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BEEF BOOKSHELFResurrection of the Bar O By Tom and Jemima DavisDec 2, 2007 11:53 PM, By Tom and Jemima Davis Guts ‘N’ Gumption is the subtitle of the new book by Tom and Jemima Davis who share their story of buying and selling 22 ranches... Understanding the “Experience Economy”Nov 5, 2007 11:55 AM As a consumer, you may have noticed a shift in the fabric of today’s economy. As traditional goods and services increasingly become commoditized, businesses must... Roots of Change:Nebraska’s New AgricultureAug 13, 2007 2:33 PM Among the vast corporate and smaller family-sized farms and agribusinesses of Nebraska, the old pioneering spirit of entrepreneurship is rising again, this time in the form of... Cookbook for Grassfed GrillingMay 7, 2007 2:17 PM Just in time for the grilling season, Shannon Hayes introduces her newest cookbook “The Farmer and the Grill... Cattle Management Videos AvailableMay 7, 2007 11:03 AM Ten videos have been added to the Tennessee Cattle Lane video series, part of an online library offered by the beef program of University of Tennessee... No Risk Ranching by Greg Judy. Based on his personal experience, Judy, a rancher from Missouri, shows how to make a living from the land without owning it. In this useful guide, he describes his successes as well as his mistakes in custom grazing cattle on leased land. He shares how he went from the threat of foreclosure on a 250 acre farm in 1996 to a profitable cattle operation that includes contract grazing for other people on 2,800 acres of leased land. Judy shares his knowledge of how to do it, such as: finding idle land to lease; calculating the cost of a lease; drafting and writing a land lease contract; developing good water on leased land; figuring fencing costs; lowering risk through custom grazing; promoting wildlife; using cost/share programs; and keeping accurate records. Knowledge Rich Ranching and Grass Farmers both by Allan Nation As publisher of the popular Stockman-Grass Farmer publication in the Southeast, Nation is an icon with dedicated graziers. In the book Knowledge Rich Ranching, he shares lessons on profit potential in the cattle industry for forward thinkers, and says, “Today, it is knowledge that separates the rich from the rest.” This book profiles real ranchers and the methods they’ve used to achieve financial success in the ranching business today. Nation also highlights business management principles of ranching and provides guidelines on how to read and profit from the cattle cycle. In the book Grass Farmers, Nation shares the success stories of 37 producers from across the country and how they are running their operations – be it with hogs, sheep or cattle. Each example offers a wealth of ideas for other producers to better maximize forage use in their own operation. Living on Acreages: What You Need to Know Living on Acreages is for everyone thinking of moving to an acreage or inhabiting one now. It provides a valuable instruction manual and reference to everything from building and landscaping in the country to maintaining rural property. More than 80 drawings, diagrams, photographs, tables, and charts enhance descriptions of essentials. Each chapter lists resources and Web sites for additional information. Examples include how to select a rural living site, design a homestead that is comfortable, functional, and adaptable to lifelong needs, and establish or access systems for water, electricity, mail delivery, sanitation, and sewer, including septic system design. It will give tips to help understand the effects of seasonal weather and wind on rural structures. Other topics include planning a windbreak or shelterbelt, minimizing damage by insects and animals, assuring safety from lightning, fire, wind, winter weather, and crime. The book also tells how to develop outdoor living areas, including decks, patios, gardens, and areas for wildlife preservation. Cost of the 120-page, illustrated, softcover book is $20 plus shipping and handling. Headquartered at Iowa State University, MidWest Plan Service is an educational publishing consortium of 12 U.S. universities and the USDA. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t by Jim Collins The King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management’s Barry Dunn and Colorado State University animal science professor Tom Field both call this a “must read.” One of the findings of Collins’ research is that those organizations that transformed themselves from “good to great” were focused on the right work and “displayed a remarkable discipline to unplug all sorts of extraneous junk.” In short, instead of spending our precious hours trying to do more, we should be focused on doing only those things that matter and over which we have control. About the book, Field says, “Increasingly, management and leadership gurus are pointing to the reality that both individuals and organizations should focus on their strengths to gain a competitive advantage as opposed to investing resources in correcting weaknesses. Most of us have a list of things we need to accomplish. An equally important task is to create a list of things we need to stop doing. The “stop doing” list will likely be highlighted by tasks that stress us needlessly, drain our optimism, waste our time, create unbalance in our personal and professional lives, and divert our attention from the mission of our organizations.” Lord of the Range trilogy by CJ Hadley Range magazine publisher CJ Hadley has put together this trilogy showcasing a different side of the West and life with agriculture. The three books in the series include The Romance and Reality of Ranching, which depicts ranch families and their daily lives; Grits, Guts and Glory: Portrait of the West, which details the benefits of ranchers to the environment and the country; and Spirit: Cowboys, Horses, Earth & Sky, which shows the true soul of the West. The books are filled with photos and stories from those who live day by day in the heart of agriculture. Stetson, Pipe And Boots — Colorado’s Cattleman Governor by R.L Preston This biography profiles Dan Thornton, the Texas native and well-known Hereford breeder who served as Colorado’s controversial governor from 1951-55. The book chronicles this self-made man’s life from his early days as the son of a West Texas sharecropper to his cattle industry and political triumphs. At the 1945 National Western Stock Show, Thornton’s two Hereford bulls brought a then-record price of $50,000 each. Politically, Thornton is regarded as the person most responsible for locating the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. Virginia's Cattle Story: The First Four Centuries This compilation chronicles the footprints and contributions of cattle in Virginia, from early Jamestown to today. Commissioned by the Virginia Cattlemen's Foundation and the Dairy Foundation of Virginia, the 350-page, full-color, coffee table-style book is available for $50, with proceeds going to agricultural scholarships for Virginia youth. Amazing Grazing Grazing management is the theme of this clever book which aims to help school aged children – and the general public – learn more about the positive aspects of grazing management.Amazing Grazing spotlights three Montana ranchers – Bob Lee, Ray Marxer and Tom Milesnick – all of whom have been recognized by the beef industry for their devotion to environmental stewardship. The book includes colorful pictures of cattle grazing on these producers’ ranches and easy to understand text that explains their grazing management practices throughout the year. |
