Technology’s Impact Surges In Times Of High Feed

A recent Iowa State University (ISU) study found that in times of high feed costs, like those of 2007, the positive economic impact of pharmaceutical technologies increased from $430/beef animal to $524/head...

Oklahoma Tornadoes Offer A Stark Reminder

The tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma last week are yet another stark reminder that everyone needs to be prepared for disasters, says Glen Selk...

Farmland Values Decline Slightly

Farmland values declined in fourth-quarter 2008 amid weaker farm income and softer non-farm demand, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s fourth-quarter survey of ag credit conditions...

Building A Strategy

Not that long ago, there wasn’t much volatility in the beef-cattle business. Corn held steady at $1.50-$2.50/bu., and calves sold between $65-$75/cwt. Those days seem like a faint whisper amid the deafening uncertainty of today. ...

Picking A Strategy

Aresource inventory and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis clearly defines an operation’s starting point. By defining the vision,...

Does The Death Tax Need A Repeal Or An Overhaul?

Repeal of the estate tax, or death tax, as it's often termed by its detractors, has long been championed by ag commodity and small-business groups...

Is life insurance really necessary?

By Burt Rutherford Senior Editor

You can look at life insurance as an estate management tool, or as a take-it-or-leave-it kind of proposition. And most estate-planning experts would just...

The changing corn environment

by Harlan Hughes contributing editor

Part 1: Uncharted waters Managing a beef cowherd in today's corn environment is like sailing uncharted waters. Ranchers' past experiences may not be of...

2008 grass cattle planning prices

by Harlan Hughes contributing editor

After 30 years of government-supported and stabilized corn markets, the new biofuels era features no government- or farmer-held corn reserves and highly...

Where will it end?

By Mike Fritz

Private grazing rates across the Western U.S. climbed more than 5% for the 12 months through January to $14.50/animal unit month (AUM). That’s up from last year’s 4.5% pace, according to the latest USDA January Cattle Survey. Yet, given the developing profit squeeze caused by steeply rising feed prices and other production costs, market participants say lease rates will eventually have to retreat...

Pasture Cools

By Mike Fritz

Robust demand for recreational tracts, strong livestock profits and high grain prices continue to fuel the strong bull run in the pasture and rangeland...

Three keys to growing demand

by Troy Marshall contributing editor

The beef industry has long understood that from a demand standpoint, the mission is quite simple. We need to increase the number of customers, the average...

Should we just accept and adapt?

by Troy Marshall contributing editor

Accept and adapt has certainly been the rallying cry of leading management gurus regarding the government-created ethanol boom. These experts have a valid...