Nothing is simple

[ptonsparky]

Googled for some information on what others are doing in regards to cost control for feedlots. Yup, cattle in particular. What I got was a short lesson on World economics and how I as a business owner need to pay attention. I do work for these places and haven't kept up. It is more than just starting and stopping a motor if you want to compete and stay in business.

 

[kwired]

I feel a little for them when they are having harder times but have come to conclusion that they will not care about me if I'm having a harder time. I don't treat them any different than any other customer.

They have no problem demanding you come out when it is ten or twenty below and a water tank heater does not work, or a feed system does not run.

You do have to be fair to them. When times are good they are very good at spending money, some of it usually requires the services of an electrician, of course that is the place where the budget starts getting cut.

 

[ptonsparky]

I am not talking about treating them any differently. I am talking about missed opportunites to sell more service and equipment because I lack knowledge about their needs. Call it market research. The demand for grain overseas, alcohol production, and the cost of sugar in Brazil boils down to a very real need for cost control in their feeding operations. More so now than in the past. Either I help or I watch someone else.

 

[ceb58]

I am not talking about treating them any differently. I am talking about missed opportunites to sell more service and equipment because I lack knowledge about their needs. Call it market research. The demand for grain overseas, alcohol production, and the cost of sugar in Brazil boils down to a very real need for cost control in their feeding operations. More so now than in the past. Either I help or I watch someone else.

That is true. Farming has/is coming down to a precision instrument. At one of our communication sites we lease the land from a larger farmer. One of the items in the agreement was we install and house a GPS transmitter/receiver for him. He showed me his set up in his shop/office. In his fields there are sensors located in the ground and on his tractors. At any given time he can see the moisture content of the dirt and if that area needs fertilize or not. He can track the tractors as to there location,speed,fuel consumption and service hours. He said the system saved him over $10,000.00 the first year in fuel consumption and fertilizer. He said that by knowing areas that did not need fertilize or to be irrigated the savings in fuel,material and man power paid for the system in no time. For those that live in a large farming community this is one area that would be a good money maker in a niche market.