Drying out, again!

[jimmer]

Dug a hole today , the top inch is 99% DM the next 3 inches are about 85% DM the next 3 inches are 99% DM

We have had about 60 mm in August with most of that over 2 days a fortnight ago

 

[Jerry]

Tis proper yer in East Cornwall. Just come in from rowing up 3rd Cut silage. Decided to cut it as grass getting away from cattle.
Best summer for years, more of the same please.

You know you can go off people.....

 

[bigw]

I'm hoping for a dry few months so we can keep on grazing as we have plenty of grass, its been years since we have had a decent backend. Going to chop the last of the wholecrop and a pretty sad looking 3rd cut tomorrow, this time last year everything was swimming wet.

 

[dinderleat]

may have had growth 0f 40 for a few days dying away again now.

How are you looking for the winter?

 

[sidjon]

may have had growth 0f 40 for a few days dying away again now.

Several in our discussion group were in the low 40's , we're motoring last 3 weeks have been over 100kg/day and had another 2mm of rain today, should be sweet up until housing now

 

[lazy farmer]

How are you looking for the winter?

will know more after our maize comes off will probably have to buy a couple of loads of hay. we will not be carrying any marginal cows through the winter and if we are light on numbers due toTB (testing this week) we will replace next spring.
biggest concern for me will be going into the winter with grass that is still drought stressed.

you?

 

[buffalo_soldier]

will know more after our maize comes off will probably have to buy a couple of loads of hay. we will not be carrying any marginal cows through the winter and if we are light on numbers due toTB (testing this week) we will replace next spring.
biggest concern for me will be going into the winter with grass that is still drought stressed.

you?

How did service go for you?
I'm hearing some woeful results now.

 

[lazy farmer]

How did service go for you?
I'm hearing some woeful results now.

12.5% empty very relieved after we had an IBR outbreak in late june/july.
however this figure masks a near 20% empty rate in the heifers. My thoughts are that a lot re absorbed due to the Ibr (vet saw this when he was PDing) they were probably totally naïve and were really hammered high temps runny eyes etc and 1 death.
So overall onwards and upwards. really looking forward firstly drying off and secondly putting two fingers up to 2018. I may even have a beer to celebrate its passing!

 

[sidjon]

12.5% empty very relieved after we had an IBR outbreak in late june/july.
however this figure masks a near 20% empty rate in the heifers. My thoughts are that a lot re absorbed due to the Ibr (vet saw this when he was PDing) they were probably totally naïve and were really hammered high temps runny eyes etc and 1 death.
So overall onwards and upwards. really looking forward firstly drying off and secondly putting two fingers up to 2018. I may even have a beer to celebrate its passing!

Bugger too 2018 gets my vote, currently the worst year for most things and everyone seem to think the same.

 

[Beef farmer]

I'm open to offers of buy an empty cow and get an empty heifer free............

 

[lazy farmer]

I'm open to offers of buy an empty cow and get an empty heifer free............

Let’s see how Thursday goes

 

[dinderleat]

will know more after our maize comes off will probably have to buy a couple of loads of hay. we will not be carrying any marginal cows through the winter and if we are light on numbers due toTB (testing this week) we will replace next spring.
biggest concern for me will be going into the winter with grass that is still drought stressed.

you?

Going to be tight but hopefully a good third cut and maize should sort us out we put in 50 acres of Italian’s which is looking fit to cut end of September if the weather plays ball. We did buy 170 rounds of hay early June for youngstock which has helped, only got 12 left.

 

[jondear]

Going to be tight but hopefully a good third cut and maize should sort us out we put in 50 acres of Italian’s which is looking fit to cut end of September if the weather plays ball. We did buy 170 rounds of hay early June for youngstock which has helped, only got 12 left.

That's the trouble did carry over some silage from winter for first time but most of that's gone with drought !

 

[dinderleat]

That's the trouble did carry over some silage from winter for first time but most of that's gone with drought !

Trouble is last year was catchy and had a long winter which reduced our stocks going into the spring. Going to go all out the next couple of years to replace the buffer, double cropping with some short term leys and grow some more maize instead of wheat which should be easier to buy than forage and hopefully this
should sort it out.

 

[jerseycowsman]

12.5% empty very relieved after we had an IBR outbreak in late june/july.
however this figure masks a near 20% empty rate in the heifers. My thoughts are that a lot re absorbed due to the Ibr (vet saw this when he was PDing) they were probably totally naïve and were really hammered high temps runny eyes etc and 1 death.
So overall onwards and upwards. really looking forward firstly drying off and secondly putting two fingers up to 2018. I may even have a beer to celebrate its passing!

Bloody 2018, all that lovely weather and it was hard to enjoy it as I was too busy trying to keep the cows fed, watered and cool!!!

 

[Clay52]

Been dry here for about 9 months.

 

[In the pit]

Been dry here for about 9 months.

That's more a drought .we worry here if it's dry for a week

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Been dry here for about 9 months.

I'm guessing that you can irrigate most of the farm?

Is there much water left in the Murray?

 

[celtis man]

Just a quick question...
What is everyone doing about re seeding ,we have spring barley stubble that we would normally plough but I wonder with it being so dry do we rip with a cultivator and so into that ?

 

[Homesy]

Just a quick question...
What is everyone doing about re seeding ,we have spring barley stubble that we would normally plough but I wonder with it being so dry do we rip with a cultivator and so into that ?

Speak to your agronomist first. Depending on what herbicides you used you may have to plough it due to residues remaining on top.