From the Barns: Cattle market is hot

The crops are up and doing great, cows are almost done calving, lots of grass around and, other than some hay needing baled, there is adequate time available to get some fishing in, too — what a great time of year. A quite successful track-and-field season has wrapped up and I’m finding that afternoons actually are made for getting some work done. Imagine that.

This cattle market is crazy good and has me wondering how long it can last. There aren’t many signs that any quick turnaround in the market is anywhere on the horizon, but I’ve been around long enough to have seen a couple of real wrecks and don’t want to experience that thrill again. Man, it takes a big pile of cash to operate anymore. Feed cost isn’t much of a concern, but the cost of replacements? Wow!

Our wheat looks good and I’m anxious to get it cut so we can plant one last field of corn. We always have manure to pump as soon as the combine gets the wheat cut and I’m sure we will be laying drag hose just as soon as the guys get the round bales hauled out of the field.

We will be getting the first round of vaccinations in the calves in the next couple of weeks. We will be looking hard for any cows that have not calved or lost calves and moving them to market. This cull cow market is just as hot as the fats and keeping an open, nonproductive cow is questionable at best.

I’ve always said being a female around here isn’t too tough. All you have to do is get bred and raise a calf to stay. Seems like a simple rule, but that I was referring to cows may have been overlooked and be in part why we have so many grandchildren. Whatever, it all works.

My passion lately has been removing brush — particularly Russian olive, locust and honeysuckle — from our pastures. The Russian olive, in particular, has really invaded and crowded out the grass in many locations. Now, I’m a fan of wildlife cover, but enough is enough.

When the olives get too thick there is no grass left on the slopes to prevent erosion and ditches get started, let alone no feed left for cows or anything else. We’ve employed several methods for control — mist sprayer, airplane and drones. They are all effective, but my enemy is persistent and numerous. One of the scientists from a chemical company I’ve been talking to told me patience is the No. 1 ingredient necessary for brush control. I get it, but I’m still looking for a bigger hammer.

Enjoy the summer!