What a difference a year makes. I was pulling soil samples with someone this week and thought back to the same time last year when we had to use a pickaxe to break the ground to pull a sample. Simply put, this time last year was brutal. From trying to hold on to what cows you had, making difficult culling decisions, and sourcing hay, it was as stressful of a summer and fall as most of you have experienced. The transition from a terrible summer to an amazing ryegrass year was incredible. I was nervous about how the summer grasses would bounce back. I’m happy to say they proved my fears wrong. Pastures are in great shape and consequently cows look good and the calves that have been shipped have been big. Most everyone already has enough hay put up or about to at this point.

Nationally, heifer slaughter and the number of heifers in the feedlots along with cull cow slaughter are indicating that we haven’t started herd expansion yet. I don’t have a crystal ball and who knows if next year’s prices will be like this year, but they should still be good based on the fundamentals. I know production costs are still high and there are things to grumble about. Sometimes we have to take a win when we can, and this year has been a win.

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