Ag producers are often faced with difficult questions: What is the cost to produce a pound of weaned calf? Or a replacement heifer? Or a ton of hay?
The Nebraska Extension will host Unit Cost of Production (UCOP) workshop at the Legion Hall in Burwell on January 27-28 to provide hands-on learning experiences for producers in calculating the unit cost of production for a cow-calf operation. Both days will run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, CT.
Pre-registration is required by January 21, and participation is limited to 25 people. The cost is $50 per participant and includes meals and materials for both days.
“Having information to make effective business decisions is important for ranch success. Enterprise analysis and unit cost of production (UCOP) are tools that can help ranchers identify where value is being created on the ranch, where costs are occurring, and what changes could be made to improve profit,” Extension educator Aaron Berger said.
While it takes time to set up and calculate a UCOP, the benefits are:
- Knowing what present costs are.
- Projecting what unit cost of production will be in 2026.
- Identifying opportunities to improve profitability.
- Using information to make management and marketing decisions.
Participants in this workshop will work through a sample ranch to determine the economic profitability of four common ranch enterprises: cow-calf, stockers/breeding heifers, hay, and land. They will go through the steps of analyzing costs and calculating what it costs to produce a unit of product for each enterprise. Participants will also learn how to identify how changes could improve ranch profitability.
Contact the instructor, Aaron Berger, at 308-235-3122 with questions about the workshop. Pre-register by Jan. 21 by emailing Bethany Johnston at [email protected] or call 402-336-2760.
