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Commercial Agriculture Blogs

cows grazing a cover crop

Cattle and crops create synergy

Synergy describes two separate systems that when combined, yield more than the sum of the individual systems when they are alone. In my experience, farms and ranches that use both crops and livestock to add value to a land investment have synergy.Living in the Midwest, I see plenty of acres...
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fireworks over a barn

Can fireworks cause stress on beef cattle?

You’re pulling back into your driveway after a night spent watching the fireworks and celebrating independence. Then, you see pairs of eyes staring at you, from outside the fence. The cattle are out. What follows is a night spent gathering the herd, searching for calves, and fixing fence....
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Calf in snowy weather

When do cows feel the cold?

The Cattle Connection
With winter weather and cold temperatures setting in, it is time to talk about when cows feel the cold. The big factors that determine the lower critical temperature for cattle are temperature, wind speed, and heaviness of winter hair coat.Colder temperatures, higher wind speeds, and lighter hair...
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pasture

More grazing days equals more profit

The Cattle Connection
Record high prices, while certainly a good thing, can leave many cattlemen in a state of awe and somewhat lax on cost control.Common sense and research both tell us cattle are most profitable when they are harvesting their own feed. Allowing cattle to graze into late fall and early winter is...
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black baldy cows grazing

Focus on the fundamentals

While better cattle prices are a relief to many, it is important to not lose site of the basics. A few fundamentals often seen on successful ranches are highlighted below, but I am sure there are others that you can think of and consider as well.Select and propagate genetics that fit your...
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farmer looking at cull cows

Getting the most out of cull cows

As with all markets, there is fluctuation in the price of cull cows. In general, market lows occur during times of highest supply. Since most Illinois producers cull cows in the fall after weaning, the prices in fall are typically lower than other times of the year. Price is also affected by body...
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