JANUARY NEWSLETTER

As I write this we nearly have January done. It always seems like the longest month of the year. By now you should have the financial plan laid out for the year. All too soon the weather warms and we are outside more and these critical tasks get left undone. If you aren’t done, get it finished up. If you are done congratulations! Remember that a good financial plan needs to monitored every month, if it is to be useful and keep you on track to reach the profit level you have identified.

The grazing plan is another document that deserves some attention. Review your last year’s plan and total up your animal days per acre. You will need this for planning your 2017 grazing plan. These charts take into account all the variables involved in grazing. Dig out the work book and refresh your memories on how to use the planning process. Success doesn’t happen, it is created. For those who like computer systems, the HM grazing plans can be purchased and done on computer.  The point I want to leave you with is that both financial and grazing planning work and will make you successful; but they require work and discipline on your part. The most important work you can do is working “on” the business.

I was at the Saskatchewan Cattle Association meeting last week in Regina. President Ryan Beierbach challenged us like this. He said when we get together the first thing we talk about is: the weather, the cattle prices and politics. We have virtually no influence on any of these. We need to spend our energy sharing with each other how to grow more grass, make more profit, how to market our animals better. Thanks for the excellent advice Ryan.

Another bit of advice I learned is from Gabe Brown. He says” you should fail at something every year. You are not trying hard enough if you don’t.” Try new things on a small scale. Try high stock density for a few days; try moving faster in fast growth, or some more cross fencing. Do it small and monitor the results carefully. If it works implement it on a bigger scale, if not you are only out a bit of time.

At our December get together of educators, it was decided we should go ahead and train more educators. This is a two year process with likely two face to face meetings over a two year period.  If you are interested in becoming an educator this is your opportunity. Please let myself or Dana know and we will forward information as plans, dates and costs are established.

Our annual conference is less than a month away. These conferences are always great learning opportunities. The conversations and contacts that you have are always worthwhile and help us all to be more successful. I encourage you to register.

See David Irvine’s January Newsletter.

See you in Lacombe on February 17-19

Blain Hjertaas