A project recently funded by the University of Wisconsin’s Dairy Innovation Hub set out to explore patterns of costs of production per hundredweight among Wisconsin dairies, and in particular to explore how well the farms do at managing the costs of production over time given the never-ending challenges.  

The influence of mineral on your cattle’s performance – and the potential impact of that performance on your profitability – can’t be overstated.

“Leave me alone and let me farm!” I’ve heard this from many a client over the years, sometimes in response to my request for timely financial reporting. But it is the wrong response. 

“I’ve noticed it before, not just in this cycle,” says Kenny Burdine, extension professor in livestock economics at the University of Kentucky. “There is a tendency with some producers, when prices are high, to almost become satisfied and to be less focused on adding value when they feel like they are getting a pretty good price for their calves.”

To capture the full potential of genetics, facilities, feed and precision technology, dairies need to establish and maintain a strong culture of goal-driven management and human accountability.

Ranches are dynamic biological systems where numerous things interact with one another in the “whole” of the ranch. This makes decision-making for ranch managers challenging, as often the interaction of multiple factors needs to be considered in order to achieve a desired outcome.

With all the talk around interest rates, inflation and feed prices, I’d like to take some time to work through how they will impact your farm and the dairy industry as a whole in 2023.