If we had to use a quota system like yours we might throw in the towel and do something else. The more you learn about quota based systems the more you despise them.
The pay of your quota system versus a successful farmer in the states is similar.
In the states us minorities (aka Jersey Farmers) are pushing for solids based pricing nationwide. Now that day may never come any time soon, but we are trying our best. Because why would anybody want to buy/handle water when you dont need it (aka holstein milk). And if companies like Walmart and Krueger and such get involved and want to lower their carbon footprint, the Jersey Breed will be there for that. They are a more efficient cow. Like a Duramax is more efficient and more reliable than a powerstroke. They also can take more heat stress than a Holstein, about 10* more, but dont tolerate the cold as welll which requires insulated barns. A minor expense when you consider the cost of cooling holsteins.
We are very active members with the National Jersey Association, and dad is the president. We continue to push the breed and people continue to switch. But its like trying to switch somebody from a John Deere tractor to a Massey. Farmers are the most stubborn people you will ever meet. Here is some research.
http://www.usjersey.com/Reference/08_CostofProduction_PL.pdf
http://www.usjersey.com/Programs/environmentalanswer.html
http://www.usjersey.com/
We milk 750 Jerseys, raise all of our own replacements and also raise all of our steers. Its not so much that we have money to spend, want to spend money, or like spending money, its that things needed to be replaced and kept getting put off duee to the economy and now they can be replaced.
The new Houle and New Agco have been planned for 2 years. The tractor came in November and the Tanker came In June. The old tractor was tired from the abuse, slow, and inefficient fuel wise compared to the new one. It definately paid for itself though. The old tanker was worn out as well and we didnt feel it was fit for our operation anymore hauling at high speeds. We bought it new in 2003 for $27,400 and got $25,000 trade in for it. We definately got our moneys worth out of the old tanker.
The new mixer has been need for the last year or two as well. Its very worn out and the truck is very very tired. We were having to nurse it along and baby it everyday and it was costing us too much downtime.
The New Claas came because the Deere was a problem child and we had no service or parts to back it up. The Chopper, Merger and two of the wagons are split between 3 farms so it helps justify the cost.
We also bought a 2011 Duramax Last week. We decided we needed another truck last summer. We have two LB7s (02 and 03) currently, the 02 with 150,000 and the 03 with 160,000. Both are tired from the abuse we put them through (trying to use them as semis) I put a set of brakes in each one every 12-24 months and the gooseneck hitch on the 02 is bent up and cracked if that gives you an idea of the abuse. We were going to get one spring of 2012. But that came a little early. Our 02 has had the injectors replaced 2 times, the 03 has had them replaced 2 times, the 02 got a new transfercase (before we were aware of the pump rub issues), the 02 got new injector lines, the 03 got a new glow plug module, the 02 got new headgaskets, the 02 got new water pump, the 03 got new water pump, both have had plenty of front wheel bearings, the 02 has had the Air bag module replaced, the 02 had the shift linkage replaced, the 02 had the door latches and many handles replaced, the 02 has had the ABS pump and module replaced, and so on and so forth, they have both been beat so hard they should be a commercial.
Well our 02 has been leaking about a gallon of oil a week and with us bein short staffed, I havent been able to look at its leak, and since it runs, its not a priority, the 03 had been leaking coolant and I finally was able to get it in and find a bad water pump, no big deal. But during this period dad decided he was going to go look at trucks and see if they had any deals.
Well I just rolled the 03 out of the shop and he was going to run some errands and go look at new trucks if he had time. He drive 10 miles down the road and an injector stuck open. I popped the injector out, stuck my videoscope down in the cylinder and it appears to have started to melt the top of the piston so out comes that motor. After that injector stuck, he went and bought a new one but does complain about the price everytime you ask him about it. I havent driven it yet, but I hear they are a dream ride wise and have a lot of power. Ill get a picture up of that one soon.
Gassers for me.