risk management - Page 1

Cash flow planning for beef producers

Cash flow is about more than cattle prices; it’s about timing and control. Beef producers can use marketing decisions, forward planning and risk management to stay flexible, meet obligations and avoid reactive decisions.

June 10, 2026

Kelleen Tait

Strong cattle prices don’t automatically mean strong cash flow. Many beef producers have learned the hard way that good prices can still lead to tight cash, tax surprises and rushed decisions.

[Webinar] Dairy Market Update June 2026: Protect What You've Built Before July 1

The road ahead: FMMO reform and dairy pricing

With many global contributors to milk price volatility in 2026, knowing how FMMO changes affect your farm and developing a solid risk management plan can help navigate current and upcoming market fluctuations.

May 6, 2026

Valerie Mason-Faith

At the 2026 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit, Sara Dorland, managing partner at Ceres Dairy Risk Management, shared her insights on the global dairy landscape, dairy markets, the recent Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) price reform and what all of this could mean for dairy producers.

Stay alive on the farm: Mastering the 9 mechanical hazards and ROPS safety

Prevent accidents on your farm by understanding the nine core mechanical hazards. When you pair hazard awareness with practical steps, you turn risks into routines that protect your crew, your land and your legacy.

May 6, 2026

Loretta Sorensen

Tractors drive daily farm work, yet they’re linked to 218 U.S. deaths each year, nearly half from overturns.

It’s not how much you can borrow; it’s how much you can repay

Just because you can borrow a larger amount does not mean you should.

April 22, 2026

Brad Guse

Recently, I’ve had some deep conversations with producers around the concept that it’s not how much you can borrow but rather how much you can repay that matters. At the heart of the conversation is whether collateral or capacity to repay is more important.

Should I buy or produce my hay or stored forages?

It’s a question every cattle producer has asked at one point or another. But what factors should you really be considering when deciding how to feed your cow herd?

March 19, 2026

Stephen B. Blezinger

Cattle producers in many areas of the country face a critical decision: whether to produce their own hay or to buy hay from external sources. Both approaches have distinct advantages, challenges and economic implications.

Managing risk and efficiency as cattle prices soften

Cattle prices will inevitably soften at some point. Producers who manage risk the best will be best situated to ride the wave.

March 5, 2026

Ted Perry

When the time comes and we move into a period of softer cattle prices, conversations on many operations will naturally shift. When prices are strong, it is easier to absorb inefficiencies. When prices soften, those same inefficiencies can show up quickly on the bottom line.

Economic Update: March Class I base price to offer reprieve for producers

The USDA announced plans to purchase $148 million in dairy products.

February 19, 2026

Jenn Coyne and Karen Lee

The Economic Update contains positive news, from a higher March Class I base price to the USDA's plans to purchase $148 million in dairy products, as well as higher domestic fluid milk sales and GDT index. Don't forget there is one week left to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage for 2026.

2026 Dairy Margin Coverage enrollment underway, payments predicted

January 14, 2026

Karen Lee and Dave Natzke

The enrollment period for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for the 2026 coverage year started on Jan. 12. Based on current milk and feed prices and futures markets, the 2026 milk income margins could be the lowest since 2023.