Wx / Drought

[Hopalong]

Pastures in this area were eaten off pretty short last fall and would seem to be first to suffer.
Might be prudent for cattlemen to buy some oats if they can find any.
Not sorry to be out of cattle.

[WiltonRanch]

Gets my goat every time the first guys who run out of grass are the first ones turning out. I don’t expect to turn my cows on summer pasture until June first if I can. Let the grass get a leg up before you graze.

Our soil moisture is decent so far but fear if we don’t get a good rain in a couple weeks the grass will be stuck in first gear. Far as hay is concerned I do not think there will be much. Maybe I am calling it too early but I have that feeling. This area has been fortunate to have had lots of rain the last few years so I am not surprised we are in for a dry year. Surely it will rain enough to get something but I don’t think should have unrealistic expectations for the current forecasts.

[grassfarmer]

One of the worst overgrazed pastures in this area from last year had cattle turned onto it April 26th this year - optimistic is an overstatement!

As for hay I'm sure you are right - it is just too late and too dry already to get much of a first cut this year in my area anyway. If we get the moisture it might boost (or give) a second cut.

As for ranchers not paying for feed, I've certainly never done that but I've been cheated a few times by guys misrepresenting the weight of bales they are selling.
A new experience last year was getting cheated badly by a custom operator hired to cut, bale and wrap bales. I'd never expect someone in that business to slack off the density and not chop the cores of the silage bales in an effort to boost the bale tally by which he charges. Never found out until we weighed them when we hauled them home and discovered they were little more than half the weight expected. Of course he had been paid long ago. Not naming names but be very wary of hiring a custom guy from Nesbit, Manitoba.

[Guest]

Sure hope you cattle guys get some rain
Watching a crop burn up is not nice , but pales in comparison to watching your herd that you built up go short of feed or water . Must take years to get back to where you were after a severe drought !

[makar]

Selling hay on shares, offered my alfalfa and was told 70/30 on land i 1/3 2/3 rent, giving a 3 1/3 deficet cheque for me write on crop i own, disced it hours later.

[farming101]

No rain for you!

Wonder what shape things will be in by June 1

Meanwhile to the south....over 10 inches of rain possible for northeast Kansas by June 4

[sumdumguy]

Prairie Fire around Edson/Marlboro?

[LEP]

One of the worst overgrazed pastures in this area from last year had cattle turned onto it April 26th this year - optimistic is an overstatement!

As for hay I'm sure you are right - it is just too late and too dry already to get much of a first cut this year in my area anyway. If we get the moisture it might boost (or give) a second cut.

As for ranchers not paying for feed, I've certainly never done that but I've been cheated a few times by guys misrepresenting the weight of bales they are selling.
A new experience last year was getting cheated badly by a custom operator hired to cut, bale and wrap bales. I'd never expect someone in that business to slack off the density and not chop the cores of the silage bales in an effort to boost the bale tally by which he charges. Never found out until we weighed them when we hauled them home and discovered they were little more than half the weight expected. Of course he had been paid long ago. Not naming names but be very wary of hiring a custom guy from Nesbit, Manitoba.

Around here everyone pays based on a scale ticket. There can be alot of variability in bale weights. Especially in a dry year. The areas of the field with a little more snow or moisture give a heavier swath and usually alittle heavier bale. And sometimes finer hay can surprise you with how heavy of a bale you can make.

[seldomseen]

Leafcutter bees are worthless so might be better to turn them into compost and grow alfalfa?
I am sure NE Sask can still grow a decent hay crop but we are just so far from the areas that need it.
What do you think Case?

[grassfarmer]

Around here everyone pays based on a scale ticket. There can be alot of variability in bale weights. Especially in a dry year. The areas of the field with a little more snow or moisture give a heavier swath and usually alittle heavier bale. And sometimes finer hay can surprise you with how heavy of a bale you can make.

By choice I would buy feed on analysis (done at my expense) and at least a representative sample weighed but when feed gets short some guys go crazy and others get greedy. I've sent samples away in the past only to discover later the seller sold the bales to someone who drove into his yard an hour after I left. Thankfully there are still many decent people to do business with though and my bad experiences have only been a small percentage.

[Guest]

Leafcutter bees are worthless so might be better to turn them into compost and grow alfalfa?
I am sure NE Sask can still grow a decent hay crop but we are just so far from the areas that need it.
What do you think Case?

Thats what we did
Put them in the garden
Hope they dont grow into more bees lol
Yea we will get some hay here , its all signed up to the dehy plant
Cant believe how wet the ground got from that 3-4 tenths
Lots still to wet to work
Mudded barley in thats gonna want a rain

[seldomseen]

Yes made a mess to get the last of the peas in [IMG]https://www.agriville.com/upload_image/uploades/medium/4451558396324.jpg[/IM