Most Progressive Cattleman readers do not have a succession plan for their ranch.

On Nov. 8, Donald Trump became the president-elect. Although the U.S. stock market initially declined, the losses were made up later that day and the market has continued to react positively. What will happen long-term is up for debate.

This time of year tends to bring on more work with fewer daylight hours to get it done. A big thank- you to all the cattle producers for their unwavering commitment to the cattle, land and industry that is such a large part of this great country.

Calving season is quickly approaching and, as we should all know, nutritional requirements increase as cows get closer to calving. Cow mineral needs can increase 60 percent during the last trimester – making it a critical time for mineral supplementation.

Happy holidays to all. May everyone have a fun-filled time with family and get 2017 off to a great start.

As the end of 2016 approaches, many are thinking about their income and how to reduce taxes. However, spending money with just the goal of reducing taxes may not be what is best for the long-term financial success of the operation.

I grew up in a rural area. There were six little towns in the south end of the county. The kids who lived in those six towns all attended the same schools. Kindergarten through sixth grade attended the elementary school, and seventh through 12 grade attended the high school.

With no two production systems the same, producers may have to explore what works for them when backgrounding calves. Most producers hate to sell at today’s prices, so many are looking at the possibility of backgrounding their calves, a least through the winter.

Many producers, blessed with an abundance of spring and summer moisture, are quickly discovering this year’s hay crop has a little more mold growth than they are used to.

To better serve valued customers and reach new ones, Vitalix acquired the company Uniblok Canada on Sept. 30, 2016. Similar to Vitalix, Uniblok is a family-owned company that produces protein and mineral supplements for cattle, horses and sheep.