Bound to happen...

Some say nothing in life is certain except for death and taxes. Well on the farm, there are other certainties in life...and two of them occurred in the past 48 hours.

Certainty #1 - Frozen water lines.

Thanks to the frigid temperatures we've been experiencing in the area, water lines in our watering system froze. However, we've been down this road before and have just the tools on hand to make sure the herd has plenty of water. After some carburetor cleaning, the trusty water pump fired up and filled up a few temporary tanks for the herd. The cows were mildly grateful. However, they had previously found the little spring in the field so they were only mildly interested in the new tanks. With the calves expecting to drop any day now, we want to make sure there is a plentiful water supply to keep the cows hydrating and producing milk. Milk does a body good - especially calves!

Certainty #2 - Escapees!!!!!

It's a well known fact as soon as you turn cows into a new field, they will walk the fence line learning their new boundaries. After they learn their boundaries, they do what cows do...test their boundaries and plan their escape routes. Upon arriving at the farm today to deal with certainty #1, the first thing we noticed is that we had three escapees. Thank goodness our cows are food motivated! After some coaxing with food and a bit of herding, the escapees were eventually convinced to return to their correct field with their herd mates. Based on the evidence, it appears the three rouges had company at some point this week. But fences have now been mended so the herd will have to plan a new escape route for next time. Tune in for more to see if they succeed!

Some tips for when on the farm....

Some tips for when on the farm....

Brought to you by the Master Beef Producer of S&K Farm.

1. Carhartt!!!!!
2. Insulated Muck boots!!!!
3. Never let the boss lady and retired farm hand go out of town at the same time. This is when mother nature unleashes her fury or something else happens.
4. Must have a AWD SUV/hay hauler/farm supply vehicle.
5. Step in warm brown stuff (smell of money to a farmer)? Just keep walking for It'll come off sometimes and if it doesn't the livestock may just think you are one of them.
6. Waving your arms, jumping, and screaming like a crazy person may not be accepted in public but on S&K farm it keeps the cows at bay sometimes.
7. Close all gates!!!!
8. Move faster when bringing hay into a field on a tractor.
9. Have cows that come running to you when you bring hay.
10. Make sure you follow tip #7 or you will have cows wander to another field.
11. Do not have cows that follow you as you try to do tip #7.
12. Have cows that will follow a rolling hay bale down a hill. This will help make them come back to the field they belong in.
13. Have a hammer on the tractor at all times. Breaks ice, gets things working, or see tip #14.
14. Use tip #13 so you can break a frozen layer on round bale to roll down the hill.
15. Move quickly to break the frozen layer on the hay bale or the cows will help you roll it before you are ready.
16. Cardio!!! This helps when you now have to roll the round bale because you didn't follow tip #15.
17. Have all the animals you own in one location. This prevents you having 4 different stops through 2 counties and getting home way after dark.
18. Tractor with a enclosed cab. Heat and air optional.
19. Never think that you can visit your farm or someone else's farm and not have anything to do while you are there. Say something or stand around too long and you'll be working.
20. Brakes on a tractor that work.
21. A good seat on the tractor for long hours cutting hay.
22. Stay alert around your animals. Nothing like not realizing you 5 cows breathing on you as you try to roll out the round bale they pushed for you.
23. Head lamp for night. This frees up your hands to wave around like a crazy person, push a round bale or close a gate in a hurry.
24. Saying the phrase "Oh s**t!" seems to help stop or turn the tractor in snow or mud. Also your rectum tightening up can help even more.
25. Gloves. Always have a pair in every vehicle you own, don't ever think one pair is all you need or that you'll never lose them. There is the putting up hay gloves, tractor driving gloves, warm gloves, super warm gloves, holes in the fingers glove and the mismatched gloves.
26. Cows are sometimes smart until you need them to do what you want. Then they are stupidest animals on earth.
27. Don't get to attached to your cows. They one day maybe cooking on your grill.
28. It is ok to name your cow you are going to eat. Example we name ours Beef (Beef III is currently beefing up in the field).This way you can brag to your friends on who they are eating.

Stayed tuned for more tips for the farm from the Master Beef Producer at S&K Farm.

Another day at the other office...

Another day at the other office. You have the equipment to provide material for the workers, 

the workers waiting for the materials to do their job, 

then we have a couple of slackers who get paid for standing around

and finally the proper attire the boss man wears for the office.

I spy...

I spy...a beautiful scene of grazing cattle in the sunset with blue skies.

But that's not all I spied tonight....

Coyote sign has been plentiful on the farm since we bought it. We've seen enough scat to make one think an entire pack has taken up residence on the farm. And it's quite possible a pack has. However, other than an abundance of scat and a few footprints, there's been no other confirmation. That is, until tonight. During the daily evening visit to the farm, I saw a sight not yet seen on the farm before tonight...a coyote sitting off in the field. As I walked around the cattle, the coyote observed my chatting to the heifers, but only tolerated a minute of my presence before taking off to the ridge. But that is the only clue I need to hunt for a den or sit and wait for another appearance. Coyote are common - we hear them frequently in our front yard at the house - so I wasn't surprised to finally see one on the farm. The only annoyance we've suffered thus far is being awoken in the middle of the night by a pack of yelping coyotes. And I'm ok with that. I'm even ok occasionally admiring one from afar if I have my camera handy. However, if they think they can make supper out of one of our calves when they are born, with no repercussions, they are wrong! I know where you live Mr. and Mrs. Wile E. Coyote and I've got your number.