Focus on reproductive performance: Profitability of cow-calf operations is largely determined by cow reproductive performance. Calf crop percentage and average weaning weight are primary factors influencing both total income and cost of production. Consequently, the goal for most herds is to have a high percentage of cows wean a calf and for most of those calves to be born early in the calving season.

Across the nation, farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to overcome unpredictable variables like weather, commodity pricing, tariffs, and governmental regulations. These variables place an immense amount of financial strain and mental burden on farmers and will often have long-lasting impact on their farms’ profitability. Over the past decade the U.S. has lost an average of one percent of farms on an annual basis. In a study performed by the American Farm Bureau Association, they found that U.S. farm bankruptcies are at their highest rate since 2011—marking four consecutive years of rising bankruptcy rates as a proportion of the farm population.

Red Alliance is a group compiled of 10 Red Angus breeders with one mission: to produce high-quality genetics for commercial and seedstock producers alike. One of the founding members, Kyle Gilchrist, shares some insight on Red Alliance.

Pregnancies matter. Reproductive efficiency is a priority in beef herds. If producers depend on natural service, then bulls contribute to at least half of reproduction and at least as much to the future of the cow herd through his daughters.

For the industry to remain profitable, input costs must be reduced. This statement was shared by a cattleman at a conference I attended years ago. The source? A cattleman’s journal from the late 1800s.

Learn more about the metrics that matter in farming and ranching businesses. Without clear metrics, it’s close to impossible to determine if your farm or ranch is thriving, floundering, or falling somewhere in between, but it can be tricky to determine exactly what those metrics should be as well as how to analyze them. If you’re looking for tips on how to best measure your agricultural operation’s progress, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading, and grab paper and a pen – you’re going to want to take notes.

Spring is on the horizon and will be here before we know it. There is talk of spring bull sales; calving is in full swing for many folks; and planning for the spring works has begun.

Knowing the right times to sell can help your bottom line. Analyzing the current cull cow market, slaughter trends and understanding the strained position processing plants are in can help producers make the right call on sale times.