If there’s a common theme these days, I think it has to be the cool temperatures we’re experiencing. I updated our weather data, and we have had only two nights this month that haven’t been below freezing temperatures!
I do believe that might be a record because I don’t remember recording such cold temperatures in May. We have managed to get a few trials planted. We are working on land preparation and spreading fertilizer.
The one thing that I really noticed was the fact that the soil is working up very nicely. I have only made one pass to level and one pass to incorporate the fertilizer. We are still getting plot requests for the crop diagnostic day, so we are busy sourcing seeds and figuring out plot locations. I really like getting the requests, it makes for a lot more plots and excitement for our July 28 day.
I finally finished my income tax last week, which really made me happy. I was much less happy that I had to pay. It really blew my budgeting out of the water, so I am rethinking some of the plans I had for the next few months for farm purchases. Getting a paycheque once a year from the farm makes you good at budgeting! (Or not.)
Saturday was a big farm day. I started off by getting in all the yearlings in, boostering their vaccines and sorting for breeding and butchering. Then it was the cows and calves. Thankfully, the cold, dry weather did make it easier than when the mud is deep and you can’t keep your boots on.
We sorted the cows into three groups, and then the calves were boostered and given a dewormer. It was the day that I was planning to put the RFID bolus in as well. I chickened out. They are big, but the applicator is bigger, and I was so nervous about choking a calf that I didn’t do it.
I have told CCIA that I will try again, but it is hard to get calves in once they head to pasture. We are going to need some great growing weather to get the grass ready for cattle, so there might be another option for that yet.
Sunday, we moved the sheep back out of the barn. If the weather had been more spring-like, they likely would have been out before now. I shovelled a lot (40 loads) of sheep poop out of the barn. I was very happy to have that job done. They pack the straw so tight that it is like jackhammering cement.
We have three bottle lambs, but we have cut them back to three bottles a day. It isn’t easy to feed three at a time, and you have to be creative in holding the bottles so they can all be done at once!
We are starting our 4-H beef club this week. We are expecting a few new members, so that is always exciting!
