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| It is possible. Little about my situation. I grew up on a small farm, my dad shipped cream but gave up when I was still pretty young. He worked off farm and cash cropped with a few cow/calf around. I always loved the dairy business and after a stay in the military I spent a couple years on a big farm driving the TMR wagon all day. After this I worked in a factory and helped out neighbors and friends with their farms, learnt the milking end and cow care side and kept up this way learning all I could for a couple years. I managed to get a job working nights in a cheese plant and was able to rent a small farm and start shipping milk from 10 cows, in the first year I grew the herd to 30 cows plus working nights. It took me 3 years working like a mad man until I felt safe to make the farm the only income I had. Today I am milking 60 cows, have a couple part time guys to give me a break on weekends. I went from a stanchion barn and pipeline to a small parlor and free stall barn, nothing was built new, just converted existed buildings and used equipment I already had. I crop about 450 acres, mostly to feed the cows, but there is usually a little extra. I have gone out on a limb the last couple years and bought bigger machinery, a self propelled harvester, new tractors and looking for a new combine, with the plans to double the herd size, plus I have been able to pick up a little custom work which helps the bottom line. I have in mind to build a new barn and use robotic milking. Its not been easy, theres been a lot of tough times, but I hung in and did the best I could. I would say the best advice, is to concentrate on the cows and shipping the best quality milk you can, the dairy pays premium based on quality. I have recieved 2 times the top score in the county for milk quality, its not a science but just paying attention to detail and watching the cows closely. For starting up, really the cows are the most important part of the dairy, if anything else, spend time with the cows, learning them and knowing them, its easy to hire custom crop work if you need too. Dont scrimp on genetics, and be proactive with herd health. I use a nutrtionist, regular herd health by my vet and try to keep up to date with current news and information. Read the Hoards dairyman, its invaluable as a resource. For the first years things were tight but now things look pretty good. Keep a close eye on your cost of production, use every piece of automation and technology you can afford. Keep the cows healthy, comfortable and treat them well and they will look after you.
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Shout out to the dairy folks
