I know that this will be no consolation to those suffering through record high temperatures and drought conditions but it is amazing the difference a year makes.
Last year, as you all know, Texas suffered a horrendous drought. At the farm we never got one cutting of hay. Come August there was hardly a blade of grass on the place for the cows. We had to start feeding old hay in the middle of August and trying to source more. There wasn't any to be found, even at $120 to $150 a big round. We ended up shipping in baled corn stalks from Mississippi. The cows didn't like it much but they were starving and they ate it. We got through.
Roll forward a year. We started off the year with all the ponds and lake full and I mean full. The lake was so full it started overtopping the dam. This year has been hot but not anything like last year. We're a little behind normal in rain but not so far behind that one good thunder storm wouldn't catch us up. We're rolling on to the end of July and the grass is still green and growing. We've already put up enough hay to get us through the winter, even if we have to start feeding early. We're getting ready to take our third cutting. Many around here have three cuttings in already and are waiting to see if they can get a fourth and that's highly unusual.
There's hay everywhere. The stuff that we couldn't find or buy last year for $150 is being advertised already for $50 a bale and the lowest price I've seen is $35.
The only reason that I'm writing this is that I know a lot of you guys up the middle of the country are struggling and suffering and I want to give you some hope. Just hang in there and you'll turn the corner. The good times will come back again.
Last year, as you all know, Texas suffered a horrendous drought. At the farm we never got one cutting of hay. Come August there was hardly a blade of grass on the place for the cows. We had to start feeding old hay in the middle of August and trying to source more. There wasn't any to be found, even at $120 to $150 a big round. We ended up shipping in baled corn stalks from Mississippi. The cows didn't like it much but they were starving and they ate it. We got through.
Roll forward a year. We started off the year with all the ponds and lake full and I mean full. The lake was so full it started overtopping the dam. This year has been hot but not anything like last year. We're a little behind normal in rain but not so far behind that one good thunder storm wouldn't catch us up. We're rolling on to the end of July and the grass is still green and growing. We've already put up enough hay to get us through the winter, even if we have to start feeding early. We're getting ready to take our third cutting. Many around here have three cuttings in already and are waiting to see if they can get a fourth and that's highly unusual.
There's hay everywhere. The stuff that we couldn't find or buy last year for $150 is being advertised already for $50 a bale and the lowest price I've seen is $35.
The only reason that I'm writing this is that I know a lot of you guys up the middle of the country are struggling and suffering and I want to give you some hope. Just hang in there and you'll turn the corner. The good times will come back again.
