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Cow-calf producers have seen interest rates and energy, fertilizer, freight, corn and hay prices increase over the past few years. There doesn't seem to be any relief in the immediate future. As cost per cow increases, so do break-even prices for weaned calves. How sensitive are the break-evens to fluctuations in costs? What can producers do to improve their operations?

The highly anticipated cattle inventory report has been released for 2008. The numbers reflect decisions made by individual ranchers throughout 2007 and the previous couple of years.

Cow-calf producers across the United States are increasing the size of their cow herds. One indication of herd rebuilding is the ratio of female (cow plus heifer) slaughter to steer slaughter.

Well, they are if you are in the cow/calf sector. The stocker and feedlot picture may not be so pretty, but, as in all things, we must each take our turn.

People who study change and its causes have observed that change is often caused by a disturbance. Production agriculture is in a period of rapid change, with an economic environment that many have never experienced. If the agricultural industry is changing, what has been the disturbance?

The price of corn in late 2007 is in the $3+ range, with little evidence that it might go down. Therefore, if live cattle prices stay near current levels, producers can expect the value of gain to stay near the current level of $.90-$1/cwt.

With weaning just finishing up for spring calving cow herds, it brings the end of the first phase of production for a bovine. During this time, revenues are returned to the cow and, likewise, the costs.

If you are in the business of growing grass and selling it through cattle, you should be interested in knowing what is happening to cattle numbers in the United States. Each year in January and July the USDA publishes an estimate of what they believe to be the cattle inventory as of the first of that month.

Having a good working knowledge of the cattle cycle is one of the keys for economic success in the livestock business. This is true whether one is in a cow-calf operation, a forage grazing operation, a feedyard operation or a beef cattle slaughter/processing company.

For the last 130 years, cattle production cycles have been predictable. A production cycle usually lasts from nine to eleven years. Where are we in the cycle?