| PROJECT SUMMARY |
Beef cattle producers need greater decision making skills in determining when to purchase breeding females. Such skills are especially important given herd re-building efforts following severe drought conditions. Despite drought conditions resuming in Colorado, there were producers interested in purchasing “inexpensive” beef cattle.
The first objective of this project was to develop a decision making tool (such as a spreadsheet) pertaining to cow profitability, debt repayment capacity, and purchase prices and timing. The second objective was to teach producers and lenders the importance of making good investment decisions and how to use the tool. Education and information was be conducted at the annual ag lender workshops, trainings for extension agents, and producer workshops.
The decision-making tool is available to all interested parties via multiple web sites. It was shared with Western Extension Farm Management and Marketing Committee members at their annual meeting in January 2006. |
| NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 331 |
| TOPICS COVERED |
| Product and enterprise diversification |
| Market analysis and outlook |
| Financial records, analysis, and bench-marking |
| Capital and financial assets |
| Business and strategic planning |
