News Release 

Date: Mar. 7, 2008

Contact: Rebecca Schuelke, communication specialist
Telephone: (315) 453-3823 extension 103
Cell phone: (315) 427-2714
Email: rschuelke@nyfvi.org


Workshops: Keep costs in check when modernizing dairy farms


For one northern New York dairy farm family, modernizing the barn gave the business room to grow and an opportunity to bring in a next-generation owner.

Tom Gillette of Kler-Vu Dairy in Turin, will share his how-to story at workshops that also feature David Kammel, an agricultural engineer the University of Wisconsin, who helped inspire the change.

The workshops, ``Successful Dairy Modernization: Plan, Implement and Reap the Benefits,’’ are set for 9:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m. March 25 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Learning Farm in Canton and March 26 at the Carthage Elks Club.

Financial planning for a successful project, developing a farmstead master plan, and design options for remodeling are on the agenda.

“For me to be able to return to the farm, it needed to cost-effectively grow into a modern facility,” said J.C. Gillette, Tom’s son, who returned to the family farm after working for six years in agri-business.

In 2003, Tom Gillette attended a local dairy meeting where Kammel spoke about cost-effective ways to convert to a free stall (open housing) dairy system. Kammel emphasized the importance of planning, Gillette recalled.

``Planning is just what we did. We spent three years putting together a plan. Then we used that step-by-step plan to convert from a 63-stall setup to a free stall large enough for 180 cows,” Gillette said.

The conversion included building a six-row free stall barn, as well as converting a 40 x 40 foot addition to the old tie-stall barn into a double-8 milking parlor. He estimated that using the existing structure, compared to building everything new, saved approximately $60,000.

The workshop’s financial planning discussion will include where to invest money on the farm, assessing how much debt is too much, budgeting and financial projections, and how to make an expansion project cash flow.

“Whether you are interested in building new or converting old structures, there are key questions you need to ask. David Kammel’s work has given us guidelines for evaluating whether the investment you need to make in the changes will bring you a profitable return,” said Jason Karszes, farm management specialist with Pro-Dairy.

The process of retrofitting farm buildings allows for some creative design work. Cornell University Agricultural Engineer Curt Gooch will share strategies for housing, feeding and manure management.

Spearheaded by Pro-Dairy, workshop sponsors include the New York Center for Dairy Excellence, Dairylea Cooperative, the Northeast Area Council of Dairy Farmers of America Dairy Marketing Services, the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Cost to attend a workshop is $25 if registered by March 21, or $30 after that date. Register by contacting a county Cornell Cooperative Extension office. Jefferson: (315) 788-8450. Lewis: (315) 376-5270. St. Lawrence: (315) 379-9192.




New York Farm Viability Institute is an independent, farmer-led nonprofit organization that directs and funds farm-level research to increase profits, reduce costs and other barriers, create jobs and encourage practical innovation on the farm. The Institute receives funds from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Visit www.nyfvi.org.