Another nice day--I'd say because it's Jared's 21st Birthday! I sent him a text earlier, haven't heard from him, probably because he's at work. I'll give him a call later and pester him!
Got a call from Kyle on the second, but not the 9th. They must of gotten into trouble....if one messes up, everyone gets punished. I know that much. I'm sure he'll call before we are to pick him up next week.
It's a warmer day....but we have rain/cold/maybe snow coming. We need to moisture something terrible, so will take it however we get it.
I have people nervous about hay (already) and are asking me almost daily of where to get some. I made some phone calls: no one has extra now that they are letting go of.
So I direct the hay seekers to the people online in the area that I've found that have some to sell. Except, its high priced already, making the nervous even more nervous.
I'm not sweating it too much right now because 1) I have a **wonderfully awesome** hay supplier (an understatement!) and 2) I've been through this before when we lived in Texas. It's no fun!
I'm not opposed to the higher hay prices, but freaking out and hoarding it only drives the prices up. When you need hay, not alot one can do about the prices, or going to great lengths to find it. I've been there. I know there is only so much you can 'save back' until THAT runs out as well. Cows/critters eat hay which means it goes in one end, and out the other.....(and onto the compost pile!) :)
I've warned plenty that what hay they've got they had better keep an eye on/locked up because it's "gold" sitting there for those who want it. Unfortunetely, not everyone is honest and prefer to just take what they want rather than pay for it. >:-( (that is supposed to be an angry face!) People are surprised when I mention this: it is easy to become complacent and assume everyone is an honest fellow. I wish it were that way! Sigh
Another problem is, cattle prices could go drastically down, feed and hay are up, it makes it really hard to justify keeping too many critters around just for the sake of having them.
Cull, cull cull or eat them is my best advice. It also helps lighten the workload in the winter, the feed/food bill and makes your existing supply last that much longer. Having animals sometimes forces us to make extremely hard decisions that we don't want to....due to (a lack of) supply of food for them, and/or a lack of funds for the more scarce food/feed.
On another brighter note: we are making slow progress on the shed addition. The vet check/health certificate should be done for Daisy today, so we can get her when we get down there. I'm totally excited to have milk again!
