@DairyBusiness: 'DIY’ing
Last year I wrote a column about the woes of my everything-that-could-have-gone-wrong-did bathroom remodel. And, because our old barn house is over a century old, my woes continue. Yes, at one point part of our house was a barn.
This week, I got some quotes for new flooring for the entire house and refacing the kitchen cabinets, which is essentially putting a new door on the cabinets and painting the cabinets to match. Very quickly upon reviewing my oh-so-itemized estimates, I realized that I needed to become a DIYer (Do-It-Yourself-er).
I can deal with paying for materials – carpet, laminate, cabinet doors, some trim, etc. But, the labor is where they really get you. My $2.69 per square foot laminate comes with a hefty $3.50 per square foot installation fee. Ugh.
So, I took a trip to the nearest chain home improvement store and found out that it’s possible that I, not your home fixer-upper type, can do it myself, given a little online research and motivation.
When the price isn’t right, you have to find a way to get it done yourself. And, the same can be said for the dairy industry.
Nobody is going to fix the milk price for you. Nobody is going to fix feed costs for you. These are the realities.
It’s in these times of distress (like when getting my estimates) that you take a deep breath and re-evaluate the situation.
My column is about social media, so back to that. Re-evaluating often involves utilizing your resources, and the online world is full of them.
Maybe you can’t change the milk price, but you can sure cut down on calf rearing costs. Videos, articles, even Facebook pages with calf tips are there to help you do it.
Maybe you can’t fix the feed cost, but you can sure find helpful ways to cut down on wasted feed.
I think you get the picture. But, are you actively utilizing those resources that are so freely available? It’s time to become a DIYer and help yourself adapt to today’s prices.
Take some time to follow some Facebook pages like DAIReXNET or We Care for Calves. Visit information-filled websites like the Zoetis site www.milkqualityfocus.com or NMC’s www.NMConline.org for tips on mastitis control. Follow the Immediate Immunity or ANIMARTInc channel on YouTube.
The resources are there. You just need to take the time to use them, and have some DIY implementation.
Until next time,
Kayla
• Kayla Jentz is associate editor, DairyBusiness Communications.
Contact her via e-mail: kjentz@dairybusiness.com or phone: 608-848-1420.
