Casual Cattle Conversations

This week, Shaye Wanner welcomes Chris Rawley of Harvest Returns to discuss what makes ranches “investable” and why it matters for operators seeking outside investors or bank financing to expand herds, land, or infrastructure. Raleigh explains Harvest Returns’ model of pooling investor capital and investing as a single partner via loans, notes, or equity, and says investable operations have a solid plan, clear financial statements, defined marketing/sales strategy, and a realistic path to investor returns. 

He outlines that key first steps include transparency and documentation across complex land and entity structures, accurate balance sheets reflecting assets and debts, and building a team for missing functions like finance, bookkeeping, accounting, and sales. Common mistakes include poor herd tracking/accountability (amid “phantom cattle” scams) and attempting to raise public capital without proper SEC-compliant legal help. Raleigh emphasizes getting herd and financial numbers in order, including hiring professionals. 

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/

00:00 Is Your Ranch Investible 
01:24 Meet Chris Rawley 
01:33 Why Investability Matters 
02:38 What Harvest Returns Does 
04:56 Investible Ranch Checklist 
07:50 First Steps to Improve 
09:30 Building the Right Team 
11:09 Common Mistakes to Avoid 
13:20 Raising Capital Legally

This week, Shaye Wanner interviews NDSU livestock development specialist Jon Biermacher about the economics of buying weaned/backgrounded heifers in spring, breeding them, and selling them about a year later as long-bred heifers or as pairs, using an Excel-based enterprise budget tool developed from a student producer’s plan.  

The model includes key costs (heifer purchase, pasture/feed/hay/mineral, health, breeding, transport, interest, marketing) and compares AI plus cleanup bulls versus natural service, finding about a $55/head advantage to not using AI (not counting added labor) and little observed revenue premium for AI’d breds. In their projections, pairs returned about $100/head more than bred heifers. Results show costs are dominated by heifer purchase and feed, with profit highly sensitive to purchase price; a ~$0.20/lb increase can erase roughly $200/head projected net return. This conversation is helpful for anyone looking to create projections on their operation with resources from the NDSU team.  

Join Rising Ranchers Here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/risingranchers 

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/  

 

01:31 Meet John Biermacher 

04:54 Defining the Enterprise 

06:08 Building the Budget Tool 

13:03 Markets and Assumptions 

15:04 AI Versus Bulls 

19:48 Where the Costs Sit 

22:26 Breds Versus Pairs 

25:35 Break Evens and Risk 

31:47 Tools Beyond Spreadsheets 

 

In a solo episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast, host Shaye Wanner shares her background growing up on a ranch that evolved into a registered Red Angus seedstock operation and now living on her husband’s centennial family farm, to frame three key transition planning tips.  

First, she urges producers to honestly ask whether they truly want to be on the family farm or would rather farm/ranch independently while staying close to family, noting legacy isn’t limited to land ownership and that not all family members work well together. Second, she advises financially planning for the unknown by saving and working with bankers and financial professionals even without a clear transition timeline, since taking over must still be a sound business decision. Third, she emphasizes, “You don’t get to change what’s not yours,” encouraging respect for older generations and clarity about one’s current role. 

Join Rising Ranchers Here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/risingranchers

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/  

00:08 Welcome and Ways to Connect 

01:45 My Ranching Background 

05:20 Three Tips Overview 

05:41 Family Farm or Nearby 

10:01 Plan for the Unknown 

13:27 You Cant Change It 

 

Today on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast, Shaye Wanner talks with ag tech consultants Chelsea Good (Good & Associates) and Jared Wareham (Horizon Venture Management) about how cow-calf producers can decide which technologies are worth adopting. They stress that many tools enter agriculture from outside the industry and may be “solutions looking for a problem,” so ranchers should evaluate technology like a toolbox and demand ROI, especially in an asset-rich, cash-poor business. 

Examples include mismatched expensive tags for sale barns versus value-based traceability programs, strategic uses of GPS and estrus-detection tags (often for herd bulls or specific heifer programs), virtual fencing’s geography-dependent economics, and emerging biometrics, camera applications, and gene-edited pest control. They also discuss digital recordkeeping and payment systems as adoption challenges without policy drivers, and encourage producers to share pain points and explore tech that supports long-term generational sustainability.

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ 

Learn more about Chelsea and Good & Associates here: https://www.goodandassoc.com/ 

Learn more about Jared and Horizon Venture Management here: https://www.horizonventuremanagement.com/  

00:00 Tech That Pays Off
01:09 Meet Chelsea and Jared
04:40 Picking Tech by ROI
09:50 AI Is Not Magic
11:50 Genomics Fit and Value
14:39 Virtual Fencing Reality
17:09 Smart Tags and GPS
28:14 Cameras and Computer Vision
37:40 Gene Editing and Pests
43:17 Digital Records and Payments

 

Today, Shaye Wanner interviews Jamie Courter, a University of Missouri assistant professor and genetics extension specialist, about research and producer use of cattle hair shedding scores. Corder explains hair shedding’s link to heat stress—especially in the Southeast with endophyte-infected fescue—and summarizes findings that earlier-shedding cows wean heavier calves, including Simmental data showing hair shed score 1 cows weaned calves 45 pounds heavier than score 5 cows.  

She describes the 1–5 scoring system, typical shedding pattern, and recommends scoring the whole herd on the same day when variation is greatest, noting bulls shed earlier and younger cows score higher than mature cows within a year. She discusses recent genomic work suggesting shedding relates more to changing daylight than temperature, notes variation exists within all breeds, and points listeners to University of Missouri Extension publications for scoring guidance and research details. 

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ 

Learn more about hair shedding research at https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g2049 

Sign up for the upcoming RancherMind with Jasper here: https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ranchermind-events  

00:51 Jamie’s background 
01:37 Why hair shedding matters 
03:39 Research results and economics 
05:02 Daylight vs temperature genetics 
08:37 Scoring timing and method 
11:39 Bulls calves and age effects 
16:47 Consistent scoring observers 
17:48 Across breeds and selection 
21:49 Culling signals and resources 

 

Today on Casual Cattle Conversations, Shaye interviews Devlon Ford, a regenerative ranching advisor at the Noble Research Institute, about managing drought in cattle operations. Ford explains drought-stress indicators producers should watch for, including forage color and condition, lack of rainfall, and cattle manure consistency as a signal of declining forage protein.  

Reactive options discussed include early weaning, strategic destocking (culling old, open, ornery, and poor performers while considering market profitability), and carefully analyzing the costs of purchasing hay or supplements. He also suggests subdividing pastures to increase stock density, improve grazing uniformity, and extend recovery time. Proactively, Ford emphasizes calculating carrying capacity and setting stocking rate below it, using rainfall trigger dates for destocking decisions, avoiding overgrazing to protect soil cover and biology, and using flexible enterprises like stockers/custom grazing during high-forage years. 

Learn about carrying capacity and stocking rate with Devlon: https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/casual-cattle-conversations-podcast-shownotes/devlon-ford  

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/  

• 00:00 Drought Reality Check 
• 01:54 Meet Devlon Ford 
• 02:36 Spotting Drought Stress 
• 04:24 Early Weaning and Selling 
• 05:24 Destocking for Profit 
• 06:09 Feeding and Hay Economics 
• 10:11 Grazing Tactics in Drought 
• 13:10 Plan Ahead for Drought 
• 13:37 Carrying Capacity Basics 
• 17:43 Overgrazing Costs 
• 20:21 Flexible Enterprises and Emotions 
• 24:40 Cull Lists and Records 
• 27:26 Final Field Reminders 

 

 

 

Today on the Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast, Shaye interviews Jasper Oeltjen of Heritage and Horizons about why ranchers feel overwhelmed financially, mentally, and operationally, and how those areas intertwine. Jasper shares her background in education, IT strategy, and a 14-year cow-calf operation, describing how constant hustling led to plateauing and reactive decision-making that created domino effects in nutrition, calving, labor, medications, margins, and relationships.  

They discuss how unavoidable hard seasons are easier to navigate with a foundation of goals, clear expectations, and defined roles. Jasper outlines a four-phase “road trip” framework: set shared long-term goals, map the route with shorter targets, define day-to-day tactics and metrics aligned to goals, and proactively anticipate issues (like aging cows or replacement needs) to avoid “construction.” She also explains helping producers clarify goals via conversation and four focus categories: optimize, innovate, maintain, or grow. 

Start Building a More Intentional Operation 👇

https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ranchermind-events

Learn more about Noble here: https://bit.ly/3DD7uG0    

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/    

00:59 Meet Jasper Oeltjen 

02:32 From Hustle to Strategy 

04:06 Reactive Decisions Dominoes 

07:10 Financial and Operational Strain 

10:23 Relationships and Tough Seasons 

12:48 Root Causes Goals and Roles 

17:34 Four Phase Planning Framework 

20:56 Finding Your Real Goals 

26:06 Keep It Simple and Take Action 

29:10 Rancher Mind Series Invite 

 

Today, Shay interviews NDSU Extension Livestock Environmental Stewardship Specialist, Miranda Meehan about how cattle water quality affects intake, performance, abortions, central nervous system disorders, and death. Meehan explains how geology influences salts, sulfates, TDS, nitrates, and phosphorus in springs, ponds, creeks, and wells, with drought concentrating minerals and increasing risk; she also notes regional concerns such as higher nitrates in the Southern Plains.

 

She recommends testing at least a week before turning cattle into a pasture and more often during drought, using simple screening tools like handheld TDS meters and sulfate strips, then submitting samples for lab panels (pH, sulfates, TDS, nitrates) when elevated. If water is unsafe, options include fencing off sources, hauling water (including possible ELAP/FSA assistance), and longer-term infrastructure like wells, pipelines, or rural water, while checking aquifer test data. They also stress monitoring for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms, which can occur earlier or later in the year and can kill within 15 minutes, using visual checks and tools like trail cameras.

 

Learn more about what Vence could look like on your operation here: https://bit.ly/4kfWrCG

 

Learn more about Noble here: https://bit.ly/3DD7uG0

 

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ 

 

00:41 Meet Miranda Meehan

01:05 Why Water Quality Matters

02:43 What Impacts Water Sources

05:11 How Often to Test

05:56 Easy Screening Tools

07:38 Reading Lab Results

09:47 Fixing Bad Water

11:50 Blue Green Algae Danger

13:56 Tech for Monitoring

 

Today, Shaye welcomes back Nebraska rancher, Jaclyn Wilson to discuss how extensive international travel has shaped her ranch management and views of global agriculture. Wilson describes how travel began through the Nebraska LEAD program and expanded into regular international speaking and industry visits, leading to operational changes at home such as organized team planning with whiteboards and calendars and greater delegation. She contrasts U.S. open-pasture wintering with UK/Ireland winter confinement driven by mud and heavy clay soils, and shares a Netherlands example where turning cows out to grass becomes an agritourism event.  

Wilson outlines Dutch regulations and subsidies tied to nitrates, water runoff, stocking limits, and methane, and questions measurement accuracy for emissions and carbon credits. From Kenya, she highlights corruption concerns, diverse agricultural tours, and a “My Tank” water project. She emphasizes U.S. beef efficiency and safety but notes persistent overseas perceptions about sanitation, traceability, confinement, and antibiotics, and encourages producers to stay aware of global concerns and opportunities, including genetics and investment abroad. 

Learn more about what Vence could look like on your operation here: https://bit.ly/4kfWrCG 

Learn more about Noble here: https://bit.ly/3DD7uG0 

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/   

01:24 Jaclyn’s Travel Bug Origins 

03:29 Ranch Changes From Travel 

05:35 Whiteboards And Planning 

07:16 Winter Housing Culture Shock 

10:16 Netherlands Dairy And Agritourism 

12:00 EU Rules Subsidies And Nitrates 

15:21 Methane Carbon And Measurement 

17:52 Africa And Nuffield Journey 

20:33 Kenya Corruption And Water 

24:43 Water Links Every Country 

25:48 Why Home Matters Most 

28:08 US Beef Strengths And Perception 

31:13 Genetics Trade And Open Minds 

On today's show, Shaye Wanner interviews Saskatchewan ranchers John and Deanne about using Vence virtual fencing on their 400 cow-calf commercial operation near the Bronson Forest. They explain how virtual fencing improves utilization on rough, boggy forest lease country where conventional fencing is difficult and expensive, while saving labor, supporting planned/rotational grazing, and helping soil health by controlling stock density and drift with back fences. 

They describe added benefits like better monitoring for predation claims, reducing temporary electric fencing on rented land, and sorting groups (heifers, main herd, and open cows) using different virtual fences, achieving about a 95% success rate in a week. They discuss software tools like maps and heat maps, training protocols, cow-to-cow variation in responses, challenges with bull collar retention, collar loss rates improving with tighter fitting, and battery life lasting closer to six months than nine.

Learn more about what Vence could look like on your operation here: https://bit.ly/4kfWrCG

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ 

• 01:01 Biggest Grazing Wins
• 02:42 Why Vence
• 03:30 Ranch and Region Overview
• 06:04 Secondary Benefits and Predators
• 08:24 Sorting Cows with Maps
• 13:31 Software Insights and Training
• 16:42 Heat Maps and Logging Changes
• 19:47 Bulls Learning Curve and Next Steps
• 24:10 Challenges Battery and Retention