What do BioBarrels®, 48 row corn planters, GPS and net wrap have in common? They all allow one person to do much more than you could, 10 or 20 years ago.
Looking at how agriculture has progressed in the last generation, we have seen any number of innovations that allow you to do much more with your time. Much of this was necessary as today’s farmers and ranchers need to operate more acres or total animals than their parents and grandparents did, just to maintain a similar living.
When I was a kid, most planters were still 4 rows, and 38 to 40 inches wide. Some quick math looks like you could get roughly 10 times as many acres planted today, with a 48 row (30 inch row) planter. While cattle herds are bigger, they probably have not increased by a factor of 10. And, not all farmers are using 48 row planters yet, but the technology is there for those who need it, or want it. Coupling it with GPS navigation truly puts you in the realm of rocket science innovations.
Similarly, on the subject of increasing productivity, I have found more than one site on the internet that will allow you to calculate your potential savings of using net wrap versus twine. Net wrap is going to cost you more than twine, but you need to look at other advantages, to see the total or true savings of using net wrap. Those advantages can include, less time and fuel consumed per bale, lower baling losses, better handling and transport, and lower storage losses. Several of these sound familiar to those of you who have heard us talk of the advantages of a self-fed supplement, e.g., less labor, less fuel, and with supplement blocks, little, if any, wastage. The sales positioning of net wrap is also very similar to CRYSTALYX®. While the initial investment is often perceived as more cost per unit (per pound of crude protein or per bale), when you add up all the advantages, you often come out ahead.
Taking all these advantages into account can get into come complex math, so, as with the net wrap tools I found on the internet, CRYSTALYX® also offers a program called Crystal Clear Economyx™
Crystal Clear Economyx™ will allow you to enter your own costs for the many inputs associated with feeding CRYSTALYX® and hand-fed supplements, or other self-fed supplements, such as liquid supplements. You can then make comparisons on the total cost per head per day for these various supplement options.
CRYSTALYX® has the added advantage in the last 9 years, of having a biodegradable container option, the BioBarrel®. The BioBarrel® will further your reduction in time and fuel by eliminating the need to retrieve empty steel barrels or plastic tubs.
Just take a look at your tractor, your baler, your planter, and especially your beef cattle supplement. Have they changed in the last 10 -20 years? If they haven’t, you’re probably missing out on some recent innovations that can save significant dollars on your operating costs.
CRYSTALYX® Brand Supplements are available to your herd 24/7, and are an excellent way to supply vitamins, minerals, fly control, and increase the utilization of your forage. All of this, with a minimal input of time, labor, equipment and delivery cost. All costs considered, CRYSTALYX® and the BioBarrel® will often give you the lowest cost per hear per day, with optimal results in your herd.
