STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE

摘要

Resiliency is a common characteristic seen in all farmers, even when facing tough economic times. Dairy producers are experiencing record-low prices and have had to make management decisions to survive. "We are dealing with lower prices, but we stillhave to produce a good, consistent product. We can't cut back on too much or our cows won't continue to produce that good, consistent product," says Jason Brockshus, a partner in Brockshus Family Dairy near Ocheyedan, Iowa.The Brockshus family milked 40 cows in the 1990s, expanded to 250 by 2000, and now milks 600 Holstein cows. This made it possible for Jason and younger brother Travis to join their parents, Bruce and Susan, in running the northwest Iowa operation.