Strong management skills are a must for profitable dairy farmers. “Most of the successful farmers have flexible business plans and think about long and short-range goals.” University of Minnesota Extension Dairy Specialist Jim Salfer says the top dairies review their management plan on a regular basis. “They get together with their trusted advisors and say this is how we did this year,” explained Salfer. “Based on our goals, what do you guys see coming down the road?” Record keeping skills and time management are also characteristics of successful dairy farms.
