Life Is Simple
Cattle theft, in my part of the country, is hitting epidemic proportions. I took a crippled bull and a cow left over from the Reagan administration to the auction last week, and was surprised to see the sale barn personnel taking pictures of anyone they considered an “unknown seller.” While at the auction, it seemed that everyone I visited with had either had cattle stolen themselves, or knew of a close neighbor that had been the victim of the cowardly thieves.
Across the Ozarks
Diversify. That's my idea for the livestock farmer today. Do you know what you can get for a potload of 50 to 80 pound male goats at the end of Ramadan? Well, neither do I, but I bet the guy who knows how desirable that class of goats is at the end of Ramadan could tell you exactly. There are a lot of untapped markets out there. What can you sell off your farm that will supplement your cash flow?
Headin’ for the Last Roundup
I enjoyed an unusual adventure a few days ago.
Life Is Simple
Behind the seat of my pick-up truck are two torn and tattered, spiral-ring notebooks.
Across the Ozarks
I know, from experience, it will be over eventually. And when you read this, I really hope everyone across the Ozarks has power.
“All We Need’s More Rain”
Awhirlwind winter storm with inches of ice all over everything fell on most of us. The last big one I was in was 1989. I was servicing chickens, hauling generators to poultry growers, and we had several poultry houses fall in from the ice and snow load. I learned then generators take lots of fuel. A tractor churning a PTO-driven generator will suck up diesel worse than plowing hard. And gasoline ones use lots too. It soon adds up.
Life Is Simple
Patience is a virtue — especially when it comes to handling livestock. I can’t remember the number of times in my life that my father chastised (a nice way of saying “cursed”) me for failing to exhibit any patience in dealing with animals.
Across the Ozarks
I remember really big snows growing up. It’s possible, since I was much smaller then, that “really big snows” were not actually all that big. But I remember my dad playing in the snow with us, digging tunnels a time or two, tunnels that I could nearly walk into. I was very young, but that still seems like what must’ve been a really big snow.
Headin’ for the Last Roundup
Random thoughts while looking out the kitchen window at daybreak…
Life Is Simple
Patience is a virtue —especially when it comes to handling livestock. I can’t remember the number of times in my life that my father chastised (a nice way of saying “cursed”) me for failing to exhibit any patience in dealing with animals.
