Life on the farm through the eyes of a first-generation farm wife
Watching grown men chase two month old calves really is a site to see and understanding the logic and reasoning behind how they go about sorting their animals is something I have not yet grasped. I'm not going to lie, I really don't know what they are doing half the time.
Most often, traits are heightened through a register herd to improve the overall genetic quality in a commercial herd.
It was one year ago this week that we received the news that our boys would not be returning to school after spring break. The news was life-altering and sobering and was the first of many "endings" we experienced as a result of COVID-19.
It's Sunday afternoon and we've done all we can do. The farmer hubs and my oldest made one last pass through the pasture to check for any new calves. The bunk is full of food and we've got our eye on the weather. Bring on the storm - or better yet - send it somewhere else!
We're mere days away from 2021 - the new year is in sight. And while we're all cautiously optimistic, us in the ag industry remember how excited we were for 2019 to be done and 2020 to arrive. Oh, what little we knew. We are fortunate though - our family started the year on the … Continue reading 2020, in Hindsight
Bulls are the backbone of any cow herd and bad genetics or a faulty bull can mean open (non-pregnant) cows. Bulls are on the farm to breed cows and cows are on the farm to have calves. If one of those two things don't happen, you don't have a productive or profitable herd. Bulls are one of the biggest investments for any working ranch so getting the right guy is very important.
The days run into weeks and the weeks into months. This morning I read a meme that reminded us that this was our 10th Monday in quarantine. Where has the time gone? And I don't say it in the dreamy, reminiscent tone. I say it in the 'I can't believe we are still doing this' … Continue reading Week 8 & 9: I’ve lost track
It's #SmallBusinessWeek and while we all stop to lift up the downtown shop or local manufacturing company, farms often are not part of the business landscape we celebrate because those outside of farming don't see what we do as a business. But for many communities and states - like Kansas - farming and agriculture is … Continue reading The Business of Farming
My husband has spent the better part of the last 10 days behind the wheel of his yellow 18-wheeler. We had cows at our farm this winter and now it’s time to send them east to enjoy a summer grazing in the Kansas Flint Hills. The state of Kansas has more cows than people – … Continue reading Using Our Resources
During the winter months we have a lot of mouths to feed on the farm. More than 500 to be exact. That makes dinner a big deal and important part of the farmer hub's day. We put a lot of time and attention into the feed for our cattle because, just as in humans, proper … Continue reading The Dish on Dinner Time
