Page 19 - MWC 9-10-20s

culating the costs for AI, syn- tination for Windy Hill Cha- The Midwest Cattleman · September 10, 2020 · P19
chronization, semen, having rolais. And so does urban
nutritional needs met, eating sprawl. The city exodus, in
good minerals, good forage, some cases, is moving right
keeping good pasture. At that next door.
time, calves were bringing “It’s only going to get
a dollar a pound at the sale worse,” David said. “We’ve
barn. A cow had to wean off a known for 40 years this
500 pound calf just to pull her would be an ongoing issue.
weight. We discovered a lot My parents in the mid-70s
weren’t pulling their weight were going to move away. to those people transplanting Those extras are the dif-
and we had to ship them.” Looking around, they decided from town to country. I do ference between being able to
As the genetics are regular- the problems were the same custom fence work and bal- continue farming and forfeit-
ly upgraded, so do costs read- everywhere. They decided to ing. If I have the equipment ing something the Bonackers
ily change, said David. Most stay put and develop a plan in and ability, I will do the extra
inputs just keeping going up, our area. As a result, we cater work for extra income.” continued on page 20
including the cost for equip-
ment like trucks and trailers,
along with their associated
repairs.
“We are constantly tweak-
ing the program to make sure
there is enough income to
meet expenses. But, as with
today, then you throw in poli-
tics and things you don't have
control over, that’s part of the
reason why our boys, Ryan
and Dylan work full time off
the farm as diesel mechan-
ics.” SPRING BULLS FOR SALE
Full time on the farm
are David and Jeff, along
with Jeff's son, Daniel. Jeff's
daughter Rachael is attend- CHAROLAIS RANGEFIRE
ing Mizzou, pursuing her Charolais x Red Angus
degree in vet medicine, and
helps with preg checks and Charolais Sire Influence - * 18 months old Red Angus Sire Influence -
vaccinations. Encore * Bluegrass * YL13 * 1400-1600 lbs. grown on grass Conquest * Redemption
“We'll be glad when she Grid Maker Prophet
graduates and we hope she *Built for Real World Performance
gets to stay close to home,
so she can do it all the time,” *Gentle disposition
David said. “It's good to have *Long bodied, rugged & soggy
vets and mechanics.”
Annette added that “An- *Slick haired for fescue country
other niece is a teacher. But
she is still grass rooting for
agriculture. She will talk
with her students about her
dad as a grain farmer and
her uncle as a cattle farmer.
The Bonacker family prides
themselves in family.”
Proud of all the ways the
next generation contributes
to the Bonacker legacy, David
said, “A farmer has to be a
jack of all trades, and the abil-
ity to keep going when some-
thing goes wrong – like sick
animals or calving difficulties
or the cows are out. There are
lots of different things you
have to be able to do. That is Nevada, Mo
something my dad taught us, Donald Gast Bob Thompson
and my brother and I have 417-321-2184 www.gastcharolais.com 816-582-8363
taught our kids, the ability to
think on your feet.” Follow us on
A growing family and in-
creased costs for production
all factor in to the final des-