[AT] Drought in the southwest..

[Cecil Bearden]

Yesterday we hauled off most of my cow herd that I have worked 12 years 
to  build.  With hay at $100/bale for 4x5 round bales, supplemental feed 
was running $500/week,   no pasture available and no fall wheat pasture 
available,  I had no choice but to sell out. We may  be in the cattle 
business, but they are like pets to us.  We hauled 49 to the sale barn 
and kept 25, mostly my longhorns as they are the easiest kept,  and will 
not bring much at the  sales. Longhorn and Angus crosses make some of 
the best lean meat,  with a minimum of trim loss, the buyers still 
refuse to pay anything for them.    For 50 years I wanted to raise 
cattle my way, but had to go with my Father's wishes.  I managed to 
build a herd twice the size of what Dad ever had, but mother nature 
decided to shoot me down.  I used some intensive grazing procedures and 
incorporated wheat into the pastures and no-till farming, but when there 
is no water, and development takes away the available land, nothing works.

I only wish I had moved to my other farm after Dad died in '10, and got 
away from all these houses being built taking away any chance of 
renting.  The big farmers here are ruthless, most would cut their own 
mother's throat for 20 acres of land.  I guess I will  start selling off 
my "projects"I have accumulated for the last 40 years to get ready to 
sell out.  At my age starting over on a new place with 2 bad knees and a 
broken back is just not feasible.   No one to leave it to, but my wife's 
nephews who have never been any help...     I am sure this is one time 
they would show up at my funeral with a U-haul...

Sorry for the sad post, but I had to vent somewhere.

Cecil