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 politicians worry me. How will new regulations and policies change the way I do business? Meanwhile, unfounded consumer concerns about the safety and wholesomeness of beef leave me fearful about how they might impact demand?...More

This is the time when cattlemen should be contacting the last 10 purchasers of their product to see how they performed for them. Customer feedback is often far less expensive than consultants, and the results often far more compelling. Hopefully, you’ll hear glowing reports, but it’s the criticisms that will allow you to improve....More

There have been a multitude of attempts to try to fix the problems created by a commodity system; everything from grids, to branded programs, to age and source verification, have created ways to recognize and capture value. While these programs have grown demand and increased total dollars available to purchase cattle and beef, they haven’t knocked down the barriers that keep the industry’s pricing systems based on commodity averages, rather than true value....More

I’ll never forget how I first got my start in the cattle business. I was four years old and Grandpa told me if I helped him take care of a bottle calf, he would give me my very own heifer for payment. I took his business proposition seriously, and I accompanied my dad to the barn each day to offer the bull calf his bottle of milk. That fall, Dad and I looked over the replacement heifers, and I made my selection....More

My family and I spent the weekend moving cow-calf pairs to pasture. As we loaded the first pairs into the trailer, I noticed a shadow from a fence post that was haphazardly leaning against the loading dock. The cow I was pushing up the alley stalled to examine the shadow and find the source of the potential danger. My thoughts immediately went to Temple Grandin. I have heard her speak countless times about keeping the alley clear of distractions, and we quickly moved the fence post, so the cattle would better move into the trailer....More