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Cattle, Water, and Environmental wackos and sheeples
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<blockquote data-quote="Douglas" data-source="post: 904771" data-attributes="member: 8840"><p>Here is my situation and it may be unique to me, I don't know. Our farm was in row crops for several generations. We have three ponds built for irrigation purposes. As we evolved into cattle production as my dad retired. the paddocks were laid out to have a pond drinking sources for each area. Initially we grazed close to the ponds and used temporary fencing for cover crop areas in the winter. During that time my fishing holes became muddy, nasty, and declined in fish production. We have lost several calves over the years to drowning after breaking through the ice. Our dams we nearing collapse from hoof damage around the edges. While we were still crop farming the areas around the ponds became basically sacrifice areas. This was a disaster in many ways. When my ponds run over, the water ends up in the Cape Fear River where much of southeastern NC gets its drinking water. This is particularly a problem here during an active hurricane season. Whether we like it or not, regulations to protect the drinking water are coming and I plan to be ready for them. If one is starting out in cattle farming, you are making a mistake by not planning for what is likely coming down the pike.</p><p>Back to my farm. The water quality was terrible for the cows and the potential repair cost was growing, so I decided I needed to make a change. The first idea I had was to pipe water out of the pond at the top of the hill to the rest of the farm as that one had the most reliable water supply. The problem was very high bacteria levels. They were really through the roof. The area draining into our property is an aging subdivision with failing septic fields. I had no real choice about the matter. I dug a well and piped the water around, and fenced off the ponds. If you have a reliable source of clean water without a well great, use it. Here are the advantages I see in my operation: I never have to break ice in the winter, cattle have clean water and are likely more productive though I have no hard evidence to prove that. Water is cooler in the summer. I can enjoy catching some nice largemouth bass again. I enjoy seeing the geese and ducks enjoying the water.</p><p>I don't give a crap about left wing environmentalist or their agenda but I care a heck of a lot about my daddy's farm. I plan to pass it on to my kids at least as good I found it, and make a little money along the way. As far as conservation programs. I participate. I would love to see government out of agriculture as much as possible, but I play the cards I am dealt. If I have to pay 40% in taxes to support other people subsidies, farm and otherwise, I plan to get as much of my money back as I can. If I don't like their rules I don't take the money, and most of my system I paid for.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Douglas, post: 904771, member: 8840"] Here is my situation and it may be unique to me, I don’t know. Our farm was in row crops for several generations. We have three ponds built for irrigation purposes. As we evolved into cattle production as my dad retired. the paddocks were laid out to have a pond drinking sources for each area. Initially we grazed close to the ponds and used temporary fencing for cover crop areas in the winter. During that time my fishing holes became muddy, nasty, and declined in fish production. We have lost several calves over the years to drowning after breaking through the ice. Our dams we nearing collapse from hoof damage around the edges. While we were still crop farming the areas around the ponds became basically sacrifice areas. This was a disaster in many ways. When my ponds run over, the water ends up in the Cape Fear River where much of southeastern NC gets its drinking water. This is particularly a problem here during an active hurricane season. Whether we like it or not, regulations to protect the drinking water are coming and I plan to be ready for them. If one is starting out in cattle farming, you are making a mistake by not planning for what is likely coming down the pike. Back to my farm. The water quality was terrible for the cows and the potential repair cost was growing, so I decided I needed to make a change. The first idea I had was to pipe water out of the pond at the top of the hill to the rest of the farm as that one had the most reliable water supply. The problem was very high bacteria levels. They were really through the roof. The area draining into our property is an aging subdivision with failing septic fields. I had no real choice about the matter. I dug a well and piped the water around, and fenced off the ponds. If you have a reliable source of clean water without a well great, use it. Here are the advantages I see in my operation: I never have to break ice in the winter, cattle have clean water and are likely more productive though I have no hard evidence to prove that. Water is cooler in the summer. I can enjoy catching some nice largemouth bass again. I enjoy seeing the geese and ducks enjoying the water. I don’t give a crap about left wing environmentalist or their agenda but I care a heck of a lot about my daddy’s farm. I plan to pass it on to my kids at least as good I found it, and make a little money along the way. As far as conservation programs. I participate. I would love to see government out of agriculture as much as possible, but I play the cards I am dealt. If I have to pay 40% in taxes to support other people subsidies, farm and otherwise, I plan to get as much of my money back as I can. If I don’t like their rules I don’t take the money, and most of my system I paid for. [/QUOTE]
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