Blogs

As a young beef producer, I have my fair share of concerns about the cattle business. Obtaining the credit to purchase cattle, land, feed and equipment is a constant struggle. Maintaining a steady cash flow to pay the bills is of equal concern. In addition to increased input costs, new pressures from animal rights activists and....More

In past cattle cycles, I felt it took average profits of over $200/cow to stimulate a full-blown beef herd expansion. So, what was the profit level of a typical 2011 beef cowherd? Let’s look at the 2011 average for 42 beef cowherds representing the western region of North Dakota....More

In the April issue, I described four ecosystem functions: water cycle, mineral cycle, energy flow and biological succession. Our grazing management can have a profound effect on these functions, with the results either improving or diminishing the land’s health and productivity....More