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DAT People's Choice Question of the Week: Buy, Start or Continue a Dairy Operation?
Farmland prices per acre continue to increase which is beneficial to the dairies that decide to exit the industry and sell the land. But, continually increasing farmland prices make it difficult for younger generations of dairy farmers to buy, start or continue a dairy operation. 

What procedure/plan can young dairy farmers use to buy, start or continue a dairy operation?
Reader Comments
Comments posted do not express the viewpoint of Dairy Agenda Today or its staff members.
Commercial Dairyman
September, 14 2024
We expanded years ago anticipating some of our kids wanting to join the dairy. If a dairy was needing to expand to allow kids to join the dairy and land prices were expensive at that location, I would sell the dairy and go to western Kansas or South Dakota, buy land and build a dairy large enough to accommodate the need.
Todd Groves
September, 13 2024
I though this was one of the best questions you have asked I have two kids that want to milk cows the problem for us is we need more land to grow the crops to add more cows there is no way to pay the outrageous price land is bringing around us open to suggestions Todd
Retired Dairyman
September, 9 2024
We were one of the dairies that sold the cows and farm, that was our retirement money. Our kids were not interested in milking cows and I don't blame them, it takes a special kind of person to work 7 days a week 365 days per year. I loved every day of dairy farming, but it is certainly not for most people. Unless a young person inherits a dairy or wins the lottery, I think the it is difficult, at best, for them to be able to get the capital needed to start a dairy at the size it needs to be in order to expect profitability.