The last load for 2007

[welder]

Kern O , it needs to be fed by year 3, two years stacked is no problem.

Katkt , try what Matt said , log off then back on and click the Remember me box.

For the rest of ya , Horse hay [ coastal ] is cut every 8 weeks , That way the Leaf on the grass is big ant the Stem is small.
This is easier for the Fleebag , Opps Sorry, Horse, to Digest the feed. Cows have 4 stomachs. Fleebags , Opps sorry again , Horses have only one tummy and have a hard time with some feeds.

Lester

[Kern O]

So, one of the joys of farming gets to be trying to outguess the market? You've got $ 5,000 in hay that may go way up or way down depending on crop and weather conditions. And you have to bankroll it. Fun!

[bluffman2]

WAYNE AND LESTER wait it out .......worst case you haul it over here and i get you 85-90$$$$ per roll if in fact they are good heavy rolls....these guys are paying out the ass for hay thats not woth a SH!t

heck you could probally get a couple rolls in that plate alloy boat and bring it over in the spring

[welder]

This was a GOOD year for Hay, A guy could but some more Heavy bred momma cows , let them calf. then sale them ALL back this spring.

Cuz ya have the Hay to do it.

Lester

[Blue Water Runner]

I have two hay fields beside my place and behind it.. The cattle farmer down the road tends the fields around me. He barely got one decent cutting this year. Pretty sad. He is probably have to sell most of his cattle this year because of the drought.

[Daddy'O]

Jimmy,

And that's why I do my best to keep a reserve. Last year, the worst of our drought, I only made 24 bales of hay (Total!). I was lucky and had 28 bales in reserve. Even with that, we had an unusually cold dry winter and I was sweating it out! If this year had of been like last year, well I would have sold my stock most likely back in June. Many had to sell all or at least downsize last year. I consider myself fortunate.

Gordan, I would make a bad busniess man. I just don't think I could charge those amounts unless my family depended upon it. Don't get me wrong, I believe in capitalism. I'm just not greedy. But you're right about supply & demand. Most people who know me (I think) consider me to be honest & fair and would understand if I 'had' to ask more in harder times. It would be easier to sell to people I didn't know, unfortunately, I know many of them.

Kern O - it is fun. Even though we basically operate on a break even basis on paper, I'm saving much more in property taxes. Plus, I like the side benefits of eating our own beef & watching our kids become good stewards in animal husbandry.

Quick story - April 2006 momma cow has a calf, one week later she dies from complications giving birth. Me, Lester, & our buddy Scott rope this calf and hand load it into a stock trailer. I have never bottle fed a calf. I learned, as did my boys. I will never forget the boys saying how much fun this was going to be. I said, "Tell me how much fun this is in three weeks." Guess what, it was now a 'JOB' which had to be done in the morning (before school) & in the evening. They were troopers. I occasionally ask them about the experience asking if they would be willing to do it again - they both smile & say, "I hope we don't, but if we need to, yes"

Makes me proud.

Here's a picture of FJ bottle feeding that calf.



Wayne

[Kern O]

The weather people are always talking about "EL nino" and "La nina" as being weather patterns that affect crop yields. They are supposed to see that about 6 months to a year ahead of time and be able to predict either a good or bad growing season for the midwest. Have you heard of it? And if you have, does it actually work out?

If I remember it right it has to do with the sea surface temeratures round the equator and if the warm water is bunched up against Central and South America or if it is over against the Asian regions. In an El Nino, it is very wet in California and Australia sees a drought.

Back to the hay: Obviously from the picture of the calf trying to suck the bottle out of FJ's hands, you do raise cattle. Is that your primary "thing"?

[farmerjane]

Hey Kern-O~ Naaah~ raisin' cattle isn't our primary function......tryin' to keep from killin' each other is. HA~!! JUST KIDDIN'!!! It's a secondary "thang". Daddy'O works at Texas Instruments (the past 24 yrs.). THAT'S our MAIN "thang". I substitute teach at the schools here in town and help out at a friend's horse ranch.

Anyway - yes, I HAVE heard of "El Nino" and "La Nina" and for us here in North Texas at least, if it's an "El Nino" year we can pretty much bet that we AIN'T gonna see much rain. Now - does that mean that it will be that way EVERYTIME...? Couldn't tell ya, but we DO try to plan accordingly "just in case".

[Greg Manning]

Hey ...I like that trailer...what make is it? Ya'll got a nice looking flat hay field...ours is sloped. Is it coastal? We were lucky to make some good hay this year...just lost the last cutting to poor growth. Lucked out with one of our very few rains this summer right after cutting and re-fertilizing the first time..

[Katkt]

I understand the good neighbor thing Wayne.
I also know that people spend their money on alot of things other then hay equip, when they know they'll need hay.
Its like guys around here with afternoons off for golf, and money for a 2 week cruise, but buying a few tools never made it into the budget. Most aren't shy about suggesting they could use a hand with something........oh!!, and bring your tools.
Opportunity doesn't ride a merry-go-round, and you've got two boys a few years from college.
I'm the last person to be giving bussiness lessons. I just think you shouldn't feel bad about getting a good deal for a good product. Believe me, you'll never run out of chances to help someone. They'll hunt you up, especially if they find out your giving your hay away.

Everything worked fine today. I checked the little "remember me" box, and it went like I thought it should.

Gordon