Often the largest category of costs in a cattle operation is what economists consider fixed costs. These are usually big things such as tractors or land. In most cases, land is the largest cost item in a farm operation. On the other side of this equation are what we refer to as variable costs. These […] Read more
The importance of giving grass a vacation
A properly managed rest period should lead to increased forage production
More than one way to get replacement cows
The general rule of an annual 10 per cent turnover in the cow herd may be an underestimate
I had the privilege of presenting a replacement female course in the Maritimes this fall (after three years or so of COVID, and airport-related delays). It provided a good opportunity to take some time to think through replacement strategies and the actual issues surrounding replacements. Most of us underestimate the replacement rate of our cow […] Read more
Calculating ‘cow bushels per acre’
Most grain crops are measured by bushels per acre, so why not do the same for forage?
If you’re familiar with grain farming, the term “bushels per acre” is a common frame of reference for measuring yield. There are nuances around this, such as moisture level, bushel weight and protein content, but bushels per acre is a relatively well understood industry standard. When we think about a lot of the cow-calf industry […] Read more
Zapping your way to improved pastures
Electric fencing is an important tool to improved pasture and grazing management
In the last while I have taken an increasing number of calls about electric fencing. I think this is largely due to lack of rainfall in a lot of areas, but also a renewed interest in adding productivity to pastures and forage. Another big reason is that electric fence can be significantly cheaper to install […] Read more
Make a drought plan in writing
Putting it on paper helps clarify the options and takes some of the emotion out of tough decisions
I firmly believe in having a written drought plan. Droughts are nearly always extremely dynamic and can change rapidly, so while the plan will not be followed exactly, it does provide a focus to ensure accountable and proactive management. It also helps us focus on the things we can control rather than the things we […] Read more
Important to critically think about ‘stuff’
Before spending, ask yourself if some new tool or capital purchase is a need or a want
I bet that most of us have a lot of “stuff” on our ranches. The stuff I am referring to is anything that is not water, grass or cows. These could be considered the three parts of the ranching picture, and the stuff is what helps us manage those three parts. Stuff includes things such […] Read more
Multi-paddock grazing offers AMPed up carbon opportunities
New programs are geared toward rewarding livestock producers for carbon sequestration efforts
Looking back at a Grainews from last winter, I read a line I wrote saying that the options for cattle producers to take advantage of carbon markets are currently limited. This is still largely true, but a lot sure has changed in the past year, which has seen the release of new programs geared towards […] Read more
Eco-anxiety and why it matters on the farm
Working toward positive solutions is important to the future of our farms and ranches
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Eco-anxiety (EA) is defined as a “deep fear of environmental doom and human catastrophe.” EA can bring on the same symptoms as the more familiar types of anxiety such as panic attacks, sleeplessness and depression. So how does this matter to your farm or ranch? Firstly, you may […] Read more
Where are we at with carbon credits?
Returns are limited at the moment but stay tuned, as programs are emerging
Carbon is one of the biggest topics of our day and it’s poised to increase in importance. It presents both an opportunity and a significant risk to agricultural production. Given this, it is probably a good idea for us to have at least a basic understanding of what carbon does and why is it important. […] Read more
A few tips on livestock risk management
Consider the obvious as well as less obvious tools in the tool box
The last few weeks have been wild, even though most of us have been locked up at home. Bull sales have moved online and auction markets have been closed to everyone but buyers. Processors are adjusting lines to allow for social distancing and restaurants are closed to everything except pickup and delivery. These factors have […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
