Farmers: 5 Things to Know About Dairy Farms

Farming is hard work that can provide a comfortable living if you know how to run a profitable business. If you've been considering getting into dairy farming, here are some facts you should know.

1. Dairy farming can be highly unnatural — Cows of today’s large factory dairy farms are constantly impregnated to increase milk production. A modern dairy cow produces six to seven times as much milk as a dairy cow a century ago, says Modern Farmer.

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2. Milk production is high — As a dairy farmer, every day will begin and end with milking your cows, says Farm Flavor. A single cow produces just over six gallons of milk each day, on average.

3. Dairy marketing is big business — Even though the average American consumes more animal products than is nutritionally healthy, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its programs spend nearly $550 million promoting milk and other dairy products to the public. Each dollar spent on advertising brings in about $8 in sales, says One Green Planet.

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4. Dairy cows eat a lot — A normally-productive dairy cow eats nearly 100 pounds of feed each day. Most often, if the cows are not pastured or fed on grass, the feed is a combination of silage, hay, grain, and soybean meal for protein. According to Midwest Dairy, many farmers employ experts in animal nutrition to ensure a balanced diet for maximum production.

5. Income is highly variable — There are many factors that can either hurt or help your farm’s profitability, and this, in turn, will affect your salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers was $64,170 in 2015. Consolidation of farms and the ability to produce more with fewer workers means the job opportunities are expected to decline by 2 percent through 2024.

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