Today was another hot, humid and windy day. The corn needs the heat so for that crop it is a perfect growing day. The cows on the other hand prefer it cooler so there will be a loss in milk production on days like this. The challenge with our cow situation is determining what is working. We have added protein and moved them to less mature grass. We should see a positive impact of this with our bulk tank numbers but the heat will create a negative impact also. Cows are similar to people in the heat in the fact that their interest in eating tends to drop. Perhaps the most interesting speaker we have had the opportunity to listen to was the grazing specialist for the state of New York. He explained that cows will pick what they eat based on the protein available both in the barn and pasture. If we feed more than necessary in the barn they will choose to eat grass since the protein content is less and it will help buffer their stomach. If we feed less in the barn they will tend to eat the alfalfa and clover and ignore the grass. The trick is to be aware of what is available in each paddock and adjust the protein we feed accordingly. What we do is more art than science.
Last night Ed started mowing our pastures. We rent his mower and tractor and pay him also so it is an expensive process we try to avoid if we can. The weather and timing of how the pasture has grown has created a challenge in keeping up with the proper growth for the cows nutritional needs. Mowing the excess overgrowth will allow the pasture to start over with all new growth, which in turn will allow us another chance at more perfect feed for the cows. Spring pasture growth is always a challenge to manage. Since the cows tend to cover the whole area as much as to 6-7 times over the process of the grazing season, mowing overgrowth this early in the season will pay off in the months to come. Generally if we need to mow it is only once early in the season.
Today the class III price was announced for May. The price for May 2009 was $9.84, 2010 was $13.38 with this years being $16.52. Our contract for May was $16.59 so on this contract we gained a whole $52.50!!! Sometimes you even have to celebrate the small wins : ) In the last 15 years the highest May price was $20.58 in 2004 and the lowest was $9.37 in 2000. We also had fuel delivered today. Last years contract for diesel was $2.37 so we were disappointed when the contract for this year was $2.99, that is until today when we were told the current price is $3.59!
Once Ed was done mowing the pasture he continued to chisel plow. Bruce had heifers to move and grain to feed before he could start planting. Cropping without cows is a totally different game than doing dairy and crops at the same time. Progress happens but the list of priorities is different.
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