Taking advantage of the mutual benefits that cattle and crop production have can lead to more profits and a sustainable farming operation.

 Some factors to consider when marketing calves include shrink, transportation costs, commission, flexibility and the potential for premiums or discounts.

By backgrounding calves at home for 45 days after weaning, producers allow the calves time to adjust gradually while maintaining a familiar environment.

Managing heat stress proactively helps protect both herd productivity and long-term profitability during the toughest months of the grazing season.

When drought forces tough decisions or expanding herds find themselves without pasture availability, drylotting beef cows may be an option to consider.

While producers can’t change the weather, they can adjust management practices to help cattle stay cooler and maintain productivity.

The list of traits that make a good commercial cow may vary some by producer. However, there are several fundamental things every producer should keep in mind when evaluating commercial cows.

While cost is the primary factor, there are several reasons to choose buying hay or growing it.

Understanding and managing forage quality is important for cow-calf and stocker operations that rely on forage as the main component of the diet.

It is most effective to have a drought plan in place before lack of rainfall becomes a problem.