Oklahoma Farm Report masthead graphic with wheat on the left and cattle on the right.
Howdy Neighbors!
Ron Hays, Director of Farm and Ranch Programming, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network  |  2401 Exchange Ave, Suite F, Oklahoma City, Ok 73108  |  (405) 601-9211

advertisements
   
   
   
   
   

Agricultural News


Miranda Reiman on Replanning the Plan with your Cattle Business

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 12:50:07 CDT

Miranda Reiman on Replanning the Plan with your Cattle Business Miranda Reiman writes in Black Ink for Certified Angus beef on Replanning the plan.


We had one kid and an hour of church to get through. I'd load the diaper bag with Cheerios, fruit snacks and sippy cups. It was an effective strategy that kept my son entertained and occupied many a Sunday morning.

A few years with four kids age six and under, it began to look like we were serving a breakfast buffet in the back pew. One morning in particular, as I heard wrappers rustling and kiddos munching, I realized it was time to reevaluate my plan. What once worked beautifully was working no longer.

In the cattle business, it's just as easy for a brilliant strategy to become less ideal over time. Everything changes, eventually throwing its shade on even the brightest ideas.

One generational ranch found gold in the 1990s by selling their market-topping calves at weaning, only to buy plainer, cheaper and heavier weaned calves for stocker pastures. A decade later, they decided to keep the focus on their own calves and aim for the premium beef market.

In many jobs there's a regular evaluation protocol, with annual, bi-annual or quarterly introspection and external feedback. It gives people a chance to see what they're doing well and where they could improve.

Some cattlemen are involved in programs that offer similar check-ins, but reviewing what's working and what isn't doesn't have to be formal or even as predictable as the calendar.

Family business meetings can help, but reevaluation can be as simple as giving the routine a second thought.

How have your genetics improved in the last few years? Perhaps there is an opportunity to alter stocking rates or sire selection in response to that directional change. If you've met a herd goal, you could set it higher or set a new one.

Have market shifts affected your final target? If so, maybe it's time to analyze your weaning program or selling strategy.

Each year, new technology enters the scene at a rapid pace. You can't implement it all, but if you never study potential benefits, you may miss out on possible advantages.

Long road trips or extra tractor-seat time often make great backdrops for pondering improvements. Other decisions require a good calculator or a spreadsheet full of useful data so you can crunch the numbers. Sometimes you might want to seek out expert advice from your genetics supplier, veterinarian or a marketing professional. Other times you just need to apply your own intuition.

As we added a couple more kids to the family it turned out that our switch to a "no eating in church" policy was a wise adjustment. My 24-year-old self probably wouldn't believe toddlers could possibly survive without using snacks as a crutch, but I've got plenty of real-world experience that says they do.

Is there anything you've accepted as status quo that could benefit from a little reevaluation?

Next time in Black Ink® I will look to the future.

   

 

WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI

 


Top Agricultural News

  • Oklahoma Youth Expo Sale of Champions Sale Order Available Here- Sale Set for 4 PM Friday  Fri, 17 Mar 2023 04:50:54 CDT
  • Rural Voters Dominated Vote to Defeat Recreational Marijuana March 7th  Fri, 10 Mar 2023 07:13:05 CST
  • Ron Hays Talks to Israeli Ag Tour Guide Colin Lotzof About the Miraclel of Ag in Israel  Wed, 22 Feb 2023 22:11:04 CST
  • OALP Members Experience First Hand View of Cutting Edge Drip Irrigation Technology as Israel Travel Ends  Wed, 22 Feb 2023 10:51:49 CST
  • OALP Members Get First Hand View of Cutting Edge Drip Irrigation Technology as Israel Travel Ends  Wed, 22 Feb 2023 10:50:10 CST
  • Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program Sees Fruit, Beef and Dairy Production North of the Sea of Galilee in Israel  Mon, 20 Feb 2023 21:56:02 CST
  • Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program Sees Diverse Farm Operations in Jordan River Valley of Israel  Sun, 19 Feb 2023 21:17:30 CST
  • Israeli Tour Guide Mark Kedem Talks About The Cultural Aspects of What Class XX of OALP is Experiencing   Sat, 18 Feb 2023 22:17:23 CST

  • More Headlines...

       

    Ron salutes our daily email sponsors!

    Oklahoma Beef council Oklahoma Ag Credit Oklahoma Farm Bureau National Livestock Credit Ag Mediation Program P&K Equipment Oklahoma City Farm Show Union Mutual Stillwater Milling Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association KIS FUTURES, INC.
       
       
       
       
       

    Search OklahomaFarmReport.com

    © 2008-2024 Oklahoma Farm Report
    Email Ron   |   Newsletter Signup   |    Current Spots   |    Program Links

    WebReady powered by WireReady® Inc.