MANAGING FOR TODAY'S CATTLE MARKET AND BEYOND is a planned collection of articles, developed by authors with national expertise in the subject area.

You can access the notebook articles online by following the links below to the March 2002 edition. Please note that these files (.pdf) require Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded free from the Adobe website. While feedback on the use and application of these materials is requested, reprinting and duplication of materials as presented is encouraged and currently without any restriction or electronic access cost.

The project was originally conceived by the Western Extension Marketing Committee for extension and classroom audiences. The original notebook of materials was published in 1996. Economists from across the U.S. participated in this effort. Both the American Agricultural Economics Association and the Western Agricultural Economics Association recognized the original materials for excellence in 1997 when both associations gave the project their outstanding group extension award.

Updated and new articles (identified below as 2002) were coordinated as a joint effort sponsored by the Livestock Marketing Information Center and the Western Extension Marketing Committee.

For the original set of materials, direct dollar contributors were USDA-CSREES, Farm Foundation, University of Wyoming, Utah State University and University of Nebraska. The project was also supported by the Livestock Marketing Information Center, National Beef Cattlemen’s Association, the respective authors and the state Cooperative Extension Services of their institutions. Chris Bastian (University of Wyoming) and DeeVon Bailey (Utah State University) coordinated the original effort. The March 2002 articles were coordinated by DeeVon Bailey (Utah State University), with assistance from staff of the Livestock Marketing Information Center.

If you want to purchase paper copies of the full notebook or of the updated and new articles (released in March 2002) please contact:

Livestock Marketing Information Center
Attn: Laura Lahr
PO Box 25566
Denver, CO 80225
Telephone: (303) 236-0460
FAX: (303) 236-0466
E-mail: laura.lahr@lmic.info
http://www.lmic.info

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I. Introduction to the March 2002 Edition

II. INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT

A. Analyzing Your Operation

Single file of the articles in this section

Analyzing Your Operation

Individual Files of the articles

1. Integrated Management and Setting Goals (1996)
2. Taking Your Beef Cow Herd Profitably Through the Cattle Cycle (new 2002)
3. Determining Your Economic Unit Cost of Producing a Hundred Weight of Calf (updated 2002)
4. Conducting a Comparative Analysis of Your Herd's Production Facts with other Herds' Production Facts (1996)
5. Benchmarking Your Herd's Economic Facts (new 2002)
6. Understanding Your Financial Situation (1996)
7. Applying the Assessment Tools to Your Farm/Ranch (1996)

B. Management Strategies Aimed at Reducing Costs

Single file of the articles in this section

Management Strategies Aimed at Reducing Costs

Individual Files of the articles

1. Managing Cow-Calf Production Costs: What to do Before the Money Runs Out (1996)
2. Managing Your Herd's Composition (1996)
3. The Costs of Raising Replacement Heifers and the Value of a Purchased Versus Raised Replacement (updated 2002)
4. Leasing Arrangements for Cattle (updated 2002)

C. Financial Management

Single file of the articles in this section

Financial Management

Individual Files of the articles

1. Working with Your Lender in Times of Financial Stress (1996)
2. Should I Sell My Cow Herd? (1996)
3. Farm/Ranch Information Systems (1996)
4. Weather Related Sales of Livestock and Tax Implications (new 2002)

III. MARKETING

A. Value Added/Merchandising Strategies

Single file of the articles in this section

Value Added/Merchandising Strategies

Individual Files of the articles

1. Retained Ownership of Cattle: Factors to Consider (updated 2002)
2. Retained Ownership in Cattle Cycles (1996)
3. Cooperation in Cattle Marketing (1996)
4. Replacement Heifer Sales (1996)
5. Preconditioning Calves for Feedlots (1996)
6. Feeding and Marketing Cull Cows (1996)

B. Price Risk Management

Single file of the articles in this section

Price Risk Management

Individual Files of the articles

1. Matching Your Production and Marketing Alternatives: Finding the Right Fit (not yet available)
2. Market Plan (1996)
3. Marketing Alternatives That Can Be Considered in Your Business Plan Today (1996)
4. Comparing Your Marketing Opportunities (1996)
5. Futures Market—Basic (1996)
6. Hedging Using Livestock Futures (new 2002)
7. Commodity Options as Price Risk Insurance for Cattlemen (1996)
8. Understanding and Using Feeder and Slaughter Cattle Basis (new 2002)
9. Factors Affecting the Basis for Feeder Cattle (new 2002)
10. Basis Forward Contracts (new 2002)

C. Alliances, Fed Cattle Sales, and Pricing

Single file of the articles in this section

Alliances, Fed Cattle Sales, and Pricing

Individual Files of the articles

1. Alliances and Vertical Arrangements (new 2002)
2. Understanding Grid Pricing (new 2002)
3. Grid Base Prices and Premiums-Discounts Over Time (new 2002)
4. Grid Pricing: Risk, Value of Information, and Management Implications (new 2002)
5. Live and Dressed Weight Pricing (not yet available)
6. Industry Opportunities and Some Issues for Value Based Marketing (new 2002)

IV. IMPLEMENTING A STRATEGY

Single file of the articles in this section

Implementing a Strategy

Individual Files of the articles

1. IRM Learning Teams (1996)
2. Things to Think About When Trying Something New in Your Operation (1996)

V. THE CATTLE MARKET ENVIRONMENT

Single file of the articles in this section

The Cattle Market Environment

Individual Files of the articles

1. Price Determination Versus Price Discovery (updated 2002)
2. The Impact of Corn and Fed Cattle Prices on Feeder Cattle Price Slides (new 2002)
3. Focus on Beef Demand (new 2002)
4. The Cattle Cycle (1996)
5. Profiting from the Cattle Cycle: Alternative Cow Herd Investment Strategies (updated 2002)
6. Should Producers Attempt to Behave Counter-Cyclically During Cattle Cycles? (new 2002)
7. Cattle Price Seasonality (new 2002)
8. Packer Concentration and Captive Supplies (1996)
9. Structural Changes in Cattle Feeding and Meat Packing (updated 2002)
10. U.S. Beef Trade Issues (new 2002)

VI. BEEF INDUSTRY'S FUTURE

Single file of the articles in this section

Beef Industry's Future

Individual Files of the articles

1. Prescriptions for a Healthy Beef Industry (new 2002)
2. The New Beef Industry: What Will It Mean to Feeder Cattle Producers? (new 2002)
3. Niche Marketing of Cattle/Beef (new 2002)
4. Cattle Marketing and Food Safety (new 2002)
5. The Evolution of Identity Preservation in Red Meat Markets (new 2002)
6. Cattle Identification—The Canadian Experience (new 2002)