Brrr, it is cold out there! Although today is an improvement over the last couple days. We have 4" of powdery snow, and 23 degrees, rather than the 0 and 7 degrees the last couple days gave us. All the water in the barn, and 2 frost free hydrants were frozen up, and we had to haul water in 5 gal buckets, about 80 a day, to try and keep animals hydrated. Rough on the milk supply! We also have to heat the pulsator wth a heating pad to keep it going when it is under 20 degrees in the barn. Today should be better.
Yesteday, I had a problem with the milker, due to a gasket cracking in the cold. The repairman was able to do a temporary repair which should hold until the part comes in on Friday. I am so glad...I was NOT looking forward to hand milking in this weather.
The children have been troopers in this cold weather, but will be happy to see some snow and a little more warmth. I think we will ALL be glad for spring.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
MY FEBRUARY SCHEDULE: February 14th I will be attending Farm Food Voices DC 2007. Please see attached Flyer. Laura (my 21 yo daughter) and I will be leaving Feb 13th, going to McLean, where I will spend the night at my oldest daughter’s, who is the photographer for the event. We will return Feb 14th in the evening.
I encourage anyone that can attend to do so, and those who can provide appropriate food to show our legislators what real food is to contribute.
I would also encourage everyone to call their legislators (see www.VICFA.NET/nicfa.html ) and invite them to the event.
February 22nd I will be going to a workshop in Nashville, Tenn. as a local representative for E.A.T Local (http://www.tjpdc.org/environment/eatlocal.asp ) , and VICFA (http://www.vicfa.net/ ) I was hoping someone else would go, to be honest, since time is so rushed around here, but looks like I am the one.
I will be driving to Nashville during the night of the 22nd, attending the workshop, and coming home afterwards, unless I can find a guest home near Nashville for the night before. The following is information about the workshop:
Building Stronger Local Food System Networks and Food Policy Councils in the South.
This half-day workshop in Nashville, Tennessee will bring together food and farm advocates from across the Southeast region interested in networking, sharing information, and working through issues and challenges related to forming food system networks and food policy councils. The Community Food Security Coalition's, Food Policy Council Program will be hosting this event.
I encourage anyone that can attend to do so, and those who can provide appropriate food to show our legislators what real food is to contribute.
I would also encourage everyone to call their legislators (see www.VICFA.NET/nicfa.html ) and invite them to the event.
February 22nd I will be going to a workshop in Nashville, Tenn. as a local representative for E.A.T Local (http://www.tjpdc.org/environment/eatlocal.asp ) , and VICFA (http://www.vicfa.net/ ) I was hoping someone else would go, to be honest, since time is so rushed around here, but looks like I am the one.
I will be driving to Nashville during the night of the 22nd, attending the workshop, and coming home afterwards, unless I can find a guest home near Nashville for the night before. The following is information about the workshop:
Building Stronger Local Food System Networks and Food Policy Councils in the South.
This half-day workshop in Nashville, Tennessee will bring together food and farm advocates from across the Southeast region interested in networking, sharing information, and working through issues and challenges related to forming food system networks and food policy councils. The Community Food Security Coalition's, Food Policy Council Program will be hosting this event.
Aside from freezing water, General Assembly, and me getting sick, things are moving along nicely. Mary is starting to bag up a bit, as is Rosey. Fajita is home, and all the calves but one (somehow we missed her) have been moved. ( Fajita is kind of a pet cow. She is a low-line angus, mini-jersey cross, and as cute as a button. If you have a chance when you are here, you should meet her)
As I mentioned before, I have found a nice cow, Marge, a Canadienne (black jersey) http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/canadienne/index.htm Milking Shorthorn http://www.milkingshorthorn.com cross. She would make a good addition to our herd. I would like to be able to get all cows tested for A2, but will start with ones currently in milk, including mine. Once we get the results back we can come to a consensus on how to handle any that are positive for high A1.
I plan on only introducing A2 genetics into the herd in the future. I sent my breeding jersey to the butcher this week, and I have another jersey bull out on rental. I will be testing him before using him. The British White is A2 genetics, so I can always use him for breeding if need be.
We are having a problem getting the Dutch Belted bred. She has been exposed to 3 different proven bulls since last May. The vet gave me some specific guidelines to follow, and if she is not bred by April, he recommends culling her. I was very disappointed, as she is a heritage breed, but she has been in milk for 2 years and her production is very low now, and she is not bred. I can replace her with another Dutch Belted, at a slightly discounted price (due to her having problems breeding) but am not sure if that would be wise right now if we are looking at A2 genetics only I would like to have replacements tested, and have gotten no indication of the likelihood of A2 with Dutch Belted. If I do cull her, the financially wise thing to do would be to send her to the butcher as hamburger, and sell the burger to finance her replacement. Ideas? She is not so old as to be tough yet.
As I mentioned before, I have found a nice cow, Marge, a Canadienne (black jersey) http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/canadienne/index.htm Milking Shorthorn http://www.milkingshorthorn.com cross. She would make a good addition to our herd. I would like to be able to get all cows tested for A2, but will start with ones currently in milk, including mine. Once we get the results back we can come to a consensus on how to handle any that are positive for high A1.
I plan on only introducing A2 genetics into the herd in the future. I sent my breeding jersey to the butcher this week, and I have another jersey bull out on rental. I will be testing him before using him. The British White is A2 genetics, so I can always use him for breeding if need be.
We are having a problem getting the Dutch Belted bred. She has been exposed to 3 different proven bulls since last May. The vet gave me some specific guidelines to follow, and if she is not bred by April, he recommends culling her. I was very disappointed, as she is a heritage breed, but she has been in milk for 2 years and her production is very low now, and she is not bred. I can replace her with another Dutch Belted, at a slightly discounted price (due to her having problems breeding) but am not sure if that would be wise right now if we are looking at A2 genetics only I would like to have replacements tested, and have gotten no indication of the likelihood of A2 with Dutch Belted. If I do cull her, the financially wise thing to do would be to send her to the butcher as hamburger, and sell the burger to finance her replacement. Ideas? She is not so old as to be tough yet.
January 8 I want to thank all of you that came to the meeting on Sunday Jnuary 7th. While the turnout was not full, I was very happy to see as many folks as I did, and appreciated greatly your feedback and ideas. Several items mentioned at the meeting have been incorporated into the new contract.
For those not at the meeting, a quorum of share owners decided to go with the herd share plan. I anticipate that the change will make for a bit more efficiency, especially when the chiller arrives. I am in the process of determining replacement for Tipper, as well as the goats which need to be replaced. I will keep everyone posted on that.
This is a very busy time of year for me politically, with both the General Assembly, as well as US Congress needing to be worked with.
For those not at the meeting, a quorum of share owners decided to go with the herd share plan. I anticipate that the change will make for a bit more efficiency, especially when the chiller arrives. I am in the process of determining replacement for Tipper, as well as the goats which need to be replaced. I will keep everyone posted on that.
This is a very busy time of year for me politically, with both the General Assembly, as well as US Congress needing to be worked with.
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