to support the families. To Dad (Art), you and your wife have done a tremendous job with the farm operation and raising your family. You have a lot to be proud of. My main question is what is the future of the Farm? I assume Aaron is next in line, but what is the future for Mason and Owen on the farm?
Really enjoy your videos, especially this one. Family is what farming is all about, and you guys are great spokesmen for small-scale agriculture. Thank you!
What a fantastic video I’m 68 years old my Dad had a small 40 cow operation in upstate New York in the 60s and 70s
No matter what happens dont change much.
God Bless you and your family!
Loved hearing your family farm story ❤️
Excellent video with interesting information. Always fun to learn about farm history and what goes into to running a dairy. A great family - impressive!!!
Thanks for sharing, very nice operation. Could listen to you and your dad all day.
I was raised on a small dairy in far Northern Illinois. I was born with disabilities. We had then 50 cows (Holsteins) average in a 51 cow milking barn. I took part in loving cattle and dairying. Then we milked cows in the Galena area reaching 136 milking, 131 registered with unreal genetics. We showed at every county fair, World Dairy Expo, and State Fairs. Mom and dad also milked around fifty (mainly Holsteins) here in Wisconsin, before retiring in 2012. When mom and dad moved to Wisconsin, I stayed in Illinois to continue working as upper management an a very old feed mill, along side running two businesses. Once mom and dad retired, I stopped milking cows for about three years and became a live outcry auctioneer. Then in 2015, I started milking cows for a small dairy in Western Wisconsin, running about 71 cows at peak in a 51 cow barn. Soon after my employer sold his cows, I found to have massive decline in my physical condition and later learned I have terminal cancer (I am not going down easy, and without a serious count). I have done many different careers, job opportunities, and employment titles. As some may know, I was born with intellectual/developmental, and physical disabilities. As those around me, said I had done very well for myself despite the struggles I have had growing up at home, challenges at school, and having a failed educational level.
Well done.
Just love your channel! Keeps me grounded and continues to remind me of those of you that provide for the rest of us. It also helps me to remember the background that my parents came from that helped them develop the work ethic that they had from growing up on a farm that they instilled in me and my brothers. My wife also grew up on a farm and your channel keeps me in touch with her beginnings as well! Keep up the great work!
Such a good video. Really a good overview of a nice smaller family farm. I also have a smaller family sand really enjoy my work and lifestyle.
Beautiful stories! Thank you for sharing!
really interesting.Totally agree with the family value aspect of life on a farm as one of those kids. Ours was a hobby farm but still taught life lessons in can do, responsibility and awe. Dig your channel very much. Thank you for allowing us to share your journey. Peace.
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Really appreciated your sharing your time with us
That was excellent.
Whats your chances of going organic,here in New York the per 100# is in the area of 35 to 38 dollars.
I think you're farm is great beautiful layout
Great video today! Sure answered my questions!
Thanks for sharing. I think family dynamics makes a big difference in farm life and it nice that yours seem very good. And your hills brought back memories of when on the farm where I grew up in the Finger Lakes of NY I would feel a little quesy whenever i started down a really steep lane with a couple of big hay loads behind an old John Deer A.
Awesome job guys. Happy Easter!
When I started in 1973 milk was 7.35 and had more money in my pocket then at 15.50 now