Data Management

Inside The Tax Return of Your Farm's Future

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:41:28 GMT

The traditional process of preparing agricultural tax returns has long been defined by manual data entry and the complex reconciliation of income. However, the integration of artificial intelligence into financial systems is ushering in a more sophisticated era of tax management. For the modern farm, the future of filing lies in a seamless pipeline where software handles the heavy lifting of data organization, leaving the high-level strategy to human experts.

Comprehensive Data Integration

The foundation of a modern tax return is the accounting system. Platforms like QuickBooks, Xero or specialized farm management software are becoming increasingly autonomous. In the near future, these AI agents will do more than simply record expenses; they will analyze them in real-time.

With direct links to bank feeds and digital invoices, AI can categorize expenditures with precision. It can distinguish between capital investments, such as machinery or land improvements, and standard operating costs like seed and fuel. This continuous synchronization means by the end of the fiscal year, the financial records are already in a format that mirrors the requirements of a tax return.

Automated Document Reconciliation

A significant portion of tax preparation involves matching — ensuring the farm’s internal records align with the documents issued by third parties. A preparer of a farm tax return may spend more time making sure all of the income is in the right box then planning to optimize the income tax level.

AI is uniquely suited to handle this high-volume verification. The system can automatically ingest Form 1099-PATR (cooperative distributions), 1099-G (government subsidies) and other Form 1099s and W-2s and verify them against recorded deposits.

If a document is missing or a figure does not match the ledger, AI identifies the specific discrepancy immediately, allowing for a targeted correction rather than a manual search through months of records.

The Role of Human Oversight

While AI provides the technical framework for the return, the final stage remains firmly in human hands. Once the software has mapped the data to the appropriate tax schedules, it produces a comprehensive draft for professional review.

This allows the farmer or a tax consultant to transition from a data entry role to a strategic advisory role. Instead of spending hours verifying line items, the human reviewer can focus on critical tax planning decisions including accelerated depreciation choices or income averaging that require professional judgment and an understanding of the farm’s long-term goals.

The result is a more accurate, defensible and efficient tax filing process. By automating the clerical aspects of the return, AI allows agricultural producers to maintain focus on their operations while ensuring full compliance with the evolving tax laws.

Passing Down a Digital Map for the Next Generation

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:49:16 GMT

Transparency about ranch performance is a key factor in successfully transitioning a ranch from one generation to the next not only in the form of finances but also herd records.

“When records are passed down, you’re giving the next generation established trends they can learn from instead of starting from scratch,” says Jacqueline Lewis, CattleMax team member.

Lewis ranches with her husband and two daughters near Cheyenne, Wyo. Between her family’s operation and helping other ranchers maintain herd records, she knows firsthand how valuable an easy yet thorough record-keeping system is to family ranches across the country.

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” Lewis says. “The more solid your ranch records are, the more informed your decision-making is going to be, which undoubtedly will lead to production success and longevity of your ranch.”

Passing along herd records to upcoming generations is like providing them with the information to follow the right path even when you aren’t there.

Lewis explains, “Any time records can be passed along, you have that foundational sense of tracking trends that have been established for the operation … Records can serve as a map in terms of directional ideas for the next generation.”

Establishing an easy and effective system starts by defining goals.

She explains, “Once you figure out the direction you want to go, you’re going to figure out what you need to record. That’s what leads to informed decision-making down the road.”

After this, be cognizant of common mistakes when tracking records and put systems in place to avoid them.

Lewis says, “Time is probably the first challenge. Ranchers are wearing many hats, and record keeping feels like one more thing on the plate.”

Invest in a system that prioritizes the information you need and makes sense to you.

“Consistency is the key. Whatever works for you is what you’re going to use on a consistent basis,” shares Lewis.

Additionally, take the time to learn a new software or ask for help to ensure you are entering data as efficiently as possible.

Fragmented systems are also a common mistake that can impact time management.

“A fragmented system is overwhelming — records tucked in the barn, in a drawer, lost in a phone. The biggest question becomes, where do I even start?” Lewis says.

Fragmented systems can be avoided by giving multiple people access to one record-keeping location and making that location accessible from the pasture, corral and office. Spreading out the record-keeping responsibility also makes the process less overwhelming.

She says, “When record keeping falls on just one person, that’s a lot of pressure that doesn’t need to be applied to a single individual.”

Animal ID systems also can’t be ignored. Reducing duplicates and ensuring ownership and age can easily be noted from the visual ID simplify the entire process. Learn more about ID systems .

Creating or switching systems can seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be.

“All you really need to focus on as you’re getting started is your active inventory — the animals walking around your pastures right now,” Lewis says. “Don’t worry about that historical stuff right away. There will always be rainy days to backfill it.”

The biggest piece of record-keeping advice — focus on the bigger picture.

Lewis says, “Record keeping shouldn’t be seen as a chore. It’s a means to confidence — confidence in your decisions and confidence in the direction of your ranch.”

Listen to the full conversation on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast .

The challenge of maintaining herd records is a familiar struggle for many cow-calf producers who grapple with balancing detailed documentation and practical, cost-efficient management. However, there are multiple solutions available to help transition from traditional paper to platforms that make data input and analysis more productive. During Smart Farming week, we shared information about about five record-keeping options available on the market today.
Voice-to-Record App Reinvents Cattle Management
Simplicity In Record-Keeping With an All-in-One Hub
Bridging Genetics, Management and Technology in Beef Production
Chute-Side and Simple: Breedr Delivers Cattle Management Integrated System
GEM: Precision in the Pasture

GEM: Precision in the Pasture

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:31:58 GMT

The challenge of maintaining herd records is a familiar struggle for many cow-calf producers who grapple with balancing detailed documentation and practical, cost-efficient management. However, there are multiple solutions available to help transition from traditional paper to platforms that make data input and analysis more productive. During Smart Farming week, we will learn more about five record-keeping options available on the market today.

Genetic and Economic Management, better known as GEM, was created in the early 2000s by Benyshek and Hough Consulting Services, Inc. GEM is an online data entry and retrieval system that can be used by commercial and registered cattlemen. GEM has users with both small-scale operations and large operations with more than 10,000 head.

“It’s a multifaceted system,” Larry Benyshek says. “It interacts with breed associations for uploading and downloading data and people really like that, of course. They have everything on one platform, from their breeding records through their sale records.”

One feature registered cattlemen can use is registering calves with breed associations through GEM, making the process more efficient with data syncing between the two.

“You can then download back the new registration numbers they get, and they can download their EPDs every week — if they want — to the system,” Benyshek says.

GEM also has a location system where users can build locations within the program and keep track of inventories across their ranch. Records can be easily moved with cattle as they change locations. Then animals can be filtered and grouped by different criteria using records and data within the system.

“The other thing is our auction platform is really good,” Benyshek adds. “We have a lot of people that use the system to create their auction offering. We put that on GEM, and then on sale day they can do all of the paperwork from GEM. In other words, we check people in by bidder number, then there’s a person on the block who records those bids by bidder number in real time and then they’re immediately ready for checkout with an invoice.”

GEM has additional features like embryo records, semen inventory and a database with records on the people an operation works with or for.

“It’s got a lot of aspects that people like — it’s pretty encompassing,” Benyshek explains. “Some people use everything we’ve got. Some people use just parts of it.”

GEM pricing is a monthly fee based on the number of females aged 14 months and older in the operation with a minimum base price of $60 for 50 head or less. Each additional female is $0.40. Large commercial operations vary in pricing.

One aspect Benyshek takes pride in is GEM’s customer service and building those relationships.

“We keep about 110 to 125 clients routinely on the system, and we provide a lot of customer service. Just the other day I did a three-hour training session with a new client, and we use Zoom meetings to do all of that.”

Groendyke Ranch manager Paul Koffskey uses GEM from a commercial perspective. Groendyke Ranch manages more than 2,000 head in a commercial Angus cow-calf operation using Hereford and Angus bulls. In 2025, they were recognized as the American Hereford Association Commercial Producer of the Year.

“We use as much of [GEM] as we want,” Koffskey explains. “I use it more for performance-based information to go into making decisions on what goes in our commercial bred heifer sale every year and then our feeder calf sales as well.”

Koffskey emphasizes the importance of generating different reports with varying data and details.

“The report function to me is the best aspect,” Koffskey says. “It’s simple once you become familiar with it. From an efficiency standpoint, we’re able to identify animals or bulls or whatever the case may be that are not performing. We’ve increased weaning weights, yearling weights, shortened breeding seasons and increased cow productivity.”

Koffskey adds both Benyshek and John Hough are always available if there is a problem or to answer questions.

“Those two guys and their experience in this industry, they are just a wealth of knowledge,” Koffskey says. “If you’re not using GEM or CattleMax or any of the others out there, you’re leaving money on the table.”

More information on GEM can be found at benyshek-hough.com

Your Next Reads:
Simplicity In Record-Keeping With an All-in-One Hub
Voice-to-Record App Reinvents Cattle Management
Bridging Genetics, Management and Technology in Beef Production

Chute-Side and Simple: Breedr Delivers Cattle Management Integrated System

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:40:24 GMT

According to Wheal, Breedr was designed for ranchers first. Key features include:

Individual animal tracking — tracks cattle from conception to processing.
Supply chain collaboration — connects data between seedstock, cow-calf, backgrounders and feedlots.
Data insights — provides actionable insights about individual animal performance.
Technology solutions — offers chute-side data collection systems with mobile and cloud-based platforms supporting electronic ID integration.
Supply chain development — helps producers build branded beef programs and supports collaboration between producers and packers.

Wheal predicts beef producers could experience 20% efficiency gains in the next four or five years by moving to individual animal tracking and data collection. He encourages producers to transition from lot-based systems to individual animal tracking.

Breedr recently announced new features to make managing breeding stock and tracking calves easier. These features include:

Improved features for seedstock operations including import and export from breed associations.
Scan tissue sample barcodes to match to EIDs and view genetic and EPD information at the chute.
Three new chute-side quick actions — quick induction on new animals, faster preg testing and condition scoring, all available offline.

(Breedr)

Producer Perspective: The Answer to Integration

Simmental breeder Logan Butcher from Lewistown, Mont., says he’s been frustrated trying to find a cattle management program that will work for his 900 registered cows and 700 bred heifer commercial operation.

He tried other programs but found them not intuitive and too time-consuming to set up. After seeing Wheal give a presentation on Breedr, he says the user-friendly interface and clear workflow convinced him to try it.

He says Breedr is a fully integrated, usable system — hardware, software and people all tied together — to capture data from calving through chute work to carcass, and that integration is where the real value lies on his ranch.

“We have been using EIDs in our cattle for years in preparation for something like this,” Butcher explains. “Nobody could give me an integrated system; this is the EID reader and scale you need to buy and the program you need to use and they are all going to work together. It was crazy. Somebody needed to put it all together in a usable format, and that is what Breedr did.”

His favorite features are:

1. Shared calving book — During calving, entering data is fast and easy, and everything stays in one place. Multiple family members can enter data from their own phones simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple paper copies.

“There’s lots of power in that when you’ve got more than one guy doing something,” he summarizes.

2. Chute-side functionality — He says the chute mode is “really good.” He appreciates when working cattle, if his brother sees a lame animal in the back, he can mark it on his phone and that animal will flag “lame treat” when it comes through the chute, reducing missed treatments.

3. Hardware synergy — Breedr’s integration with Butcher’s scale and EID reader was simple, solving a long‑standing problem of poor or clunky software around EIDs and capturing and recording weights.

4. Birth-to-harvest value — As a Superior representative, he sees big potential in Breedr’s ability to link carcass data back to every life-stage data point.

5. Customer service — He says support has been responsive and effective, helping him through minor bugs and how-to issues without any data loss.

With the upcoming breeding season, Butcher says he’s looking forward to using Breedr with RightMate, integrating the precision mating tools to help make decisions.

To learn more about Breedr, visit breedr.co

Your Next Reads:

Simplicity In Record-Keeping With an All-in-One Hub

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:47:37 GMT

CattleMax is an online record-keeping service used by ranches to store cattle inventory, herd health records, breeding and pregnancy records, calving data, weaning data and sync data from breed associations.

Terrell Miller, founder and CEO of CattleMax, says the program is designed for commercial and registered cow-calf producers of all herd sizes.

“It’s currently used by ranchers worldwide in herds from 10 head to 10,000 plus,” Miller says. “CattleMax has been around for over 25 years and is designed in the U.S. by cattle ranchers. It’s supported by ranchers who use the software in their own herds.”

CattleMax was built to be a complete record-keeping system with features like pasture activity, hay production, equipment maintenance and tasks.

“The most used features across users include breeding, pregnancy and calving records; weights, health treatments and pasture movements,” Miller adds.

Commercial plans start at $12 for the first 50 head of cattle and increase with herd size. Registered plans start at $16 for the first 50 head and increase with herd size. Both commercial and registered operations with more than 1,000 head have additional plans with features better suited for large operations.

computer screen,cell phone blank mockup.hand woman work using laptop texting mobile.white background for advertising,contact business search information on desk in cafe.marketing,design

(Shutterstock and CattleMax)

Customer Feedback

Manager of Stalwart Ranches in Texas, Bill Cawley uses most of the features CattleMax offers to keep data and records on their registered and commercial cow herd.

“We run about 300 registered cows and about 3,700 commercial cows,” Cawley explains. “My favorite thing is that you can get reports to go to the [ranch] owner at just a touch of a button. You can get reports so that they actually know what’s going on like inventories. It’s not, ‘Let me find it, let me count it up.’ It’s just right there. We have EIDs (electronic identification ear tags) in all these cattle now. We can scan those and run off a list of calves in just a matter of minutes. It’s what everybody else in the world has in business, where you can run a report and don’t have to go through all your paper files to try to find something.”

Cawley adds having all their records on CattleMax makes taxes much easier for both the rancher and their accountant.

“We can run that report off and it’s in black and white, It’s easy for those guys to understand,” Cawley says. “There’s just so much that’s at your fingertips.”

(CattleMax)

Cawley has been using CattleMax for more than 20 years, so the program functions are simple for him to understand with many years of experience. However, he recommends CattleMax to ranchers and cattlemen because it is so user-friendly.

“It has what the everyday person needs on it, and you can get a little more technical if you want it to,” Cawley says. “Sometimes people don’t know what they’re looking at, and this is pretty self-explanatory for the most part. It’s been a really good company for us.”

The only limitation to CattleMax, like many record keeping programs, is that the animals need to be individually identified. Find more about CattleMax at cattlemax.com

Your Next Read:
Voice-to-Record App Reinvents Cattle Management

Voice-to-Record App Reinvents Cattle Management

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:51:50 GMT

Arkansas cattleman Gabe Wight has tried notebooks, Rite in the Rain pads, commercial software and even his own simple app to keep cattle records. The frustration of taking gloves off, pulling out the phone, logging in and typing data in meant he wouldn’t keep up with records.

Wight explains his No. 1 pain point is keeping up with his cattle records, and traditional systems never fit how he actually works. He wants to be on a horse or in a tractor, just talking, not typing.

With a poultry science degree from the University of Arkansas, Wight’s career started in marketing and brand management, while cattle remained a passionate side business. His professional career spans media, advertising and general management, and he founded a software company in 2019 that he then sold in 2023.

He says the combination of necessity, love for ranching and a drive to fix frustrating processes in agriculture fueled his entry into ag-tech solutions for cattle. His aggravation led to Herd Advisor — a voice‑first, AI-powered record-keeping system built by a working cattleman to solve the problem he hates most: paperwork.

Wight says he built the program for real ranch life:

No stopping to log in and type, just talk to your phone.
Works from a saddle, tractor or pickup.
Focused on what matters: something useful that reduces aggravation.
Can be used by the whole family or hired help

Hands-Free Record-Keeping

Instead of forms and keyboards, Herd Advisor lets producers “just talk” while they work cows, drive through pastures or feed. It allows ranchers to log herd data such as treatments, calving records, weights, movements and more, hands-free via voice commands.

He says this minimizes manual input and the risk of lost data, making adoption practical for producers who’d rather focus on livestock than data entry. Despite being a self-described technology rejecter, Wight leverages AI as a development partner and backend engineer.

“For me, voice-first cattle records have been a game changer,” Wight explains. “Just to be able to drive through the pasture and just talk.”

Wight first beta tested the program with a group of producers before rolling it out for public download during CattleCon 2026. He says the beta users have been instrumental in refining workflow, especially given the unique naming and tagging conventions in herds.

One of the beta testers was Susan Gurley. Gurley and her husband, Rick, operate Diamond G Farms near Huntsville, Ark. Diamond G is a commercial cow-calf operation. The couple also manage a neighbor’s operation and Rick’s father’s cattle. In total, they manage about 450 cows across 2,000 acres.

“You know the struggle is real when you’ve got notebooks this size and cardboard that size, and 47 different vehicles and people on the farm, and you can’t find the records you need,” Gurley says. “This is going to be something that we can truly utilize and benefit from.”

She says Herd Advisor’s simplicity and flexibility are what excite her most. She loves that initial data entry is not burdensome. Bulk editing and voice entry are also key features for her. She says reminders, pasture records and multi-farm management are also big wins.

“The beautiful thing about voice entry, for example, is on a new calf,” Gurley says. “If I don’t have a tag in the calf. It automatically pops up next to that cow that she’s had a calf, and it calls it calf, and it puts her number and then it puts the date.”

The Gurleys have multiple employees, so they can put reminders in Herd Advisor for their crew with jobs that need to be done — from cow and calf management to pasture management tasks.

“I love the bulk edit,” she summarizes. “If you go work calves, with one click, ‘I used this medicine, this medicine, this medicine,’ and you’re done. And that’s exciting to me.”

(Herd Advisor)

How Does it Work?

Herd Advisor is currently available as a website and iOS app, with an Android app in final stages pending Google Play approval.

The system is flexible, with three main ways to capture records:

1. Siri voice command
A user can say something like: “Hey Siri, cattle record for Herd Advisor … Cow No. 2 has a limp. I gave her a shot of LA‑300, 12 ccs, and remind me in five days to give her a booster.”

2. In‑app microphone button
A floating mic button in the mobile app lets users dictate records directly.

3. Emailing voice transcripts
Producers can create a phone contact like “Voice Records” and email dictated notes to a special Herd Advisor address. You don’t have to have the app on your phone. You can input records via email.

Offline use is also supported. If a producer does not have service, Siri or the app holds the text until the phone is back online, then pushes everything through to be processed.

(Herd Advisor)

How AI Processes and Organizes Data

When you voice in a record, the record goes through a series of AI agents.

1. Contextual understanding
Siri often mishears “cow” as “count,” or misinterprets drug names, so the first AI agent asks: Is this about cattle and what does it mean in that context?

2. Parsing complex spoken notes into structured records
One long narration might include several cows, a calf and a treatment. The system:

Splits those into individual animal records
Handles tricky realities like duplicate tag numbers or long, multi‑generation number sequences

User Workflow and Safety Nets

Wight says critical to the user experience are built in information redundancy and safety nets, with daily database backups and email confirmations.

Each new entry lands in a “Records for Review” page on the web/app. Producers see exactly what the system heard and how it interpreted it. They can:

Confirm or correct which specific animal a record belongs to (for example, if there are multiple “Cow 600s”).
Edit details before finalizing.

The system can also set reminders for booster shots or rechecks for animals or pastures.

Multiple safeguards are in place against data loss:

Optional email copies of each record so the raw text is never lost.
A daily full database snapshot kept for 30 days.

More than Records: The Cattle Market Guide

Along with the herd management program, Gabe Wight has also developed the Cattle Market Guide and a Cattle Market Guys podcast .
Wight says he always questioned if he sold cattle at the right time.

“I pulled out of the auction market parking lot I was thinking the same thing I every time, which is: ‘Should I have sold this week? And should I have sold them here?’” Wight explains.

That led him to build the market predictor. By harnessing AI, Wight first developed the Cattle Market Guide to report profitability differences in when and where to sell. This catalyzed the broader vision for a practical decision-support tool and records management solution tailored for cattle producers.

To learn more about Herd Advisor, the Cattle Market Guide and to listen to the Cattle Market Guys podcast visit HerdAdvisor.com .

Bridging Genetics, Management and Technology in Beef Production

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:37:44 GMT

701x is a North Dakota-based agricultural technology company specializing in smart, connected, solar-powered GPS ear tags and management software for the cattle industry. It enables ranchers to monitor livestock health, location, breeding activity and behavior.

“There’s a lot of pressures on the ranching industry today, and there’s not a lot of technology or tools that can help them,” summarizes Sam Fisher, 701x vice president of sales and marketing.

701x was created by Kevin Biffert, a ranch-raised engineer, who saw the lack of effective technological tools available for ranchers.

“We have to develop a feature set that offers a lot more to the rancher,” Fisher adds.

(Photo: 701X)

Three Pillars: Registry Services, Herd Management, Devices

Fisher explains 701x’s offerings fall into three primary buckets.

1. Registry Services

701x acquired Digital Beef, a software solution for breed associations. This registry allows users to register animals, manage pedigrees and integrate performance data. He explains 701x is currently working on a rebuild of the registry product to make it a sustainable platform.

2. Herd Management Tools

“Think of this as your on-ranch record-keeping system ,” Fisher explains. “Digital calving book, chute‑side mode, breeding record system, even a financial section in there, all available for kind of on‑ranch records.”

701x is working to provide a unified, modern platform that streamlines data from herd management straight into registry services, minimizing manual entry and ensuring consistent, usable records.

Fisher says the 701x system eliminates double/triple entry of data; it makes data searchable and usable and replaces paper records with quick digital access.

Montana Angus producer Sara Stevenson says, “How I best describe 701x is the solution to a long-time problem I was looking for.”

701x helps her manage and communicate herd data. She explains the biggest historical challenge wasn’t collecting data but organizing it over many years and sending accurate information to the American Angus Association and other breed associations.

She says 701x has replaced scattered notebooks and multiple Excel files with one central, long-term system. It allows the Stevenson family to track every animal from birth to sale in one place, including:

Birth, weaning, yearling data and ratios.
Health events such as treatments, navel issues, deaths and injuries.
Fertility records.
Exact reason an animal leaves the herd — feet, fertility, open or death.

Stevenson emphasizes that bad or incomplete data is worse than no data, and 701x makes it realistic to maintain high-quality, multiyear records.

She shares these additional 701x advantages:

Time, stress and marriage-saving benefits. Before 701x, Stevenson says Maternal Plus reporting meant referring to years of calving books and tedious backtracking, causing weeks of work, frustration and “marriage” conflict. “701x eliminated the annual stress and fights,” she summarizes.
Data entry is now done chute-side or same day versus months later, which reduces errors and guesswork. The 701x system ties together EID (electronic identification) tags, wand, scale head and software reducing transposed numbers, missing digits as well as duplicate or outdated spreadsheets.
Digital workflow keeps accurate cow and calf pasture counts, as well as provides the ability to figure correct vaccine dose and mineral needs and get an immediate check of what animals were missed after working cattle. Stevenson admits they keep paper copies as backup, but the digital data saves their ranch money and time, improves accuracy and reduces stress.
Strong customer service and partnership. Stevenson compliments the 701x team for being accessible and willing to help when needed. She says 701x is not just a tool; it is a partner in their operation.

“What they’re really going for is that one-stop shop — the Apple of cattle data — and we are very happy with it,” Stevenson summarizes.

3. Smart Livestock Devices

701x offers two types of smart ear tag devices: the xTpro tag for bulls and cows and the xTlite tag for calves.

Fisher says the tags are a management tool providing tangible, practical benefits like GPS tracking, health and behavior alerts and reproductive data. The tags help producers improve breeding rates, reduce losses and gain actionable data, making the investment cost-effective over time.

The Stevensons use xTpro tags in donor cows and herd bulls to help:

Detect estrus in older donor cows that don’t show strong physical heat signs.
Track bull activity (steps, mounts) and correlate that with actual calves sired via DNA, revealing which bulls are working harder versus just being lazier. She says this leads to data-backed decisions about which bulls and cows are performing.

Dakota Gerloff of Gerloff Farms , Bland, Mo., manages about 400 seedstock cows and 120 commercial cows. The Gerloffs put xTpro tags in all their herd bulls. He says the biggest benefit of the tags is the peace of mind the system provides his family during breeding season.

While he typically checks his fall cows in person every other day during breeding season, 701x allows him to open the app and see how individual bulls are behaving throughout the day: how active they’ve been, whether they’ve been mounting cows and, generally whether they appear to be doing their job.

He says the tags are a valuable tool in an era when good labor is hard to find. Gerloff adds that he plans to tag his cow herd for heat detection and calving alerts, which could reduce manpower needs by providing timely notifications instead of relying solely on constant physical checking.

(Photos: 701X)

User-Friendly Purchasing and Setup

The company aims to make technologically advanced cattle management solutions simple, accessible and valuable to both seedstock and commercial beef producers. Producers can order products directly online through a marketplace. Ongoing support, educational videos and in-person field staff are available to streamline onboarding and maximize value.

Fisher says transparent pricing and simple online purchasing eliminate barriers for adoption.

“We focused on easy, easy, easy, easy,” he says. “You go to 701x.com, there’s a tab for the marketplace ... add to cart ... check out and it’s shipped directly to you.”

Fisher explains the tags come pre-integrated into the software ecosystem, which makes the setup seamless. Producers are supported by educational materials, responsive field staff and personal phone/video help as needed.

When inserting xTpro tags, place the buttons between the two main ribs of the ear. Apply the tag so the solar panel sits forward and up for best sunlight exposure.

(701x)

The tags are designed to be robust, solar-powered and connected by both cellular and satellite networks for maximum utility and minimal hassle. The system’s value is demonstrable through examples of loss prevention, breeding improvement and labor savings.

Fisher says customer feedback shapes product development and issue resolution, and all customers have open access to knowledgeable staff. 701x continually refines its algorithms and is developing new features like feedyard systems and more advanced monitoring to adapt to industry needs and drive future genetic improvements.

(701x)

A Seedstock Supplier Service for Bull Buyers

The Gerloff family hosts an annual bull sale each October selling 80 bulls. As a customer service, the Gerloffs tagged all 2025 sale bulls with 701x’s xTpro. If a bull sold for more than $6,500, the buyer was offered a one-year 701x app subscription.

Gerloff says the tag process went smoothly and praises retention and durability. He says they tagged the sale bulls 10 days before the sale. He was originally concerned about the bulls fighting and losing tags before sale day. He reports they didn’t lose any tags despite the tendencies of 20-month-old bulls.

Gerloff says more than half of the buyers who qualified to use the system have made a 701x account thus far. He also notes he has not received one negative call or frustration about the tag.

701x’s core aim is to help both commercial and seedstock producers be more profitable and sustainable by providing customers cutting-edge, practical tools that deliver real-world results.

“I really believe we’re building tools that actually matter,” Fisher summarizes. “Tools that will actually keep people in the beef business, keep families on the same piece of dirt that they’ve always ranched.”

Your Next Read:
The Surge of Technology Adoption and Data-Driven Decision-Making
Unlocking Odde Ranch Success: How Profitability, Tech and Education Drive Innovation

Dakota Ranchers: New Program Available To Promote Data-Backed Grazing Management

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:36:10 GMT

Ducks Unlimited and AgriWebb are joining forces and taking aim at addressing the challenges of grazing on public lands in North and South Dakota.

Supported by a grant through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the program provides livestock producers in cow-calf or stocker operations with digital tools and infrastructure to manage their public land, livestock and profitability more effectively. Ranchers enrolled in the program benefit from AgriWebb software combined with temporary and virtual fencing to holistically manage their livestock and land.

“Keeping grasslands intact is essential to the long-term sustainability of waterfowl and other wildlife,” notes Billy Gascoigne, DU senior director of agriculture & strategic partnerships. “Ranchers are the primary stewards of these landscapes, and it’s imperative that we develop solutions that help them implement adaptive, profitable grazing practices while ensuring the next generation can continue this important work.”

According to the organizations, the partnership will provide a streamlined way to report livestock numbers and managed acreage to NFWF. By capturing this data, the partnership is tackling some of the industry’s biggest challenges, including:

● Enhance grassland health: Promoting vibrant nesting cover for waterfowl through ample rest and rotation.
● Empower producers: Providing the “productivity-driving” insights needed to manage herds more effectively on complex public lands.
● Strengthen the food chain: Ensuring long-term land fertility to support a growing global population.

“Producers wear many hats, but none are more critical than feeding the world while stewarding the land,” says Campbell Mauchan, AgriWebb vice president of partnerships. “By combining DU’s conservation expertise with AgriWebb’s ability to turn simple data collection into actionable insights, we are helping ranchers nurture the ecosystems we all rely on. When a rancher is equipped to not just record their data, but use it, they are able to make decisions that help them nurture the ecosystems that support their legacies.”

According to the organizations, the initial roll out focused on Dakotas state trust lands is being considered a pilot for a scalable model in how technology and conservation can work to support ranchers across North America.

For more information, ranchers can visit ag.ducks.org .

Siring Success: One California Farm’s Approach to Better Beef-on-Dairy Calves

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 21:09:45 GMT

Over the past seven years, Tony Lopes has steered his family’s fourth-generation California dairy through a remarkable transformation. Today, the family milks 5,000 cows across four locations, produces 3,800 beef-on-dairy crossbred calves and procures an additional 12,000-plus head from outside dairies and calf ranches annually, offering a model for other farms looking to diversify revenue and improve herd economics.

Lopes first got into beef-on-dairy during a period of expansion when the farm had extra pen space and a surplus of heifers.

“Beef-on-dairy was becoming the trendy thing to do, and it coincided with us going through an expansion,” he says. “The first question we had to ask ourselves was if we breed some of these lower-end animals to beef, can we still produce enough heifers. The answer was yes. It was a crawl-before-you-can-walk kind of experiment.”

Once the operation confirmed they could meet replacement needs using sexed semen, they stopped using conventional semen entirely and began focusing on generating as many beef-on-dairy cross calves as possible.

“From the first calves that hit the ground, we backgrounded them and sold them in small gooseneck loads. The math kept working, and as our volume increased, we moved up to 50,000-lb. loads,” Lopes recalls.

Over time, the program evolved even further. They now take calves in as day-olds or at 400 lb. to 450 lb., raising them to 700 lb. to 750 lb. before marketing. This growth gave Lopes the confidence to take full control of the genetics behind the operation.

“The entirety of our beef-on-dairy program today is sired by our own Angus genetics,” Lopes explains. “By 2022, we had enough data to confidently procure our own bulls, and in seven years we’ve gone from knowing nothing about the feedlot side of beef-on-dairy to making it an incredibly big piece of our operation.”

Not Held Back By Tradition
“I’ve always had a passion for genetics and have been interested in what genetic inputs can result in better performance outputs,” Lopes says.

So, when beef-on-dairy began gaining traction, he found himself watching the space closely.

“When we were all starting out, there were a lot of questions,” Lopes recalls. “It seemed like the whole industry, at the same time, was trying to figure out what to breed our cows to. Every stud company, every region, at that point, had a little bit of a different answer.”

After experimenting with several breed compositions, the decision ultimately came down to market demand.

“What drove our decision to go Angus was just buyer demand,” Lopes says. “From an animal husbandry standpoint, we were trying to do everything we could to raise a good quality calf. And as we were building relationships with buyers, they were pretty consistently saying: ‘Hey, we’d really prefer if you just made these all Angus.’”

Lopes emphasizes that genetic decisions on the farm are driven by data and economics, not tradition.

“We’re big believers in making genetic decisions based on dollars and cents as opposed to just a biased opinion or tradition,” he explains. “When we started getting kill data back and looked at the economic drivers of our decisions, we arrived at a conclusion: These are the trait compositions that are going to result in more profitability.”

That analysis led the farm to source a specific set of elite Angus bulls, genetics they couldn’t consistently find in any single company’s lineup. According to Lopes, the breed’s data quality, quantity and large population size made it a logical choice for maximum genetic progress.

“Fortunately, in the Angus seedstock world, elite genetics are well distributed throughout the industry,” Lopes says. “There are a substantial number of bull sales every spring and fall. We were able to find the bulls most elite for the traits we care about, and that just kind of grew from there.”

Still, choosing to buy and use their own bulls came with uncertainty at first.

“It was a little leap at the time, but as we continue to aggregate more and more data, we’re very glad we made that investment and very confident in the performance advantages we’re seeing from our selected sires,” Lopes says.

Data-Driven Decisions
Lopes relies on rigorous data collection and economic modeling to guide breeding decisions.

“Everything we do is built into an economic model from the standpoint of profitability,” Lopes explains. “We look at all the things that go into what we’re asking the animal to do. We’re asking the animal to hang the heaviest carcass possible in the shortest number of days.”

It’s a model that pushes the operation to look beyond individual traits and consider how they work together. The goal isn’t simply to make better cattle but to make cattle that deliver the greatest economic return.

“We’re financially incentivized not just for pounds but for quality. If a carcass grades Prime and we’re chasing the best feed conversion, we have to evaluate those trade-offs,” Lopes says. “A 1% gain in feed conversion versus a 1% increase in Prime percentage delivers very different financial outcomes. Our system converts each of those factors into dollar-and-cents projections so we can prioritize which traits deserve the most weight in our selection process.”

But to understand which traits truly move the needle, the process starts with the carcass data connected to each animal.

“We receive kill data on every individual carcass and tie it back to that animal’s ID — hot carcass weight, backfat, ribeye area, marbling score, yield grade and more,” Lopes says. “We can link all of it to genetics and to management factors like sex, birth date, colostrum score and how many times the calf was treated for pneumonia or other illnesses.”

When those metrics are layered together, the picture becomes much clearer.

“By combining all these data points, we can isolate the genetic components from management influences,” he says. “That helps us make smarter decisions about both genetic selection and day-to-day herd management.”

Eyes on the Future
Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, Lopes remains bullish on the future of beef-on-dairy.

“I would say there’s a lot of people who think we can’t make any more beef-on-dairy calves than we are now. I don’t share that opinion,” Lopes says. “Producers could likely produce more calves with an optimized approach, using sexed semen and beef genetics. Even in five years, regardless of where beef prices are in the cycle, I think beef-on-dairy will remain a mainstay in the industry. It’s transformational for genetic progress, herd efficiency and revenue.”

On the replacement side, he sees a market that is tighter than ever but still overstocked in certain areas.

“Almost every dairy has fewer heifers than in recent memory, but some still have more than they need,” Lopes says. “Cull rates and herd management mean many farms are comfortable with lower turnover, yet heifers exist — just not where they’re needed. I know I’m in the minority, but I think there’s still an overabundance relative to actual demand.”

For his own operation, Lopes plans measured growth in 2026.

“We’re looking to expand the number of calves we bring in and work with strong operators across the western United States,” Lopes says. “The market is uncertain. Recent futures and processing news make it hard to know whether we’re sourcing at high or low values, but we’re confident there’s still value in beef-on-dairy calves, and we intend to continue growing.”

New 2026 Balers and Hay Tools Launched By Case IH, John Deere, New Holland, And Vermeer

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:01:14 GMT

Case IH’s new RB6 series variable chamber round baler offers durability and less maintenance with triple seal bearings throughout the machine. This ensures contaminants stay out while lubricants stay in to maintain optimal operation.

The RB566 model includes several enhancement options:

(Matthew J. Grassi)

New double roller windguard increases compression and control for OSF pickups, allowing for increased capacity and ground speed.
The new Bale Weigh capability allows operators to monitor and record individual bale weight on an ongoing basis via in-cab monitoring. This capability weighs the bale in chamber without pausing the machine.
Pro 700 Plus display or Pro 1200 display compatibility.
FieldOps machine and telematics data via mobile and web apps have the ability to monitor individual bale data such as drop location, weight and moisture content.

“Another thing we’ve done is, on our pickup, we’ve went to a double roller windguard on the 566. Our customers who are bailing a lot of corn stalks, they’re dealing with some big windrows,” says Brian Williams, livestock product specialist, CNH Industrial. “And what this does is it pushes those windrows down and smashes them out and allows them to feed into the baler more fluidly so they can go faster.”

The RB6 series is manufactured in the U.S. in New Holland, Penn. , and order writing is open now. Orders signed this fall will begin shipping in March 2026.

John Deere intros V452M Round Baler with stepped-up automation features

(John Deere)

John Deere says its new V452M round baler provides enhanced productivity and precision ag tech integration for hay and forage operations.

The V452M headlines a newly updated lineup of VR and CR round baler models, introducing a new naming convention and advanced features purpose-built for heavy crop and silage conditions, while the current 1 Series round balers will continue to serve customer baling needs.

Expanding the versatility of John Deere’s round baler lineup, the VM, VR and CR lineup updates include variable-chamber and variable-wrapping combination models.

Key features of the V452M include:

Advanced Bale Chamber Technology: Three starting rolls and two belt drive rolls ensure consistent bale rotation.
Larger Bale Chamber: 4-by-5½ feet chamber width to maximize bale weight.
High-Density Silage Capability: Produces silage bales up to 11.7 pounds per cubic foot.

The full updated Model Year 2026 Deere baler lineup introduces several features to boost productivity (capabilities vary by model):

Industry-Leading Gate Cycle Time: As fast as three seconds for more bales per hour.
Moisture Sensors and Bale Scales: Seamlessly connect to the free John Deere Operations Center for near real-time bale documentation and yield insights.
G5 or G5e Monitor for in-cab adjustments and data-driven decisions.
High-Capacity Feeding System: A 7.2-foot-wide five-bar pickup handles heavy windrows with ease.
Baler Automation With New Unplug Assist automatically stops the tractor when the target bale size is reached and manages the gate cycle. When needed, Unplug Assist automatically stops the tractor and disengages the PTO when a plug is detected.

The VM, VR and CR balers will begin shipping in November 2025. For more information, contact your local John Deere dealer

New Holland rolls out Roll-Belt 1 Series Balers

(New Holland)

New for model year 2026, New Holland is introducing three updated Roll-Belt 1 Series models designed to work smarter, bale faster and ensure producers stay connected.

New Holland says feeding performance gets a boost with its Roll-Belt 451, 461 and 561 models. A newly designed single roller windguard now comes standard on all OSF (OverShot Feeder) pickup models. And a larger 8.4" roller — 60% larger in diameter than its predecessor — helps better compress the crop mat and improve feeding into the chamber.

For those baling larger windrows, a new dual roller windguard is available as an upgrade option on the 561 model. The front and rear rollers pivot independently, providing adaptive control in variable crop and ground conditions. Operators can also lock both rollers together when compressing loose or fluffy windrows.

“Each of these three models has a distinct fit. Take, for example, the Roll-Belt 561. In corn stalks, it truly shines,” says Alex Berwager, livestock and dairy business manager, New Holland. “We’re seeing a 16% improvement in feeding capacity thanks to the dual roller windguard, jumping from 43 to 50 tons per hour. That means less plugging from the controlled crop flow and greater productivity to tackle more when your time is short.”

Vermeer launches fleet of new baler and hay tools for 2026

(Vermeer)

Vermeer’s new model year 2026 baler and hay tool launch is led by the all-new ZR-2200 self-propelled baler.

The launch fleet also includes:

604 S series balers
605S Rancher baler
ZR-2200 self-propelled baler with the Z604S bale chamber
3 new models of carted wheel rakes.

“We’ve taken feedback from dealers and hay producers to build equipment that’s intuitive, durable and designed to deliver results,” said Shane Rourke, managing director of forage, Vermeer.

604S Premium Baler

(Vermeer)

The new 604 S series balers come in three models: Rancher, Signature and Premium (shown above).

Vermeer says the machines are built to help producers get more 6’x4' (1.8-m by 1.2-m) bales put up in a day.

The 604S Rancher is a reliable, straightforward option for value-focused producers who want durable components and convenient operation.
The 604S Signature features enhanced driveline capacity and rugged components, ideal for high-volume operations.
The 604S Premium pulls out all the stops with smart automation, comfort-focused features and productivity tools that help operators work faster, smarter and with less effort.

All three models share common components — including the camless wide pickup with a hydraulic pickup lift, a mechanical netwrap system and the Atlas Pro control system with in-cab density adjustments.

ZR-4S self-propelled baler.

(Vermeer)

Since the launch of the ZR5-1200 self-propelled baler in 2017, producers have consistently asked for a 4' (1.2-m) model that delivers the same level of automation, comfort and productivity.

Vermeer says it is answering that request with the new ZR-2200 self-propelled baler with the Z604S bale chamber (ZR-4S). The ZR-4S (pictured above) features zero-turn maneuverability, integrated automation and a premium cab packed with operator-focused features.

From auto tie and eject to real-time bale data and TempSense bearing temperature monitoring, the ZR-4S self-propelled baler is built to keep operators productive, informed and comfortable.

VRC Carted wheel rake

(Vermeer)

Three new carted wheel rakes — the VRC820, VRC1022 and VRC1224 — offer robust construction, updated hydraulics, and simple adjustments to help producers get the most out of every pass.

With raking widths ranging from 20' (6 m) to 24' (7.3 m), these rakes are designed for longevity and ease of use for operators of all sizes.

Full availability on these new hay tools is expected in Spring 2026.

Your Next Read: Less Work, Better Bales - John Deere Intros Weave Automation

Digitizing the Ranch: Proving Worth, Reclaiming Margin, Building a Smarter Supply Chain

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:43:52 GMT

Beef producers could experience 20% efficiency gains in the next four or five years by moving to individual animal tracking and data collection. Ian Wheal, co-founder of Breedr, makes this prediction encouraging producers to transition from lot-based systems to individual animal tracking.

Wheal, one of the hosts of “ The Future of Beef Show ” podcast, takes the hot seat in episode seven and share’s his thoughts on technology use in the beef industry.

Wheal’s journey in agriculture began on a progressive cow-calf operation in Australia, where his father was innovative in establishing direct retail cooperatives and assessing animals for consistency. After studying engineering and working in consulting, Wheal gained insights into supply chains, retail operations and technology across different industries.

In 2015, Breedr was created during what Wheal calls the “peak vegan” era. The comprehensive cattle management system focuses on individual animal tracking and data optimization across the entire beef supply chain. He says Breedr was designed for ranchers first.

Key Breedr features include:

Individual Animal Tracking — tracks cattle from conception to processing
Supply Chain Collaboration — connects data between seedstock, cow-calf, backgrounders and feedlots
Data Insights — provides actionable insights about individual animal performance
Technology Solutions — offers chute-side data collection systems with mobile and cloud-based platforms supporting electronic ID integration
Supply Chain Development — helps producers build branded beef programs and supports collaboration between producers and packers

Wheal says in the beef industry data is power. Producers who actively collect, analyze and use individual animal data will be more competitive, efficient and profitable. Check out the podcast to learn more about these five key points discussed by Wheal:

Start small with technology adoption. Don’t try to change your entire operation at once. Begin with a small group of animals or a simple data collection process.
Value data collection. “Collect your own data, know your own worth, know where you can improve,” Wheal says. He stresses not to rely solely on others’ assessments of your cattle.
Focus on individual animal tracking. Move from lot-based systems to individual tracking to drive productivity and improve genetics. “Individual animal data is key to profit and progress,” he adds.
Embrace technology to enhance, not replace, stockmanship. “Technology is there to enhance the skill of the user, it’s not there to replace the skill of the user,” Wheal says. Use tools like artificial intelligence and remote monitoring to support your existing skills, not to completely automate your operation.
Continuously push boundaries and learn. “If you’re not pushing the boundaries, you’re going to be left behind,” Wheal says. He encourages listeners to adopt a growth mindset and constantly ask “why” and look for opportunities to improve.

According to Wheal, producers who remain curious, are willing to experiment and are open to new technologies will be best positioned to succeed in an increasingly complex and competitive beef production landscape.

Wheal’s final advice is simple: just start. Whether it’s digitizing inventory, collecting basic data or experimenting with new technologies, taking the first step is crucial. The beef industry must continue to innovate, embrace technology and push boundaries to remain competitive and sustainable.

Your Next Read: For Beef Industry Progress, Know What’s Under The Hood

The Time Is Now: Let’s Prepare Before ‘It’ Hits

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 12:59:39 GMT

Does your farm or ranch have a plan? Are you ready if there is a foreign animal disease outbreak?

The World Health Organization for Animal Health confirmed outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Germany on Jan. 10, Hungary on March 6 and Slovakia on March 21.

FMD poses no danger to humans, but it is highly contagious. It causes fever and mouth blisters in cloven-hoofed ruminants such as cattle, swine, sheep and goats, and outbreaks often lead to trade restrictions.

If the U.S. has a confirmed case of FMD, every second will matter as the industry tries to control the situation and prevent a catastrophe.

Secure food supply resources have been created by industry experts. These resources can help livestock producers develop plans for the continuity of business, movement and marketing of livestock, milk and wool in the unfortunate event of a foreign disease outbreak.

The use of electronic identification is one of the first steps to help prepare for an outbreak. However, privacy and who has access to data is a question that concerns some producers.

One option for participation is working with a third-party group such as U.S. CattleTrace . On March 13, Drovers reported the partnership between U.S. CattleTrace and Where Food Comes From — “ Smart Partnership Strengthens Traceability .” The two organizations are joining forces to unify and support a voluntary traceability strategy and safeguard the beef supply chain in the event of an outbreak.

The collaboration aims to align resources and expertise, improving disease traceability while maintaining producer-driven decision-making, data privacy and data confidentiality.

U.S. CattleTrace collects four data points: animal identification, date, time and GPS location.

CattleTrace will work with any operation in the supply chain looking to facilitate the flow of data for animal disease traceability purposes. The data collected is securely locked up and only used in the case of a disease outbreak, and no other identifying data is included.

Bottom line: Knowledge and preparedness can help producers develop and put plans in place if a disease outbreak occurs. As an industry, let’s not get caught being unprepared. Now is the time to be proactive, not reactive.

Your Next Read: Stopping Flies in 2025: Tips to Battle These Economic Pests

New Partnership Supports Ranchers in Grazing Management and Soil Health

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 12:57:20 GMT

Trust In Beef empowers a more resilient future for America’s beef supply chain by leveraging the power of Farm Journal’s Trust In Food and Drovers brands with the ingenuity and innovation of private-sector and non-profit partners.

Entering the program’s third year, Trust In Beef welcomes two new partners, National Grazing Lands Coalition and EarthOptics , to bolster the technical expertise provided by the coalition’s existing partners – which include ABS, Merck Animal Health, Ducks Unlimited, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Enogen/Syngenta, Tyson Foods, U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, PowerFlex and Country Natural Beef.

“Trust In Beef is experiencing significant momentum in supporting a resilient future for our beef supply chain at a time when ranching is facing significant challenges,” says Andrew Lyon, director of technical assistance, Farm Journal. “Bringing partners like National Grazing Lands Coalition and EarthOptics to the table expands the technical expertise that we can use to meet ranchers where they are and provide tools to build resilience, productivity and legacy on the nation’s grazing lands.”

The mission of the National Grazing Lands Coalition (NatGLC) is dedicated to providing voluntarily ecologically and economically sound management of all grazing lands for their adaptive uses and multiple benefits to the environment and society through science-based technical assistance, research and education.

“At NatGLC, we believe resilient grazing lands are the foundation of a strong beef supply chain. While we have supported the mission of Trust In Beef since its formation, we are excited to formally partner and expand opportunities to provide ranchers with science-based technical support that enhances productivity, profitability and the overall benefits to society as a whole,” says Rob Cook, chairman. “Healthy grazing lands contribute to improved soil health, water quality and biodiversity, all while ensuring long-term viability for ranching families. We are excited to collaborate with Trust In Beef to bring practical, on-the-ground solutions to producers across the country.”

Through innovations in soil health analysis, EarthOptics tackles agriculture’s most elusive challenges: accurately measuring and mapping soil nutrients, soil compaction, biology and carbon with a solution that gives ranchers and farmers precise insights while reducing unnecessary input costs and promoting carbon retention for healthier soils. EarthOptics is committed to advancing sustainable ranching with a new level of data-driven insights from cutting-edge technology – at prices that deliver high, in-season ROIs.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Trust In Beef and join this impressive coalition of organizations working to secure a more resilient future for American ranchers,” says Lars Dyrud, EarthOptics CEO. “At EarthOptics, we believe advancing soil health through innovation can transform ranching and agriculture, and this partnership represents a powerful opportunity to bring our technology and insights directly to those who steward our grazing lands.”

“Ranchers are at the heart of sustainable grazing practices, and we’re proud to support their efforts with practical tools and data they can trust,” James Clement, EarthOptics vice president of grass and rangeland. “By helping producers better understand their soil health, we can work together to improve productivity, increase resilience and ensure the long-term viability of rangeland operations — so that today’s stewards can confidently pass their land on to the next generation.”

Trust In Beef provides technical resources, insights, data analysis and support to help empower beef producers to understand, value and implement conservation practices while also connecting consumers to the industry’s accomplishments in conservation.

To learn more about Trust In Beef and its partners, visit www.trustinbeef.com .

Herd Management System Allows For Supply Chain Consistency

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 15:16:32 GMT

Raising cattle that attract feedlots, packers, retailers and consumers might be easier to attain than you think. Various marketing avenues and supply chains might focus on different qualities and characteristics, but at the end of the day it all comes down to a desire for continuous improvement from ranchers.

“We spend a lot of time talking to retailers. The number one thing they’re asking for after high-quality beef with consistency and security of supply is continuous improvement from producers,” says Ian Wheal – Founder and CEO of Breedr.

Ian and Suzy Wheal have spent over six years developing Breedr, a herd management and integrated supply chain app, to help ranchers collect, analyze and leverage their data with ease.

“If we can put data in the hands of producers, that is the fastest way for us to produce higher quantities of higher quality beef with less resources,” says Suzy, head of marketing and communications at Breedr.

While data has been collected on the ranch level for decades, the Breedr team has a game-changing mindset for how this data should be used and shared. The Breedr program challenges the linear model of the beef supply chain. Instead of individual animals getting passed to the next segment with little to no data following, the data is shared from rancher to feeder to packer and back to the rancher. It is a full circle system.

“It’s about mutual gain,” Suzy says. If one stage in the beef supply chain is improving, it lifts everyone else up with it.”

When ranchers get data back related to feedlot performance, carcass quality and overall health, they can rapidly increase their rate of improvement in these areas through genetic selection, culling, nutrition and health protocols.

“People say it takes ten years to improve our genetics. In an industry that faces pressures from the commercial, profitability, consumer, sustainability and legacy perspectives; we need to move faster than that,” says Ian.

An example of the impact of a complete feedback loop is a supply chain in Texas who went from doing 5% prime and 16% select carcasses on average to 21% prime and 5% select in just two years.

One of the first benefits ranchers see from implementing digital data management systems is time savings and increased accuracy of records. After that, they begin to analyze weaning weights, carcass data and health records when making culling and selection decisions.

“The bottom 20% of your herd eats the profit from the top 20% of your herd,” Suzy says.

She adds, it’s a low hanging fruit to identify the cattle that aren’t serving you. This could look like a cow that weans a calf that’s consistently and significantly lighter than the rest each year or a sire that isn’t producing high-performing progeny just to share two examples.

This system seems like a no-brainer for ranchers who are focused on continuous improvement, but do the other sectors of the beef industry truly want to share data back to the producer?

“Cattle are expensive right now, so feedlots want to work with people who have health protocols and cattle that will grow in the feedlot and grade at the packer,” Ian says.

The Breedr team has found ranchers, feedlots and packers who want to collaborate and help the full system improve. Breedr is focused on building long-term relationships between industry stakeholders and giving data back to producers with side recommendations about culling and other practices.

“We already have people paying five dollars more per hundred weight because they know those cattle are going to perform well once they hit the feedlot,” Ian says.

Data sharing and ownership is always a concern among producers and for valid reasons, however the value of sharing can outweigh the value of keeping it on the ranch.

“Most of the data you are sharing is already shared on a sale listing but you don’t receive anything in return…If you are selling your cattle without information, you are really doing yourself a disservice,” Ian says. “The reality is data will continue to be collected and multiply throughout the lifetime of an animal and having access to it matters.”

The biggest risk of entering a full circle system like this is not having your entire team on the same page.

“As a rancher you may want to do it and have a great mindset about it, but your cowboys and other employees have to be on the same page for continuous improvement,” Ian says. “You want to build a culture of continuous learning and improvement on your operation to make the most of this type of system.”

A full circle system isn’t for everyone, but it is for ranchers who want to learn from past decisions and get better each year.

Regardless of size or age, there’s room for your operation in this system. Breedr’s oldest user is 98-years-old! It’s for people who want to stay ahead of the curve and don’t want to be left behind in the years to come.

You can watch the full episode here.

Your next read: Tips To Help Ensure Heifers Breed Back After Calving

John Deere, SpaceX Announce Starlink Deal

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 19:08:32 GMT

Deere & Company announced an agreement with SpaceX to provide Starlink network satellite communications (SATCOM) service to farmers. Utilizing the Starlink network, this solution will allow farmers facing rural connectivity challenges to fully leverage precision agriculture technologies.

“The value of connectivity to farmers is broader than any single task or action. Connectivity unlocks vast opportunities that were previously limited or unavailable,” said Aaron Wetzel, VP of production and precision ag production systems.

The SATCOM solution will connect both new and existing machines through satellite internet service and ruggedized satellite terminals. This will enable autonomy, real-time data sharing, remote diagnostics, enhanced self-repair solutions, and machine-to-machine communication, all of which help farmers work more efficiently while minimizing downtime, according to John Deere.

“We are bringing satellite communications service to the farm at scale so farmers with cellular coverage challenges can maximize the value of connectivity to their operations,” said Jahmy Hindman, senior VP & CTO.

He adds that the SpaceX partnership “unlocks the John Deere tech stack so every farmer can fully utilize their current precision agriculture technology in addition to the new innovative solutions they will deploy in the future.”

But, by adding a third-party telematics solution into the data ecosystem, many online are wondering who controls the data (and access to it) as it passes through the Starlink system on its way to or from the Operations Center?

John Deere users with those concerns can rest assured that “we don’t anticipate any changes there, the customer still controls it,” said Mike Kool, senior product manager - connected fleets.

Kool also shared that John Deere has been working on its fleet connectivity project for the last 18-24 months. Starlink’s Leo constellation of low-orbit satelittes delivered the “high bandwidth and low latency” performance Deere was seeking.

“This solution fits our customer needs today and it also allows them to grow in the future,” said Kool. “The way I like to think about it is we’re giving our customers their time back, giving them more time to do the things they love to do. They have a very important job in feeding and clothing the world, and doing so on less arable land today. I believe wholeheartedly this will further unlock the power of our tech stack.”

Deere has yet to outline how the new Starlink features will be priced. Kool said those details are still in the works, so stay tuned.

To activate the Starlink solution, John Deere dealers will install a ruggedized Starlink terminal on compatible machines, along with a 4G LTE JDLink modem to connect the machine to the John Deere Operations Center.

The service will initially be available through a limited release in the United States and Brazil starting in the second half of 2024, according to the company.

Senators on Cyberattacks: ‘Agricultural Security is National Security’

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 14:05:18 GMT

Schreiber Foods, an international dairy processing company in Green Bay, Wis., is the most recent to report a “cyber event” two weeks ago. It’s reported $2.5 million in ransom halted computer systems from Saturday to Monday. Speculations continue as Schreiber has yet to formally confirm or deny the allegations.

Cyberattacks and ransomware have impacted agriculture this year with JBS in June, Colonial Pipeline in July and Fort Dodge, Iowa-based New Cooperative in September, among others.

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) took the floor on Monday to say these attacks hinder advanced agricultural practices: “As Iowa farmers adopt new technologies to get their crops to market, their exposure grows to similar attacks.”

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) followed suit, saying, “The ag sector is designated as critical infrastructure but historically has not received robust cybersecurity support from the government.”

Advancing technology and fulfilling food demands while also working to improve soil and water quality “demands heavy reliance on interconnected devices and the internet, creating vulnerability,” she adds.

Agriculture supply chain criminals are rapidly working the system, says Davis Hake, co-founder and vice president of policy at Resilience Insurance, a cyber insurance solutions company. In the past two years, he says there’s been an estimated 300% increase in ransomware money taken in by the Ransomware Task Force.

“Cyber criminals will focus on people doing the attacks and then they have a market that sells those victims to folks who go through the extortions,” Hake says. “Then there’s a whole separate system for laundering that money.”

Hake, who previously served on the Obama Administration’s National Security Council writing cybersecurity legislation, says we have two avenues to address the cyberattacks:

1. Step away from large automation trends such as IT infrastructure systems that sacrifice efficiency.
2. Establish tactical policy to crush the issue.

The Biden Administrations addressed cybersecurity in a national security memorandum. Of the legislation, Ernst says, “the plan is voluntary and would severely limit its effectiveness.”

Following the memorandum, Senators Ernst, Grassley, Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Jon Tester (D-MT) have offered permanent representation on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to address cybersecurity issues.

Both Grassley and Ernst stress cybersecurity should be a primary focus for congressional leaders, as “Agricultural security is national security.”

Grassroots Carbon Targets Grazing and Pastureland

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 20:38:23 GMT

There are a few things that set apart Grassroots Carbon from other program opportunities in agriculture.

First, the company is based in Texas and is specifically targeting grazing and pasturelands throughout the Central US. There are no specific practices mandated with enrollment beyond working to maintain and improve soil health.
Which brings us to the second differentiator, Grassroots Carbon uses the bCarbon standard created by the Baker Institute at Rice University. The certification is based on increase in carbon storage. The team at Grassroots Carbon supports the enrolled acres with a team of soil samplers and testing procedures. A baseline measurement is taken in the first year, and then measurements are taken again in 5 years, on average.
The third point is how landowners are compensated for participation. Grassroots Carbon covers the cost of measurement and certification, meaning that they do not require landowners to pay anything out of pocket, and has a profit-sharing model that allows the payments to be adjusted along with the market price. Landowners are paid every year based on pre-assessments of their carbon storage.

“We like to say that the program isn’t about the cow, but the how,” says Lauren Miller, VP Carbon Footprint Solutions at Grassroots Carbon. “Our aim is to scale up the restoration of prairie grasslands and sequester massive amounts of carbon by using cattle and other grazing animals to restore soil health.”

Grassroots Carbon was formed when Soil Value Exchange merged with software company PastureMap in February 2021. Currently, PastureMap has over 4 million acres on its platform for grazing management. Participation in the carbon program requires data be loaded into PastureMap, and the data platform will be used for verification and to help producers transition to regenerative practices.

Initially, the program is enrolling landowners managing at least 2,000 acres, but pooling smaller similar parcels within a region is also possible, and the program looks forward to working with producers at all scales. Soil samples are collected to 3’ deep.
Miller shares that after initial soil measurements, the bCarbon standard rewards the verification of increased carbon storage, and doesn’t mandate any changes in practices.

The company onboarded its carbon credit buyers last fall, and is wrapping up its first measurement campaign with landowners in the coming months. The first round of payments for carbon credits will go to landowners in the next six months.

Learn more in the AgWeb Carbon Innovation Center

Grassroots Carbon FAQs

Eligible areas:

Anywhere in the continental U.S. Land is qualified based on land management practices and climate/soil type.
What practices earn credits? The program targets producers with grazing operations. Producers stay in control of their own management practices, so long as they do not disturb soil health. Instead of paying for practices, the program rewards outcomes in the form of increased soil carbon stocks. The amounts of stored carbon are verified with in-field tests.
Market Launch date: April 2021

Acreage Enrollment Minimum?

2,000 acres

Per-Acre Cash Payment to Farmers?

Profit-sharing model reflects the changing value of a carbon credit. Landowners receive 80% of the carbon profit. Landowners can estimate ½ to 1 ton per acre of sequestered carbon, but this amount may vary based on climate, soil type, and land management practices.

What Do Your Contracts Require Farmers To Do? What Are The Terms?

Data (field boundaries, etc) must be uploaded in PastureMap. Soil and ecological testing, measurement and verification conducted by Grassroots Carbon and an independent measurement team. Participating landowners must commit to maintaining and working to improve their soil health for ten years after every year that they sell carbon.