Fertilizer costs have increased a lot over the last few decades, even more over the last year. An example of this is that nitrogen fertilizer has doubled in just the last 2 years. With the way things are going it is not looking it will change for the better any time soon.
The most expensive input in warm-season forage production is commercial fertilizer. Since this is a costly resource, we need to make use of it efficiently. This will ensure that the return on the investment can be optimized for the most profits.
I will tell you that when it comes to being efficient that does not mean being the “cheapest”. Going with the lowest cost in the long run can actually end up costing the most. Here are 4 ways that you can look to optimize what fertilizer that you put out while reducing forage production costs.
Feed costs remain the single largest expense for any cattle producer. This expense can easily be half of the total annual expenses for a rancher.
A grazing system, when done correctly, can assist rangeland managers in achieving management objectives. They can both boost production as well as reduce their overhead costs.
Do you know what your stocking rate is? Let me rephrase that: Do you know what your real stocking rate is? Many people follow just a general rule of thumb that was developed years ago. The truth is that cattle will not always graze on every acre that is available. You could have the scenario where certain areas are being overgrazed while others are not being used at all. This is where determining your grazeable acreage will help.
Pastures represent a very valuable resource for producers. In order to become an efficient cattle producer you must maximize your pasture’s forage output. But are you getting every bit out of it that you can?
