WINTER PLANS ?

[HAY MAKER]

What are your plans for wintering your cattle ?
I believe this year some herds are really gonna be culled hard,guess I will run mine on sudan field stubble as long as I can,might make August,then plow, plant oats and rye for winter forage,if Sept. comes in wet I oughta be fine,I sure hate to sell down again,might seem a little early to be planning for winter in mid summer but,hayin seson is over around here,next we get the fields ready for winter..........good luck

 

[Herefordcross]

While our situation is not nearly as critical as yours, We are trying out some Pearl Millet and Chicory for fall forage.

 

[Arnold Ziffle]

Hay Maker, your forage will last a lot longer (now and in winter) if you really cut back on all those Axis deer you have running your fields. Me and my 7 mag stand ready, willing and able to assist you in "varmint" control. :lol:

 

[Herefordcross]

Forget the 7mag. Let's use my .50bmg, Barrett 82A1

 

[Texan]

What are your plans for wintering your cattle ?

Got to worry about summering 'em first. :lol:

Looks like the best bet for winter might be to let somebody else winter them. I'm thinking about some rained on alfalfa or something to stretch what little grass hay I've got. But some more will have to go....

 

[skyeagle]

Herefordcross you have A Barrett 50 cal. you the man.
I just got to get me one of them. got a old friend who
shot one at a few rag heads. Goe's right though 1' of cement
and drop them on the spot.

 

[HAY MAKER]

Hay Maker, your forage will last a lot longer (now and in winter) if you really cut back on all those Axis deer you have running your fields. Me and my 7 mag stand ready, willing and able to assist you in "varmint" control. :lol:

:D :D I have'nt been seeing any axis,guess this heat has em holed up..............good luck

 

[HAY MAKER]

What are your plans for wintering your cattle ?

Got to worry about summering 'em first. :lol:

Looks like the best bet for winter might be to let somebody else winter them. I'm thinking about some rained on alfalfa or something to stretch what little grass hay I've got. But some more will have to go....

Texan,I thought east TX was getting some rain when nobody else was,I sure wish I had some extra hay,usually do but about 12 dry springs in a row ended that,its all I can do to hang on to a few of my black cows.............good luck

 

[alabama]

I have been feeding hay most of the summer so the hay this winter will be limited. I plan to plant, plant, plant. Ryegrass, rye and clover will be driled into every acre I can fence off long enough to get it started. However, no planting will start unless it starts raining in the fall. I don't see myself planting if we have a dry fall. The fall plantings will not help much in the fall and winter but will sure be of great use on the comming spring when all the hay is gone and if you can find some hay it will cost over $100 a roll. I think I will call now and book some seed.

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

We're stocking up on hay right now. Round and square bales. Ordered most of our hay December 2005. Still waiting for current cutting(s) to be bailed and delivered. We feed hay 365 days due to our "over" stocking rate here. With our registered seedstock operation, culling is not really an option, except to sell off calves and occasional yearlings. We're anticipating that the drought will continue between now and thru next spring.

Anyone that doesn't bite the (financial) bulllet and get their hay now will probably be in for a big surprise in Fall or Winter as far as hay availability and prices are concerned.

In worst case scenario, if this Western drought continues, it wouldn't surprise me if by winter and early spring 2007 that any "good" hay found could approach $200 for a 5x5 round bale (~1500#) and $15. for a small square bale (50 to 70#) delivered to the Western and SW part of USA.

And, if one can't get quality hay (weed free, 12-15% protein), then can expect to spend $$ for high protein supplements and range cubes.

 

[alabama]

We're stocking up on hay right now. Round and square bales. Ordered most of our hay December 2005. Still waiting for current cutting(s) to be bailed and delivered. We feed hay 365 days due to our "over" stocking rate here. With our registered seedstock operation, culling is not really an option, except to sell off calves and occasional yearlings. We're anticipating that the drought will continue between now and thru next spring.

Anyone that doesn't bite the (financial) bulllet and get their hay now will probably be in for a big surprise in Fall or Winter as far as hay availability and prices are concerned.

In worst case scenario, if this Western drought continues, it wouldn't surprise me if by winter and early spring 2007 that any "good" hay found could approach $200 for a 5x5 round bale (~1500#) and $15. for a small square bale (50 to 70#) delivered to the Western and SW part of USA.

And, if one can't get quality hay (weed free, 12-15% protein), then can expect to spend $$ for high protein supplements and range cubes.

I hope you are wrong. I think prices will be high but not that high. If hay goes to $200 for a 5 x 5 the bottom will fall out of the cull cow market.

 

[denoginnizer]

I have been feeding hay most of the summer so the hay this winter will be limited. I plan to plant, plant, plant. Ryegrass, rye and clover will be driled into every acre I can fence off long enough to get it started. However, no planting will start unless it starts raining in the fall. I don't see myself planting if we have a dry fall. The fall plantings will not help much in the fall and winter but will sure be of great use on the comming spring when all the hay is gone and if you can find some hay it will cost over $100 a roll. I think I will call now and book some seed.

Any idea how much it will cost , per acre, to plant ryegrass? Does drilling rye have any negative effect on summer time grasses?

 

[HAY MAKER]

I have been feeding hay most of the summer so the hay this winter will be limited. I plan to plant, plant, plant. Ryegrass, rye and clover will be driled into every acre I can fence off long enough to get it started. However, no planting will start unless it starts raining in the fall. I don't see myself planting if we have a dry fall. The fall plantings will not help much in the fall and winter but will sure be of great use on the comming spring when all the hay is gone and if you can find some hay it will cost over $100 a roll. I think I will call now and book some seed.

Any idea how much it will cost , per acre, to plant ryegrass? Does drilling rye have any negative effect on summer time grasses?

denoginnizer,the cost of rye grass seed varies with the supplier/brand etc,I have had real good luck using these folks,as a matter of fact their rye grass seed is at least twice as good as any I have ever planted,they have a toll free # and Im sure can answer your questions...........good luck http://www.geneticseed.com/

 

[Lammie]

Culling. That was the plan anyway. I may not have a calf on the place by wintertime.

 

[3MR]

Herefordcross you have A Barrett 50 cal. you the man.
I just got to get me one of them. got a old friend who
shot one at a few rag heads. Goe's right though 1' of cement
and drop them on the spot.

I know you dont mean anything by it, but some of those so called rag head saved my life on more than one occasion, and i am thankful for them.

 

[Texan]

Texan,I thought east TX was getting some rain when nobody else was,I sure wish I had some extra hay,usually do but about 12 dry springs in a row ended that,its all I can do to hang on to a few of my black cows.............good luck

HAY MAKER, there's parts of east Texas that have had some rain, but it's been pretty spotty. From Houston and north for a few miles, they've had plenty. I think even Caustic has had some good rains. But for most of us up here in the northern part of east Texas, it pretty well sucks.

I know what you're saying on trying to save a few of the best cows. I was soaking wet with sweat pouring out cubes to my pairs today and they probably wouldn't have liked knowing what I was thinking. If my calves were just a little bit older, some of the older cows would be kissing their last baby's ass goodbye. And in a few days they'd be somewhere plenty cool.

 

[J. T.]

Hoping to stockpile fescue if we get rain in the fall so I can hit it with some N.

 

[Anonymous]

Forget the 7mag. Let's use my .50bmg, Barrett 82A1

that'd be about $7,500 out of your pocket if you really have the Barrett 82A1

 

[Central Fl Cracker]

I have been feeding hay most of the summer so the hay this winter will be limited. I plan to plant, plant, plant. Ryegrass, rye and clover will be driled into every acre I can fence off long enough to get it started. However, no planting will start unless it starts raining in the fall. I don't see myself planting if we have a dry fall. The fall plantings will not help much in the fall and winter but will sure be of great use on the comming spring when all the hay is gone and if you can find some hay it will cost over $100 a roll. I think I will call now and book some seed.

With me not being to far south of you I am somewhat surprised you have had to feed hay during the summer. Is this typical our is your area just going through a drought? :(

 

[HAY MAKER]

Texan,I thought east TX was getting some rain when nobody else was,I sure wish I had some extra hay,usually do but about 12 dry springs in a row ended that,its all I can do to hang on to a few of my black cows.............good luck

HAY MAKER, there's parts of east Texas that have had some rain, but it's been pretty spotty. From Houston and north for a few miles, they've had plenty. I think even Caustic has had some good rains. But for most of us up here in the northern part of east Texas, it pretty well sucks.

I know what you're saying on trying to save a few of the best cows. I was soaking wet with sweat pouring out cubes to my pairs today and they probably wouldn't have liked knowing what I was thinking. If my calves were just a little bit older, some of the older cows would be kissing their last baby's ass goodbye. And in a few days they'd be somewhere plenty cool.

Well maybe we will have a fall grazing period,Sept.is our second rainiest month,for a man to ranch you have to have a positive attitude,so Im banking on some rain this fall,that's been the problem with these weather patterns the last few years,we get these scattered showers in stead of the wide bands that we normally get,with these scattered showers your neighbor gets two inches and you get nothing,hopefully we will get back to more normal conditions this fall..............good luck