Advise wanted.

[M5farm]

Those that read my post are all to aware of the struggle I have at the moment with to much water. Here is what I have done so far. I am buying last years hay as needed and keeping plenty out for the cows, I am feeding 30% molasses and there is grass growing but very short because of the grazing pressure. I am giving 75# of 10% crushed feed a day. Cows are in decent shape. I pulled 6 calves last weekend and sold them to help with the condition of the cows and sold 2 old cull cows. I planted a 5 acre patch of millet to intensive graze as a test. I got a good stand on it but with the rains I've lost and acre that was killed by the water. In order to salvage some of it I tried to fertilize it last weekend and almost bogged my tractor down. If I turned the cows in on it they would bog in it. I closed off 20 acres last weekend and went and bought some 17-17-17 (can't get a fertilizer buggy in this field to put out the recommended fertilizer) just to try and get something on it to get it to grow and it has responded and is very dark green and growing. I will be able to use it in another week if I can get the cows in there as they will have to wade chest deep to access it. I am currently searching for pasture to rent but in my area if its dry land it is tilled and all of the other pasture land is in the same shape as mine. Is there anything else I can do that I have not thought of.
inventory as of today 1 bull 21 cows and 11 calves

 

[James T]

Seems the answer depends on what the forecast is for more rain over the next few weeks. Either sell off more cattle or continue to feed on high ground until water recedes. If there's more rain coming and you already have submerged pasture, I might hold off on the fertilizer until the rain is over.

 

[highgrit]

Plenty of free choice hay and protein tubs will get the cows just fine. I would feed and contain the cows in a fairly small area. Then once your weather dries out plant Tif leaf 3 millet where the cows have been. They will ruin good pastures when it's to wet. Good luck.

 

[Hook]

Man, we're going into summer and you're already too saturated. I would personally cull back to you're very best. You may be feeding them through September just with normal summer rains.

 

[gizmom]

W5

Hopefully all of us Florida folks will dry out soon. We have had good luck planting pearl millet for summer pasture, but right now same problem your having to wet to do much of anything. Thanks for checking on us this morning it was a pleasure talking to you and so thoughful of you.

I have lived through a number of hurricanes living here but have never seen the amount of rain that we have experienced in the last 24 hours the official amount is 22 inches just hard to imagine. Roads are still closed, Ronnie spent the day moving cattle to higher ground, I think it is pretty bad when you are running over fish in the road.

Gizmom

 

[Deepsouth]

Right now there is no rain in the 10 day forecast so maybe things will dry out some.

 

[M5farm]

Right now there is no rain in the 10 day forecast so maybe things will dry out some.

Chance of rain tomorrow and small Chance next Friday then dry after that. I just located 40 more rolls of bahaia this afternoon. Our hay fields are not flooded so should get a cutting in late May.

 

[highgrit]

I shouldn't even be thinking this but...We're feeding hay now because the pastures are to wet. Is there going to be enough hay left around to feed through a drought?? This could get real bad very quick, if we have a dry year.

 

[M5farm]

I shouldn't even be thinking this but...We're feeding hay now because the pastures are to wet. Is there going to be enough hay left around to feed through a drought?? This could get real bad very quick, if we have a dry year.

It has crossed my mind so I'm gonna buy everything I can right now. I am finding people getting rid of 2013 hay cheap so they can get ready for this year's cutting. I found 40 rolls today and 25 in another place close. I also called dibs on his first cutting. And if we get a couple cuttings I should be ok. On the bright side I will have a bumper crop of maiden cane and the cows love it.

 

[Kingfisher]

I'll buy all that rain you can bring me...... You'll make it! Just keep looking up!

 

[Kingfisher]

Wow...I didn't realize some of y'all got 53 inches of rain! What brought that about?!?

 

[Rafter S]

I'll buy all that rain you can bring me......

I could use some too, although I'd rather not get what the folks in Florida are getting. I saw on the local news this morning we're already 7" below average for the year. I still have grass but I don't know how long it's going to last.

 

[M5farm]

we average around 50" a year at this point we are around 30" so if the average stays true we are in for a dry summer and only 20" rain for the rest of the year.

I went and looked at 75 rolls of hay yesterday and I keeping my fingers crossed that I can lease the pasture next two it. Its high and dry and knee deep in Bahia and only 5 miles from my house.

 

[J&D Cattle]

You must be living right M5. Good luck, hope it all works out as planned.

We are 6" below normal so far here in my part of MO. Hope my money spent on fertilizer was worth it.

 

[M5farm]

We went 7 days without any rain. Got 1" 2ths Saturday and Sunday. The water has not receded and has actually risen this past week. It has made it to a culvert that In My lifetime nor my fathers lifetime has ever had any flow thru it under the road. I opened a pasture yesterday that had been growing for 3 weeks and the cows swam the lake last night to get there. they have enough back there to last maybe a week. It will give the front pasture some relief for a few days. They are still eating hay and syrup so they look pretty good. I mowed the back yard with them yesterday( much to my wife's disapproval).