Page 19 - MWC 2-24-2022s

thing and not enough of an- On the farming side, the ef- The Midwest Cattleman · February 24, 2022 · P19
other. Since introducing spe- ficiency goal begins with min-
cific rations, I feel we are more imizing erosion. The Berans ing to address
efficient. And the cattle are let crop remnants lie between the growing
gaining better than they ever milo to wheat rotations and c hallenges
beef producers
have.” they let the ground rest a little
The Berans raise all of their bit and try to get by with a lit- face is at least
own feed, including a lot of tle less fertilizer. as important
milo and three times as much “Right now, with corn hit- as the produc-
tion side any-
wheat. They grow their own ting $6.20, or maybe a little
corn and alfalfa too. In 2022, higher and the cattle market more.
the overhead for such endeav- pretty decent, it works,” Craig “We want to
ors has skyrocketed. Fertilizer said. “Our big risk is being have knowl-
alone is two and a half times completely dry land farmers. edge on how
what it was a year ago and You can’t do a lot of contracting our cattle are
keeping equipment running of grains that could possibly doing,” he said. out how good they hang on the
eats up a lot of the budget fail due to drought. And we’re “Some calves are pricey to put rail. We rarely have anything
when covering pastures and pretty dry right now. Crop in- in the feedlot, but they are still that isn’t upper Choice and
fields across two counties. surance is just a bandaid fix if going to make more from the Prime. That’s another piece of
knowledge we gain on what
“We are spread out and it’s a disastrous year.” knowledge we gain to make
burn a lot of fuel feeding cows,” Craig continued, “Even the rate is on feeding to cost of sure we are raising the kind
gain.”
Craig said. when the markets are good, as of bulls that will do that for
The primary remedy to they are right now, we all know B & D feeds out between our customers. And we’re feed-
whittling overhead is efficien- that can change, sometimes 30 100 and 150 head at HRC Feed ing out the bottom end of our
cy, according to Craig. to 40 cents a day. When my dad Yards in Scott City, Ks. with registered bulls and heifers. If
the American Hereford Associ-
“By us being one entity, in- was doing this, all you had to they’ll go to the lot and do that
stead of four separately, we do was raise it. The price didn't ation’s Hereford Feedout Pro- well, the better ones will knock
have greater efficiency,” he change 30 cents in a year on all gram. They also place cattle it out of the park!”
said. “It’s no fun to work cat- of the crops! Today, a $3 swing with Barton County Feeders, Two B & D Hereford and
tle by yourself. It’s hard. Being times 30,000 bushels, and you a little closer to home. Craig Angus sales a year showcase
part of a team is part of the ef- are knocking on $100,000 you said they are seeing ample ev- the genetics behind the perfor-
ficiency. It helps with the cost could have made or lost.” idence of efficiency. mance. The “Season Opener”
“Our cattle are efficient
of everything by dividing labor As for operating changes on and doing it cheaper than av- Sale is in March and the Fall
and overhead, instead of mul- the beef cattle end of things,
tiplying it.” Craig contended that market- erage,” he said. “Plus, we find continued on page 34

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