From the Pastures: Market for meat

Hello from Graze-N-Grow. Grass is looking much greener on our side of the fence now that we’ve had almost 5 inches of rain this month. It’s always good to go into the fall season with moisture to grow a winter stockpile. Every day we can graze in the dormant season saves on hay costs. I’ve been able to buy some decent big squares lately that should get us through until rye grazing next April.

Since converting some of our pastures to organic corn we no longer bale on the farm. Hay costs money even when baling our own since it takes time and labor, as well as fuel and equipment costs. But another real cost is nutrient removal which lessens significantly if those acres are grazed. Purchased hay allows us to bring nutrients onto our farm and we don’t have to worry about owning any rain damaged hay of our own. Nutrient values of hay are estimated at $25 per ton, so that figures in to our hay cost. Plus our cattle and sheep graze those hay acres for free. Even though the rains were a bit too late for a lot of the corn and beans, all of us are breathing a sigh of relief.

Professor Hoge brought his ag students from Blackhawk East out again this year and Ruth and I enjoyed seeing these young folks and giving them an opportunity to see an alternative to the commodity side of ag production. Hopefully, a few of them will choose to join the ranks.

The end of July we had our busy time of providing lamb for the ethnic holiday market. Since COVID-19 brought an increase in demand prior to that we had only smaller lambs available, but sales were good. We had about 50 younger male lambs available after the holiday, but they keep going out about every week. It’s hard to convince some of them to consider females — they think they don’t taste as good — but when winter comes and we’re out of males, they will have to give them a try.

Last week we ended our pastured broiler season with a little challenge. We loaded 200 birds one night and delivered them the next morning to Tommy’s plant in Rock Falls, but when I unhooked the trailer and started home he called me and asked if I could come back and pick them back up. His water heater was going bad and he wouldn’t be able to process them until he got a new one after Labor Day, so back home we went and unloaded.

Five days later we returned with 400 birds this time on our next scheduled appointment. Thankfully, Tom and Emma helped us load half the chickens and our friends, Dave and Victoria, along with their four kids, offered to join in the festivities. They had so much fun doing it that I may have to start charging for the experience. There are so many activities on the farm that we take for granted as dull that others might find exciting. It opens opportunities to connect with our neighbors, as well as the consuming public.

Lastly, a note on the adventures with Ella, Ruth’s Jersey heifer. She had her calf Aug. 31, a heifer, half Hojo, or Holstein/Jersey, and half Jersey. If she turns out A2 like her mama, Ruth could start a herd. That’s assuming she doesn’t have them both for sale next spring. We’ve been eating and drinking a lot of yogurt and kefir and ice cream, but no butter or cheese as yet. Time will tell. I hope you all are enjoying this pleasant start of fall. Have a safe harvest. Happy trails.

Sheffield, Ill.