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Weaning is an important management tool that cow-calf producers should use to increase the success and profitability of their operations.

Imagine what beef production and agriculture will look like in 30 years. We all recognize that beef production and everything else is changing at unprecedented rates.

RancHER is a column spotlighting female leaders in the beef industry. In this issue, we are featuring Lesley Schmidt, a fifth-generation cattle rancher and farmer in Kansas. She has worked on her family farm all her life and has worked off the farm as a civil designer and a track and field official for almost 12 years. In addition to her on- and off-the-farm jobs, Schmidt serves as vice president of education for American Agri-Women.

Between fieldwork, cattle work and everything else happening on the farm or ranch, stress levels seem to increase during the fall. Calves may also experience stress during this time of the year, as well as at weaning – when they are adapting to big changes.

As the days get shorter and morning temperatures stay cooler in many parts of the country, producers are reminded that fall and winter are on the way, which means hay feeding season will soon begin.

There are advantages and disadvantages to every calving season; producers need to figure out what works best for their own climate and management system.