Drought. The drought is just plain kicking our asses out here in our little slice of Kansas.
Hubby is working like a madman trying to swath/bale CRP for neighbors. He got home at 10:00 p.m. tonight and asked me to wake him up at 1:00 a.m. so he can go back out and bale again.
We have only mowed our grass twice this summer. And last time, it was just for the random prickly tall weed that dots the brown grass.
We are hauling water every day to one pasture. Takes a couple hours each time. Actually, DH is doing it. I've only done it once, though I have volunteered multiple times. I think he worries about the heat and DS, since he broke the window out of the pickup and the air conditioner doesn't work.
The cows keep getting out because they are searching for anything at all that is green. DH had to put an electric fence top wire on one pasture yesterday because they were getting out twice a day in that pasture.
We are going to try to wean our calves early, maybe next month, but the price of distillers grain is $180 a ton. Last summer it was $40 a ton. Corn is at an all time high. Those lucky bastards that irrigate are going to make out like bandits.
I've been watering the garden twice a week. So far it has held, and that has really saved us a lot of money this summer. I am really surprised it is going so well.
Our company, a farmer's co-op, is slowly reducing staff. It is scary. Every week or every other week, they announce about 4-5 more people. At what point do you get tired of waiting for the hammer and start looking for something else? I hope I don't have to. I love my job and my working arrangements are AWESOME!!!
Even if it starts raining now, it won't help much, unless we get a real turd floater to fill up ponds. That might help. But pasture is going to be severely harmed for years to come because of the drought pressure.
I try to think "Great Grandpa (30's)/Grandpa (50's)/Dad (80's) went through this too." I hope we can keep it together. The land we have has been in DH's family for over 100 years. They were some of the original homesteaders around here.
Boo.
the D word
August 7th, 2012 at 05:29 am
August 7th, 2012 at 05:49 am 1344318546
August 7th, 2012 at 01:16 pm 1344345408
August 7th, 2012 at 03:01 pm 1344351666
August 7th, 2012 at 06:53 pm 1344365608
Good luck with your cows and calves.
August 8th, 2012 at 03:07 am 1344395272
August 12th, 2012 at 04:48 pm 1344790098
Jerry