Ranchonomics

In this episode, host John Haskell explains why separating personal finances and business finances is one of the most fundamental steps a rancher can take toward gaining financial clarity. From creating separate accounts and books to establishing a family budget and treating money taken from the business as a deliberate draw, John breaks down how mixing personal and business spending can hide where money is actually going and make it harder to understand profitability.
John also explains why separating finances is only the beginning. Once personal spending is out of the business, ranchers can more clearly evaluate individual enterprises, understand the economic value of internal transfers, and decide where to reinvest for future returns. The goal isn't simply to make one change and stop. It's to create a business where better data leads to better decisions and continuous improvement.
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In this episode, I cover:
Why separating personal and business finances is the first transformation in building a better business
How separate checking accounts, books, and a family budget create greater financial clarity
Why spending business money on personal expenses can cause money to leak out of the business
How to think about money spent as either an expense that is gone or a reinvestment that can generate future value
Why ranchers should separate individual enterprises to understand which ones are actually creating value
Why building a better ranch business is a process of continuous improvement rather than a one-time transformation

Connect with Ranch Right:
Subscribe on YouTube
Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
Follow on Facebook
Check out the website
Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:
Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
Ranching for Profit
Ranching.FYI
Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:
We work with producers on cash flow, risk management, and long-term financial strategy so the business stays resilient—no matter the market.
If you want to see whether that’s the right fit for your operation, click below to book a free call.
Book a free discovery call

In this episode, John Haskell talks with Greg Christiansen of Grandview Livestock about the 26 years he has spent raising meat goats and sheep alongside row crops and cattle. Greg shares how he got started, what he learned along the way, and how adjustments to kidding dates, grazing strategies, fencing, and marketing have shaped the enterprise over time.
The conversation gets into the practical details of managing goats, from using brush and weeds as forage to grazing cover crops, managing parasite pressure, and finishing kids for the right market. Whether you're considering adding small ruminants to your operation or looking for ways to make better use of the resources you already have, Greg's 26 years of experience offer plenty of practical lessons.
Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!
In this episode, we cover:
How Greg got started raising goats and sheep and what he learned from his early years in the business
Why timing the kidding season around weather, forage, parasite pressure, and the market matters
How Greg uses brush, weeds, and cover crops as valuable forage for goats
The simple, low-cost fencing system Greg uses to contain goats on perimeter fences and manage interior paddocks
What Greg's production costs and returns look like from the nanny through weaning and finishing
Why paying attention to market demand and the value of adding weight helps determine when to sell small ruminants

Connect with Greg:
Follow on Youtube
Check out his website
Email him at greglchristiansen@gmail.com

Connect with Ranch Right:
Subscribe on YouTube
Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
Follow on Facebook
Check out the website
Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:
Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
Ranching for Profit
Ranching.FYI
Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:
At Ranch Right, we help producers build clarity around cash flow, margins, and risk so the decisions we talk about on Ranchonomics actually work in the real world.
If you want fewer surprises and more control, that’s where to start.
Click below to book a call today.
Book a free discovery call

Cattle prices are high, but how long can the good times last? In this episode, John Haskell sits down with Canadian rancher and longtime custom grazer Steve Kenyon to talk about the cattle cycle, what history can teach us about today's market, and why trying to predict the exact top or bottom may be a losing game. Steve shares lessons from more than 30 years in the cattle business, including how gross margin analysis led him to sell his own herd and build a custom grazing operation.
The conversation explores the market disruptions Steve has experienced firsthand, from drought and BSE to today's record cattle prices, and why outside forces can make the traditional 10-year cattle cycle harder to predict. John and Steve also discuss the danger of expanding simply because prices are good, why producers should be planning for the next downturn while times are profitable, and how strategies like Sell/Buy Marketing can help ranchers make decisions based on margins rather than trying to time the market.
Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!
In this episode, we cover:
Why today's high cattle prices have Steve thinking about the next market downturn
Whether the traditional 10-year cattle cycle still applies in today's market
How drought, BSE, world events, and other outside forces can disrupt cattle markets
Why Steve sold his cow herd even though cattle prices were strong
How gross margin analysis changed the direction of Steve's ranching business
Why high cattle prices aren't necessarily a signal to expand your herd
The risks of trying to predict the exact top or bottom of the cattle market
Why producers should make a plan for changing markets before prices turn

Connect with Steve:
Follow on Facebook
Follow on YouTube

Connect with Ranch Right:
Subscribe on YouTube
Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
Follow on Facebook
Check out the website
Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:
Episode 13: Market Timing with Bob Metzger - Part 1
Episode 14: Market Timing with Bob Metzger - Part 2
Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
Ranching for Profit
Ranching.FYI
Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:
Join us online, ask questions, and get practical tools you can put to work tomorrow. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to receive updates on our next session. Click the link below to catch up on all of our past webinars on YouTube.
Webinars

In this episode of Ranchonomics Stories, John Haskell sits down with Kevin and Mandy Wiltse to explore how their farm has evolved over the years as they learned what worked, what didn't, and what the land needed next. What began as a conventional cropping system gradually shifted toward cover crops, livestock integration, and perennial forage as Kevin recognized the limitations of their previous system. Rather than trying to find one perfect formula, they have continued experimenting, observing, and adapting their approach to embrace a farm that keeps changing.
Kevin and Mandy also share how Ranching for Profit helped them rethink their goals and make changes that have created less stress, healthier soil, and greater profitability. They discuss transitioning acres gradually, building flexibility into the farm business, learning from mentors outside their local community, and using rest and grazing management to make the most of their land. Their story is a reminder that successful management is not about sticking with a plan forever, but continuing to learn and make better decisions as circumstances change.
Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!
In this episode, we cover:
How Kevin and Mandy moved from conventional cropping to a system centered on cover crops, livestock, and perennial forage
Why they learned that no-till alone wasn't solving their soil and weed challenges
How livestock integration and forage production have increased net profit per acre while reducing costs
Why they transition acres gradually instead of converting the entire farm at once
How building a flexible system allows them to shift between forage and cash crops as conditions and markets change
What Kevin has learned by experimenting with grazing management, including the value of resting pastures for a full season
Why having clear goals, supportive partnerships, and a willingness to keep learning has helped them navigate difficult years and build a business they feel good about

Connect with Ranch Right:
Subscribe on YouTube
Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
Follow on Facebook
Check out the website
Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:
Green Cover Seed Podcast: Building a Drought Resilient Grazing Operation Using Perennials and Cover Crops with Kevin Wiltse
Green Cover Seed Podcast: Kevin Wiltse - Integrating Livestock Producer Stories Webinar Series
Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
Ranching for Profit
Ranching.FYI
Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:
We work with producers on cash flow, risk management, and long-term financial strategy so the business stays resilient—no matter the market.
If you want to see whether that’s the right fit for your operation, click below to book a free call.
Book a free discovery call

Your time is one of the most valuable assets in your business, but are you actually treating it that way? In this episode, John Haskell and Amos Troester explore how ranchers can increase their profitability by understanding the opportunity cost of their time, focusing on high-value work, and putting the right people in the right roles. From buying and selling cattle to planning ahead and learning from others' experience, Amos shares how knowing your worth and better time management can create significant value without simply working more hours.
The conversation digs into the real economics of delegation, employee strengths, and focus. Amos and John discuss how to calculate what your time is worth, why paying someone else to handle a lower-value task can actually make you money, and how clear roles, trust, and planning allow everyone on the team to work where they create the most value. They also explore how continually improving your skills can increase the value of your time as your business evolves.
Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!
In this episode, we cover:
Why time is one of the most valuable assets in your ranching business
How learning from other people's experience can help you avoid costly mistakes
Why planning ahead can help you save time and avoid unnecessary work
How to calculate the opportunity cost of your time and identify your highest-value work
Why putting the right people in the right roles can dramatically increase efficiency
How trust and clear responsibilities help ranch teams stay focused and productive
Why continually increasing your skills and value is essential to long-term business growth

Connect with Amos:
Follow on Facebook
Check out his website
Send an email at TBarACattle@gmail.com

Connect with Ranch Right:
Subscribe on YouTube
Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
Follow on Facebook
Check out the website
Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:
Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell
Slack
Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
Ranching for Profit
Ranching.FYI
Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:
We work with producers on cash flow, risk management, and long-term financial strategy so the business stays resilient—no matter the market.
If you want to see whether that’s the right fit for your operation, click below to book a free call.
Book a free discovery call