Market strategies for 2001 calves

摘要

Given all that's transpired in the past eight months, should a rancher market his 2001 calves differently than other years? There's no easy answer. This month and next, however, I will provide an economic evaluation of alternative marketing strategies for ranchers. I will utilize the projected planning prices I update each month. This month, I'll identify five traditional, multiple-year marketing strategies, and apply them to the marketing of a study herd's 1999, 2000 and 2001 calf crops. In my Julycolumn, I'll discuss the April 2002 price wreck and evaluate several post-April 2002 (Plan B) marketing strategies. Over the last several years, I've developed an extensive simulation model for studying the profit potential of several marketing strategies for Northern Plains ranchers. The study herd I use is a typical Northern Plains, 153-cow herd with a 92 percent spring-born calf crop and a 565-lb. average weaning weight.