Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[farmerjan]

@Senile_Texas_Aggie ; thanks for your kind words. We too, would like a little bit of a break. But, you can't change it, so you either roll with the punches, get depressed, or angry, or give up. We've done the angry thing, done the upset and somewhat depressed thing, decided we AIN'T GONNA GIVE UP.... so roll with it and hope that this year will improve.

Old joke... what would a farmer do if he won a million dollars??? Farm til it was gone.....

It doesn't look too good for prices to increase on the weaned feeder calves (500 lbs or so). That is what is really hurting. The better cull cows, that are in good flesh, are bringing better money again, at least in the upper 40's and 50's.... Maybe things will get better in the warmer weather.
We definitely are going to be making more square bales; Lord willing and the "Water Works" slow down so the skies are not always raining down on our heads. Take the rest as it comes.

 

[farmerjan]

Oh, the saga of the cell tower..... We were "supposed to " go to the board of supervisors meeting Monday night. Verizon redrew the plans to move it to "accommodate" the neighbor that was afraid it could fall on their property and damage it, (NOT THE B$#@H that sued us)... then hearing that one of the supervisors is a stickler for "exact" and if it was moved that far we might have to reapply because it could get turned down since it wasn't being put "EXACTLY" where originally proposed... Verizon had pretty much decided to go with the original proposal. Word got around that it would be turned down if it were to be presented in the "original location".... BUT that they were in favor of it being moved.... If it got turned down, it would be a year before we could reapply..... so they withdrew the original proposal, and will resubmit like it was a "new application"; with the new placement. Whether it has to go through the whole planning and zoning thing again I am not sure.... but it will only set it back another 2 months this way.... and unless the sky falls in --- at which point it won't make a tinkers dam anyway --- it looks to be a better deal. And a much better chance of passing since they are addressing the concerns of the neighbors and are "willing to work with them"...
In other words, kiss a little, and "make nice", and everyone will sit back and say this is the best for all.....

Life just keeps getting more interesting....

 

[Mike CHS]

I'm sure glad I don't have to deal with your neighbors since I don't have a lot of tolerance for idiots.

But I know you need to do what you have to do.

 

[farmerjan]

Honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that the tower does pay pretty decent, I don't think my son would have kept after it when the "B" started the whole BS.... but then it was a matter of principle. And then, these past 2 weeks, my cell service has been so bad, that we get cut off constantly. It should make it much better here at the house.
Plus, when we weighed what he could make off that 60 x 60 ft area in hay, compared to the cell tower payments, it was a no brainer. Now it is as much for the fact of better service, and the principle of these people who want all the modern amenities, but say "NOT IN MY BACKYARD".....as it is for the money. It will take a year of income to pay back what we have in the lawyer/lawsuit costs, and time spent will eat up another couple months payments. Then it will definitely take a little stress off the low cattle prices.
Actually, he is thinking that he will use some of that money to put up a large hay storage shed, so that we can keep more square bales, and hopefully some round bales under cover. If we got some of the hay wagons out of the big barn, then more equipment could be kept under cover, and last longer in the long run.
We figure that they might very well move after it is all said and done since she has little/no recourse. The place was for sale once, hopefully go up for sale again. Might be something I could think about, although I am sure they would want a fortune. Make the actual hayfield bigger, and I could move my nurse cows there. Or sell off the house and a couple of acres for someone with a horse or 2 and keep the lower half for hay.
Yeah, when I win the lottery....

 

[Bruce]

If you win the lottery, you can continue to farm until it is gone
Sorry about the whole cell tower thing, seems to hinge on one person on the board.

 

[farmerjan]

Hi everyone. It is Friday afternoon. After having a couple of nice, DRY days, from the wind drying up the ground after last weekend's rain and some snow and ice, Guess what ??? It is RAINING again. It started last night, got some cold spots and of course my son had to work after a full day of doctor appts and therapy... and then feeding our cattle since it was drier and he could get into the fields a little better. There was still standing water in several of the gateways, and some still in the low spots in the fields. But it has been a lot better getting around.

It was more a sprinkle, light rain during the better part of the morning.... but after about 2:30 it started to rain really seriously, and it has been a steady moderate to HEAVY rain for the last few hours. Supposedly it is going to clear out over night, with part sun tomorrow. Temps are going to be okay for the day. THEN, the rain moves in on Sunday, and possible ice and snow/wintry mix. The worst is the temps. We are looking at night time temps back down in the LOW TEENS several nights next week. The saving grace is that the rain is supposed to move out and it will be sunny???? we hope

I have to test in the morning, but it isn't too awful early they start milking at 5 so can sleep til about 3:30 and then leave by 4-4:10. And no set up, they have weigh jars in the parlor... I love places like that . Guess I will have to come home and get the 4wd to go to the barn with the nurse cows and calves. I will take buckets of feed from the bulk feed bin so it will last a few days and then I can take more after the cold comes in and the ground is harder.

On a good note. Got my car back finally, and took it to have it aligned as it was wearing a tire. Put the nearly new snow tires on it, and got that done today. It was out of alignment so now should be good for awhile. I have 2 other tires that are decent so will wear them down, once it is time to change out the snow tires, then get 2 new ones the next time the co-op has their tire sale. Luckily I have 2 extra wheels, and the spare is a full size wheel, not those little "donuts", so don't have to constantly be "changing" the tires just swap the wheels and can leave the snow tires mounted.

I do have the rain gauge out so will see tomorrow how much this constant steady rain added today. We are already about 4 or 5 inches over the year to date normal.... and it is only 2 months into the year. Just hope it doesn't stop cold turkey in June....
MODERATION is supposed to be the key......PLEASE

 

[Mike CHS]

For us, tomorrow is supposed to be cooler but mostly dry, then more rain Sunday.

I don't usually do "Lifetime" programs but the year I bought my Tacoma, I took it in to Firestone to get it aligned. They had a promo going with a Lifetime alignment for about $30 more than the single price so I got it. They didn't ask me how many decades I keep my trucks so it has saved me many hundreds of dollars in the 15 years since I bought that truck.

 

[greybeard]

Johnny Cash said in Folsom Prison Blues.......and I ain't seen the sunshine, in.. I don't know when...

News said there has been a total of 11 sunny or partly sunny days here so far in 2019...and most of those were only partly sunny.
I can tell you, there weren't too many of those days consecutive either.

 

[farmerjan]

Well, we had one of the partly sunny ones today. It stopped raining around dawn I guess, fog then partial clearing. We wound up with .9 inch. WOW. We have had nearly 4 inches more than normal for the year.... that's only 2 months... Not counting this .9 inch. It was pretty wet on top but then wasn't terrible to get around this afternoon with the 4wd. I did have to put it in 4 a couple times where it was slick. There is water laying everywhere in the low spots in the fields. And running down every little swale and dip in the ground. The creeks/rivers are way up and running brownish from the runoff.

Tomorrow, Sunday is forecast to be raining pretty much by dawn. Then all day and we are on the "line" for colder temps so some winter mix is expected. Can't change it.
I did get another 8 buckets up to the barn, the cans are full with a couple buckets left with the lids on. If it is too crummy tomorrow, I won't go up. I put some hay in the 2 hay feeders in the barn and my son put 4 rolls out yesterday so they are in good shape for a few days. Fed the calves their grain in the barn too and they all came right in. We have to band the 4 bull calves there soon. Just one of those things that gets put off. At least getting them in isn't a big deal. They like their grain!!!!
Been starting to do a little picking up around the yard on nicer days, and took some stuff to the dumpsters. Took some recycle able plastic and a huge bag of paper to go in the mixed paper. My shredder quit and I need to get a new one. I usually use most of the "junk mail" and newspapers and such, shredded, in the barn for the calves, and even in the chickens. Helps costs and it makes a deeper bedding pack for them. I don't use the shiny type stuff as it won't absorb as well in the barn, but anything that is just paper is fair game. It works good. I mix it with the leaves that I rake for the chickens in the fall and they scratch through it and mix it pretty good. Then it goes into compost and is great fertilizer in the garden.

Took bread out of the freezer to make bread pudding. I save all the crusts and such for this. I know that doesn't go on the keto and low carb diets. I want to clean out the freezer over the fridge and this was in there. Good project for a cold rainy day tomorrow.Got other stuff to clean out, and it won't get "done " for a week or two, but some out now makes it easier later.
I started collecting some of my books; cataloging them and boxing them. Some are in the "for sale" box. I plan to do a yard sale or flea market or two this coming year with some of the "stuff" that I really don't need. I am a "hoarder" and really need to clean some stuff out. Another good project for crummy wet and cold days.

Got my first egg from the New Hampshires the other day. The Langshans will start pretty soon, their combs are getting some color back. These hens are getting some age and I need to raise some young ones this year. Need a new male. The NH's are a young pair I got from a breeder and am looking forward to some chicks. My son will be setting the incubator and I will send a dozen or so over to him to set. Would prefer the hens do the work, but want some out of them before I want them to go broody.
Things were fairly quiet today considering. I tested and did a couple errands on the way home, then did all the other stuff. In for the night and plan to go to bed at a decent time tonight.
Hope everyone has a quiet and peaceful night.

 

[farmerjan]

Hello this evening from..... you guessed it "wet rainy Virginia" !!!

It has been raining pretty steady since last night. Don't know exactly what time it started, around midnight I think. Has not let up much all day today. Not pouring, but just steady rain. Some icing out there, I could see it on the fence and the vehicles. Temps have stayed in the 38 degree range all day. But I think that the air is a little colder out away from the house where the recording thermometer is. I did not go out to the rain gauge when I fed the cats, didn't need to get soaked. Will check it tomorrow, but the bucket by the house looked like there was near an inch in it.
This was a perfect rain.... for when we need it in July and the hay and pastures need a good long slow soaking drink. NOT FOR MARCH.... with nothing growing and it just running down the fields and roads in streams. It is cold too, very uncomfortable.
Temps are going to drop tomorrow, and only be about in the mid 30's for highs they say. Nights back to the 20's and then teens on Tues and Wed.....
Got the bread pudding in the oven earlier and it is cooling now. haven't done near as much as I wanted to on sorting through some books and such. Going to do some now. I just can't seem to get motivated in this depressing weather. Have been reading a book, David Baldacci 's Zero Day. I like his books.

Glad to read and see the news about Mel being adopted by @B&B Happy goats. I hope he can adapt well to her and his new home. It has to be hard for him. And I commend @LatestartersDaughter , Brandy, for wanting the best for him although by finding him a new home it cuts another tie to her dad.
My hopes that they can find a place for the goats. I am in no way situated to have goats, and it would be very unfair to them. But I almost wish I could take them for Joes' sake. There has to be someone that can take them, and then maybe find them homes over time if they all didn't fit into their own operation.