With drought conditions the worst since the 1930s, most farmers and ranchers are cutting back, tightening their belts, and looking at all possible ways to cut their costs.
As a severe shortage of grass, hay, and corn is raising feed prices, many farmers and ranchers are desperately deciding whether they can afford to continue feeding their cattle, or sell off large parts of their herd. But with a cattle sell off creating a buyers market and driving down prices, many may regret shrinking their herd once the drought passes – when they will have to pay top dollar to replace cattle, if they decide to ramp up production.
Those who take advantage of proven new equipment and methods to work more efficiently and productively will not only be more profitably competitive during the drought when commodity prices rise, but also after the drought when there is less competition in the marketplace. Many are finding ways to cut hay use by 30 percent or more, and slash labor costs.
One way to reduce waste is by using conserver hay feeders. Conserver hay feeders force cattle to place their heads through metal bars to get the hay. Any feed the cows drop falls back into the feeder where it can be eaten later.
By putting out bales less often, farmers are able to save on gas, labor and vehicle wear and tear. Because farmers are not driving as much across fields, there is less soil compaction. This allows pastures to grow out and stretch pasture grazing.
Farmers should consider possible ways to save on labor cost. One way to do this is by updating old squeeze chutes that take more than one person to operate. Adjustable alleys speed up the process tremendously, and keep the cattle from turning around.
A more labor-efficient crowding tub has multiple benefits for cattle working operations. The gate adjusts so you don’t have to get down inside and you can do everything from outside. Just stand to the side, tie a rope on the crowding tub and pull it around. You never have to get down, move around and chase gates. It’s simple to run and an easier way to manage cattle.
Using a squeeze chute with rear controls, one man can smoothly run the chute with levers, instead of the two to three men required previously.
“Farmers and ranchers worried about the high cost of seed and feed during the long drought will find that new types of machinery will radically cut the cost of labor and quickly pay for themselves,” said Bob Studebaker, president of GoBob Pipe and Steel. “If labor weren’t a concern, farms would still be using scythe-wielding farm help, and combines would never have been invented.
“For instance, a new piece of equipment called the Accumulator is designed to allow one man to clear and accumulate an entire field of hay in a fraction of the time traditionally required. When used with an accompanying grapple, one person can rake, bale, accumulate, load and store a 5-7-acre tract in a single day,” added Studebaker.
Ultimately, the best advice to survive this drought and the next one may be to think creatively and find a supplier who knows farm and ranch supplies inside out, who can help to optimize resources, performance, productivity and value.
