Farmer's Holiday

That's what Larry calls a rainy day, and we're having a welcome one.  We had half an inch overnight with 100% chance of rain forecast today.  The low dark clouds must have fooled the calves' alarm clocks so they were late coming up to eat and that let me sleep in  a little.  They stand at the back yard fence and bellow insistently until I come out and feed them.

It's a slow, soaking rain that will really benefit the oats and the pastures.  The effects of last year's drought are still visible on much of the country.  The cool weather rains we had in the spring didn't help the warm weather grasses and the Coastal much, and the summer has been very dry.  Luckily I've had the cows off the big pasture letting it grow out to burn, so it hasn't been abused but it hasn't gotten much help either.  Bob Self's pasture, where the cows are now and which was burned last winter, is about out of grass.  I'm feeding hay there every day (thank goodness for a good hay season).  Some cool season grasses should start coming out soon.  I'll have to watch our pasture after we burn and not overburden it too soon.  I might consider leasing Bob's another year to let ours grow out.

The weaning calves are doing well.  Our target weight is 600 pounds in mid-October and I'm confident we'll be in good shape.  I had a nice talk with the nutritionist at a nearby feed mill and he made me feel good about the way I'm feeding and showed me how I could cut down a little, which will help with costs.  We advertised the calves in the paper and have had several calls.  We sold the 5 baldie heifers as breeding stock, which I always like to do.  The steers will go to the marketing alliance and I'll keep one or 2 Hereford heifers and sell the others and the bulls at West or through the newspaper ad.  People are becoming aware, through the ad or word of mouth or both, that we have them and I probably get a call a week asking about Hereford bulls.  I'm babying the Angus bull and my new Hereford bull.  The Angus hurt his knee, and I'm trying to see if rest will let it get better.  The Hereford got pneumonia soon after arriving last spring (I bought him in Kansas) and is still slowly recovering.  Starr and Skye, the twin Hereford heifers, are in the pen together.  Starr is eating hay (also from Kansas) and weaning ration enthusiastically and Skye, who I just weaned, is getting the idea.  Starr is still quite a bit smaller but the gap is closing.  Kathy still sneaks out after supper and feeds Starr a bottle.

The dogs, cats and horses have all found dry places to rest and enjoy the cool weather.  That's what we plan to do today too.  I hope yours is as good.  Be sure to wish Amy a happy birthday.

Recipe For A Miracle

- 100 pounds per acre of Oat seed
- 15 acres of reasonably prepared seedbed
- 1 inch of rain
- 6 days of sunshine

- a dash of faith

God is always bringing new life to us.  It's my favorite thing about the farm.  Calves, kittens, fawns, doves, oats...all pretty miraculous to see.

Life is good.  Come on down and watch the oats grow.

If It Flies...it's safe

Amy and I are observing dove season this week by spending the last hour of daylight hunting.  We've seen a few birds and fired a few shots but, so far, not a feather has been ruffled.  Life is good--come on down and hunt with us.

Amy and her pink camo shotgun

If you aren't relaxed you aren't doing it right

Mojo, our wind-powered decoy

Wildcats

The family almost reached critical mass Saturday, driving to the K-State game in the RV.  Jeff cracked wise until we quit laughing at him, then went to bed.  Amy and Holly chattered endlessly about everything and everybody, while Lawrence napped in the passenger seat.  Kathy smiled happily the whole time, making Touchdown Taco Dip and basking in our togetherness.  We missed you, Montgomerys.  Come join us when you can.

Oats

I've worked the last few days to get the field plowed and oats planted before the forecast rain arrived.  I finished planting 15 acres today about 10:00 and it started raining about noon!  Although I intend them for winter grazing, last year I deferred the grazing, fertilized them and made 60 bales of hay.  It's nice to have those bales now--I'm already feeding hay, something I usually plan to start doing in November.

Here the horses are cleaning up the oats I spilled as I loaded 2000 pounds of seed, one 20-pound gucket at a time.  At one point Kitty was eating them off the ground, Sugar from one of the guckets I was trying to fill and CT was eating out of the grain drill.  They really bonded with that red grain wagon--they're probably standing out there beside it right now, waiting for it to drop some more oats on the ground for them.  We've gotten half an inch of rain so far, hoping for more as we have significant chances all weekend long.  Life is good--come on down and watch the oats grow.