Farm Management

All Farm Management Content

Ranch family examining data on a smart phone.

Feed Costs Still a Large Percentage of the Cow Budget

Monitoring, managing, and minimizing feed costs while maintaining a balanced ration is one way to maximize profit potential in the cow herd. Learn some expert tips for creating a least-cost ration.

An older producer and his grandson having a discussion on their family farm.

Compensation for Family Members Returning to the Farm

Compensating for management and labor is one of the questions that must be answered when bringing a family member into the family operation.

Sheep producer viewing information on a laptop computer.

Knowing Your Numbers: What are your operational benchmarks?

Tightening margins have posed a challenge to many sheep producers over the last few years. Enterprise budgeting and knowing your operational benchmarks can help.

Small herd of cattle grazing in a snow covered field

SDSU Extension discusses new Weaned Calf Risk Protection Insurance

November 06, 2023

South Dakota State University Extension will discuss the new Weaned Calf Risk Protection Insurance product during its November session of Ag Economic Dialogues.

close up of black cow and the words cattle HQ

Organic Farming

In this episode of Cattle HQ, Kiernan Brandt and Olivia Amundson, former SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialists, discuss organic farming with a Madison, SD organic farmer, Aaron Johnson.

close up of black cow and the words cattle HQ

Systems Thinking

On today’s episode of Cattle HQ, former Cow/Calf Field Specialist, Kiernan Brandt sits down with Dr. Hector Menendez of South Dakota State University and Dr. Benjamin Turner of Texas A&M Kingsville to talk a systems approach to early weaning first calf heifers. 

Bovine Congestive Heart Failure

In this episode of Cattle HQ, Olivia Amundson and Kiernan Brandt, former SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialists, discuss bovine congestive heart failure and health alongside Brian Vander Ley, University of Nebraska Veterinary Epidemiology Field Specialist and Interim Director of the Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center. 

Fall Cattle Markets with Matt Dierson

In this episode join Kiernan Brandt and Olivia Amundson, former SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialists, as they talk with Matt Dierson, SDSU Extension Risk/Business Management Specialist about Fall cattle markets and current market values.

Three mixed replacement heifers standing in a pasture.

Reducing Development Costs for Replacement Heifers

Regardless of how efficiently reproductive success is managed on the ranch, beef producers are tasked annually with incorporating new females into the herd in the form of replacement heifers.

Mother cow licking newborn calf in a pasture.

Calving Distribution Affects Herd Health

When the calving season is consolidated, nutritional requirements are more synchronous across the herd, and these benefits extend beyond improved feed management.