Publications on the ERS website (since 1996) are available free of charge, and are easily downloaded. Hardcopy publications are available for purchase online, by phone, by fax, or by mail.

The USDA Order Desk, now managed by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), handles the sale of ERS, NASS, and WAOB products. Customer sales representatives can assist you with placing your order between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday-Friday except Federal holidays. Please also check with them regarding availability of reports published before 1989. Rush service is available for a fee. Please have the report number ready when ordering. Prices are subject to change without notice.

Catalog Information

Profits, Costs, and the Changing Structure of Dairy Farming

U.S. dairy production is consolidating into fewer but larger farms. This report uses data from several USDA surveys to detail that consolidation and to analyze the financial drivers of consolidation. Specifically, larger farms realize lower production costs. Although small dairy farms realize higher revenue per hundredweight of milk sold, the cost advantages of larger size allow large farms to be profitable, on average, even while most small farms are unable to earn enough to replace their capital. Further survey evidence, as well as the financial data, suggest that consolidation is likely to continue.

Keywords: Farms, dairy, costs, production, cows, milk prices, structural change, labor, cost advantages, dairy enterprises, dairies, milk, large dairy farms, agricultural productivity, consolidation, farm structure, economies of scale, economies of size, dairy farm

ID: ERR-47 ERR47 ERR- 47 ERR--47)

Authors: By James M. MacDonald, Erik J. O’Donoghue, William D. McBride, Richard F. Nehring, Carmen L. Sandretto, and Roberto Mosheim
41 pp
Publication Date: 9/4/2007 12:00:00 PM

URL: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR47/

How To Order From the USDA Order Desk:

Online

Publications may be available as paper copy, microfiche, or downloadable products:

ERS products at NTIS

USDA products at NTIS

By Phone

To have copies of ERS products mailed to you, please call our USDA Order Desk at 1-800-999-6779 from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ET Monday-Friday except Federal holidays. Outside the U.S., please dial 1-703-605-6220. Please refer to the stock number when ordering. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover accepted. An additional 100% must be added to all orders shipped outside North America. Rush order service available for a fee.

Order Info
Stock Number: ERR-47
Title: Profits, Costs, and the Changing Structure of Dairy Farming

By Fax

Or fax a copy of our order form to the USDA Order Desk at 703-605-6900. Credit card number must accompany all fax orders. Add 100% for shipment to addresses outside North America. Please allow a minimum of three weeks for shipment to domestic addresses.

By Mail

Mail a copy of our order form, along with your check, money order, or international money order, payable in U.S. funds, or Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover number to: USDA Order Desk, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161. Be sure to include the stock number in your order. No purchase orders accepted. Add 100% for shipment to addresses outside North America. Please allow a minimum of three weeks for shipment to domestic addresses.