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Those rushing into confinement dairying haven’t learned from the USA or from history, so will lose a lot, as is still happening in USA, as thousands of confinemenst close, while grazing farmers thrive.
In the 1960s half a dozen NZ dairy farmers went to USA to learn dairy farming! They came back with tower silos, barn designs and heavy metal. All closed or went broke within a few years. Two were built between Hamilton and Cambridge, and one is still standing empty near Patetonga. Ralph Woolerton, after losing his farm, told me that it was his biggest mistake. The NZ milk payout then was more than double the value it is now. The average herd size was 100, which allowed a farmer to put three children through private schools. Today 1,000 cows couldn’t do that, and it’s getting worse, as costs increase and relative payouts decrease. I phoned the promoter of Herdhomes and asked what the dollar value loss of nitrogen and sulphur was from the stored manure. He didn’t know, but said he would let me know. Two years have elapsed with no reply. Underground storage of manure is not allowed in most Northern Hemisphere countries, and pollutes the air. See www.farmers-tips.com for more evidence. Vaughan Jones |