Okay, i know, in many parts of the world, including the United States, a foot of snow is hardly an event. But we haven’t had accumulation like this for at least a decade! I’m not a fan of snow, but soft, loose snow like this is useful for subsoil moisture and filling ponds.
Thankfully, with managed grazing protocols in place, one can largely avoid having to get out into the weather and on the bad roads. Today’s event is continuing, but the temps hovering around 30 degrees. The snow ploughs have been doing the best they can to keep highways open.
Mostly livestock have no problems grazing through this snow, though heavy cover of ice on top of a foot of snow is actually a really bad situation, which we haven’t had for many, many years.
Below are some photos from years past since i’m not driving up to my farm today on slick roads just to take a photo of my cows. In a few days, i’ll mosey on up in my JD Gator and check on them. If they need more grazing, i’ll roll up the polywire and let them have access to the next paddock already set up. In the next paddock are 5 big hay bales they will have access to as well as mostly grazing. However, i don’t expect them to need a new break.
The only livestock we have that refuses the snow are our small flock of laying hens!
Be safe out there!!!
tauna
It’s beautiful isn’t it? Also more work. But it forces us into a different mode or energy which looks similar to hibernation. I read and write a lot more.
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it is beautiful and this snow is going to last a long time due to temperatures staying low. It makes for good exercise – walking in this deep stuff is challenging! It makes me read and study on how to make my life more simple.
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Are you accustomed to the snow? I am used to four seasons and I can not imagine what it’d be like without the changes, including how we ‘are’ outside, like cross country skiing☺️
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Snow can be a blessing for soil moisture and snowman building. But oftentimes, we receive a big accumulation which makes it very difficult to keep the livestock fed. Slick and dangerous road conditions and deep snow just makes it hard to get to the stock. This year has been especially challenging because of extended drought during the growing season, so hay is in short supply and with the deep snow and extended bitterly cold temperatures, the cows are eating much more than they typically would. These are the years one questions why we have chosen this career path.
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Indeed. Farming is not a fixed income. I’m sorry it’s a challenging year. Blessings on your home and work. And also, very gratifying work. There is that.
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thank you and blessings to you as well and i am reminded to capture the special moments of my charmed life. well done.
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