From the Pastures: It is grilling season

Hello from Graze-N-Grow. Pastures and crops are enjoying this June weather. June was always a busy month for farmers back when cultivating corn and beans was a common practice and still is for most organic farmers. Time weeding and cultivating occupy most days when it’s dry enough and that’s been most of the month so far. I learned long ago that when I get drowsy cultivating around 1 o’clock it’s best to take a break even if it’s just a steering-wheel nap. Otherwise crops suffer from “iron blight.” Since I’m about the only farmer around without auto-steer, I still try to take that break.

June is also the beginning of grilling season and that’s been great for beef demand. Our grass-fed beef has been selling well and the conventional market continues to set and break records each week. If more of you would try lamb chops or lamb kabobs on the grill, maybe we could see similar results in the lamb market, especially if you start with American lamb.

Managing the ewes and lambs on a rotational grazing system has been much easier this spring since Nathaniel, a neighbor kid, has started to work here. It’s been great to have his help. His energy and willingness to learn is exciting and reminds me of my teen years in the distant past. We’ve also ordered some Rock Cornish chicks and Nathaniel has agreed to manage that enterprise for our chicken customers. Since Tommy sold his poultry processing business last August there is no inspected processor close, only a custom-exempt one, so we have to raise only enough to fill orders. We can’t sell them out of the freezer legally.

Since Ruth’s greenhouse business has been so busy and her bad hip has caused discomfort, her cow, Ella, has been out to pasture with two calves on her. I just picked up two more to keep her producing an income. And since the plant business is less demanding, I think Ruth is ready to get back in the milking mode. Her customers keep encouraging her to get back in the game.

The cattle market demand has affected all segments, especially the dairy-beef calf market. With auction prices exceeding $10 per pound it’s not a cheap way into the cattle market. With milk powder costs as much as $150 per calf plus labor and equipment, putting two calves on Ella every three months saves a lot of money and effort. And that works while being milked once a day, as well. And since that’s no effort on my part, it’s a win-win situation.

Since I got Ella during COVID as a birthday present for Ruth and her birthday will be coming up next week, I’m thinking of getting another cow for her and doubling our income. I probably should run that by Ruth first, though.

June weather is just one more reason to be glad to be farming. Enjoy it. Happy trails.