Anyone had enough winter yet ??

[springvalley]

I guess it`s not so bad once you get into a routine, but everything takes so much longer to do. And all the extra work that goes with it, like bedding sheds, hauling hay to EVERYTHING, hauling water, breaking ice, PUSHING SNOW !!! We had almost 12 inches the other day and and took darn near all day to clean the stuff up. Hope we don`t get many more like this one, I will run out of places to put the stuff. Good luck with your winter adventures, and stay safe, and warm. > Thanks Marc

[Karen in Alabam]

Yes, I had enough winter. It got down to 27 last night and it is almost 3pm and its only 39. The week is to end around 55 before we have a repeat week next week.

I got me some jobber boots and they keep my feet warm

[Bret]

Am I minimizing? I tell myself that in a little more than 90 days, green will be slowely appearing if not growing and that during this time there may only be a dozen days that will really test me and that getting out of the wind in the barn for a few minutes will restore me.

Hang in there.

[francismilker]

I feel for all of you dealing with harsh winters. Here, we normally have 30-40's for highs and we've barely had that for lows so far this year. We didn't get our first real hard freeze until last week. Now on the downside of that, we're really, really dry. Last year we had several muddy, sloshy snowfalls that caused a bit of trouble trying to get hay put out. (Which I complained about of course.) This year it's so dry we're coughing up dust as we rode the tractor through the field to put out hay. Go figure!

[springvalley]

I just love my big ole barn, it has been down single digits the last two days and it`s still just above freezing in the barn. Did I say I love my barn. > Thanks Marc

[BlackWillowFarm]

We've had the cold, but so far the snow has missed us. I'm sick of it already and it hasn't really started yet. I have it easy this winter though. The cow is dry so all I have to do is throw hay, feed the chickens and pigs and make sure the water doesn't freeze over.

Here's to Spring!

[Native87]

Yes Yes Yes. Tired already. Busting ice is the best. Particularly when it splashes in your face in well below 0 windchill. Freezes on your coat as fast as it hits no joke.

[Curtis B]

Originally Posted by francismilker

I feel for all of you dealing with harsh winters. Here, we normally have 30-40's for highs and we've barely had that for lows so far this year. We didn't get our first real hard freeze until last week. Now on the downside of that, we're really, really dry. Last year we had several muddy, sloshy snowfalls that caused a bit of trouble trying to get hay put out. (Which I complained about of course.) This year it's so dry we're coughing up dust as we rode the tractor through the field to put out hay. Go figure!

We have this here too, accept colder(highs in the 30's lows in the teens), I would love to be complaining about too much snow, rather than be wondering about how the grass was going to grow next year. 9 out of 10 ponds in my area are bone dry. It also helps that I actually like snow, course that may be due to the fact it is so rare here anymore.

[Callieslamb]

Originally Posted by springvalley

We had almost 12 inches the other day and and took darn near all day to clean the stuff up. ........................(

You clean it up? Where do you put it?

I just let it lie around and make mush in the barn yard. We have about a foot - Carla- how do you miss so much snow when we get dumped on? - and it's still coming down. It's blowing around and redistributing itself everywhere so you'd think it was 2 feet in places and 2 inches in others.

Am I tired of it? Nope. Not falling for that one. Once I get tired of it, winter gets long and painful. I love the snow, I love the snow..... I love the cold. I love wearing 2 coats and hats. I love blowing the ice out of my air line to the milking machine. I love watching the sheep leap through the drifts, knowing their fleece is collecting balls of ice. I love dipping, drying and then putting frost-guard on my cow - and looking for something to clean my hand up with. I love making clouds of "smoke" while feeding hay. I LOVE IT!!!!

[cathleenc]

I LOVE winter too - but it just got too cold too quick. I expect the first snow that sticks exactly when it came... but single digit cold? no. that should have waited till January.

[scholtefamily]

I do love the snow, but we haven't had as much as you have. single digits over here. The teat dip is freezing between cows. not fun........and the cows don't appreciate it either.

[BlackWillowFarm]

Originally Posted by Callieslamb

..... I love the cold. I love wearing 2 coats and hats. I love blowing the ice out of my air line to the milking machine. I love watching the sheep leap through the drifts, knowing their fleece is collecting balls of ice. I love dipping, drying and then putting frost-guard on my cow - and looking for something to clean my hand up with. I love making clouds of "smoke" while feeding hay. I LOVE IT!!!!

Ah, yes. The joys of winter.

[Callieslamb]

Actually, it's not as bad once the ground freezes and the snow covers up the mess. (and DH blows me a path to the barn). Marc, I wish my barn were as warm as yours. I'm really not out long enough to get cold. 30-45 minutes and I'm back to the house - sweating and hot. Cold puts life in my veins. Hot makes me sluggish. We had a great LONG, beautiful fall, so I'd best not be doing too much complaining. Ask me what I think of winter again in February.....

[topside1]

Marc, yes I'm tired. Right now it's 10 degrees and the pastures are pure white..Topside

[momofseven]

Yeah I am tired too... 12* this a.m. and it is NOT fun to milk in......

[Native87]

YEAH The wind quit blowing here!!!!!

[springvalley]

Yep, The wind is what kills me, and we live in a valley and it realy isn`t that bad. I have no idea how those of you that live in Nebraska and Kansas deal with the wind all the time. I have to grind feed today, hope everything starts ok. > Thanks Marc

[myersfarm]

No give me more.....this is when calfs are real cheap and they are so much easier to raise.....19 degrees here.....milking 12 cows and 90 calfs on milk....30 will be weaned first break in weather..so will need another 30 calfs ... cheap is under $100...in July they are $250...going after raising 250 calfs this year

[Up North]

Winter is why we packed up the entire farm and moved 900 miles straight south! If we knew then what we know now I think we would of moved at least a couple hundred miles further south. It's mind boggling how much time and money is chewed up fighting the cold and snow. Winters in KS are so much easier than in northern WI. I would say there is only about 2 weeks out of the winter that *feel* like the winters we are accustomed to. Even then we don't have to plow snow anymore so it's so much easier. Right now we're running the cows across a field of winter wheat and brassicas. Wouldn't be doing that at our old farm! We're in the same boat as Francismilker though, too dry. I hope we get some moisture soon.

[arcticow]

Originally Posted by Up North

Winter is why we packed up the entire farm and moved 900 miles straight south! If we knew then what we know now I think we would of moved at least a couple hundred miles further south. It's mind boggling how much time and money is chewed up fighting the cold and snow. Winters in KS are so much easier than in northern WI. I would say there is only about 2 weeks out of the winter that *feel* like the winters we are accustomed to. Even then we don't have to plow snow anymore so it's so much easier. Right now we're running the cows across a field of winter wheat and brassicas. Wouldn't be doing that at our old farm! We're in the same boat as Francismilker though, too dry. I hope we get some moisture soon.

I'm still waitin' for winter to get here... I guess my blood is still too thick for Texas.