Even though the production components of your business are important, they don’t make or break it for you. The most important part of any business is in managing the business itself. The economics and finances behind the production practices are more important than the production practice itself. Two producers can use the same production practice. […] Read more
What’s the margin?
Do you know the economics behind your production practices?
The economics behind bale grazing
Grazing with Steve Kenyon
A lot of farmers only see one type of cost when it comes to feeding cattle. They see the feed cost. However, there are other costs which are often overlooked. This would be the act of feeding, also called the yardage cost. The reason this is not always included is because it is not a […] Read more
Back to bale grazing
Grazing with Steve Kenyon
A gross margin analysis will tell you the profitability of your different profit centres on your farm. My decision to choose one production practice over another is largely decided by the margin I calculate. It is, however, very important to include current market values in your calculations. Last year’s hay prices in my area are […] Read more
When to move cattle
Grazing with Steve Kenyon
If you’re just starting out or have been rotationally grazing for a while, one of the main challenges you face during the grazing season is when to move the livestock. I have to make the same decisions with my herds. Each year is different and my grazing has to adjust with it. No matter how much you […] Read more
Be a soil farmer
When I first started farming, I bought some cows. I was a cattle farmer. I eventually figured out that if I could take good care of the grass, it would take care of the cattle. When I determined the cattle were simply a tool to manage the grass, I became a grass farmer. A few […] Read more
We harvest weeds!
I say it all the time. There is no such thing as a weed. All plants have a purpose. But what happens quite often is that particular type of plant will take over an area. This is because the conditions are favouring it. The “weeds” or undesirable plants are a symptom of an underlying problem. Address […] Read more
Spring is here: What to plant?
A very common question that I receive at many of my conferences or seminars is, “What should we plant?” They are of course referring to the type of forage species to seed into their overgrazed pastures? This might seem like a pretty straightforward question but I always catch producers off guard with my answer. They […] Read more
Be prepared for calls if you winter graze
Grazing with Steve Kenyon from the March 2016 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
I was excited this fall to get my swath/bunch grazing underway as all 450 acres are right by the highway. Normally I am swath grazing down some back gravel road and no one really gets to see it. This year I get to show it off! My neighbours already think that I’m crazy, so now […] Read more
Are you a good steward of the land?
In agriculture, we pride ourselves on our lifestyle. We are ranchers or farmers and we view ourselves differently than our urban cousins. We take credit for being “Stewards of the Land.” We harvest what we sow and work with nature to feed the world. This all sounds warm and fuzzy, but I think that this […] Read more
Kenyon: Set up a proactive cash flow
A few financial tips for a smoother-running operation
I have said it before and I’ll say it again. Production practices are not the most important part of my business. Intensive cell grazing or bale grazing cannot make or break my business alone. The business side to my ranch is much more important. To see if a production practice is viable for my operation […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
