If you’ve ever talked to a farmer for more than five minutes, it’s likely the subject of weather has come up. For most folks, “nice day out” is just a filler. For a farmer, weather is everything. I alluded to this the other day when talking about wanting rain for the corn.
At the same time I needed it to stay dry until the hay was baled.
Well, my hay is in thanks to my son,
my nephew
my other nephew
and the custom baling of Eden Ridge Farms.
They had two tractors and rakes out there working hard to get it ready to be baled.
We got about 200 square bales, and I still have to go count the round bales. We’ll finish making my square bales with the next cutting. It’s already more round bales than I will need for the winter, so they will get sold.
I’m a happy camper, and I might go do a rain dance tonight. With cooperative weather, we’ll get one or two more cuttings. It’s no wonder farmers are always talking about the weather.
Beyond rain for crops to grow and dry weather for hay, I bet the weather impacts farming more than many people know. Our really warm (almost non-existent) winter will impact us all summer. My seed distributor has already sent out information on how much more likely we are to have pests in our corn and beans.
I’ve mentioned in a previous post about the negative impact its had on the fruit industry. With such warm temperatures, the trees all started blossoming early, and we had a normal freeze that destroyed much of the fruit. I’m lucky. I think only my plums were impacted. I know of one winery/vineyard that said they lost nearly 70% of their grape crop.
Finally, the strange weather impacts the animals. We typically have a long stretch of cold weather that kills bacteria and parasites. We didn’t have that this year. I had to start putting flea and tick meds on the cats and dogs in February. I’ve never had to do that before.
I’ve already had a conversation with a vet about the impact on animals. It’s likely to be a bad year for worms and bacteria. We could see a lot more infections and illnesses.
Along with parasites, it can impact the size of babies and the condition of the mother. An easy warm winter can cause a bigger baby. If the mother is overweight or under weight because of weather conditions, it will impact their ability to give birth and care for their baby.
There are many aspects of farming that the weather impacts. Next time you see a farmer and they start talking about the weather, it’s because the weather dictates their life. Look to the sky and what do you see?
Today I saw an angel sent to me by a wonderful friend. Thank you for your blessings and good wishes, Maryann.
Linking to Homestead Barn Hop.
Teresa
May 27, 2012 @ 20:23:18
in wisconsin, it was always weather and gas prices.
glad you got your hay baled!!!
May 27, 2012 @ 21:06:07
Yep! That’s the conversations in Iowa too.
May 27, 2012 @ 20:42:59
What a beautiful angel……
Glad you got your hay baled! Now, on to growing beautiful things!
xo
May 27, 2012 @ 21:06:35
Does that mean you have confidence I’m going to get my garden planted? Glad someone does.
May 27, 2012 @ 20:58:43
It does look like an Angel or a bird! Must be very reassuring to get all the hay you need for the Winter so early in the year. I’m on the wormer already and it is cold here.
May 27, 2012 @ 21:07:47
I really am glad to have this much hay put up already. I will need some from the next cutting yet, but I should be good to go!
May 27, 2012 @ 21:09:29
You are right on about the weather being “the” topic of conversation for farmers! So true!
I’m glad you got so much nice hay baled!
May 27, 2012 @ 21:11:27
It is often hard to get good hay here because of our usually high humidity and frequent rains. I really am happy with this cutting.
May 27, 2012 @ 21:59:45
Yes, farmers always talk about the weather. I live in a small town with farmers in and around the area. I finally went out and bought a rain gauge so I could answer the question, “How much rain did you get?” Glad the hay is in, now come on rain.
May 27, 2012 @ 22:13:52
I am probably the only farmer without a rain gauge. I just estimate by what’s in the feed pans.
May 27, 2012 @ 22:03:56
Yes! You are so right about this. I wish it would rain! I’d rather have it rain and ruin plans for being outdoors, than enjoying the sunny weather. It’s fun for consumers now……until it affects them at the grocery store or at the gas pump!
May 27, 2012 @ 22:14:29
That was my thoughts this winter when everyone was enjoying the nice winter. I know it has consequences (likely drought) later.
May 27, 2012 @ 22:22:20
Oh! I am so excited by that picture!!!!!! It is spectacular! How wonderful! And your corn! I can’t believe it is that tall already. It seems like you just planted it! Oh, thank you, Teresa, for giving me such a lift.
A myriad of rainbows of blessings on you and on Eden HIlls.
May 27, 2012 @ 23:01:46
I must say, I love my goat sisters. When I was looking at wispy clouds, my mom is the one that suddenly pointed out there was an angel. Thanks for sending her to me. Hope you have a wonderful week.
May 27, 2012 @ 23:52:10
Your posts and photos convey the very essence of farm life, balancing the positives and the negatives. I’m glad that you had such a good hay crop and the corn looks like it’s off to a great start. I hope Snickers and your other ailing animals are doing better.
My mom would have loved that cloud angel.
May 28, 2012 @ 06:36:17
I do think everyone is on the mend. Thanks.
May 28, 2012 @ 05:54:13
I love this post!
So many of the people I interact with in my day-to-day life, just don’t understand what effect the weather has on life. This past warm winter has had me on edge, because I knew that we were going to pay for it some where down the line. We’ve seen it here, reflected in the fruit prices already…the early blossom and then frost has jumped the prices, and I don’t see them coming down! Thankfully, my apple tree stayed on the regular schedule, but we came perilously close to frost Friday night, and that could have been disastrous.
May 28, 2012 @ 06:37:11
Glad you avoided an apple disaster. I haven’t had a good apple harvest in two years, so I really want my tree to do well this year. I need to make more wine.
May 28, 2012 @ 08:17:30
I just recently found your blog while searching the World Wide Web for small farming blogs. My husband and I are both in our early 40′s, and are starting down the research path of beginning our own small farm here in Florida on the Nature Coast. In reading your blog, I have found a wealth of information and some really great photographs – I mean, who doesn’t love baby animals? I have bookmarked your blog and plan to watch and learn as we start down our path to our personal Eden…
Thank you for such well thought out information!
Tuesday
May 28, 2012 @ 09:39:12
Glad you’ve found this information useful. It is a lot of hard work, and sometimes it breaks your heart, but it is also the most wonderful and rewarding lifestyle you could hope for.
May 28, 2012 @ 13:29:27
YAY for the hay and all your helpers!
It seems to me that only city people complain about the rain! LOL!!
Your corn is looking great already and I’m glad to hear all the critters are on the mend. Love the angel sent to you by the Goatmother!
May 28, 2012 @ 14:58:48
I must say, the Goatmother is very sweet to be thinking of me right now. I’m really lucky with the corn. My nephew said a friend has lost 30% of his corn to cutworm. That warm winter at work.
May 28, 2012 @ 14:11:50
I’m glad you got the hay baled. Weather can certainly turn on you in a second. I hope your kittie is feeling better.
May 28, 2012 @ 14:59:16
He is much better on the antibiotics. Hopefully, that will be the only problem.
May 29, 2012 @ 16:26:38
We got 387 bales up Sunday. Do to Homer being ill I had to cut the hay, ted the hay, rake the hay and bale the hay. Thank goodness for neighbors and my kids to help pick up the hay.
May 29, 2012 @ 17:25:15
So sorry to hear he’s ill. I hope it isn’t serious. Glad you got the hay up. It is always a relief when the barn is full. So glad to hear from you!