Succession Planning and Perceived Obstacles and Attractions for Future Generations Entering Beef Cattle Production

Schulz, Lee; Artz, Georgeanne M.; Gunn, Patrick J.

doi:10.7771/2331-9151.1006

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Economic pressures caused by higher crop prices, USDA disaster assistance and federal crop insurance, genetically modified crops, and new cropping technologies have made it increasingly difficult for grazing operations to remain economically viable (Government Accountability Office 2007, Claassen et al 2011). In addition, aging of ranchers along with limited availability of pasture and the demands of a year-around workload favor conversion to annual cropping (Schulz et al 2017). Extensive grassland restoration and enhancement efforts in our study area implemented to support ranchers and benefit migratory birds by establishing native plantings, increasing patch size and connectivity, and enhancing floral and structural diversity through managed grazing systems (USFWS 2017b) likely provide benefits for pollinators.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, aging of ranchers along with limited availability of pasture and the demands of a year‐around workload favor conversion to annual cropping (Schulz et al. 2017). Extensive grassland restoration and enhancement efforts in our study area implemented to support ranchers and benefit migratory birds by establishing native plantings, increasing patch size and connectivity, and enhancing floral and structural diversity through managed grazing systems (USFWS 2017 b ) likely provide benefits for pollinators.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Conservation planning for pollinators in the U.S. Great Plains: considerations of context, treatments, and scale

et al. 2021

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Populations of many species of grassland-associated butterflies, moths, and bumblebees in the Great Plains of North America are experiencing steep declines due to habitat loss and degradation -primarily conversion of grasslands to row-crop agriculture and invasion of woody plants and exotic cool-season grasses-and insecticide use. These declines are exacerbated by the generally limited dispersal ability of insects, which make local populations susceptible to extirpation following habitat fragmentation. Interest in pollinator conservation has grown substantially in recent years, but information to guide pollinator conservation across the region is limited. We used pollinator biology along with principles of landscape ecology and metapopulation dynamics to develop a simple decision matrix based on patch size and inter-patch distances to guide landscape-scale grassland conservation efforts in the U.S. northern Great Plains. When applied to spatial land cover data depicting potential pollinator habitat, the matrix uses landscape characteristics to guide placement of conservation treatments to help ensure persistence of target pollinator populations. Patch size and connectivity thresholds can be set to match characteristics of target species, but in all cases, local management will be necessary to ensure that fine-grained features such as nectar sources and host plants are present. Applying the matrix to habitat layers for a nine-state analysis region showed substantial geographic variation in conservation needs, opportunities, and potential treatments. We also demonstrate that non-native planted cover such as alfalfa and certain grasslands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program can substantially enhance landscape structure by increasing grassland patch size and core area while decreasing distance between patches. Pollinators dependent on native prairie will also benefit from planted cover that provides nectar sources and serves as a buffer from pesticides associated with croplands. Consistent with the principles of strategic habitat conservation, targeted monitoring and research will be necessary to validate and adapt the model to meet local conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation planning for pollinators in the U.S. Great Plains: considerations of context, treatments, and scale

et al. 2021

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“…Respondents to a 2016 survey of cattle producers in the Southern Plains had an average age of 67 [33], a full decade older than the average age of all producers (57.5 years) according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture [32]. In many cases, producers are nearing retirement or mortality without a succession plan in place [34]. This disincentivizes the adoption of many new practices that require substantial costs to implement and become profitable only over time.…”

Section: Demographics and Labor Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Choosing Sustainability: Decision Making and Sustainable Practice Adoption with Examples from U.S. Great Plains Cattle Grazing Systems

Campbell

King

2022

Animals

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Sustainable intensification of animal agriculture will rely on the acceptance and adoption of many new practices and technologies. We discuss the literature related to behavior change and sustainable practice adoption in the context of beef cattle production, focusing on sustainable rotational grazing and the use of cover crops. Research from a variety of contexts is discussed with a conceptual framework that combines diffusion of innovation theory with the reasoned action approach. Background characteristics of producers and their operations as well the characteristics of any new practice/technology will influence producer perceptions of them. These background and perceived practice characteristics will influence producer behavioral, normative, and control beliefs regarding the behavior, which will in turn inform attitudes about the behavior and perceptions regarding behavioral norms and the capacity to adopt new behaviors. Factors such as the demographics of beef cattle producers, land tenure, and labor and credit availability, as well as producers’ concepts of what it means to be a “good farmer”, should inform the conceptualization and development of new practices and technologies to increase the likelihood of their adoption.

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“…This is especially true for beef cattle operations. Schulz et al (2017) state a substantial turnover of productive assets will likely happen for beef cattle operations over the next decade. Furthermore, Ahearn and Newton (2009) show that beginning farmers, like established farmers, specialize in beef cattle more than any other commodity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Profitability, risk and cash flow deficit for beginning cow–calf producers

Trejo‐Pech

Bruhin

Boyer

et al. 2021

AFR

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PurposeThe purpose of this study is to estimate the amount of cash flow deficit, if any, needed to maintain the operating costs and service debt of a startup cow–calf enterprise. The study compares long-term profitability and risk between starting small and building a herd to full carrying capacity or by starting at desired herd capacity.Design/methodology/approachA dynamic cattle growth model was developed to capture expanding and maintaining the desired herd size. Discounted cash flow (DCF) models over a 15-year period were calculated to estimate net present value (NPV), modified internal rate of return (MIRR) and cash flow deficit to keep the business operating and service debt. Simulation analyses were conducted considering price and production risk.FindingsStarting at the desired herd size was preferred, according to NPV/MIRR and cash flow deficit, but the differences were not substantial. Assuming the operation is liquidated at book values, there was a 36.3% probability of this enterprise having a zero or positive NPV. If the conservative terminal value assumption is relaxed up to feasible market values, the cow–calf enterprise is economically attractive at an estimated 2.4% opportunity cost of capital. However, the producer would experience a cash flow deficit during the first seven years, which was simulated to be $14,892 and $15,985 annual for both strategies.Originality/valueInnovative methods used in this study include varying the annual opportunity cost of capital as a function of financing decisions, stochastic prices by cattle type and stochastic weaning weights that are a function of a dynamic cattle model.

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Succession Planning and Perceived Obstacles and Attractions for Future Generations Entering Beef Cattle Production

Cited by 5 publications

References 13 publications

Conservation planning for pollinators in the U.S. Great Plains: considerations of context, treatments, and scale

Conservation planning for pollinators in the U.S. Great Plains: considerations of context, treatments, and scale

Choosing Sustainability: Decision Making and Sustainable Practice Adoption with Examples from U.S. Great Plains Cattle Grazing Systems

Profitability, risk and cash flow deficit for beginning cow–calf producers

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