Green feed or grain?

[TOM4CWB]

Cowman,

Getting that barley up in good shape as high quality green feed is a big RISK.

If your neighbour could silage it, the net feed value to livestock would increase... the grain value totally useable... have you guys thought of silage baling it?

[cowman]

Well I don't really want it. I suggested the silage thing to him, as there is a local who has a square silage bale outfit, but he didn't seem very interested. He's an older farmer and doesn't want a lot of hassle in dealing with this problem. I suspect he'll come back to me or else just leave it out in the field. He can afford to let it rot.

[TOM4CWB]

Cowman,

Habit and tradition are hard to change... the weather doesn't care much for either, does not wait for anyone...

It has been a hard year to live with, maybe we can become better neighbours with all the stress and pain?

Hopefully the grain and straw that is produces is harvestable...

Are your pastures starting to show signs of life yet?

[cowman]

It is just short of amazing how everything just perked up after the rain/snow. Right around 2 inches in the rain gauge. Even some really stressed out barley crops look better from the road.
As near as I can figure out the snow must have run in a fairly narrow corrider. Was out at Alix yesterday(about 15 miles east of Lacombe) and they never had any snow and there was hardly any at Sylvan Lake which is about 10 miles west of Red Deer.
It froze fairly hard on Aug. 1st but not on the night of the snow. I doubt either damaged any crops although it froze the beans in the garden even though I hosed them down good.
There is a good crop of Foremost wheat just up the road that I check on regularly and it went down in places from the snow but looks a lot better now. It's in the soft dow stage and looks like it will be a pretty decent crop. Have to get out and check some barley and canola.