Toland: Roads need repairs

Greetings from River Oak! Happy New Year! It is another fine winter day. I use winter loosely, of course, meaning it is winter on the calendar, only. We sure have enjoyed the last month and our winter grazing program is now going to pass 40 days and perhaps even 50. The heifers look terrific on the stockpile and are very much in the knowledge of how rotational grazing works. They only pay attention to ATVs and man when they know they are ready for a new paddock. I have never had northern plains cattle arrive in the late fall and winter before, so I am really impressed with the hair on these girls. Wow, they have lots of nice hair and now it is permed with the showers and them licking each other or themselves.

I am busy with brush cutting, fence repair and completely reorganizing the shop and our fencing corner in the machine shed. It has been too many years since these things have been done. We have sold all the young home-raised cattle, and the six leader cows have earned the right to stay here as part of the new staff. It is a well-deserved honor for them. Our other custom-grazed cattle were loaded out on the 27 and 30, so it seems very quiet. Carson is learning the landscape and the buildings, so Jane and I can actually take some late Christmas to the Rockford and Milwaukee grandkids. The custom 24-cow group spent 21 days on the stockpiled STF 43/red clover 10 acres. We split it in half with a temporary. We could have spent a few more days there, but the 1.5 inch rain last weekend made us pull out. We still coddle the STF 43 compared to KY 31. It had a good year, but it was slow to establish, so we will see what it looks like next year.

I serve as the chairman of our McDonough County Road and Bridge Committee. I have become acutely aware of the condition and cost of our county highways. We have enough operating money to rehab — grind, add new base, shape, oil and chip — about 18 miles of our 180 miles of county roads per year. That means those roads need to last 10 years before another rehab. With the cut-through car traffic and heavy agricultural traffic that we have, I think we will continue to fight a losing battle. Grain haulers no longer use 2 tons or gravity wagons, but all semis. Crop equipment has more than doubled lately in size and weight. So, those are issues that I am sure many counties have. There will be more bridge closings, as well, due to the cost of replacement.

Can we keep old man winter away a few more weeks? Hope to at least finish off the grazing year. Be safe if he strikes before our next visit.