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Market Advisor Online by Harlan Hughes

Price forecasting part II

Feb 1, 2008 12:00 PM, by Harlan Hughes contributing editor

Ranching's economics are changing. Preliminary data suggest the cost of running a beef cowherd has increased 15-20% in the last two years. Altered production...

Heifer economics: part 1

May 1, 2007 12:00 PM, by Harlan Hughes contributing editor

Fall calf prices peaked in 2005, and the current beef-price cycle is expected to trend lower as the cycle plays out. Thus, measuring and controlling heifer-replacement...

A financial early-warning system

Apr 1, 2007 12:00 PM, by Harlan Hughes contributing editor

Like canaries placed in a mine to provide early warning of danger to workers, there are three herd business management tools that ranchers should consider...

Part IV analyzing 2006 performance

Mar 1, 2007 12:00 PM, by Harlan Hughes contributing editor

By the time you read this, you'll likely be working on your 2006 ranch income taxes and pondering your ranch's 2006 business performance...

Good accounting Part III

Feb 1, 2007 12:00 PM, by Harlan Hughes contributing editor

Last month, I suggested ranchers look to their on-ranch accounting systems to answer two key business-management questions...

Good accounting Part II

Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM, by Harlan Hughes, contributing editor

Last month, I summarized how some ranchers are being let down by their on-ranch accounting systems. This month, I'll focus on good accounting and how...

Bad accounting Part 1

Dec 1, 2006 12:00 PM, by Harlan Hughes contributing editor

Today's ranch businesses are dramatically different from those of years ago. Previously, profit margins were such that the more beef you produced, the...

The perfect beef-cow-lease

Nov 1, 2006 12:00 PM, by Harlan Hughes contributing editor

The 2002 and 2006 droughts have stoked interest in beef-cow leases, as drought-impacted ranchers seek to lease their cows to operators with grass and...

Planning prices revised upward

Oct 1, 2006 12:00 PM, by Harlan Hughes contributing editor

Prices continue strong for cow-calf producers. As of late August, the 2006 drought has had little impact on cattle prices, and drought-induced early weaning...

What's a fair cow share lease?

Sep 1, 2006 12:00 PM, by Harlan Hughes contributing editor

As the nation's drought expands and worsens, I get more calls on the economics of moving a cow herd to another ranch for feeding over the next year. Typically,...

Calculating gross income accurately

Aug 1, 2006 12:00 PM, by Harlan Hughes contributing editor

Most ranchers don't accurately calculate the gross income of their beef cow herds. A correct economic analysis should be based on the accrual-adjusted...

UCOP will tell your story

Jul 1, 2006 12:00 PM, by Harlan Hughes contributing editor

A statistical analysis of my Northern Plains 1990s beef cow Cost & Return Database suggests weaning weight explained only 20% of herd-to-herd variation...