Friday Crop Report on a Thursday!

[farmaholic]

Sheepwheat, there's more than one way to skin a cat, do what works best for you and don't worry about what other people think. Money isn't the only measure of success! We haven't grown our base since 2004, alot of other people are forging ahead even by just renting more acres, I don't have to and don't care what the "progressives" think. In my "simplemindedness" I "think" I'm doing "ok".

[Marusko]

I think bucket may have been sarcastic, but I do like to see posts from folks like you, sheepwheat, who are doing things differently. I don't know why everything has to be such a sh**-throwing fest on here. People are allowed to have different opinions and different business methods, which will create some debate, but doesn't have to be a fight. Peace and love man!

We're just a commercial grain operation, and smallish, though in a high-producing area. All involved in our operation work off the farm. I've been trying to think of something that could diversify and add to my income to replace my job some day. Sheep is an option. Not sure on the economics of it and I know nothing about them but we had cattle when I was a kid so not completely new to livestock. Just hard to justify getting into such a labour-intensive sector while also grain farming and holding down the day job. I can't see sheep replacing my off-farm income. But I like learning about the options.

FWIW I like seeing your weekly reports too, SF3. I'm not friends with the BTOs around here so it's interesting to see what's going on inside your head. Interesting, and maybe a bit scary, too! haha!

I would ask you, SF3 with all that's going on, you're not eager to pick up land far out, but are you still wanting to expand close by? Will you buy land within 10-20 miles at current market prices? I heard 2nd hand that one BTO has a philosophy of push more than ever to pick up new land to cover the smaller margins going forward, rather than easing back to try to limit potential losses. Not sure what makes more sense. I guess he's optimistic that it won't get to the point where we're all losing money.

[woodland]

Sheepwheat you are definitely not alone in your situation. We tried scaling back the cows here and pushing more grain acres ( also with wealthy neighbors and a coal mine next door) and Mother Nature showed her ugly side for a few years and took all the fun and money out of it. We’re similar to you with growing barley, corn, and alfalfa for cow chow. If the only super b’s that show up here from now on deliver fert I’m fine with that as soon as last years green ugly canola finds a home. We spent $30k on tools to make fencing easier (hoe-pac, page wire unroller, and a cordless staple gun) this winter and dad just finished a 1/4 mile with his buddy and they actually enjoyed it.

Just got a little rain here and the grass is shooting up like crazy. Got two calves in 6 hours so now there’s five and I guess we’re calving even if they’re 9 days early.



Latest arrival out of a heifer.



Corner office view today.

Most guys count down to seeding but I prefer the countdown to grass time. 45 days hopefully and that’s the best sight for me is seeing them heading out to pasture.

If the weather holds we’ll be making dust in a week or two possibly after plowing some pasture water line in first.

Good luck everyone this year🍀

[SASKFARMER3]

I’m thinking why travel to make .25 cents just stay home do a good job and make .25 cents.

It’s not easy being a farmer and some days you ask why.

[woodland]

It’s not easy being a farmer and some days you ask why.

I was telling my wife that “ I don’t get paid enough” as I’m reaching inside a cow with retained placenta after she aborted a few days earlier just to make sure there weren’t any “surprises “ inside. Then the cow sneezed and covered me in a nice spray pattern of very stinky, bloody “juice” from head to toe. She then said “you definitely aren’t getting enough for today” to which we both laughed.

Things can always be worse but at least we’re still on the right side of the grass🍀

[SASKFARMER]

Yes I agree.

I still believe family is one of the most important things you can have and good friends.

Good hamburger and a pop today just tire kicking. They are definitely dryer on the south side of the valley.

[jazz]

Sit back someday and work out how many people your farm feeds every day. Use wheat to bread ratio if you farm grains mostly, assume as family eats a loaf a day as staple diet. 8 bushels of wheat will make bread for one yr for a family of 4. So a 60 bu HRS crop feeds 7 families per yr per acre. Think about the massive number of people farms are feeding in this country and around the world. How many deserve it? How many would rather think about Kim Kardashian than where their next meal is coming from.

[SASKFARMER]

A guy ripping pasture at white city. Cloud of dust.

[fjlip]

A guy ripping pasture at white city. Cloud of dust.

Record DRY...risk to many...very little run off here, hoping dugouts are full. Can count this kind of year on one hand in 50 years

[SASKFARMER]

One guy I talked to today said remember 59 and 60 were great crops then 1961 was the year it didn’t rain. The guy working at white city all you seen was dust and oh it’s a blue tractor never figured out what he was pulling.

[farmaholic]

One guy I talked to today said remember 59 and 60 were great crops then 1961 was the year it didn’t rain. The guy working at white city all you seen was dust and oh it’s a blue tractor never figured out what he was pulling.

.....his hair out.

[Sheepwheat]

Record DRY...risk to many...very little run off here, hoping dugouts are full. Can count this kind of year on one hand in 50 years

What a difference 30 miles makes...