april blog

Sorry its been so long. I really have been pretty busy.

Last week we have been doing our spring calf working.

I've been buying some bulls and replacement cows for the

ranch and been doing a bit of travelling in the process.

This is one part of the business I particularly enjoy.

The connections in the industry are more like old friends.

most of the breeders and cattle buyers we deal with have

been family friends for years. It's good to catch up with

them, see what's been going on since the last time we did

business.

It's estimated that only 1% of the population makes their

living solely from the land. A large number have cattle or

farm with one spouse working a town job. One of my

mentors was lamenting the fact that the auction runs were

down from the lack of cattle left in the country. I read

today that the 2007 U.S. calf crop was the smallest it's

been in 56 years. Corn is upwards of $5 a bushel. I don't

need to tell you about fuel and fertilizer.

With the price of real estate rising, after grandpa dies,

many of the kids sell the old home place and move on. To

me that is sad. To many, its just the smartest financial

decision. Some say if what you do doesn't consistently

turn a good profit, it's a hobby. To me, yes you have to

make a dollar, but there is a thing called tradition and

legacy and way of life. These things will get us ranchers

through the hard times. And a little help from Above

couldn't hurt.

Also, who's been eating my sandwich?

It was BEEF, America, BEEF!!!