New 2-day program helps remove speculation from profitable decision-making through hands-on market analysis tools

Noble Research Institute (Noble), a trusted educational resource for farmers and ranchers since 1945, has introduced its newest course designed to help livestock producers remove speculation from profitable decision-making. MarketSMART Ranching, a comprehensive 2-day educational program, equips participants with practical tools to evaluate livestock enterprises, calculate the return on gain, and make strategic buying and selling decisions based on current market conditions.

The inaugural offering of MarketSMART Ranching will be held September 3-4, 2025, on the campus of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. Thanks to a partnership between Noble and Lincoln University, this first course will be offered free of charge. Interested producers can learn more or register here.

"Too many producers are making critical financial decisions based on intuition rather than market data," said Kacie Scherler, a regenerative ranching advisor at Noble Research Institute. "MarketSMART Ranching transforms how producers approach decision making by offering tangible tools to evaluate their livestock enterprises and strategically time their market activities."
MarketSMART Ranching addresses three critical areas that directly impact an operation's profitability:
• Enterprise Mindset: Participants gain tools to evaluate each livestock enterprise to capture market opportunities better and assess viability through a market-driven lens.
• Return on Gain: The course teaches a simple per-head method to calculate return on gain, enabling informed selling or retention decisions based on cost-to-keep calculations.
• Market Dynamics and Opportunities: Producers learn to understand and apply market analysis to identify high-value opportunities or potential threats in real-time market conditions.

MarketSMART Ranching was developed specifically for producers by ag professionals who understand firsthand the challenges of managing profitable operations. Beyond individual skill development, the program creates valuable networking opportunities among forward-thinking farmers and ranchers.

"The ag landscape has become increasingly complex, and our decision-making has to adapt," Scherler explained. "MarketSMART Ranching provides producers with the skills and confidence to interpret market signals and apply that intelligence to their specific operation."

Noble's commitment to increasing profitability for the nation's farms and ranches is reflected in this latest educational offering, which represents a response to producer demand for more sophisticated business management tools in agriculture.

For more information about Noble Research Institute and its educational programs, visit www.noble.org/find-a-course/.

About Noble Research Institute
Noble Research Institute is the nation's largest nonprofit dedicated to farm and ranch management and has been a leading, trusted resource in agriculture since 1945. The organization serves agricultural producers with education, research and consultation on regenerating soil health to improve their land, livestock and livelihood. Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to restoring U.S. grazing lands, Noble actively manages 13,500 acres of working ranchlands to provide real-world insights and applications for farmers and ranchers.

For more information about Noble Research Institute, visit www.noble.org.