Hauling Bales

After celebrating 1/2 Birthdays

yesterday evening,

it was back to the fields.

Paul and Ben hauled a load home

while Luke was there until 10:30 

helping with the wrapping.

Thursday

Much of Thursday 

was cleaning out the shed 

and manure spreading.

Paul continued the manure spreading 

even after the others moved on to fencing and baling.

Luke baled the little bit of teff that Ben had cut

and also the rest of the Industrial Park.

Love how the dragonfly photo bombed the picture of Luke baling!

 The afternoon and evening were spent fencing in the teff by the woods.

We got most of the 10 acres fenced.

 The day got much later than we wanted

but it was good to get it done.

We had a beautiful sunset to end the day, Thursday.

Friday morning 

Ben and I put a few of the heifers and cows 

out on the teff.

Of course,

they went right away

to check out their boundaries.

It is good to see them out there!

Under the 3020

Paul and Ben spent several hours under the 3020 today.

But they got it fixed!

Silage

It's been a very productive mid-July week.

Way too hot and humid for this time of year!

But we made good use of the time.

We've been chopping a couple of rows of corn every day 

to feed the cattle immediately.

Wednesday night we got serious and started in on the rest of it.

The corn was more than ready but the field was still wet from the relentless rain.

So Wednesday night's chopping required two tractors a couple of times.

There is just something so satisfying 

about seeing the harvest take place.

The pile always looks so incredibly small in the beginning.

But it always grows slowly and surely.

We only did three loads Wednesday night

before calling it good for the day.

Thursday we spent the whole day out there.

Paul and I had to leave at 4:30.

I got a text from Ben at 8:40 saying they were done, 

the pile was covered, 

and they were going in for supper.

What a beautiful sight to behold at chore time Friday morning!

They left a few rows to be chopped daily for a week or so.

The cattle like it fresh out of the wagon.

A Toasty One

It was a fairly ugly day yesterday!

 Far too warm for September 16.

But it made for some beautiful colors

during morning chore time

before the heat arrived.

Before the Rains

We've been chopping and feeding silage a lot.

That involves going out several times a day

to stomp it down so they can reach it.

The cows and calves get moved in and out for access.

Ben and Molly moved them out to the pasture here

 and Jack pulled the silage wagon out

so Paul and Ben could clean the pen 

and spread manure before the rains.

I sat on the 3020 

and watched the cattle inspect it.

Then I rode along 

while Ben chopped the wagon full 

to get us through the coming rains.

 When we went out to do the last chores of the night last night

we found some very naughty cows and calves

helping themselves to corn and alfalfa inside the shed.

3.38" total since the rain started Sunday overnight.

The fog was rolling in fast last night.

Labor Day

After a lazy start to the day

we ended up getting a lot done.

Elsie decided it was the day to take the fence down in the horse pasture.

Everyone got in on the action at least a little bit.

 It is time for some fence maintenance around here.

Elsie got WD45 driving lessons.

 She got it pretty well figured out.

Luke did some needed maintenance on the skid steer.

The cattle are loving the silage wagon 

full of yummy, fresh chopped silage.

Ben gave them the last of the leftovers in the wagon

and then Luke chopped a round for their supper.

When they hauled Mahogany to the butcher

the boys discovered a brake problem with the pick-up.

We are NOT having good luck with vehicles this year.

Chopping Silage

The chopping started on Saturday.

We will chop a load every day for now

and let the cattle enjoy it fresh.

Molly helped Ben hook up yesterday.

 They just do one round a day.

Paul and I and the dogs followed along in the Viking just to watch

because I love to see it all happen.