Optimizing Forage Acres ?

[Stocker Steve]

SGF just ran two business articles for optimizing the gross margin of forage operation. The first article described a way to calculate an optimum stocking rate. For example - - the number hay acres vs. grazing acres. The second article described a way to then rebalance the forage based enterprises. For example - - size of cow/calf vs. yearling herds. You might need to repeat the two steps if you make big changes.

Any one make it though these long articles? Your impressions?

 

[kenny thomas]

I would be interested in reading it. Do you have a link

 

[1982vett]

No...haven't seen them but I can imagine. I haven't subscribed to or looked at a farm/ranch publication in years. The free ones go straight into the trash unless the wife picks it up because of a pretty picture on the cover. School books make my eyes glaze over...especially at my age. Trying something "new" means diddly squat.

 

[MO-Ruminants]

Were they Jim Gerrish articles in a recent SGF? I do enjoy most of his writings. If I recall, he wrote that this exercise may help us realize that some of our enterprises are not profitable. (yearling, cow etc.)

Savory taught a similar principle on enterprise selection, using gross margin as a guide.

Whatever you might want to accomplish on the farm, I guess you know that you must be profitable. Always think "Profit First". -B Williams

 

[Stocker Steve]

Jim is a big picture guy. Back in his Misery days, he had an ag econ guy to crunch the numbers.

SGF articles were from a consulting woman who loves Excel. It would be interesting to run a CT survey on how many members have a profit objective. :deadhorse: