Business Management

Cash flow planning for beef producers

kelleen.tait@mnp.ca — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Bringing broadband to the farm: Unlocking agriculture’s digital future

emmahoman@cattlekrush.com — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Feeding cattle used to be a pen-and-paper business. Now, more producers are relying on cloud-based software to streamline operations, but hesitation remains, especially if internet access is limited.

Fair compensation when family members have different roles

don@dontyler.com — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Fair compensation in family businesses requires clear roles, annual reviews, market research and balancing benefits.

Conducting a potentially emotional conversation

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

I have had many conversations with my clients about past emotional conversations and assisting them in preparing for an upcoming conversation they fear may become emotional. This article is to assist you in preparing to succeed as a supervisor in those conversations.

Don't think you're immune from estate planning

bryan.sanderson@alltech.com — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Estate and succession planning can feel overwhelming, and it’s no surprise that many producers put it off. Many factors and unknowns come into play and can include: fear of losing your identity, not wanting to give up control, ego, fear of things changing and not wanting to hurt people’s feelings.

Managing variables of calf growth and performance in different markets

sblez@verizon.net — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Whether the market is as strong as it has been recently or in a slump, the health and growth of calves are critical to long-term success. Producers need to adapt their strategies to ensure they maintain profitability as best possible.

Can you actually eliminate gossip?

don@dontyler.com — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Two employees are having a conversation about work, and one mentions that they heard that a co-worker of theirs is having marriage problems. A lengthy conversation, based mostly on unfounded information, ensues. One of those employees then tells the rest of the employees about all the personal struggles their co-worker is experiencing.

Key financial ratios for cattle producers: Harnessing opportunity in a booming market

josh.davis@fcma.com — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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?

How you can prevent veterinarian injuries

bravomelissa@yahoo.com — Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

What if having a safer workplace would help attract veterinary graduates to pursue their board certifications in large-animal practice? What if eliminating preventable work-related injuries could add 21 days of productivity to a large-animal veterinarian’s annual route?

The importance of recordkeeping when herd expansion begins

terrell@cattlemax.com — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

It’s an exciting time when you can grow your herd – whether it’s adding more cows because you have more forage or additional acreage, retaining replacement heifers or other factors. This can also be a challenging time and strain on your current systems and processes, so let’s make sure you are ready for herd growth and set up for success.

Onboarding and employee development to increase engagement and retention

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Recall how you felt or how you would feel if you hired an employee who left after a day, three days or a week. Unfortunately, this is common today. In fact, research shows that approximately half of all new employees seriously consider quitting in the first week.

Evaluating new livestock technology? Check these boxes

jentz@uwalumni.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

We’ve all got them – tasks that seem harder than they should be. “There must be an easier way,” we think, so we start searching for that simpler way and often end up considering a new technology.

Strategies for low-stress handling of family succession conversations

patti@brightrack.ca — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Beef producers have been hearing about the methods of low-stress livestock handling and reaping the benefits for a long time. There is no question that efforts to create low-stress environments for cattle results in an improved experience and productivity for both the animals and their handlers.

Eight tips for beef business employee recruiting in 2026

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:37 -0500

In today’s world, your recruitment should have three components: continuous marketing of your ranch/farm business, recruitment materials and a recruitment blitz.

Employee development: Investing in your beef production business’s future

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

An important and often overlooked ingredient for skilled and engaged employees is investing in their growth and development.

Reduce financial risk when buying replacement heifers

Thu, 09 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Paving the way for the next generation to return to the farm

rena@tomorrowiscoming.com — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

It’s an exciting time when the next generation determines that they are going to pursue a career on the farm.

A cowboy approach to motivation

rossabronson@gmail.com — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The ranching industry often prides itself in long days and hard work. “There is always something to do” is the motto!

Strengthening the ag supply chain to reduce methane emissions

fmmitloehner@ucdavis.edu — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

In a world where it’s difficult to get anyone to agree on anything, the court of public opinion leans heavily in favor of a reduction in greenhouse gases within our agricultural supply chain. But how to accomplish that goal – and who in the chain is ultimately responsible for it – are other matters altogether.

The importance of calving records

terrell@cattlemax.com — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Calving season is an ongoing process that can occur over a few months, rather than a single short-term event like pregnancy checking or weaning. Recording calving records provide great benefits and opportunities to collect data and details that can then be used to evaluate and rank cows in the herd.

10 strategies for record-keeping success in the new year

terrell@cattlemax.com — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

As the prospect of a new year dawns, it's an opportune moment to consider refining our record-keeping habits. Transitioning from traditional paper records to digital platforms can be transformative, and here's a comprehensive guide on how to make that change.

3 tips for writing an effective job description

rossabronson@gmail.com — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Higher wages being paid across the country create a disadvantage for an industry that already fights to keep margins at a profitable point. Those who do a good job recruiting and taking care of qualified employees will have the upper hand.