Don’t be afraid to compensate well and provide annual, merit-based raises or bonus structures into the employee budget. Good employees are hard to come by, and keeping them will be much easier than finding them again.

The verdict is in – an open cow is among the top three financial liabilities for cow-calf operators. Calf sales are the largest contributor to annual income; cows that fail to wean a calf are a financial burden borne by the productive cows.

Beyond being a standard of business, providing a safe work environment has a trickle-down effect that impacts all other facets of BQA implementation. Human safety is the backbone of an effective, thriving cattle operation.

For ranching families, it is common for their household expenditures to be included in their operating budget and loan. With that, household budgets need to be managed differently for ranch families than for families who don’t utilize operating loans.

The exact location and intensity of summer thunderstorms is somewhat unpredictable. Don’t allow the frequency of storm watches lull you into complacency. Severe weather – such as a tornado – can form quickly and turn deadly in just moments.

Because solar leases are long-term commitments and dictate the future use of the property, landowners should carefully consider a variety of factors when deciding whether a solar lease is right for them, their family and their land.

When a dry spell arrives, producers scramble to make the best decisions for grazing pastures, buying hay and caring for livestock. Running stockers as a drought safety valve could be a smart idea.

Since well over 50% of feedyard injuries involve employees who have been on the job for less than 12 months, immediately providing safety training for new employees is the best way to ensure they have the necessary information to complete job duties in a safe manner.