From the Barns: Market still on a roll

The heat and humidity of summer and a resurgence of buffalo gnats has made it miserable to do many of our outdoor projects. A nice cab with air conditioning has been the order of the day as we finally get on with haymaking.

The recent rains have the pastures looking good and lush as we get ready to turn bulls out this week. We gathered and ran the first-calf heifers through the chute and got the first round of shots in them, as well as the bulls cut and eyes treated. A pretty good batch of pinkeye was evident in the baby calves and quite a few of the heifers, as well. The other cow groups will get the same treatment as soon as the weather and vacation schedules allow.

Kaden and Karter are continuing their war on brush and head out with the drones somewhere most mornings, when there is no wind, to reclaim the edges of our pastures where the brush is creeping in. Nate and Riley have been using the mist sprayer to attack the brush where they have access. The fall-like colors where they have sprayed tells the tale of how successful their efforts have been.

Our wheat is ready to harvest as soon as humidity allows and we will follow with corn or forage sorghum as quickly as possible. Brett and Keegan have been pumping manure out on pasture, and with all the moisture we have had, it looks like I should have been buying more cows with all the feed that’s out there. Finding cows for sale is a little challenging, and with the fuel prices as they are, freight is no small item to be figured in on purchase decisions.

The fat cattle market continues to roll along with setbacks followed shortly with new highs. Feed costs are not an issue, so it seems feeders are happy to make ‘em bigger and collect a huge check for their efforts. The recent heat wave has cut back feed intakes, especially on big, market-ready cattle. Having those big boys around makes me nervous. They are so valuable and I know how the heat and humidity affects me and I can hide out in the A/C. Toes up is not something I want to see. I would much rather wave goodbye as they roll out the drive.

The nesting season for turkeys is over and I’ve seen only one brood of little guys following their mother around. Quail nesting is happening and I hear a few bobwhite whistles around the ranch early in the morning. I’m amazed that any birds get born with all the raccoons and possums I see every day. With all the nest robbers covering virtually every inch of the place every night, the scales are tipped heavily to the predators, I’m afraid.

Forty years ago there were a lot of birds around and we hunted them when the season was open. When my kids were little they would go out after school and always come home with pheasants and quail, and spring always meant many great mornings listening for turkeys gobbling in the woods.

The difference, I have concluded, is that back in the day Brother Stan and I spent every evening in the fall and winter hunting the raccoons for grocery money, and with the help of some really good dogs, we kept the predator population in check. Not so today. The predators are out of control and the birds need some serious help. Now if I just had the energy I had 40 years ago. I need to work on that. Enjoy the summer!