RANCHING Business
A Sound Business Plan Starts With the Land By Lorie Woodward Cantu
S
OUND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES HAVE VALUE. “TO FULLY realize the value of their management efforts, producers should have a clear vision of what they
want to accomplish on their ranches,” says Hugh Aljoe, producer relations manager of the Noble Foundation. “Then, they should create a plan that recognizes and capitalizes on their unique abilities, resources and land base.” Every path to success looks different, but there is
some common ground. “When producers begin to identify areas for improvement, the process can seem overwhelming,” Aljoe says. “The land is the place to start.” Getting the land back into its most productive state provides the foundation for a strong forage base, which, in turn, provides the foundation for a success- ful livestock operation. “The biggest mistake that people consistently make is
trying to stock for future conditions instead of stocking for current conditions,” Aljoe says. “For many ranches,
the fi rst step forward — reducing the stocking rate — appears to be a step backward.” A conservative stocking rate helps strengthen the
forage base, provides additional management fl exibil- ity and often results in reduced production expenses. Improving a ranching operation is not a quick fi x. It takes time to implement the plan and it takes time for the positive effects to accumulate. “The full value of the plan, which relies on imple-
menting the most appropriate best management prac- tices (BMP) over time, accrues,” Aljoe says. “They incrementally contribute to — and enhance — the bottom line.” For instance, a conservative stocking rate strengthens
the forage base, which increases productivity of cattle, particularly when their breeding season is timed to coincide with peak forage availability. Plentiful forage can reduce feed costs. When producers are developing their management
Editor’s Note: This is the fi nal installment in a 12-part series on “The Realized Value of Management Decisions” that was developed in conjunction with the advisors in the Producer Relations Program of the Agricultural Divi- sion of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. The independent, non-profi t Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., assists farmers and ranchers and conducts plant science research and agricultural programs to enhance agricultural productivity regionally, nationally and internationally.
70 The Cattleman December 2015
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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