January 8, 2026 • 17 mins
We lean into winter as a time for rest, clarity, and choosing less to achieve more. Health rises to the top, an agronomy shift targets smarter yield, and we press pause on feeders to protect the farm while urging stronger local food support.
• winter as a natural season for rest and planning
• cutting long resolution lists to two core priorities
• health-first mindset with keto and consistency
• simplifying workloads by removing tasks before adding
• switching from anhydrous to liquid with precise placement
• spoon-feeding crops with sulfur, boron, and drone foliar passes
• pausing feeder cattle due to tight margins and risk
• advocating hedging and protection for those feeding cattle
• reinforcing small family farms and buying direct local food
• inviting connection on social and email
As always, go find us on all of the socials at Farmers Greatest Asset
Send us a message we like hearing from you
If you'd like to hear anything from us, please send us a note
At farmersgreatestasset at gmail.com
And remember, it's a good day
To have a great day
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:14):
The Farmer's Greatest Asset Podcast.
We believe the Farm's GreatestAsset is the Farmer.
Their knowledge, experience,mind, and health.
(00:36):
Well, welcome back to thepodcast.
I'm Jesse.
SPEAKER_01 (00:39):
And I'm Dr.
Leah.
SPEAKER_00 (00:41):
Well, we have taken a nice little break for the
holidays.
Which was kind of nice, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (00:49):
Yes, the holidays were wonderful.
SPEAKER_00 (00:52):
So I trust that all of you had a great and wonderful
and joyous holiday season.
It was good for us.
It was kind of relaxing.
It was good.
Good family time spent together.
SPEAKER_01 (01:06):
Calm, peaceful, easy.
That's kind of how I would sayour holiday season was.
SPEAKER_00 (01:11):
It was.
It was nice.
So that being said, we decidedto not have a couple podcasts
over the holiday season and takea little break.
Here we are, starting a newyear, 2026.
Here we come.
SPEAKER_01 (01:26):
Big year.
SPEAKER_00 (01:27):
It is because it is the year of what?
SPEAKER_01 (01:31):
The fire horse.
So the year is charging in, andit's supposed to be a year of
exponential growth.
So actually, in the Chinese NewYear, the lunar calendar does
not restart until mid-February.
So this is in the naturalseasons, still a part of the
(01:52):
winter process and not a newbirth or new beginning.
So it's still the time for restand relaxation and really
preparation for the spring,which um the so then the Chinese
New Year restarts in February,mid-February.
So next year is the year of thehorse.
(02:13):
And just like a charging horse,it's supposed to be exponential
growth.
Here we come.
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah.
SPEAKER_00 (02:23):
Charging through.
SPEAKER_01 (02:25):
So I can already kind of feel some of that
coming.
Um, so we're getting rid of,we're still shedding and and
then the preparation, trying togo into the new year.
Last year was the year of thesnake, and it's shedding all of
that, shedding the skin andshedding old habits, old
(02:46):
identities, stepping into a newnine-year cycle with this next
year.
SPEAKER_00 (02:55):
All right.
So be aware of that.
Be it's be aware that it's theyear to charge forward and like
Leah said, get rid of some ofthat old skin, that old habits,
the old you.
It's time for a new year andcharge on through.
SPEAKER_01 (03:10):
But if a lot of you are out there feeling like not
starting everything andeverything all at once, that's
actually a very normal part ofthis time of year.
Like we are really not meant tojust push through the winter.
We're really meant to rest andrelax and use this time.
SPEAKER_00 (03:33):
Hibernate.
SPEAKER_01 (03:34):
Um, yeah, a little bit of a hibernation.
Yes.
And go inward and really focuson think through what you really
want for yourself, your family,your farm, your life, and kind
of center yourself around yourvision and the real things that
(03:55):
are important to you.
So I in the past have always,you know, come up with my lists
of and goals of everything thatI want to do for the year.
And it's of course like thishuge long list of so many things
that we used to do our NewYear's Eve date.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (04:14):
And if if you didn't bring a piece of paper and a
pen, we would go to a particularrestaurant and they give you
crayons and you can draw on thetable paper.
You would make a list every yearof our New Year's resolutions or
things to do.
SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
How many of those things did we never do?
Probably the majority of them.
SPEAKER_00 (04:36):
I'm sure you got them somewhere.
We could go back and look.
SPEAKER_01 (04:39):
Yeah.
I really this year am fo justchoosing to focus on two very
important things.
So that is the needle, right?
Yeah.
The number one thing is myhealth.
If you think about when you're85, 90 years old, looking back
on your life, you will neverregret choosing to be healthy.
(05:04):
You know, I have been puttingoff too long starting.
And I think that's because I inthe past have failed with
consistency.
SPEAKER_00 (05:16):
I was just gonna say, we've always started,
maybe.
It's just a matter of chargingthrough and staying consistent.
SPEAKER_01 (05:27):
It's really about not making it hard, right?
Making things easier.
And I think in the past I'vealways added so many things on.
I have forgotten to take thingsoff my plate.
Like, how can I put more thingson my plate when it's already
full?
SPEAKER_00 (05:47):
So that is the way we are though, babe.
SPEAKER_01 (05:50):
But I really this year am like, what can I get rid
of?
Like, I am so ready to get ridof things.
SPEAKER_00 (05:56):
So you did your intentions.
I I don't know if you want toelaborate what you did, but you
had a list of intentions andthen you got rid of some of
those intentions so you couldfocus on one big intention.
SPEAKER_01 (06:09):
I have like projects that I want to do, but instead
of having the list, Iprioritized and then I'm
breaking it down into smallerbunches so I can actually
accomplish something and itdoesn't look so big and feel so
big.
And I put them in an order ofimportance so that if I do get
(06:35):
through the first four or fivethings and still have time to
focus on other things, then Ihave more things that I would
like to do.
But when I have the big longlist, I just get overwhelmed and
then end up not doing any of thethings.
And then I feel like I'm noteven living the life that I want
to because I'm letting all of myeveryday busy work get in the
(06:59):
way of really moving the needlebecause I've put too many things
on my list.
I'm trying to start small andtake things off my plate and
really focus on one thing at atime.
I've never done that actually inmy life.
SPEAKER_00 (07:23):
No, we have not.
SPEAKER_01 (07:26):
It's a brand new thing for me.
This is like rest.
I've actually been doing reallywell with rest and rejuvenation
and not pushing through.
SPEAKER_00 (07:36):
Because we talk about it a lot.
SPEAKER_01 (07:39):
It really made an enjoyable Christmas season,
holiday season.
SPEAKER_00 (07:45):
Yeah.
We went to my parents and yourparents, but they were on
different days, and we spentChristmas Eve here together with
our kids, and it was reallyrelaxing and nice.
SPEAKER_01 (07:56):
And played some cards.
Yeah, it was good.
SPEAKER_00 (08:02):
So uh but yeah, back to intentions.
I I guess I'll piggyback onyours, and it's so cliche, but
it's again taking care of me andhealth, and part of that is
losing weight and eat eatingbetter.
I know I need to do that.
And you and Henry were doingreally well on keto, so now it's
time for me to get on board withthat.
(08:23):
I kind of I was having somestomach pain recently, so I did
good for a couple days, and mystomach felt so much better, and
then you fall right back intothe eating the bread and the
junk and uh whatever.
SPEAKER_01 (08:36):
So the key is to not have it in the house.
SPEAKER_00 (08:39):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (08:41):
Then you're less likely to eat it.
SPEAKER_00 (08:43):
So my intention is to be on keto and try to follow
that to a T.
It's gonna be hard, butconsistency over perfection.
Right.
But once we get there, it'll begood, and then if you, Henry,
and I can all do it together,maybe we can get the girls on
board and they're very much inresistance.
(09:05):
But it's a team thing, right?
It'll be easier if we all do ittogether and help each other
out.
And because you have said it'sif we're the girls and I are
eating bread and junk and candyand whatever, it's it's hard
because you want to eat it too,and you just sit there and have
to watch us, and that's not fairto you when you're trying to do
good.
(09:25):
So I'm gonna do do keto.
Hopefully, you'll do it with me.
That's my first big one.
The next one for me is probablywe are changing basically the
fertilizer program big time onthe farm.
Instead of using anhydrous,we're gonna go liquid nitrogen,
(09:47):
which is way out of your comfortzone the the box for me when we
owned our own anhydris bar.
And nothing wrong withanhydrous.
Um, it is dangerous, it's gotits drawbacks that way.
But um we're gonna go straightliquid and put it on with a
(10:08):
strip till bar, and that way wecan also mix in a little sulfur
and a little boron and put itbeside the row right where it
needs it, and then we'll stillcome back again and side dress.
But um, that's the big changethat's kind of out there.
SPEAKER_01 (10:26):
Yes, I would like to for us to do more
experimentation on applicationsand pushing the yield numbers.
I mean, that's what you havebeen talking about, but really
document it within our specificfields.
SPEAKER_00 (10:41):
I'm gonna try to push it.
I mean, my yield goal is 300plus everywhere.
Um, so I'm trying to push that.
And I think by placing thenitrogen there when I need it,
along with the sulfur and theboron, and then placement with
the planter, and then comingback later with the drone.
So that's another big one.
Is the foliar feeding with thedrone?
(11:02):
We have our own drone, justreally trying to push the
limits, but basically stay onthe same budget, not blow the
blow the checkbook on all thisfertilizer, because it's
probably not necessary.
It's more about spoon feeding itbecause you don't you don't have
a child.
Try to raise a child and give iteverything it needs to eat when
(11:24):
it's less than a year old, youspoon feed that child.
So that's the way I think aboutit.
You gotta spoon feed your cropand give it what it needs when
it needs it, rather than justthrow it all out there ahead of
time and hope for the best.
SPEAKER_01 (11:40):
We'll see how all of it goes.
It's exciting.
Yeah, new stuff.
SPEAKER_00 (11:44):
So big changes on the farm in that realm, and big
things coming this year, forsure.
SPEAKER_01 (11:52):
So, one thing that we have taken off of our plate
are cattle.
SPEAKER_00 (11:58):
We have not bought any feeder cattle this year.
Normally we would have a barnfull of fat cattle for feeders.
We literally just sold the lastload of fat cattle.
Sunday.
Um, they went out Sunday, and sowe'll move the cows home.
Normally the cows just stay onpasture and the barnyard there
(12:21):
and uh bringing them home, andthey'll get a stand inside all
winter and be comfy, cozy, andstraw.
Um I don't know.
I was just talking to somebodyjust before I come home to do
this podcast, and they askedabout if I'm buying any cattle.
I said, no.
I can't I can't find a sharpenough pencil to do it.
(12:44):
Sale barn prices just keep keepgoing.
I don't know.
I just I guess my comment to himwas, I'm not gonna lose the farm
over it.
I'm gonna save the farm.
So that's kind of where we'reat.
We're just gonna lay low thisyear, we'll bring the cows home.
Sure, we have feed, and was thefeed cheap because we raised it
(13:06):
our own, sure, but you stillgotta put a dollar figure on
that, you know, that amount offeed that you put into that that
calf.
I was even reading an article inFeedlot magazine the other day,
and it it's uh$104 a hundredweight for cost of gain.
(13:27):
So over a dollar a pound.
So by the time you put anothersix, seven hundred pounds, eight
hundred pounds on that sevenhundred pound calf you buy, you
got another eight hundred to athousand bucks in it, especially
if you insure it.
Because insurance is 150 to 200bucks a head.
So you just spent anotherthousand bucks ahead to feed it
(13:51):
and insure it and keep it aliveand to possibly break even.
So if you're buying cattletoday, you I mean you can lock
them in, and I hope that you do,and the guys that are doing it.
Yes, please just protectyourself, that's all.
And I this is just where we'reat.
We decided to take a year off,and we have cows, so we'll just
(14:15):
put the cows in the barn and butuh you can go out there and
insure them and play them on theboard and do that stuff.
And I'm sure that you do.
I mean, right now you have to.
SPEAKER_01 (14:24):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (14:25):
But I figured out the other day to break even, you
gotta sell fats for 242, andtoday they're selling for 230.
So it's um at the moment it'snot worth a risk.
SPEAKER_01 (14:39):
Not for our operation at this time.
For us, and you know, there arepeople out there that are can
make it all pencil out, andthat's great.
SPEAKER_00 (14:49):
Right.
If you're doing it, that'sgreat.
I just I'm sure you'reprotected, just make sure you're
protected.
SPEAKER_01 (14:56):
I think it's going like this past year and this
year are going to be hardertimes for family farms, and we
just want everyone to be able tocontinue and move forward.
Um, right, because the smallfamily farms are the backbone of
our food industry within theUnited States and um and are key
(15:22):
to food freedom.
So we want to ensure that we'regonna keep American agriculture
strong.
That being said, if you arelistening and you are not a
farmer, or even if you are afarmer, like most of us don't
raise everything, support otherfarmers.
(15:45):
So one thing that um I know inour area, there's not a lot of
farmers markets or places to goout and buy food, but think
about small family farms orhomesteads or farmsteads or
whatever you call them.
Like let's start supporting eachother as well.
Um you know, if you instead ofgoing to the store and buying
(16:07):
chicken, maybe you can findsomebody that raises chicken.
Instead of going to the storeand buying all your fruits and
vegetables, go to the go to alocal farmer's market and buy
your fruits and vegetables.
Um, there are dairies sellingmilk.
There, there's so many thingsthat you can and cheese and all
of those things.
It's going to cost you a littlemore, but it will become
(16:30):
cyclical if we make it part ofour habits and our practice.
And this is what we really needto do to fortify the
agricultural industry within ourcountry is to really support
each other.
Um, so if you're a cattle farmerand you like sausage, go out and
buy a hog from a pork farmer.
(16:52):
They all will have some thatthey would rather sell to you
that they can't necessarily taketo get butchered or take to the
plant.
So let's try and help each otherout as best we can and support
each other as much as ourpocketbooks will allow.
Because here in corn country, wedon't have a lot of vegetable
(17:13):
farmers, but they are out there.
And um, you know, the moredemand there is, the more there
more farmers there will be.
SPEAKER_00 (17:26):
And it comes down to knowing where your food comes
from, too.
SPEAKER_01 (17:29):
Yeah.
So that being said, thanks forlistening.
SPEAKER_00 (17:34):
As always, go find us on all of the socials at
Farmers Greatest Asset.
Send us a message we likehearing from you.
If you'd like to hear anythingfrom us, please send us a note.
SPEAKER_01 (17:46):
At farmersgreatestasset at
gmail.com.
SPEAKER_00 (17:50):
And remember, it's a good day.
SPEAKER_01 (17:52):
To have a great day.
Bye.
The Farmer's Greatest Asset Podcast.
We believe the Farm's GreatestAsset is the Farmer.
Their knowledge, experience,mind, and health.
(00:36):
Well, welcome back to thepodcast.
I'm Jesse.
SPEAKER_01 (00:39):
And I'm Dr.
Leah.
SPEAKER_00 (00:41):
Well, we have taken a nice little break for the
holidays.
Which was kind of nice, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (00:49):
Yes, the holidays were wonderful.
SPEAKER_00 (00:52):
So I trust that all of you had a great and wonderful
and joyous holiday season.
It was good for us.
It was kind of relaxing.
It was good.
Good family time spent together.
SPEAKER_01 (01:06):
Calm, peaceful, easy.
That's kind of how I would sayour holiday season was.
SPEAKER_00 (01:11):
It was.
It was nice.
So that being said, we decidedto not have a couple podcasts
over the holiday season and takea little break.
Here we are, starting a newyear, 2026.
Here we come.
SPEAKER_01 (01:26):
Big year.
SPEAKER_00 (01:27):
It is because it is the year of what?
SPEAKER_01 (01:31):
The fire horse.
So the year is charging in, andit's supposed to be a year of
exponential growth.
So actually, in the Chinese NewYear, the lunar calendar does
not restart until mid-February.
So this is in the naturalseasons, still a part of the
(01:52):
winter process and not a newbirth or new beginning.
So it's still the time for restand relaxation and really
preparation for the spring,which um the so then the Chinese
New Year restarts in February,mid-February.
So next year is the year of thehorse.
(02:13):
And just like a charging horse,it's supposed to be exponential
growth.
Here we come.
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah.
SPEAKER_00 (02:23):
Charging through.
SPEAKER_01 (02:25):
So I can already kind of feel some of that
coming.
Um, so we're getting rid of,we're still shedding and and
then the preparation, trying togo into the new year.
Last year was the year of thesnake, and it's shedding all of
that, shedding the skin andshedding old habits, old
(02:46):
identities, stepping into a newnine-year cycle with this next
year.
SPEAKER_00 (02:55):
All right.
So be aware of that.
Be it's be aware that it's theyear to charge forward and like
Leah said, get rid of some ofthat old skin, that old habits,
the old you.
It's time for a new year andcharge on through.
SPEAKER_01 (03:10):
But if a lot of you are out there feeling like not
starting everything andeverything all at once, that's
actually a very normal part ofthis time of year.
Like we are really not meant tojust push through the winter.
We're really meant to rest andrelax and use this time.
SPEAKER_00 (03:33):
Hibernate.
SPEAKER_01 (03:34):
Um, yeah, a little bit of a hibernation.
Yes.
And go inward and really focuson think through what you really
want for yourself, your family,your farm, your life, and kind
of center yourself around yourvision and the real things that
(03:55):
are important to you.
So I in the past have always,you know, come up with my lists
of and goals of everything thatI want to do for the year.
And it's of course like thishuge long list of so many things
that we used to do our NewYear's Eve date.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (04:14):
And if if you didn't bring a piece of paper and a
pen, we would go to a particularrestaurant and they give you
crayons and you can draw on thetable paper.
You would make a list every yearof our New Year's resolutions or
things to do.
SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
How many of those things did we never do?
Probably the majority of them.
SPEAKER_00 (04:36):
I'm sure you got them somewhere.
We could go back and look.
SPEAKER_01 (04:39):
Yeah.
I really this year am fo justchoosing to focus on two very
important things.
So that is the needle, right?
Yeah.
The number one thing is myhealth.
If you think about when you're85, 90 years old, looking back
on your life, you will neverregret choosing to be healthy.
(05:04):
You know, I have been puttingoff too long starting.
And I think that's because I inthe past have failed with
consistency.
SPEAKER_00 (05:16):
I was just gonna say, we've always started,
maybe.
It's just a matter of chargingthrough and staying consistent.
SPEAKER_01 (05:27):
It's really about not making it hard, right?
Making things easier.
And I think in the past I'vealways added so many things on.
I have forgotten to take thingsoff my plate.
Like, how can I put more thingson my plate when it's already
full?
SPEAKER_00 (05:47):
So that is the way we are though, babe.
SPEAKER_01 (05:50):
But I really this year am like, what can I get rid
of?
Like, I am so ready to get ridof things.
SPEAKER_00 (05:56):
So you did your intentions.
I I don't know if you want toelaborate what you did, but you
had a list of intentions andthen you got rid of some of
those intentions so you couldfocus on one big intention.
SPEAKER_01 (06:09):
I have like projects that I want to do, but instead
of having the list, Iprioritized and then I'm
breaking it down into smallerbunches so I can actually
accomplish something and itdoesn't look so big and feel so
big.
And I put them in an order ofimportance so that if I do get
(06:35):
through the first four or fivethings and still have time to
focus on other things, then Ihave more things that I would
like to do.
But when I have the big longlist, I just get overwhelmed and
then end up not doing any of thethings.
And then I feel like I'm noteven living the life that I want
to because I'm letting all of myeveryday busy work get in the
(06:59):
way of really moving the needlebecause I've put too many things
on my list.
I'm trying to start small andtake things off my plate and
really focus on one thing at atime.
I've never done that actually inmy life.
SPEAKER_00 (07:23):
No, we have not.
SPEAKER_01 (07:26):
It's a brand new thing for me.
This is like rest.
I've actually been doing reallywell with rest and rejuvenation
and not pushing through.
SPEAKER_00 (07:36):
Because we talk about it a lot.
SPEAKER_01 (07:39):
It really made an enjoyable Christmas season,
holiday season.
SPEAKER_00 (07:45):
Yeah.
We went to my parents and yourparents, but they were on
different days, and we spentChristmas Eve here together with
our kids, and it was reallyrelaxing and nice.
SPEAKER_01 (07:56):
And played some cards.
Yeah, it was good.
SPEAKER_00 (08:02):
So uh but yeah, back to intentions.
I I guess I'll piggyback onyours, and it's so cliche, but
it's again taking care of me andhealth, and part of that is
losing weight and eat eatingbetter.
I know I need to do that.
And you and Henry were doingreally well on keto, so now it's
time for me to get on board withthat.
(08:23):
I kind of I was having somestomach pain recently, so I did
good for a couple days, and mystomach felt so much better, and
then you fall right back intothe eating the bread and the
junk and uh whatever.
SPEAKER_01 (08:36):
So the key is to not have it in the house.
SPEAKER_00 (08:39):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (08:41):
Then you're less likely to eat it.
SPEAKER_00 (08:43):
So my intention is to be on keto and try to follow
that to a T.
It's gonna be hard, butconsistency over perfection.
Right.
But once we get there, it'll begood, and then if you, Henry,
and I can all do it together,maybe we can get the girls on
board and they're very much inresistance.
(09:05):
But it's a team thing, right?
It'll be easier if we all do ittogether and help each other
out.
And because you have said it'sif we're the girls and I are
eating bread and junk and candyand whatever, it's it's hard
because you want to eat it too,and you just sit there and have
to watch us, and that's not fairto you when you're trying to do
good.
(09:25):
So I'm gonna do do keto.
Hopefully, you'll do it with me.
That's my first big one.
The next one for me is probablywe are changing basically the
fertilizer program big time onthe farm.
Instead of using anhydrous,we're gonna go liquid nitrogen,
(09:47):
which is way out of your comfortzone the the box for me when we
owned our own anhydris bar.
And nothing wrong withanhydrous.
Um, it is dangerous, it's gotits drawbacks that way.
But um we're gonna go straightliquid and put it on with a
(10:08):
strip till bar, and that way wecan also mix in a little sulfur
and a little boron and put itbeside the row right where it
needs it, and then we'll stillcome back again and side dress.
But um, that's the big changethat's kind of out there.
SPEAKER_01 (10:26):
Yes, I would like to for us to do more
experimentation on applicationsand pushing the yield numbers.
I mean, that's what you havebeen talking about, but really
document it within our specificfields.
SPEAKER_00 (10:41):
I'm gonna try to push it.
I mean, my yield goal is 300plus everywhere.
Um, so I'm trying to push that.
And I think by placing thenitrogen there when I need it,
along with the sulfur and theboron, and then placement with
the planter, and then comingback later with the drone.
So that's another big one.
Is the foliar feeding with thedrone?
(11:02):
We have our own drone, justreally trying to push the
limits, but basically stay onthe same budget, not blow the
blow the checkbook on all thisfertilizer, because it's
probably not necessary.
It's more about spoon feeding itbecause you don't you don't have
a child.
Try to raise a child and give iteverything it needs to eat when
(11:24):
it's less than a year old, youspoon feed that child.
So that's the way I think aboutit.
You gotta spoon feed your cropand give it what it needs when
it needs it, rather than justthrow it all out there ahead of
time and hope for the best.
SPEAKER_01 (11:40):
We'll see how all of it goes.
It's exciting.
Yeah, new stuff.
SPEAKER_00 (11:44):
So big changes on the farm in that realm, and big
things coming this year, forsure.
SPEAKER_01 (11:52):
So, one thing that we have taken off of our plate
are cattle.
SPEAKER_00 (11:58):
We have not bought any feeder cattle this year.
Normally we would have a barnfull of fat cattle for feeders.
We literally just sold the lastload of fat cattle.
Sunday.
Um, they went out Sunday, and sowe'll move the cows home.
Normally the cows just stay onpasture and the barnyard there
(12:21):
and uh bringing them home, andthey'll get a stand inside all
winter and be comfy, cozy, andstraw.
Um I don't know.
I was just talking to somebodyjust before I come home to do
this podcast, and they askedabout if I'm buying any cattle.
I said, no.
I can't I can't find a sharpenough pencil to do it.
(12:44):
Sale barn prices just keep keepgoing.
I don't know.
I just I guess my comment to himwas, I'm not gonna lose the farm
over it.
I'm gonna save the farm.
So that's kind of where we'reat.
We're just gonna lay low thisyear, we'll bring the cows home.
Sure, we have feed, and was thefeed cheap because we raised it
(13:06):
our own, sure, but you stillgotta put a dollar figure on
that, you know, that amount offeed that you put into that that
calf.
I was even reading an article inFeedlot magazine the other day,
and it it's uh$104 a hundredweight for cost of gain.
(13:27):
So over a dollar a pound.
So by the time you put anothersix, seven hundred pounds, eight
hundred pounds on that sevenhundred pound calf you buy, you
got another eight hundred to athousand bucks in it, especially
if you insure it.
Because insurance is 150 to 200bucks a head.
So you just spent anotherthousand bucks ahead to feed it
(13:51):
and insure it and keep it aliveand to possibly break even.
So if you're buying cattletoday, you I mean you can lock
them in, and I hope that you do,and the guys that are doing it.
Yes, please just protectyourself, that's all.
And I this is just where we'reat.
We decided to take a year off,and we have cows, so we'll just
(14:15):
put the cows in the barn and butuh you can go out there and
insure them and play them on theboard and do that stuff.
And I'm sure that you do.
I mean, right now you have to.
SPEAKER_01 (14:24):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (14:25):
But I figured out the other day to break even, you
gotta sell fats for 242, andtoday they're selling for 230.
So it's um at the moment it'snot worth a risk.
SPEAKER_01 (14:39):
Not for our operation at this time.
For us, and you know, there arepeople out there that are can
make it all pencil out, andthat's great.
SPEAKER_00 (14:49):
Right.
If you're doing it, that'sgreat.
I just I'm sure you'reprotected, just make sure you're
protected.
SPEAKER_01 (14:56):
I think it's going like this past year and this
year are going to be hardertimes for family farms, and we
just want everyone to be able tocontinue and move forward.
Um, right, because the smallfamily farms are the backbone of
our food industry within theUnited States and um and are key
(15:22):
to food freedom.
So we want to ensure that we'regonna keep American agriculture
strong.
That being said, if you arelistening and you are not a
farmer, or even if you are afarmer, like most of us don't
raise everything, support otherfarmers.
(15:45):
So one thing that um I know inour area, there's not a lot of
farmers markets or places to goout and buy food, but think
about small family farms orhomesteads or farmsteads or
whatever you call them.
Like let's start supporting eachother as well.
Um you know, if you instead ofgoing to the store and buying
(16:07):
chicken, maybe you can findsomebody that raises chicken.
Instead of going to the storeand buying all your fruits and
vegetables, go to the go to alocal farmer's market and buy
your fruits and vegetables.
Um, there are dairies sellingmilk.
There, there's so many thingsthat you can and cheese and all
of those things.
It's going to cost you a littlemore, but it will become
(16:30):
cyclical if we make it part ofour habits and our practice.
And this is what we really needto do to fortify the
agricultural industry within ourcountry is to really support
each other.
Um, so if you're a cattle farmerand you like sausage, go out and
buy a hog from a pork farmer.
(16:52):
They all will have some thatthey would rather sell to you
that they can't necessarily taketo get butchered or take to the
plant.
So let's try and help each otherout as best we can and support
each other as much as ourpocketbooks will allow.
Because here in corn country, wedon't have a lot of vegetable
(17:13):
farmers, but they are out there.
And um, you know, the moredemand there is, the more there
more farmers there will be.
SPEAKER_00 (17:26):
And it comes down to knowing where your food comes
from, too.
SPEAKER_01 (17:29):
Yeah.
So that being said, thanks forlistening.
SPEAKER_00 (17:34):
As always, go find us on all of the socials at
Farmers Greatest Asset.
Send us a message we likehearing from you.
If you'd like to hear anythingfrom us, please send us a note.
SPEAKER_01 (17:46):
At farmersgreatestasset at
gmail.com.
SPEAKER_00 (17:50):
And remember, it's a good day.
SPEAKER_01 (17:52):
To have a great day.
Bye.
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