Guest Blog

One reason why forage-livestock production is challenging is that the value of forage is surprisingly dynamic. Forage value increases when forage growth is limited by weather, when alternative feeds are expensive or when pastures on a farm are stocked too heavily.

Got the cold “ham sammich” blues? I hate to tell you this, but it may be a few months before you’ll have time to sit down to the warm “meat, potatoes and gravy” meals again. The good news is that auto-steer changes the game for what you can eat in the tractor cab these days. Just imagine – your lunch can even include a fork now.

This morning I ran across an advertisement for a clinic on "low-stress cattle handling." Hallelujah! Why didn't somebody think of this before? I want to enroll our entire herd, especially the yearlings.

A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated Earth Day. Yes, I know it was a couple of weeks ago, and I am finally getting around to writing about it. No one ever accused me of being quick or timely.

We train rodeo horses. Therefore, we breed for speed. For ranch work, however, speed is optional, and generally hazardous to your health. We have a lot of rocks, massive badger holes, coulees, washouts and bogs, slick green grass and bottomless mud pots called soap holes – all of which are best encountered at a moderate pace.

Calving season is fully underway. I know it is dry and the temperatures are abnormally warm, and I really should be concerned about the pattern we seem to be slipping into, but it is really tough. I could really get used to checking and tagging calves without the need to wear coveralls and mud boots.