winter

Winter on a diversified livestock farm is really its own occupation.  This is the time when the animals you decided to work with become your dependents and you must put in the extra time and especially effort that it takes to get them through each night and each weather system that blows through from two days of strong north winds and falling temperatures to several days of strong south winds and slowly, very slowly rising temperatures.  And then a week later, here it comes again.  Bedding is a constant for the hogs, the cattle begin to use feed as fuel and each day a different door must be closed, or partly opened for ventilation, hay must be placed south or north of the windbreak and the tractor must start to push the snow, carry the hay or bedding.

From this perspective spring is retirement and we really look forward to it!

Jim