Whether you’re pursuing a new opportunity or responding to a crisis, financial resilience provides a healthy foundation for thriving amid uncertainty. With a solid vision and goals, a clear view of your organization’s value and a plan to address risk – your business can be ready for just about anything.

In today’s robust market, cattle producers have flexibility as aspects of the market are thriving, cattle prices are at a record high, and producers are witnessing a positive shift in revenues. When conditions are favorable, the critical question arises: What comes next?

When looking at your balance sheet, one of the big questions to ask is: How hard is your debt working for you? That is, are you making money on what you have borrowed from others? We often look to the numerator first to see what is happening there. Revenue is a great place to start, but we also need to look at the debt schedule. 

Whether we’re at the high point of a cycle or in the depths of a downturn, the best managers regularly manage their margins. They understand that margin management is an “always” mindset, one that builds stronger positions during the good times so they can get through the bad.

We spend a lot of time talking about properly saving and investing money to ensure a happy retirement, but if you are not investing in your own health, what good is monetary wealth?

From COVID-19 to governmental policy changes to H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks, the unpredictable is coming at us at a faster and faster pace. When making your contingency and continuity plans, here are some of the key areas of preparedness you should consider.

Investing in replacement heifers without financially stressing the ranch is every beef producer’s goal. They must consider risks facing the operation, manage their financial health and discover additional income streams the ranch provides.

Although maintaining equipment takes time, it’s a worthwhile investment that can maximize your overall production. But if you want to maximize profitability for your farm, it’s equally as important to tune up your farm’s financial operations.