2014 Hay Season

[foreman Etexas]

Right now I'm glad for the fields that have Bahia .. Bermuda fields are suffering, I'm going to plow two of them this fall plant to wheat for spring wheat hay and then thinking about some form of hay grazer

Yeah depends on what next year looks like if I even try thin it out some. The Bermuda and coastal have sure covered what had become some poor pastures over the past few years. We put out all that Rye on the 30ac. hay meadow at house and it done good even from running 20heifers all winter on it,so we will probably put 2tons out again,banking on that early cutting on it. Even with a bad winter should be carrying over 120-140 bales into next year and I will have 20 or so stacked at house for those that may need few here and there.

 

[foreman Etexas]

How about those cattle prices,it's makes it hard keep ahold of my heifers.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Those are last Years be putting them with bull Jan.1st,couple those I bought for $900 at 6mnths old,blacks from home,they are 16/17 now. This year not so many probably 6, I like raising my own but sure does take awhile doing it that way.

 

[Texasmark]

Right now I'm glad for the fields that have Bahia .. Bermuda fields are suffering, I'm going to plow two of them this fall plant to wheat for spring wheat hay and then thinking about some form of hay grazer

Heads up. I got the crop cut I showed in the pictures I took (posted herein) on June 26. Second cutting was up to about 2'. About 2 wks ago I go out to check it and it was fine. About 3 days later I go out to check it and it is a mess; plants dieing slick gooey leaf tops and bugs under the leaves. Killed the crop.

In checking around it seems that we recently acquired the "Sugar Cane Aphid". Google searching the subject you can read up on it, how wide spread it is (wide and you aren't all that far from me) and how to control it. Caught me totally off guard. On controlling it, I don't know when to apply the product but at least one farm tabloid did mention the chemical that will do the controlling. Surely looking farther into it you will find the application guidelines.

Funny comments about Bahia. I have been planting it, trying to get something to grow that I can bale when nothing else is cooperating. I think it likes the sandy acid soils better than the clay alkali soil I have.

Mark

 

[Texasmark]

How about those cattle prices,it's makes it hard keep ahold of my heifers.View attachment 386834View attachment 386835View attachment 386836View attachment 386837View attachment 386838

I don't know where they are today, but in February I got $2400 for a 3 year old 7/8 Angus Brahman cross grade bull in Durant, OK. WAS impressed.

Mark

 

[foreman Etexas]

I don't know where they are today, but in February I got $2400 for a 3 year old 7/8 Angus Brahman cross grade bull in Durant, OK. WAS impressed.

Mark

They would probably bring $1600. I been keeping my own for couple years,instead of buying,so that will make me have change black bulls about March ,I raised a composite bull and he is on some cows ,see what he is going to throw. Going to look into the 44farms angus bulls. Would like to buy maybe 15head bred 2/3yr olds angus/brangus/baldies some nice uniform group.

 

[Texasmark]

They would probably bring $1600. I been keeping my own for couple years,instead of buying,so that will make me have change black bulls about March ,I raised a composite bull and he is on some cows ,see what he is going to throw. Going to look into the 44farms angus bulls. Would like to buy maybe 15head bred 2/3yr olds angus/brangus/baldies some nice uniform group.

Around here "black is boss". My daddy graduated from TAMU in 1929. Did his stint in WWII as a Captain and in '45, upon getting released, built his own Barbecue Steak House. Specialty was Kansas City prime aged Angus. He taught me then the advantages of small bones, thick structure, high marbling and all for flavor and tenderness and here it is some 65+ years later the brand is finally being featured in your local super market. Absolutely amazing.

Mark

 

[foreman Etexas]

Laid 10+acres down on the 20acre meadow,have some rain chances Tuesday so didn't do all of it. Working with local guy to buy everything it makes...

 

[foreman Etexas]

 

[foreman Etexas]

It sure didn't take it long to cure out. I did ted it at 10am this morning and started baling at 5pm. It still made better than I figured,I was thinking 30 and it made 34 almost 35. They moved rain from Tuesday to later week wish I would have went ahead and cut the rest now.