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.