Black Ink Archives
The award-winning Black Ink column has become a regular feature in livestock and agricultural publications nationwide. The monthly column features information on every aspect of beef production, from long-term planning to calf health programs. Improving quality is the key theme, and editors can trust that the content will always be breed and beef brand neutral. To add yourself to the e-mail distribution list contact us.
December 2006 - The "C" Word(Chasing loaded words)
November 2006 - ID records don't have to be high tech
(Maintaining records)
October 2006 - The purpose-driven herd
(purpose-driven herd management)
September 2006 - Traditions of value
(making the most of culling)
August 2006 - Close, but no premium?
(the slight edge, where little things mean a lot)
July 2006 - Who wants to be perfect?
(perfect competition)
June 2006 - Like a light bulb
(teachable moments)
May 2006 - Where it all begins
(reproductive physiology)
April 2006 - Don't fence me in
(real and metaphorical fencing)
March 2006 - Manage to win
(managing for quality)
February 2006 - Stay in business for the long run
(strategies for the downhill price slope)
January 2006 - U.S. Beef Producers Both Lucky and Good
(the world beef markets)
December 2005 - Plan for the inevitable
(death and taxes)
November 2005 - Yes, but will they break even
(Break evens)
October 2005 - Win one for the consumer
(comparing the cow herd to a football team)
September 2005 - Weaning: Toward the ideal
(weaning sets the stage for calf performance)
August 2005 - This, I gotta see
(dealing with skeptics)
July 2005 - What's on your customers' grill?
(making beef the consumer will grill)
June 2005 - You can rush quality
(maturity in finished cattle)
May 2005 - The weakest link
(maternal influence)
April 2005 - Help can be hard to find
(labor)
March 2005 - Keep fat in its place
(yield grades)
February 2005 - Don't shoot in the dark
(accuracy and risk)
January 2005 - End meats add value
(effect of new beef products on cattle prices)
December 2004 - Consider the source
(bias in the beef industry)
November 2004 - Ahead of the curve
(the learning curve)
October 2004 - Marketing plans
(marketing plans)
September 2004 - Outside the box
(new ideas)
August 2004 - Shrink happens
(shrink)
July 2004 - Reproductive efficiency
(reproductive efficiency)
June 2004 - Overhead analysis
(financial overhead)
May 2004 - What are your calves worth?
(calves potential value)
April 2004 - Find the best and worst cows
(sorting the top and bottom)
March 2004 - The ID glass is half full
(individual animal identification)
February 2004 - Follow the money
(cattle selected for economic traits)
January 2004 - Chills are relative
(cold weather)
December 2003 - Dream on!
(long-term planning)
November 2003 - Never stop learning
(producer education options)
October 2003 - Wean with care
(weaning)
September 2003 - Use that carcass data
(how to respond to carcass data)
August 2003 - Who's asking?
(value-based market value)
July 2003 - Try to keep it green
(late-summer grazing)
June 2003 - Partner up for feeding
(how to select a feeding partner)
May 2003 - Ready, set AIM!
(orient your production to a branded beef program)
April 2003 - Open all channels
(communication)
March 2003 - River of profit or trickle?
(plans for your calves)
February 2003 - Bull values require plans
(what you can afford to pay for bulls)
January 2003 - Stocker cooperators change
(future of stocker and backgrounding operations)
December 2002 - Consumer concerns
(comsumer health concerns)
November 2002 - Windows 2003
(windows of opportunity)
October 2002 - I win, you win
(beef industry alliances)
September 2002 - The next generation
(condiser next generations of cattle and producers)
August 2002 - Don't get stressed out
(stress prevention and management)
July 2002 - 10 ways to add value
(add value to calves)
June 2002 - Hot and bothered? Cool it!
(heat stress)
May 2002 - Testing, one, two ...
(on-farm research)
April 2002 - Number Games
(numbers and statistics)
March 2002 - Reality check
(perceptions become reality)
February 2002 - Not to decide is a decision
(breeding decisions)
January 2002 - You need to know
(communication in beef production)
December 2001 - Can't get no (satisfaction)
(cow-calf records)
November 2001 - They're weaned-now what?
(post-weaning management)
October 2001 - Replacement strategies
(replacement heifer criteria)
September 2001 - Quality time
(human capital in raising quality beef profitably)
August 2001 - Consumer signals call the shots for beef
(consumer)
July 2001 - Plan ahead to sell what the market wants
(coordinate weaning and health programs to market)
June 2001 - Join forces, earn and claim your premiums
(get paid for hitting carcass targets)
May 2001 - Choose a target, then aim to please
(beef product sales to customers affect profitability)
April 2001 - Manage grass with beef in mind
(grass management)
March 2001 - Tax Imagination Rather Than Incomw
(tax strategies)
February 2001 - Boringly predictable? The bank won't complain!
(predictability in beef production)
January 2001 - Above and beyond mandatory ID
(individual cow-calf ID systems)
December 2000 - Ah, profit! What could possibly go wrong?
(cutting costs and planning profits)
November 2000 - Be Proud of Your Beef
(beef product\'s importance to bottom lines)
October 2000 - Profitability: It DOES Compute!
(own and use a computer)
September 2000 - Out-Think the Cows
(weaning psychology)
August 2000 - Keep Ahead of the Game
(timing business plans with cattle cycles)
July 2000 - Just Your Luck--NOT!
(using records and data)
April 2000 - Breeding Decisions
(breeding decisions)
March 2000 - Get Calves off to a Value-added Start
(calving)
February 2000 - Think Environmentally, Acto Localy to Adapt Cows
(environmental effects on cattle performance)
January 2000 - A Tool of the Trade
(EPD\'s)
December 1999 - Don't forget Quality (of Life) Assurance
(quality of life)
November 1999 - Set Up Your Own Long Range Plan
(long-range planning)
October 1999 - Match Cows to Resources For Fall Feed Savings
(winter cow feeding options)
September 1999 - Aim for Low-Stress Weaning
(weaning programs)
August 1999 - Keep a Good Thing Going
(calf health programs)
July 1999 - Know Thy Cows
(recordkeeping and identification)