MANAGEMENT

September is upon us and many cow-calf producers are considering how to market their spring-born calves. Unfortunately, September is also the time of year when cattle markets typically take a seasonal downturn.

Let’s think about what is happening today in the production agriculture industry:

Planning can make the difference with most things in life. When talking farm succession, planning will determine if you keep the farm in the family or just sell it, cease operation and take the money. Taking the money is not always the wrong answer, especially when there is no family member willing to continue the operation. 

I have a vivid memory as a small child. A rogue cow escaped into our lawn, and my dad zigged and zagged with the cow. She stopped, blew out her nostrils, leapt over the fence like the “Cow Jumping the Moon” in my storybooks.

Most of us consider generational land transfer (parent to child) to be the most common method of land transfer in the U.S. However, there are some interesting changes in the population structure that may impact the traditional way in which land can be transferred.

In today’s world, we hear the word “millennial” so many times we cringe. It has become almost “evil” to certain generations. We say they are lazy, we say they are entitled, and we say they want it all now.