Figure 1. Weekly average 550 pound steer prices from January 2010 – January 2017 There is no question that cattle ranchers will have to make some challenging decisions to reduce expenses in the face of a deflated cattle market. Chris […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Archive for Ranch Management
282 results.
One of the toughest decisions for producers to make is to when to pull the trigger to cull or sell off breeding animals from their herd. Often times these cows have been part of the production cycle on a farm […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Spring time is thunderstorm season across the Plains. Spring storms occasionally bring severe winds or even tornadoes. Windy spring days also can cause wildfires to move rapidly across range lands. Cleaning up after a severe storm or wildfire is difficult […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“Biosecurity” is a term that was used extensively after 9-11. Outbreaks of foot and mouth disease and B.S.E. in Europe had everyone in the livestock industries in America cautious.. “Biosecurity” is actually just a fancy way of saying “common sense” […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Take time to gather input from those involved in the operation and develop a plan. For years, the kitchen table has been the center of planning for those in agriculture. Conversations of the past, present and future surface around the […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
One Sunday in January, the pastor at Church said, “There are two things in life, the Creator and the created.” He also said, “There are two ways of thinking, ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ (Romans […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Recent BeefTalk columns have caused me to ponder more about the dynamics of the beef business. The answers seem at our fingertips, but the solutions are far off at times. The business of beef initiates within a very large, de-centralized […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
How to Prioritize Pasture When Cutting Expenses
on February 2, 2017
at 8:59 am
When economic times necessitate “tightening of the purse strings,” so to speak, too often livestock producers cut back severely on pasture management and associated expenses. This often leads to the deterioration of pasture resources, the basis of the food source […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Top 10 Ways to Make Cow Herds More Profitable
on February 1, 2017
at 11:43 am
Posted In: A, ACMC, Bull Selection, Business, Cattle, Cattle Marketing, Cost Management, Ranch Management
It has been well-documented in popular press and repeatedly confirmed at sale barns and coffee shops that the current calf market is about one-half of where it was just 2 ½ years ago. The short-term projection for both the cattle […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association today applauded the introduction of bipartisan legislation that would permanently kill the onerous death tax. The Death Tax Repeal Act of 2017 was introduced this week by U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota and […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Regardless what aspect of agriculture – or life – we might be involved in, occasionally we all slip into the “same old, same old” trap. That is, doing it the way we’ve always done it simply because we always have. […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Before the hustle and bustle of the spring calving season, now is a good time to put together the supplies and equipment that will be needed to assist heifers and cows that need help at calving time. Before calving season […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Farmers and Ranchers Need to Define “Sustainability” for Themselves
on January 12, 2017
at 10:05 am
With large corporations like Chipotle and Walmart using the term “sustainable” to get consumers’ attention and grow their market share, farmers and ranchers need to start defining sustainability for themselves experts told participants at the 2017 American Farm Bureau Federation’s […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Transport Tips: Emergency Preparedness Bovine Emergency Response Plan (BERP) Dairies and cattlemen transport calves, cows and bulls routinely. Ensuring that trailers are properly prepared for transport no matter how short the distance helps stockmen be efficient and promote animal well-being […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“Ranching for Profitability” Programs Held Across Nebraska
on January 5, 2017
at 10:52 am
Posted In: A, ACMC, Animal Health, Estrus Synchronization, Grazing, Industry Events, Ranch Management
What are pillars to beef productivity? Grazing, reproduction, economics, and cattle health are key to beef profitability and will be covered in half-day workshops across Nebraska by beef specialists and educators. “Ranching for Profitability” programs will be held from 10 […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Give me a lever long enough … and single-handed I can move the world. — Archimedes High points of leverage in a cattle production system are places where strategic inputs of time and resources potentially have impacts that are beneficial […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
I find it hard to believe that we will soon turn over the calendar and enter into 2017. 2016 will certainly go down as a year to remember for things that many thought could never happen that actually became reality. […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
The seminar series in early 2017 will highlight successful strategies for enhancing beef producer profits. With lower expected revenues from the sale of calves in 2017 compared to 2014-15 prices many producers are looking for ways to improve their operation’s […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Year End Review for Your Cattle Operation
on December 20, 2016
at 11:01 am
The holiday season and the end of 2016 are upon us. Many newsworthy things happened in the beef cattle industry in 2016 that affected everyone in the beef business. Some were good and some were not so good, but all […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Winter Slow Down Offers Time for Pasture Management
on December 20, 2016
at 9:14 am
Although many of us think of the winter as being a slow time in forage management, it is actually the ideal time to perform some key activities that allow us to better manage our pastures and grazing for the coming […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…