[AT] Drought in the southwest..
Cecil Bearden
crbearden at copper.net
Mon Sep 26 04:19:46 PDT 2022
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
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