This column has routinely provided updates from data generated by the Kansas Farm Management Association (KFMA). Analysis of the enterprise reports over time enables some key insights into the decision-making process of beef producers. State management association programs allow farming/ranching participants to obtain comprehensive analysis of their respective enterprises which comprise the farm operation. That information subsequently leads to establishment of meaningful benchmarks for comparative purposes – both from a production and financial standpoint.  

The KFMA data is especially useful from several perspectives. One, Kansas’ program is one of the largest in the country. Two, the data represents mostly mid-size (including both diversified and full-time) operations. Last, there’s a solid track record across all the data enabling meaningful comparisons over time. 

The data represents five-year moving averages beginning with 1996-2000 and subsequently updated annually through 2017 (resulting from the 2018 analysis completed in 2019). Presentation of the five-year moving averages avoids year-over-year fluctuations that may occur due to weather and/or markets. What’s more, the moving averages enable a meaningful perspective of broader trends within the cow/calf sector. 

The key components in the graph include number of cows maintained, number of calves marketed and marketing weight. The trends are solidly consistent over time:

Are these consistent with the trends you’ve seen in your area?  

Nevil Speer serves as an industry consultant and is based in Bowling Green, KY. Contact him at [email protected].