Farm Help

Fall is here and now is the time to decide which cows should be culled and which cows should be kept. This decision, however, is not an easy one to make. Many factors go into deciding which cows to cull, and choosing those cows can impact your operation's profitability in many ways.

When buying a bull, it’s important, to look not just at what you’re spending, but also at what you’re getting.

One of the more common problems that farmers face is one that seems somewhat basic. "How much forage is enough?" is a question asked by more producers each year. Knowing when fields and pastures have enough grass for animals, or when to switch to hay is not only an important issue, but one with definite complexities. Poor management of pastures and fields can lead to several problems such as weed growth and poor grazing habits by the livestock.

Direct marketing livestock is a popular outlet producers are evaluating for their farm operations, but entering this type of venture requires substantial research. Although a producer might gain more profit from direct marketing livestock, they will wear a variety of hats in the process. 

Agriculture is changing by the way farmers and ranchers communicate with, and market to, consumers. This is an era of 450 million people on mobile Internet, 68 million bloggers, 500 million Facebook users and 55 million Twitter account holders. Social media has taken its threshold within the agricultural community by allowing producers to promote a positive message for agriculture in a time where there are many critics.

So you think you produce feeder calves that should command the top price for their weight every time they go into the sale ring? Some farmers do have that kind of cattle, while others wonder why their calves sell $2 to $5 per hundred below comparable weight calves.

Many producers try to time their spring or fall breeding seasons so the calves arrive at the optimum time. Brett Barham, University of Arkansas professor of animal science specializing in beef cattle breeding and genetics, noted while the official gestation period for cattle is 283 days, individual animals can vary by a week or two. “Typically, the calving season probably needs to be dictated around available forage for the cow while she's at peak lactation,” Barham told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. “We have spring calvers and fall calvers, and those calving seasons should be set up to have those calves about 30-60 days old during peak forage production.”

The economic evidence says there's profit to be made for cattlemen who understand what consumers want. A symposium at the recent Agriculture and Applied Economics Association meeting in Denver examined trends that document a desire for high-quality beef.

Farmers today are adding even more duties to their job description, as they are incorporating savvy marketing to capture more of the food dollar through value-added agriculture.

The importance of record keeping at the farm cannot be overstated. Not only are proper records important for the individual producer to measure their success or failure at the farm, they are also required by the IRS, says David Doshier, of David Doshier and Associates, CPA, in Yellville, Ark.