Driest ground in Sierras since 1883

RedDirt Cowgirl · #1 01/01/12, 02:43 PM

Sweat is the only moisture around here - early rains sprouted the grass, freezing nights and dry winds have really knocked it out. I hate to think about the stories of lost stock and ranches back then. There was even a crisis on the Pacifc Stock Exchange that pretty much wiped out our gold assets, but we were thankful to at least be land poor.

What are folks doing to cope with this?

Jcran · #2 01/01/12, 03:34 PM

We went to our local auction this week JUST cuz we'd never been since it falls on a work day. It was also the first time in a long time the auction has been open the week after Christmas...lots of young steer groups and heifer groups and cow/calf pairs run through...folks worried about not having enough grass coming up. While I was happy with the dry weather for my new kids on the ground, I realize the need for water. I think we are gonna get it in Spring tho...keep hoping!

rancher1913 · #3 01/01/12, 09:03 PM

sure looks like history repeating itself. bad economy, bad droughts, rich partying like there's no tommorrow.

DJ in WA · #4 01/02/12, 01:28 AM

Is all the west like this? I'm in eastern washington and we're having record lack of snow. Nothing out there. After several years with record deep snow.

francismilker · #5 01/02/12, 10:12 AM

I think it's dry everywhere west of the Mississippi. We just finished our driest summer on record.

RedDirt Cowgirl · #6 01/02/12, 11:58 AM

First time in my life there's no one alive who's seen it any worse here. It's always time to feed every day in Nov/Dec, but we should be able to slack off now. Look for cheap horses this summer - hay prices will be going through the roof.

francismilker · #7 01/02/12, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedDirt Cowgirl

First time in my life there's no one alive who's seen it any worse here. It's always time to feed every day in Nov/Dec, but we should be able to slack off now. Look for cheap horses this summer - hay prices will be going through the roof.

I know a lot of folks who done just what you're advising in anticipation of the horse slaughter market coming back and are paying out the wazoo in my area to keep them alive. Your idea will work great if there's a plentiful supply of hay. Otherwise, if folks are shedding extra hay burners due to lack of hay you'd probably need to do the same thing.

RedDirt Cowgirl · #8 01/09/12, 03:11 PM

Numbers are moving down - http://farmprogress.com/california-f...k-area-9-56199