Skunk and Art or Mineral Feeder and Fencing

Before this most recent storm, I was enjoying the false Spring. Now what was supposed to be a small amount of rain has arrived as snow flurries, and the wind although calmer, is still a constant as we work. The cold weather slows all of the tres and plant’s growth.  

We continue to look for trees that have fallen on the fences, and we are working hard to get them dealt with quickly so we can rotate the cows to fresh grass. Our fences often run through wooded areas and checking prior to using an enclosure is crucial and time consuming. An added benefit showed up as I was walking in the early evening. Check out the skunk next to my big art deer! We are going to move the herd from the Soup Bowl field to the fields beside Winter Road next. Visitors enjoy when we are grazing in this area because it’s near the entrance to our farm and everyone can drive slowly past the herd as the calves do their thing.  

I love when multitasking works without planning. While repairing the fence line along Winter Road, I met up with the TWRA fire crew. They continue to stop by the farm, checking and rechecking that all preparations have been done as well as possible.  I had a good discussion with Chief Jacquelyn and with the amount of recent precipitation, the current humidity and forecast wind speed, we are planning a controlled burn early next week. I’m excited we can schedule this burn because we’ve seen how much improvement it makes to control the weeds and remove the dead limbs and trees.  

There is still not enough fresh grass, and I am very appreciative that our hay supply from last summer has lasted this long. Unfortunately, we will run out very soon. It is important to us to have a productive hay year, because with the increasing prices in fertilizer and diesel fuel, buying hay from outside sources will likely be very expensive. After feeding hay, we also refilled Hi-Mag minerals in our feeders.