Tid Bits
June 15th, 2006 by Northern FarmerAnother day on the Central Minnesota desert, around ninety today with pretty good winds, that’ll get rid of that pesky moister hanging around. The skeeters have packed up and headed for Iowa looking for blood that still flows. But, you never know, I could be complaining about to much rain a couple of weeks from now. It’s farmer tradition to complain you know. If we didn’t, then everyone would see how good we have it and want to farm. Then the only place were a person could have any privacy would be in the big city, because they’d be empty.
But the hay making continues, but the end is near, a few more days and all that’ll be left are the lowland meadows. I wish the deer flies would head down to Iowa too, but they figure I’m a tasty treat yet. A person can outsmart the buggers when he where’s a broad brim hat. They’re up on top of there just trying to bite, but just getting mouthfuls of fabric instead of my head. Baseball style caps are vulnerable, plus then they can bite your ears. No, a good wide broad brimmed farmer’s hat works the best, plus keeps the sun off a guy. I’m already darker than most Mexicans even dressing as I do to avoid direct sun. Funny, I just thought of this today, I haven’t wore short sleeves working this year yet, always long sleeve. Even when it was 99 above the other day. Getting to be like the old time farmers and ranchmen staying dressed like that. Always where thick wool socks too. The oldtimers always told me not to wear cotton socks and they’re right, them thick merino wool socks keep the feet from freezing in winter and they’re like an air conditioner in summer. Enough of these deep dark secrets.
I never pre write a blog so every time I sit down to write, well, most of the time, I haven’t the slightest idea what I’m going to write about. This happens almost every time, then it just comes out of no where, or what ever you want to call the area between my ears. I have three options tonight, rant, praise, or just fiddle around. I really could rant, there’s enough to rant about, and that’s for sure. I really should praise, can never do enough of that, or I could just keep on typing about non important things, post it, and go to bed, after reading the Good Book that is. So, here goes, (I just thought of something).
Now this will get about half the readership mad at me, and the other half will be going yippy! But I made a big decision today on a dairy animal or animals. After much debate in my mind the last few weeks I finally came to the conclusion today, after flipping a quarter, and dairy goats won. Yes, that’s how us bigger farmers make decisions, now you know a trade secret if anyone wants to full time farm someday. Pays to read here, eh.
I just figure I want a critter that I doesn’t out weigh me. Most of mine do by a lot, and I’m getting tired of wrestling animals that weigh over a thousand pounds. Let the kids wrestle the critter from now on. Another factor is there’s a super good market here for any male goats with all the Mexicans working in the packing plants, and they pay cash on the spot. So now I’ll have to brush up on goat raising a bit, no big deal.
It’ll be good to have our own milk finally instead of relying on the corporate stuff, just like anything else. Why give some people from muti national culture of death companies our hard earned dollars just so we can get labor pains from all the oxytocin in the milk. It never fails to amaze me how many people are allergic to milk nowadays, and I’d bet half the cases are just from going into minor labor from this labor inducing drug that the corporates inject into the cows illegally before every milking. Let the milk down so we can get more profit. Now, I should be fair, I know a lot of farmers that use it to, and it makes me mad that the vets will write out a prescription for it without blinking an eye, anything for money. I’ve seen it bought by the case, if used legally it would be enough for that farmer for a thousand years or more. They’ll use it up in a few weeks. Since we’ve been buying organic milk from a central Minnesota dairy, all the gut pains our family had the last decade drinking milk have vanished. No more labor pains! Simple huh. People have no idea what they’re eating or drinking, if they knew heads would roll. But then again, we wouldn’t want to hurt the economy, better act like a patriot and march in lockstep, consume, consume, consume! There, that takes care of the rant.
But we keep on keeping on here, things from the culture of death fall by the wayside one by one. We’ll live out here simple and free, Praising the Lord, apart from the world. Putting more and more distance between us and the world. One step at a time.
June 15th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the hint about wearing Merino wool socks; the boys have just given up and go barefoot — not a good thing with all the stuff that grows around here!
Glad to hear that you are thinking of getting goats. We haven’t regretted our decision to have them, and they are so easy to milk (at least that is what the boys say; I haven’t gotten the hang of it yet!).
We had thunderstorms in the area last night, but after making lots of noise it maybe rained for all of 3 minutes. That means back to siphoning water from the lake for watering the gardens. Like you said, it’s either feast or famine!
June 15th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
Goats are great, I love goats…….question is, what breed?
June 15th, 2006 at 7:41 pm
Way to go with the goats! you will love them. Nubians are very sweet mannered and their milk production is one of the best. Can’t wait to read all about them! Guess I need to wear long sleeves and wool socks as its very hot and humid here. Thanks for the hints. Have a blessed day on the farm tomorrow
June 15th, 2006 at 8:13 pm
Hi Tom!
Excellent post as always!
Thanks for reading and commenting on my rant from last night—and then commenting again. I felt like I was hollering into a canyon and couldn’t even hear my own echo.
The great thing about a drought—sure cuts back on the number of mosquitoes!
May God continue to guide your steps—and more steps—-and more steps!!!!
June 15th, 2006 at 8:18 pm
Goats! Goats? Oh how sad. You could have gotten a jersey from us, it’s close to the same size and besides it moos! Have fun with the goats, my brother in Texas used to raise goats but had a terrible time keeping his inside the fence!
June 16th, 2006 at 3:40 am
Lynn,
Thanks. There’s quite a few tricks in dressing up for work that’ll help a person enjoy the weather and feel a lot better because of the clothing worn. From my experience, dressing the modern ways is about the worst. A few tweeks, such as the merino socks can make a huge difference. It is incredible how on a 90 some degree day the feet stay cool in big workboots because of them socks.
They’re talking rain here today, but I ain’t all that worried about it, it has a way of going around us.
Scott,
That’s a good question, now talk beef and I can talk all day, goats, well I’m kinda ignorant, but I like the fact they don’t eat much. That’s kinda influencial when everything turns to dust around here.
Peggy,
Nubians huh. Thanks for the tip! As far as clothing, loose light colored cottons have a good feel to them and I don’t know, I just feel good with the long sleeves on nowdays, must be the age. I don’t know if it’s just me but that sun seems to have a little more snort lately.
Steven,
And thank you for posting those posts. Makes a person think. It’s easy to get lulled back into the “everything is ok ” mode. But it’s not ok. Keep on pounding sir!
Brent,
What can I say eh. The tossing of the quarter is irrivocable. It’s already set off a chain of events that can’t be stopped. Believe me, I know cattle and love them, but I’m getting a tad bit nervous about lack of water here. I wonder if goats will eat thistles, if so I could start an industrial size operation with that feed supply this year
June 16th, 2006 at 5:53 am
I don’t know what it is about deer flys and hay. I used to get bit all the time in Michigan, when I moved to Alabama, I never saw em….. Until I started haying…. I must of got bit 20 times this year (even with the straw hat).
I raise meat goats, and once you figure out how to keep them in, you’ll have no problem with them. Good Luck, I do enjoy your blog.
Brad
June 16th, 2006 at 6:14 am
You just keep those mosquitos north of the border. We haven’t really seen them yet, even with all the rain we’ve had (not trying to rub it in or anything
But we’ve got the flies!
June 16th, 2006 at 8:45 am
Brad,
Thanks for the comments! Stop by more often!
Interesting you raise meat goats. You know, I always wanted to, used to even subscribe to a magazine out of Texas, Ranch Magazine, because I liked reading about the farmers and ranchers raising them. And even here in Minnesota nowdays the market would be hot with all the different ethnic groups that love to eat em.
SCF,
I can never slip one by you down there! And I try
I hope your year goes good, I’m not all to worried about our even in this dry spell. Seen em come and go through the years and when they end it’s usually with a flood.
June 16th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
Hi Tom, just want to stop by and say hi and let you know that I’m back!
June 16th, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Janice,
Glad your back online, I’ll be over your way!
June 16th, 2006 at 6:39 pm
Hi Tom,
I love my goats - we have Alpines - smaller than Nubians and eat less - give great milk too - just not much cream for making butter, etc. I love my Jerseys for that. Be sure that when you buy your goats that they come from a herd that has tested clean for CAE and CL for quite a few years - both diseases are zoonotic (can be transmitted to humans by consuming their milk among other ways). Preferably they were tested by WADDL in WA state. Feel free to email if you want more information.
I will say that a good Jersey doesn’t need to be wrestled - my little 12 year old handles her just fine.
June 16th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
Tom,
You had me laughing out loud. Then I got to the part about “oxytocin”. Looks like we’re going to have to get another milk goat. We had them in the past but got out of it.
In my opinion Nubians are to loud. But, that’s just me. Some people love them.
Russ
June 16th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
Traitor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Goats?!?!!! I mean what about a Jersey cow? A beautiful cow indeed. The ladies and I plan to start a revolt.
If you get goats you can redeem yourself by getting Nubians. Loved this post. It was a hoot.
June 17th, 2006 at 5:16 am
Tom,
Goats are great. We have Nubians and LOVE them. I have heard from several sources that when it comes to milk flavor, nubians win. Ihaven’t had any others but a couple of my friends have had both. We have our small heard in with electric horse tape. I have not had any trouble as long as the electric is on. They are very personal but can be pretty sensitive to their environment. If the surroundings change, you change feed on them, look at them different, go in the wrong milking order, you will know it. Anyway, I love them and my kids do too. I still would like a small cow though for butter . Have a great day.
June 17th, 2006 at 5:47 pm
Cheri,
Thanks for the advice! I’ll keep it in mind as we go. I know those Jerseys are good, but I’m almost getting tired playing cowboy around here, must be the age creeping up on me
Russ,
Hey, thanks! And about the oxytocin, I’m so tired of the abuses of it, I can really rant on this subject if I have to.
Christina,
Really, we want a little dairy for our family, but I’m getting a little gun shy of our feed prospects with the dryer than normal summer. It’s raining as I type, but not much. Thank you my friend!
I figured you’d respond to that
Edie,
Thanks for the advice! Electric horse tape, eh. Makes sense to me and easily available too, hmm. Now to find some goats around here, I know there’s ah plenty to be had!
June 17th, 2006 at 6:44 pm
Tom,
Check out http://minnesotagoats.org/members.shtml for goat sources. I even see the name of someone very close to you. The goats will clean up a lot of weeds in your pasture. They will eat some thistle, but it seems that they prefer it after it flowers.
They love tree leaves, elderberry, raspberry leaves. Be careful they will girdle trees, especially box elder (no great loss here), pines, and maples. I am always amazed how well their condition improves when I put them into woods for a couple of weeks as oppsed to keeping then on the cow pasture all the time.
Jim
June 17th, 2006 at 7:08 pm
Wow Jim!
I see the names of a few that are very close to us, heck I even know one party! Make that two now that I’m thinking about it. And we’re talking fifteen minutes or less. Thank you sir, you always bring to my attention so many things that help here!
Tom
June 19th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Really Tom, It is okay. I forgive you. I had goats once. My only mistake was selling them. I LOVED them, but I had three children two and under. The baby was six months and I was told I had to milk them or I would have to sell them. The Milkman loves his cows. He HATES goats. Our farmstead business took off really at the same time we got the goats. I just started developing a business for goats milk and cheese when I sold them. I didn’t willingly sell them either. A customer kept bugging me about buying them so I finally saw that as God trying to rescue me from biting off more than I could chew at the time. So, I secretly desire to get a few more goats. But not until the creamery is done. We were just talking about getting goats for brush patrol at the in-laws house yesterday. We got just barely into the discussion before Brian bellowed “WE ARE NOT GETTING GOATS”. He knows he will get them again some day. He just likes to be boistrous. It makes for a good display in front of others. The turkey took me last year to the local fair and had me watch the dairy goat show. He kept repeating we were not getting goats the whole show. He loves to torment. So anyhoo goats are fine by me. But, I can’t resist being ornery when I get a chance.
June 20th, 2006 at 3:24 am
Whew, I was worried, but now I’m forgiven, yee haw! The way Brian thinks sometimes is getting a little scary, cause that’s the way I think too! I’m swallowing a lot of pride deciding on ,,,uh…goats. Mr Cattleman himself, cowboy, you name it……. and talking goats. The times they are ah changin!
June 20th, 2006 at 7:58 am
Tom,
Are you thinking that your girls can take over reponsibility for the goats? My 7 and 10 year old children take care of our goats. They require some oversight, but in general my children can handle most tasks that need to be done. So maybe you are not really changing into a “goat roper”, you are just overseeing the operation, with the younger generation doing most of the actual work.
Prices for meat goats do seem to have gone up a lot. Last fall I took a couple of half-boer goats to the local livestock auction. I got around $80 a piece for them and they were only about 4 or 5 months old.
Jim
June 20th, 2006 at 6:55 pm
Jim,
Yup! Them goats will be taken care of by the young’uns with yours truly overseeing the operation when needed. Them girls would be good goat ropers, the other evening they roped chickens and that ain’t easy!
Tom