Getting by

[agmantoo]

We finally got some rain about 5 days ago but the current weather forecast supports the belief that the drought is not over. The streams on my place still are not flowing. The ponds water level has not risen, two remain dry. The cattle are still on well water and make-do feed. I have been feeding cotton gin waste enhanced with cotton seed to improve the protein. I will feed this as long as it is available. I do have some purchased peanut hay and the pastures are responding to the recent rain. For those interested here are some pictures of the herd consuming the gin trash.

[mtman]

thats terrible i shure hope things change for the good soon

[fordson major]

i heard on the weather this AM that there was a huge system was going to be moving up the coast, hope it gives you rain and lots of it.

[topside1]

Great looking herd and squared away operation. Hoping the weather cycle breaks soon...

[Baer Creek]

Nice looking well built herd. Hope the weather mellows out for everyone and soon!

[DJ in WA]

Man, how can you guys tell how those cattle look? Agman, mix some Charolais in there so they show up better in photos.

I know from other photos they are nice cattle, of course.

I was wondering - how long is your grass growing season? Is it too late to start growing if you get water?

[agmantoo]

I can get some growth up until about the middle of Dec. with water and typical weather. Even in Winter if we get a few mild days I get a minute amount of growth. I do have the pastures sown to Marshall rye grass which is rather cold tolerant. My observations of the pastures are that I have about 30 days of feed now with management intensive grazing. The pastures were extremely stressed from the drought. I continue to keep the cattle off the grass in an attempt to let the growth continue to enhance the amount of photosynthesis that can occur to contribute to forage regrowth. I got a load of cotton gin waste today and the driver told me that would cease at the end of Nov so I have purchased feed for another 30 days. I am seeing some forage growth and recovery from the moisture we recently received and I remain optimistic that things will improve. Most farmers are optimistic and I am typical of that. PS....DJ, the weather here is very similar to Portland without as much rain!

[DJ in WA]

I hope things start straightening out for you. But then, since learning of your operation, it seemed kind of like cheating to me.

As a youth growing up on the dry side of Washington state, I got to spend 4 to 5 hours daily moving irrigation pipe to water pasture and hay fields. Then bucking hay in 90+ degree heat. Your system is so much simpler. Hopefully this type of drought is very rare.