As important as the idea of sustainability is to agriculture – and to society in general – the word itself leaves a lot to be desired. Sustainability is more than a code word for agriculture. It’s a movement, a mandate – and in many ways an enigma.

My office wall is lined with dusty shelves of old electronic messages, and sometimes they yield pleasant surprises.

Robert Reed, a graduate student at West Virginia University, knows the importance of getting calves through the weaning period with minimal stress.

A combination of consumer perspective, production efficiency, industry adaptability and economics drives the beef industry to produce more with less.

When we challenge ourselves and look outside our regular world, we can learn critical new elements to apply to our lives. For example, I spend a lot of time reading about agricultural topics to stay current, but I also read as much as I can about the business culture, especially leadership, management and human resources topics or listening to speakers addressing these issues.

Sustaining a cattle ranch on less than 10 inches of rain is near impossible. Cattle producers across the nation have faced this dilemma and the difficult decisions that quickly follow. Simple water conservation practices can help when those tough years and tough decisions arise – whether it’s planting perennial or annual grasses, accounting for every drop of water or bulldozing ponds.

If you have already prepared an estate plan, give yourself a pat on the back – because you are ahead of most Americans. Statistics show that more than half of Americans ages 45 to 64 have not even drafted a will.

Recent precipitation in the Plains states has greatly improved pasture conditions and could solidify grazing plans over the next several months. Improved pasture conditions will provide forages for the low cow inventory.

Cattle management prior to feedlot entry can have a profound effect on cattle health and feedyard performance. Weaning methodology, nutrition and vaccination protocols practiced by commercial cow-calf producers play a critical role in animal performance when they reach the feedyard.

Cow-calf producers can use alternatives to pasture to increase their cow numbers and the U.S. cow herd.