The Dublin Progress (Dublin, Tex.), Vol. 100, No. 3, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 10, 1987 Page: 13 of 51
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The Dublin Progress
Dairy industry undergoes year of change
Cheege has been a major phenomenon in
the dairy industry this past year.
StigMtjr ever a year ago dairymen nation-
wide BMde the choice whether or not to bid in-
to the Dairy Herd Termination Program. In
Ettdh Oeawty,30 darriwi went out through the
program and lt.M0 dairy cows were taken out
of prediction. Although 30 dairies ceased to
said, today Erath Coanty has only 12 dairies
lHi than ft did a year ago.
At the same time these local dairies were
going eat, several dairymen from Arizona
and California moved their dairies to Erath
is probably a major factor for
i settling here,” said Join Cowan,
r of AMPI (Associated Milk Pro-
C.). “Erath County has an excellent
: far milk production and the climate
is pretty doee to what the people from
Dr. A1 Lane, extension dairy specialist, said
the lecal “growth is phenomenal. ”
In April milt production in Erath County
had increased IS percent. Has growth is ex-
pected to continue, according to Lane.
Several very large dairies (between 750-1,000
cows) are in the proems of being built. Local
realtors and the coanty extension office con-
tinue to get ingtoriao about laid available for
Accordtog to Jim Leatherwood, president
«f First National Bank of Dublin, the dairy in-
dustry has changed significantly in the past
“When my father was in the dairy business
in the late ’40s and ’50s, the rations were much
the same as today, an important part being
cottonseed and silage,” he said. “The big dif-
ference is cow numbers and average produc-
tion. Then a good average was 96 pounds and
large dairies milked 75 head. Now a small
dairy is less than 150 cows and if you don’t get
at least a 50 pound average, your chances of
weathering tight times are slim."
Leatherwood and Gary Wiley, president of
Dublin National Bank, describe the dairy in-
dustry as better than it has been in the past.
“Milk checks should be getting bigger and
feed costs should be getting lower," said
Leatherwood. “Many dairymen are taking
their extra money and improving their equity
by increasing herd size.”
Leatherwood said many dairymen had to
lay off hands when the first diversion pro-
gram went into effect several years ago.
“I’d lot rather see the dairymen keep doing
their own work and increase their equity, in-
stead of hiring back hands,” he said.
Wiley said many local dairymen are
responding to the increased price of cows by
reproducing purebred Holsteins. In the past
these dairymen had bred their dairy cows
with other breeds, he said.
“The whole herd buyout program reduced
cow numbers significantly nationwide,” said
Wiley, “but I predict cow numbers will be
back up.”
Not all the change is directly related to the
move to larger dairies or the feeding patterns
being used.
“I believe the quality of milx—heathfulness
and taste—is getting better all the time,” said
Lane.
Wiley said he believes the dairy industry
has become more sophisticated.
“It’s big business,” he said. “They have to
know where they are at all times. About 1963
there was a push to start our dairymen keep-
ing up with their records. I think most of our
dairymen are that sophisticated.”
Joe Pope, Erath County Extension Agent,
said dairymen no longer keep up only with the
production end of their dairy. Today they also
keep up with the financial end of the business,
he said.
As each dairyman works to improve their
efficiency and increase their profitability,
they become more concerned with nutrition.
An increasing number of dairymen are
developing a specialized mix of feed to in-
crease milk production, according to local
feed store owners.
Current figures are not available, but in
June 1906 Texas dairymen who did not par-
ticipate in the Dairy Herd Termination Pro-
gram had increased production by 21,291,346
pounds over 1965. Dairymen participating in
the program decreased their production by
26,929,633 pounds in 1906 from what they pro-
duced in 1965. This is a net decrease of 1.7 per-
cent in total milk production in Texas in one
year’s time.
Despite the optimistic attitude reflected by
these men in dairy related businesses, they
are aware of some negatives.
“There is talk of another buyout,” said
Leatherwood. “There is talk of the govern-
ment not being able to meet the buyout
payments. There is talk of additional
assessments to fund the buyout program.
There is talk of another decrease in milk price
and feed prices have already started rising.”
Lane said some dairymen feel kind of
helpless right now.
“They are thinking ‘can I compete with the
larger dairies. Milk prices are coming down
and feed prices are about as low as they’re ex-
pected to go. Will I get caught by a squeeze,’ ”
said Lane. *
Lane said feed accounts for about 50 per-
cent of the cost of milk production. The dairy
industry operates on a cycle, he said, and the
current pattern is a decrease in milk prices.
“I admire the dairy farmer,” said Wiley.
‘His job is every day. He has no vacation. He
has to be devoted to be a dairy farmer.”
What is the future for the dairy farmer?
“Dairymen will continue to strive to pro-
duce the most milk at the lowest cost,” said
Leatherwood. “As a whole, I think the dairy
industry should maintain a good high opera-
tion throughout the year.”
June is National Dairy Month. A time to say
thanks to the dairy families of America. So
take a break and toast them with a cool, fros-
ty milk shake, malt of ice cream soda.
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The Dublin Progress (Dublin, Tex.), Vol. 100, No. 3, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 10, 1987, newspaper, June 10, 1987; Dublin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth778437/m1/13/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dublin Public Library.