A Close Up Look at the 2012 Drought

[JUSTIFIED]

This is a bit of a read but worth it. I know this is no ordinary drought but you might be surprised at how bad it really is.

http://preparednesspro.com/a-close-up-look-at-the-2012-drought/

[MustangGal]

Sobering to say the least. We ordered 200 bales of hay. We got 57. :( And, it looks like we may not get any more. I think we may be able to stretch it enough to make it work - 200 would have kept us more than generously supplied. Still, it is a big worry for us. I know we will be bagging and collecting all the leaves we can this fall (the goats love them). That coupled with the hay we have, our neighbor bringing in produce that they toss at his work, and what sounds like should be some expensive grain, should see us through. I am also going to be planting turnips in the next week or so, feed the tops at harvest and save the turnips for winter fodder.

[JUSTIFIED]

Sobering to say the least. We ordered 200 bales of hay. We got 57. :( And, it looks like we may not get any more. I think we may be able to stretch it enough to make it work - 200 would have kept us more than generously supplied. Still, it is a big worry for us. I know we will be bagging and collecting all the leaves we can this fall (the goats love them). That coupled with the hay we have, our neighbor bringing in produce that they toss at his work, and what sounds like should be some expensive grain, should see us through. I am also going to be plainting turnips in the next week or so, feed the tops at harvest and save the turnips for winter fodder.

Our inlaws were visiting today and FIL is a lifelong farmer/rancher. He said the feeling is that it will be another mild, dry winter and if that's so then next year we will be in very serious trouble. Hyperinflation waiting in the wings!

[Benn Gleck]

Sobering to say the least. We ordered 200 bales of hay. We got 57. :( And, it looks like we may not get any more. I think we may be able to stretch it enough to make it work - 200 would have kept us more than generously supplied. Still, it is a big worry for us. I know we will be bagging and collecting all the leaves we can this fall (the goats love them). That coupled with the hay we have, our neighbor bringing in produce that they toss at his work, and what sounds like should be some expensive grain, should see us through. I am also going to be planting turnips in the next week or so, feed the tops at harvest and save the turnips for winter fodder.

200 bales?? Square bales or round bales?
I just gave away 15 round bales. My neighbor cuts and bales our hay and we give it to him, saves us from having to mow those fields. There won't be a second cutting this year though, too dry.

[610Alpha]

corn in IL looks horrible...hay is still being cut...a veterinarian has had at least 3 cuttings of his hay field iirc . Dairies were paying $8/small sq bale

[JUSTIFIED]

We're hearing these stories everywhere. Of the the crops that have survived the majority across the nation are in poor condition. That translates to a poorer quality product and higher prices. Beef, vegetables, dairy...

[jimmycthemd]

Stating the obvious....I guess food storage is top on the priority list :-)

[MustangGal]

200 bales?? Square bales or round bales?
I just gave away 15 round bales. My neighbor cuts and bales our hay and we give it to him, saves us from having to mow those fields. There won't be a second cutting this year though, too dry.

Small square bales. We don't have the equipment to handle the round bales. Though, it looks like we might have to try to buy one or two round bales - if we get the chance.

[rice paddy daddy]

We were using round bales here at The Ol' Homstead for the horses. Bought a hay ring and I made a deal out of bowed PVC pipe and a tarp to keep it dry. Our hay guy charged us $55 a bale, delivered.
But it got to the point where the horses were wasting 50% of the hay, and we've had enough rain to break the three year drought and get the grass growing again. So we went back to squares, just filling their bags when they were stalled for the night. We've been buying from the same supplier for enough years we get a price break - we pay $4.50 a square. Use about 1/2 bale a day for the three horses.
But we see the news stories on RFD-TV, and my heart goes out to all the farmers and ranchers who are suffering.

[MustangGal]

I hear you on the wasted hay. Goats are terrible about wasting hay.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Small square bales. We don't have the equipment to handle the round bales. Though, it looks like we might have to try to buy one or two round bales - if we get the chance.

Had some kin that came on from Missouri, seems they are doing better up there. hate to say it but ya might look thataway to haul some in. Wish i could be of more help in this, stuff beatin everyone up

[JUSTIFIED]

We were using round bales here at The Ol' Homstead for the horses. Bought a hay ring and I made a deal out of bowed PVC pipe and a tarp to keep it dry. Our hay guy charged us $55 a bale, delivered.
But it got to the point where the horses were wasting 50% of the hay, and we've had enough rain to break the three year drought and get the grass growing again. So we went back to squares, just filling their bags when they were stalled for the night. We've been buying from the same supplier for enough years we get a price break - we pay $4.50 a square. Use about 1/2 bale a day for the three horses.
But we see the news stories on RFD-TV, and my heart goes out to all the farmers and ranchers who are suffering.

Rice, my FIL told me yesterday he's started grinding his feed so there's less waste.

[rice paddy daddy]

We supplement the hay with bagged feed for good nutrition. They get a measured amount in the morning and again when we put them up for the night, along with a flake or two of coastal hay. Nothing fancy like alfalfa hay. During the day they graze on the grass.
There are other things the wife gives 'em, like shreded beet pulp with molasses (soaked in water, this helps keep them hydrated in the 105 degree afternoons), alfalfa cubes, feed-thru fly control, etc.
Between that, the farrier and the vet, most of her social insecurity check gets spent.
But, horses make my wife happy, and my main job in life is to make my wife happy, so we have horses.
All three are rescues from neglect, abuse, and general bad stuff. Our dogs, too.

Opps! Sorry for causing the dreaded condition known as Thread Drift.

[JUSTIFIED]

We supplement the hay with bagged feed for good nutrition. They get a measured amount in the morning and again when we put them up for the night, along with a flake or two of coastal hay. Nothing fancy like alfalfa hay. During the day they graze on the grass.
There are other things the wife gives 'em, like shreded beet pulp with molasses (soaked in water, this helps keep them hydrated in the 105 degree afternoons), alfalfa cubes, feed-thru fly control, etc.
Between that, the farrier and the vet, most of her social insecurity check gets spent.
But, horses make my wife happy, and my main job in life is to make my wife happy, so we have horses.
All three are rescues from neglect, abuse, and general bad stuff. Our dogs, too.

Opps! Sorry for causing the dreaded condition known as Thread Drift.

Drift all ya want Rice! Glad to see you guys giving those horses a good home...and spoiling them too...chuckle...

Almost all of our 40+ cats and dogs over the years have been rescues. We both love horses but no where to keep them or we'd have some.

[rice paddy daddy]

Drift all ya want Rice! Glad to see you guys giving those horses a good home...and spoiling them too...chuckle...

Almost all of our 40+ cats and dogs over the years have been rescues. We both love horses but no where to keep them or we'd have some.

Our first horse was an innocent byproduct of a divorce; our second horse came from a sheriff's seizure of neglected and abused animals (she was about 400 pounds underweight); our third horse was litterally rescued from the line getting on a slaughter house truck when he was 6 months old, we paid $300 for him.
All the dogs we've had over the years (we've had as many as seven at a time, we are down to four now) have either come from the pound or, more often, roadside rescue. People dump their animals out here in the country, so many are hit by cars it's a heart breaker.
Odd as it may sound, I believe God put on my heart a desire to help suffering animals as a direct result of my time in vietnam when I was at times a helpless animal. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else, but I believe it to be so.