Pasture Based Dairies in Missouri

Understanding Sharemilking

Special characteristics of pasture based dairies led to the establishment of sharemilking in New Zealand as a a major entry point for young people to enter a dairy career path. In addition sharemilking allowed older dairy producers to exit day to day operations but still get full benefit out of their lifetime’s investment in their dairy. This website is dedicated to helping American dairy producers understand sharemilking and see how it might work on their dairy in the U.S.

University of Missouri Sharemilking Resources

Introduction to Sharemilking (Posters)

Dairy Career Paths (PowerPoint Presentation)

Dairy Career Paths (Paper)

Interviews with People Involved with Sharemilking in the U.S.

Dairy Career Path Panel Discussion (Missouri Dairy Grazing Conference, July 2009)
Presentation and panel discussion with Joe Horner (University of Missouri Extension Dairy Economist), Larry Tranel (Dairy Owner and Iowa State Extension Dairy Specialist), and Jeff Hayes (Sharemilker, Wentworth, Missouri).
Gary Townshend, CEO, Grasslands Consultants, LLC (June 2009)
Interview discussing how sharemilking works in New Zealand and how their company is using the system with dairies in Missouri.
Tony Finch, General Manager, Grasslands Consultants, LLC (June 2009)
Interview discussing how sharemilking contracts are organized with their company in Missouri.
Niall Murphy, Dairy Manager, White Oak #5 Dairy, Grassland Consultants, LLC (July 2009)
Niall is from Ireland starting on a dairy career path working toward ownership through sharemilking.

Other Educational Resources

Sharemilking in the Midwest Paper (Larry Tranel, Iowa State)

Sharemilking Labor % Calculator (Larry Tranel, Iowa State) Order Info

SHAREMILK 2.0 (Larry Tranel, Iowa State and Gary Frank, Wisconsin) Order Info

Sharemilking in Wisconsin (University of Wisconsin)

Sample Sharemilking Contract (New Zealand)

Funding for this web page and University of Missouri resources was provided by the
North Central Risk Managment Education Center