The Rural Voice, 2000-04, Page 32COMMERCIAL AND AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
• Poultry • Hog • Dairy
R.R. 2, GODERICH, ONTARIO N7A 3X8
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After 6 p.m.
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28 THE RURAL VOICE
going. But realize the need is for
your family. Make these decisions on
your own personal situation," Martin
advised.
"Quota has always been too
expensive but it has always been a
good investment," said Martin,
though he professed concern over
values that have hit more than
$20,000 for quota for one cow.
Because of the high cost of quota
people are beginning to finance it
over longer and longer periods (in
Quebec over 20 years). "You don't
know what may blind side you over a
longer period."
Harold House, dairy and beef
structures and equipment
specialist, got down to the
practicalities of expansion. Every
dairy farmer, he said, should have
three plans in his hip pocket: a short
term plan in case your barn should
burn down tomorrow; a 3-5 year plan
incorporating your current facilities
and a long-term plan looking ahead
10-15 years.
In the short-term, if an emergency
happened you wouldn't be thinking
clearly and it would be difficult to
make decisions, House said. If you
have something on paper you can
save mistakes.
Predicting the long-term is harder,
he admits. The current rate of herd
growth is about four per cent per
year, House said, but that may pick
up speed with the switch to freestall
barns because it's easier to expand
freestall barns. One suggestion is that
the long-term plan is that it
accommodates up to 700 cows
because it maximizes efficient use of
a one-man automated milking parlour
using current technology and three -
times -a -day milking.
If you're planning to expand to a
100 -cow or more operation, put the
plans in place several years in
advance, House suggests. "Erasing
and redrawing 'paper' walls is a very
valuable and inexpensive process
compared to moving walls of
concrete or wood," he says.
"Extensive paper planning can
dramatically reduce the risk of costly
mistakes later."
As you go about work in your
current barn, "Always be thinking 'if
I was doing this in my new barn, how
would I do it?", House suggests.
To plan your new barn: