C
ATTLE CONTINUE TO CLAIM RECORD SALE PRICES AND RAIN gauges in the Southwest are overfl owing. For ranchers able to take advantage of these wind-
falls, 2015 may be the year to play catch-up in a num- ber of areas. For many, this can mean that the projects collecting
dust on back shelves because of drought and fi nancial belt-tightening can now get some attention. This may mean running into a good problem to have — not hav- ing enough time to do it all. And still other areas that require improvement or upgrading may have to wait. So how do you prioritize what your operation needs?
Want vs. need Your fi rst step may be to take a look at what your
operation needs and what you simply would like to have. Some items require more patience than action, so they may only land on your list as something to monitor and keep an eye on. After the drought that has plagued the South for the
last few years, pastures will still need some time to recover. This may be a good time to decide if you want to change forage options or switch to native grasses. It could also be prime time to fi nally get a handle on brush control and devise a land management plan. Other priorities may rise to the top of the list as must-
haves, such as repairs or upgrades to equipment and fencing. Instead of buying a few more heifers, would it be a better investment to install new solar-powered gates or put a new fl oor in the cattle hauler? TSCRA Past President Jon Means, who
ranches in the Van Horn area of West Texas, says his ranch has focused on a acquiring more land and “expanding from within.” “We used to lease quite a bit of land and
decided now was a good time to expand. The drought was hard on the land and the pocket- book,” Means said. “So we’re taking this time to add money back into the coffers.” They are also allowing drought-weary
TSCRA Past President Jon Means
pastures to rest and are rotating the cattle they have retained. “I’ve seen neighbors buy- ing cows and heifers, while some others are
selling, but we’re being patient and taking our herd rebuilding slow. We’re not where we need to be, but we’re where we should be right now.” As in most of the Southwest, the water situation in
the area changed dramatically this spring, something ranchers in West Texas know can be a challenge. “Some have had too much rain so we’re very fortu-
tscra.org August 2015 The Cattleman 81
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