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❄️ Keys to Managing Cattle in the Cold
Packers' Perfect Storm, Harmony in the Hustle and Florida's Fallout from Ranching.com by CattleMax
Ranching.com is your weekly dose of trending news, seasonal tips, and community content put together by our team of ranchers.
NEWS
❄️ Keys to Managing Cattle in the Cold
❄️ Keys to Managing Cattle in the Cold - Cold stress affects cattle health and productivity, with body condition score (BCS), nutrition, and weather conditions playing key roles. Cows in good condition handle cold better, while thin cows need extra energy, especially with wet or windy conditions.
🌾 Buy Now, Hay Later - Some state's hay markets have slowed, creating a buyer’s market. Producers should consider purchasing hay now as insurance for 2025, but must evaluate costs, nutrient content, and storage conditions to ensure it's a wise investment.
🌪️ Packers’ Perfect Storm - Entering 2025, beef packers face a "perfect storm" with sharply higher cattle prices expected due to a smaller calf crop, tight cattle supplies, potential trade disruptions, and rising demand. The result will be record-high prices and significant market volatility.
📋 Export Compliance - Livestock export testing safeguards global health by preventing disease spread and ensuring compliance with international regulations. Texas A&M’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab advises clients on proper paperwork, sample handling, and timely submissions to avoid export delays or rejections.
☮️ Harmony in the Hustle - The holiday season, while joyful, can also increase stress and mental health challenges. Factors like financial pressures, family conflict, and grief contribute to this. Strategies for managing stress include self-care, setting boundaries, and seeking support if needed.
🌀 Florida’s Fallout - Hurricane Milton caused agricultural production losses in Florida, estimated between $190.4 million and $642.7 million. The storm impacted over 5.7 million acres, especially affecting high-value crops, livestock, and greenhouse industries, with significant flooding and tornado damage.
RANCHING KNOW-HOW
Year End Tax Planning and CTA
Proper tax planning is essential for ranch businesses to stay proactive at year-end. Jordan Steele from Ranch Management Consultants covers five key areas for strategic tax decisions, along with insights on accounting software and the Corporate Transparency Act from Adam Sweet of EideBailly.
Simple Strategies to Increase Direct-to-Consumer Meat Sales
Selling meat directly to consumers is a valuable strategy for ranchers. JT Hammons, a marketing expert, emphasizes understanding your ideal customer and using targeted marketing strategies, like social media engagement and email campaigns, to boost sales effectively.
RANCHING AROUND THE WORLD RECAP
CATTLE COMMUNITY
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Christmas is a time to give, a time to love, and a time to be thankful for all we have.”
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READER POLL
What's your current position in regards to hay? |
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS
Is your family/ranch involved in direct-to-consumer beef sales? | 53.9%: Yes, we sell from our ranch. 5.1%: Yes, we work with others to sell our product. 35.9%: No. 5.1%: Other (please describe below) |
THOUGHTS FROM VOTERS
Yes
“We sell USDA inspected grass-fed beef, raw milk, eggs, cheese and butter. ”
“We sell mostly through farmers markets, then direct via online.”
No
“We wish we could. Possibly going to in the future.”
“Define beef sales? Packaged beef? Live beef sold to individuals who arrange processing? Split between two or more individuals? The problem; sales tax. Most ranchers, myself included, do not want to have a sales tax ID, collect the states taxes, and remit. Retail business also has risk with consumer coming onto land and possible law suits. However, it would be great to have another way to market cattle beside a sale barn.”
