Teresa & Mike CHS - Our journal

[Mike CHS]

It isn't quite as hot today as it has been but it was still heavy air at 94 that felt like 104. I got almost half of a tree that came down in high winds the other night cur up and moved but I'll get the rest early in the morning.

I was making one of my one of my pizzas and Teresa said I ought to post a picture of this one. I topped this one with sliced jalapenas and anchovies then sprinkled chipotle pepper flakes.

 

[Baymule]

That is a work of culinary art! Feast for the eyes, then for the tummy! What did you make the dough out of?

 

[Mike CHS]

We cheat and start out with a California Kitchen pizza since they don't have yeast,

 

[Baymule]

That’s not cheating, that’s smart!

 

[Mike CHS]

I got my grass cutting outside the paddocks cut again today since it's forecast to rain for the next three days. No griping on my part since we do need it. I have been leaving the grass in the pastures pretty much alone other than going around and spot spraying some of the problem weeds. I do mow next to all of the electric netting on the interior since we are divided up into 8 paddocks. I also do spray herbicide a couple of times in the summer to keep the netting clear so mowing one pass on each side of the netting keeps it clear. It has been several years now but we have had a sheep get caught up in the netting when the grass is tall so spending an hour or so on the mower solves that issue or at least has since I started doing it. We do make sure it is hot so that keeps the grass from affecting the netting.

 

[Mike CHS]

I wonder if the drought areas have caused a lot of beef producers to start shedding some of their stock. We were in Kroger this evening and saw more beef in the coolers than we have seen in a long time. It was still higher than it was not long ago but it was some prime cuts of beef and plenty of it. We won't need to buy a Porterhouse for several months. We usually just cook one for both of us with this kind of steak and it was really good.

 

[farmerjan]

Between the high prices for cull cattle for slaughter... and the high prices overall for all sizes of feeder cattle... added to the drought conditions there are more going to slaughter right now than would normally go. Friends on CT forum are saying they are culling anything that is not "cutting the mustard".... and there have been some liquidation sales...
Take note that the beef cow herd numbers have hit a new low... lowest breeding cattle numbers in over 50 years... and the high value of the heifers for slaughter has reduced the number of females being kept back for breeding stock so the low numbers is going to persist. We sold nearly all our heifers this spring except for about a 1/2 dozen... we usually keep 15 to 20 and then do a second "culling" and normally have at least 10 for replacements. There are 8 with the bull being bred.... we had 20 calve out last year... and only 5 calved this year...
This is going to keep beef prices high in the store for a good amount of time to come. We have had 2 people back out on beef and with the current high prices, DS said he isn't going to beg or keep messing with people about it. Gave up a kill spot last month... and don't know what this month will bring.
It will reach a point where people cannot afford it... and there will be more imports from other countries to cut the prices also...

 

[Mike CHS]

I hope that most people are prepared for a not so good beef future among other things.

 

[Mini Horses]

Agree. Of course, many/most things are having price increases. All food types are most severely obvious because everyone eats. Not just good meat but, even the lowly dried bean. Yeah, it's not over. Fortunately, most on here have some type of livestock and usually some amount of garden.

Good thing...because eating is expensive.

 

[Baymule]

With hay running from $80-$150 per bale, first cutting done and fields dry and crispy, there may not be another cutting. My cousin got his first cutting and it won’t be enough. He’s considering selling some of his herd. The couple I bought this place from have totally sold out, everything down to the feed troughs.