These are just some of the questions that the analysis of a SPA database could answer. I believe the best place to start is at the regional level. Environmental restrictions and market access are just a couple of examples of why regional numbers are better than national numbers. But a database can have many other applications. And that is why it is imperative that we ultimately have national numbers.
Effective communication is based on quality information.
As an industry, we simply don't know what it costs to produce a pound of weaned calf last year, or the year before. It's time for us to find out. The focus of a great deal of the industry's attention is marketing. From alliances to producer-owned packing plants to branded products of all types, we are seeing a tremendous shift in the expectations of the marketing segment of our industry. But the first rule of good marketing is to know and understand your cost of production.