by Sterling Allen
for Agri-Times NW
Arturo Salazar was apprehensive as he walked for three hours to cross the US border near Tijuana in 1976, after paying a coyote $500 to assist and take him to Los Angeles to locate work. He did not know a word of English. However, Salazar had a hope of providing a better economic future for his wife and family of 4 kids living in Olea, state of Guerrero, Mexico. Jobs were scarce, their home had no electrical power, and water was pulled up by a bucket from a well. Salazar unfortunately lost his parents in his youth, but they had instilled a strong work ethic.
Several year later in California Salazar paid a man $250 who was promoting employment opportunities in Washington and eventually obtained a job in a vineyard near Granger. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 granted amnesty to illegal immigrants who entered the United States before January 1, 1982 and had resided there continuously. Salazar seized the opportunity to legally bring his family from Olea, Mexico to the US permanently.
Salazar began learning the dairy business in 1985 from Allen Voortman, Pride and Joy Dairy, in Granger. The entire Salazar family has a strong work ethic. When not working at the diary, Alturo would drive swather in the late evenings and also take the entire family to pick fruit in season. Salazar purchased a home and 3 acres for $55,000 and paid the mortgage in full within three years. He enjoyed working with livestock and raising bottle calves on the small parcel.
Salazar sold the small acreage for $115,000 and purchased a 40 parcel near Mabton for $115,000 to raise more calves. The property had an older stucco building, and the son eventually suggested “Why don’t we build a dairy.” Soon, a portable concrete mixer was in action pouring the floors for the parlor and all the building and improvements were built with their hands.
A FMHA loan program in 1988 provided the startup capital needed to begin the diary. He had raised 25 replacement heifers and purchased 50 cows from Voortman to begin initially milking 75 cows.
The success story continues today as Familia Salazar Dairy milks 360 cows twice daily with the assistance of 6 full time workers. The double herringbone 11 parlor operates in the original building. Neighboring acreage was eventually purchased that is planted to triticale and corn silage that provides the bulk of the feed ration. Supplemental feed consist of distiller grain-soymeal mixture and cottonseed. Concrete lagoons provide the manure to fertilize the fields.
Salazar cows are currently milking 71#/day and production will increase to 80# during the spring months. The cowherd records show the cows continue to be productive producers in the herd after 6-7 calves. An employee AI breeds the cows to proven sires.
The current milk price of $20 cwt is profitable for this dairy operation that does not have any long term debt. Salazar indicated that his estimated breakeven milk costs would be $15-$16 cwt, due in large part to the higher feed costs.
Several years ago when milk prices plummeted to $9 cwt., he indicated a loss of $300,000 in operating the dairy.
The American success story continues as Arturo Salazar became a legal US citizen several years ago, and his wife was recently admitted also.
The Occupy Wall Street protestors should get off their ___ and take heed to the American success story of Arturo Salazar. There is tremendous economic opportunity in America for people who work extremely hard and look for economic opportunities to invest labor and capital. Yes, the American dream continues to be alive and well.
Publishers Note: Thanks to AGRI-TIMES NW friend, Allen Voortman, for suggesting the Arturo Salazar story for our readers to enjoy.
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