Costs and returns calculated for beef producers in 2022

Jun 08, 2023

Editor’s note: The following was written by Bradley Zwilling with Illinois FBFM Association and University of Illinois, for the farmdoc daily website May 19.

Total economic returns in 2022 for Illinois beef feeding enterprises exceeded total costs by $25.41 per 100 pounds of beef produced in preliminary findings for farms enrolled in Illinois Farm Business Farm Management.

The 2022 returns were higher than the 2021 total returns above feed costs of 19 cents per 100 pounds produced. Total returns have exceeded total economic costs in four out of the last 10 years.

The 2022 level of return above all costs was $26.66 per 100 pounds beef produced above the average return above all costs for the 2013 through 2022 period.

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Video: Turning Better Feed Into Better Herds: Innovation in Forage Harvesting

What happens when a dairy farmer gets frustrated with equipment that isn’t doing its job? In this episode, we sit down with Horning Manufacturing founder Leon Horning to hear how a problem in the feed bunk led to a globally recognized forage equipment company.

Born out of a third-generation dairy operation in Pennsylvania, Horning Manufacturing started with one goal: helping cows get more nutrition from silage. Leon shares how his father, Leon Sr., built the first kernel processor rolls in the family farm shop after seeing whole corn kernels pass through cows undigested — costing valuable feed efficiency and milk production.

We explore the company’s journey from a side project on the farm to an international manufacturer serving dairy farmers, beef operators, and custom harvesters around the world. Along the way, Leon discusses the evolution of pull-type forage harvesters, the engineering behind Horning’s “plug-and-play” kernel processor kits, and why reducing downtime during harvest can make or break a season.

The conversation also dives into Horning’s row-independent corn heads, practical equipment design, real-world customer stories, and how innovations born in the field continue to shape the company today.

Whether you’re a producer, equipment enthusiast, or simply love stories of grassroots innovation, this episode offers a fascinating look at how one farm family turned necessity into industry-changing technology.