The summer heat is quickly fading, which means fall time and weaning are just around the corner. Transitioning newly weaned or received cattle can present a number of challenges. Good management during the preconditioning phase is key to long-term health and performance of calves.

The grazing season on Western rangelands is in full swing, and the presence of flies (i.e., horn, face and stable) on cattle can have negative impacts on health and performance. Summer represents peak fly populations, and for much of the West, moisture has been good, which intensifies this management challenge.

As the weather gets warmer and green grass has emerged, many ranchers face some tough decisions. Should cows be turned out to graze or continue to be fed harvested forage? Perhaps harvested forage supplies are depleted, and the thought of purchasing additional feed resources sounds expensive.

The beginning of spring represents a busy time for most ranchers. Setting aside time for strategic management or working on the business is seldom considered. This makes it difficult to decide where to focus management efforts.

The new year symbolizes a great opportunity to reflect about ways to reduce costs and improve upon 2018 profitability. Ranch profitability is essentially determined by enterprise cost structure.

As fall begins, the drought monitor suggests much of the West is still dry, and conditions in some parts are worsening. With hay in short supply, concern for cost-effectively acquiring fall feed supplies has intensified.

The heat of summer is here, and dry conditions are still affecting forage production across much of the West. Many producers face making decisions that could influence long-term profitability. Drought strategies usually involve some combination of supplemental feeding and culling.

As we head into the summer, dry conditions in most of the West may force producers to evaluate alternative management strategies. Open cows or potential replacement heifers are costly, especially when feed resources are limited.