We are faced with another wave of heat. Seven day forecast shows no relief. The fact we are in an increasing drought situation means that the crops will suffer severe damage. Right now the concern is with the cattle-how to get them safely through the heat and what to feed the rest of the summer if the grass continues not to grow.
We have been rationing pastures every move-each day-for a month or more now. Later today, I will construct a temporary walk back lane so we can move them under trees on the main yard each afternoon and drive them back out to graze in the evenings and overnight. We do have a decent second hay cutting, thanks to several timely inches of rain over the last month or so. That will be needed to get through the winter. Soon we will have to make some decisions about culling down to get through whatever time we will cope with this. It is hard since our herd is only as big as it needs to be to service our beef customers, so it will impact that as well.
Thankfully the cow calf/pairs are grazing the new pastures twenty five miles away, a place well situated with trees and very much understocked this first season. They should come through alright.
