PROFITABILITY AND PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY OF THE CROP AND LIVESTOCK ENTERPRISES OF MICHIGAN DAIRY OPERATIONS: 1998 SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS

Abstract

This paper summarizes the 1998 results of the Dairy Profitability and Production Efficiency project. Among the major findings are that the average cost of production was almost exactly equal to the average milk herd revenue on a per hundredweight basis. All eight farms covered variable costs of producing milk. Five of the eight farms showed a profit when all costs of production were included. All six farms that raised their own replacement heifers lost money on the enterprise. With respect to crop production, corn and corn silage were not profitable enterprises. The hay enterprise was profitable for five of the farms.Productivity Analysis,