Efforts focused on one-on-one contact with dairy producers across the state to analyze business performance and develop plans for upcoming years, with over 60 percent of the farms making changes. Data collected from participating farms was used as basis for presentations at producer meetings around the state, undergraduate teaching, working with agri-service industry, and extension articles focusing on increasing the profitability of the New York dairy industry. Contact and experiences with producers provides insight into current issues and decisions being made on farms, and provides feedback for future direction of program efforts. It also provides a basis for training new extension personnel.

With an increasing complex dairy industry, accurate financial information and analysis is critical to making informed decisions at the producer level. Changing trends, regulatory and envionrmental issues all impact the dairy industry. To better meet the needs of both producers and industry professionals, direct contact with producers and their financial records is required to understand relevant issues and to have a basis for materials developed for educational programs centered around financial management and decision making.

We identified and developed relationships with producers around the state; working with them to analyze their financial performance and develop business plans. We also provided education programs to all farms participating in the Dairy Farm Business Summary Program. In addition, we provide support and training to other extension educators and industry professionals who work with farmers in economic decision making and business performance issues. We utilize information collected for extension and teaching efforts, focusing on what is actually happening at the farm level.

A survey mailed to a sample of farms participating in the Dairy Farm Business Summary Project for the 2003 business year, with 39 percent of the farms responding, found that 60 percent have participated over 10 years. Of those responding, 47 percent participate in the program to understand what their financial performance was for that year. An additional 15 percent use the program to compare to previous year`s performance. Some 25 percent use the results and process to identify strength and weakness within their business. The most significant impact was that 60 percent indicated that they made a change within their business within the last year due to participation in the program, with 85 percent indicating that they made changes over time due to the program. Almost all participants felt that they benefited from participation. More than 97% indicated that they received some benefit from participating in the program, with 64 percent indicating that they had a change in revenue and expenses due to participation. The reports and information are utilized by 97 percent of the participants at least once a year, with 88 percent looking at the results more than twice a year. Ninety four percent utilize the summary publications for comparison data and 82 percent have recommended the program to other producers.

• Linda Putnam (Applied Economics and Management)
• Dr. Wayne Knoblauch (Applied Economics and Management)