Tuesday
October 24, 2006

Got back from the rally in Richmond to protest the USDA brown short tactics used in the Henshaw and Davis cases ( see http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2006/10/05/COVER-boarSlaughter-F.doc.aspx ).

This morning the milk situation was abysmal. Despite feeding some supplemental alfalfa, production was down by half. We have had almost no house milk since last Thursday, and I am very achy due to the fibromyalgia symptoms showing up when I don;t have milk, so it has been no-so-good around here.

At 10:30 this morning, a very nice fellow that I have gotten square bales from in the past brought me 5 beautiful round bales of alfalfa native mix, and I put one in both cow pastures. They were delighted! By last night they had eaten about 1/2 of each 1200# bale....they really needed it. The hay I got for interim was simply too low in nutrition to keep a lactating cow.
Today I have a hauler coming to deliver another 20 bales. Unfortunately, it is a once time shot for him an will cost me 200 just for delivery. But the way they are going through the alfalfa I will need it soon, and after 3 weeks of waiting for the regular hauler to get his tractor fixed cannot wait any more.

I am having to short everyone this week, and until production comes up will be working in this way. Thankfully, I have purchased hay off the field from a very high quality pasture, but am having a bear getting it hauled. The prices given are equaling the cost of the hay, something that in a better year with plentiful hay would be unheard of.

But the ladies are being fed well now, am I will be continuing to look for hauling options. When you come by, take a look at the hay near the drive to the barn....typical of much hay I am seeing this year, and the hay by my house drive. That is the difference that makes milk when the pasture is down.