Electronic records:This year's session has even more interest in electronic record keeping. Terrell Miller of Cattlesoft gave several tips on how to choose the right type of software management tool for your operation. Electronic recordkeeping can be a time consuming task initially, but pays big dividends, especially during tax preparation, Miller said. During tax season, a producer can simply hand over a clean printout of sales transactions for the year to an accountant instead of "plopping down a shoebox full of paper."
Sources of Market Information: Dr. David Anderson, Texas Cooperative Extension livestock marketing economist, gave an informative presentation on finding good sources of marketing information. With multiple sources of print and online sources available to producers, one of the best pieces of advice was for producers to decide on an information source that provides analysis and makes you think.
"You can get covered up pretty quick with all that's our there," Anderson said. "You're going to have to cull through that information and decide what works best for you."
Texas producers will be certain to pay attention to drought monitor maps, he said, one of which NOAA provides.
- BLAIR FANNIN
