Latest News From Management

Grounded by his family but propelled by vision, Trey Wasserburger is the energetic force behind creating more processing capacity for local cattle producers.

There are three areas producers need to focus on to earn the title of “good farm manager,” according to Purdue University researchers.

More than 50% of farmers intend to grow their operation, based on responses in Purdue’s February 2023 Ag Economy Barometer. If you’re thinking about scaling your farm, it’s important to first ask these questions.

As cattle producers, we can learn something new every day. Considering your goals and what will move the operation forward, what can you learn today for a better tomorrow?

Over 1,250 poll responses reveal the least favorite job you had as a kid likely centered around weeds and rocks.

Utilizing an effective management team can help you. As the owner or leader of your business, spend less time on the non-urgent and non-important tasks or duties that pop up every day.

When you have a cough, you visit a doctor. When you want to know where your food comes from, you should ask farmers and ranchers.

Calves are a large expense, and it is wise to evaluate calf raising to ensure costs are under control.

Technology takes monitoring cows at calving time to a new level.

Even though fall calf sales seem a long way down the road, now is the time to plan for marketing. Being prepared with a marketing plan will allow you to take fullest advantage of prices and maximize the value received for your calves.

Successful beef operations are based on an attitude of “how can I help?”

Achievable goals are the first steps toward improvement in a beef operation.

Here are some tips for how can we get more of these tricky two-year olds’ pregnant.

Have you ever wanted to shorten your breeding season, but don’t want to AI and are afraid of pulling the bull out early and potentially increasing the number of females that come up open? 

It’s all about increasing calf performance and capturing a premium.

Staying ahead of the curve is a fundamental element to the survival of most businesses.

Here are some practical tips from special ranger Bart Perrier for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association on protecting your operation from theft. 

As calving moves into full swing, many producers are thinking about vaccination programs they want to implement at branding. However, only a few are also considering how growth implants could be used as a management tool for the nursing calf.

Taking high-risk cattle to low-risk can be done, and it can be profitable when the calves are priced right.

Don’t let knee-jerk reactions get in the way of good planning.

As producers continue to make both short-term and longer-term decisions in managing their operations it is useful to periodically step back and take stock of characteristics depicting the industry more broadly.  The recently updated estimates from USDA ERS of production costs and returns offer an opportunity to increase our understanding of regional variation in the U.S. cow-calf sector.

A K-State livestock specialist shares tips on how to prevent fly populations.

If someone was offering a deal promising that for every $1 invested there would be a $25 payoff four to six months later, how many takers would there be? Sounds too good to be true, but that is exactly the payoff from using implants on nursing calves this year.

By keeping detailed records, producers can know how to best manage their costs in a market where they don’t set the prices.

As we enter this branding season, producers may be asking some questions. 

A successful land-based operation involves integrating crops and livestock.

Key performance indicators, also known as KPIs, can assist beef producers in measuring factors crucial to an operation.

Set your cowherd up for greater potential using these management tips

One of our best tools for increasing beef production is steroid implants. They’re also one of the most misunderstood technologies by consumers.  

Branding day is often an anticipated neighborhood event for beef producers. As pastures green and turnout approaches, many producers enlist the help of neighbors and friends for branding day.

A K-State veterinarian explains the purpose and importance of a bull breeding soundness exam. 

Replacement heifer selection can affect the profitability of your herd for years to come. 

Cow-calf producers need to work smarter, not harder.

Cow calf producers with fall-calving cows have options as to the optimum date to wean the calves.

While there hasn’t been any recent academic institution research on the economic impact of parasites in cattle, a 2007 study, “Economic Analysis of Pharmaceutical Technologies in Modern Beef Production,” by researchers at Iowa State University, found deworming to be one of the most beneficial technologies available to beef producers.

The latest coverage of the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) and how it will impact producers and veterinarians.

Whether you’re looking for a permanent fencing solution or want something portable for your grazing system, there are many cost and management benefits to utilizing electric fence.

There are a few different options for portable fencing systems; the most typical are polywire or a polywire braid. According to our sources, it is best to always stick with a polywire braid since weaved material conducts electricity better, and it is more resilient to pressure.

The No. 1 failure in the installment of an electric fence system is not properly grounding the energizer. “If you want to get the most out of your charger, then you must install a grounding system—and install it right,” Steve Freeman says.

Whether you’re looking for a permanent fencing solution or want something portable for your grazing system, there are many cost and management benefits to utilizing electric fence. 

Cattle futures have taken another turn over the past two weeks as prices have drifted lower, correcting the big December 17-24 advance.

As you make plans for this year, decide now to schedule time that will be spent working on the business in the year ahead. 

One of the downfall's to mud is the increase in energy requirement for cattle to navigate the terrain.

There is never a bad time to update your marketing plan.

Start thinking now for breeding success next spring.  

There are six factors that interact to affect farm and ranch profits.  

Cow-calf producers have made some money and now need to be “steeling” for what is to come, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist said.

A friend called the other day and asked suspiciously what I thought about the confined-cow idea. He feared it could set up a pathway for true vertical integration in the beef industry.

Making culling decisions for the cow-calf herd sometimes seems to require a crystal ball to see into the future, but one way cattle producers can hedge their bets is to be aware of “average trends.”

Now that calves are weaned and pregnancy checks are occurring, it's time cattle producers begin thinking about selecting replacement heifers to breed in the spring, explained Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist.