From the Barns: Anything but easy

“Summertime, when the livin’ is easy.” That line from a well-known song couldn’t be further from the truth. You all know what I am saying.

Summertime, when the days are overfilled with livestock care, crop care, weed control, pasture clipping, paddock observations, hay and forage mowing and conditioning, hay baling, forage chopping, electric fence monitoring, fence repair, fence building, brush cutting and mowing, machinery maintenance, water monitoring — and just maybe there might be time for some Fourth of July fireworks, a birthday party, a pasture walk event, fair attendance, or a baseball game. Yes, it is a crazy-busy, but good-livin’ time.

Our grand experiment with the sorghum-sudangrass and the 245 steers has begun. It has not been without questions and issues. We expected that. The crop got big in no time at all, but it was somewhat uneven, probably from the no-till planting and the 3-inch rain with cold nights.

So, we hesitated about when to turn the steers in. They have preferred the small plants, as expected, but they walked a lot and trampled a lot. I see in some spots that trample was a very high percentage. So, we are struggling to find an answer to that issue.

Visiting with any experienced producers I can find. Many thanks to all who were willing to listen and share their advice. Our nutritionist has visited and we are looking to make some changes as we go. We have also tried different sizes of paddocks using temporary fencing and that has not resulted in much change.

I think we are going to feel like we need two or three groups instead of just one. As the group stands or finds shade or water, it does not take long for the 245 to wipe out forage in that location. It reminds me to never favor mob grazing, at least in this part of the world. We have to just keep looking for the best practices.

In the meantime, the cow groups are handling perfectly and are not complaining about what we are offering, fescue and red clover. It is a very strong red clover year. Every frost seed must have germinated and grown. Breeding protocols have been accomplished.

Carson used the portable corral on the south entrance to wean calves when the river got high from that 3-inch rain. He has been really busy gathering cow feed, including triticale, grass, alfalfa and now sorghum-sudangrass. Modern machinery provides lots of options for harvest and storage.

Projects must go on, despite other obligations. I am taking out old-lot fence of cattle panels and replacing with continuous fencing. We had some big hedge band-sawed to provide for some smooth strong sides for mounting. Falling short, we will use from the railroad tie pile.

I finally caved and contracted Bradshaw Pumping to transfer a million and a half gallons of water, 2,000-plus feet from the river, to fill two ponds that have not had any runoff rain for three years. If this is climate change and we have to make changes, what will we need better for the future?

Hope you have time for an Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition pasture event. I just attended two great ones last Friday and Saturday at Wilcoxen Angus in Ipava and Arnold Family Farms in Bluff Springs. July 26 will find us all at Dave Paquette’s near Kankakee. Check these out and register at our website, www.ilgrazinglands.org, as well as the brand-new resource site, grazingforage.com.

Yes, take some time for leisure and family, despite all to do. Stay safe and sane.