My new life on the farm was an adjustment not only for me, but for the people around me. Sharing my journey helped bridge that gap. What began as updates for friends and family slowly grew into a way of building understanding for people both inside and outside the agriculture industry.

Whether up north in last summer’s ash or down south in the dust, winter feeding is nearing its end, and the need for a grazing plan is mounting. Year over year, producer efforts to balance grazing and growth will hopefully result in profitable calf crops as well as healthy grasslands.

Before the pencil hits the page – or the wrench tightens the bolt – wisdom, experience and clear-eyed judgment do the real work.

La culture financière est la capacité de comprendre et de gérer efficacement ses ressources financières. Une compréhension approfondie des finances est désormais essentielle pour garantir la pérennité et la rentabilité de nos exploitations agricoles. 

Abby’s thoughts on our work seemed to have taken a softer, more empathetic tone than her initial attitude had portrayed. “There’s not much you can’t fix with baling twine and a prayer,” she quipped. Since my fences and my life are often held together by those two very indispensable ingredients, I could only smile and agree.

Many beef producers keep a decent set of calving records, but what good are they if you don’t use them to analyze your management and herd performance? Before we can dive into a few suggestions to measure your management success, we need to look back at the previous year’s breeding season.

Cover crops and manure are both tools. When they are aligned, they improve nutrient efficiency, protect water and can even add forage value. When they are not aligned, they create management friction, yield drag and frustration.