Adding females to a sale can be a big decision for a producer. The type of sale, where to focus marketing efforts and how to stay relevant in an ever-evolving business all play into the decision.

Higher wages being paid across the country create a disadvantage for an industry that already fights to keep margins at a profitable point. Those who do a good job recruiting and taking care of qualified employees will have the upper hand.

Cattle grazing may be a good use of cattle grazing land, but it may not be the only good use. Particularly as nationwide climate goals have driven investment throughout the country in clean electric and carbon offset technologies, cattle graziers may find new market opportunities to make mixed use of cattle grazing land.

“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.”

Studies have also determined that some 50% of feedyard workers are Latino. Combining the inherent risks of a feedyard with a language barrier that significantly hampers communication can set the stage for serious incidents and injuries.

Before buying more inputs or trying to get a better price for what you are selling, make sure to take time to invest in yourself and ensure you are the best manager you can be.

Among other options, some producers may choose to put on a production sale. While this option can work for some, the overhead and labor involved with this type of marketing can be a turnoff for others.

Most of the time, people say they don’t need anything in writing because it is just a simple deal and done. And maybe that is true. But what if it’s not?