Pastures

With harvest in full swing, I play herdsman, provide cheap labor and check the bred cows as Carson remains occupied with grain. As a road gawker, I report that many fields of corn in our area are suffering stalk breakage and farmers are rushing to complete their harvest.

Our once lush and green pastures are all of a sudden pretty desert-like as we are experiencing some drought-like conditions that our western cattlemen have been plagued with all summer. Fortunately for us, we have, or very soon will have, lots of crop residue to utilize as feed for the fall.

We have been blessed in central Illinois. I took a photo out of my house window Aug. 15 and the grass was emerald green, just like it should be May 15. So, I have lots of forage.

Pumpkin spice latté anyone? Last week the ever-popular drink flavor was already available. On Sept. 1, I had to look twice at the date. Hard to believe it is already September. Fall always sneaks up on me.

There were some doggy dog days in August that stressed the cattle and the people. Our electric bill increased even though I am signed into the Power Smart Pricing Program. Must I turn everything off to make that work?

Greetings from River Oak as we await the “dog days” of summer. The thing is in 2021 we are not much worried about them because we still have an abundance of moisture and plenty of forage for the heifers.

The drought is over, but I am not talking about the weather. I am referring to the lack of cattle on feed or grazing here that I have been writing about for the last couple of months.

As Mother Nature has provided many ups and downs in the weather already this year, ranging from super-wet conditions to dry stretches and extreme heat, it has been a tough growing season for those involved in the agriculture industry.

Thoughts that parts of Indiana might suffer from drought because of the hot, dry weather that occurred at the beginning of summer quickly disappeared three weeks ago when heavy rainfall events began.