The Hiday Family would like to thank everyone for supporting the Hiday Family Farm. For many of you it was your first season with us, we thank you and hope to have you back with us in 2014. Even more of you have been with us for several years now, we thank you for your loyalty and support. When things get tough around here, you are our inspiration to keep going. Many of you have become friends and feel like family.
Speaking of family, Holly and I are busy getting ready for a Christmas that will include two new daughter-in-laws and two new granddaughters. We are Excited.
Looking forward to 2014.
Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Dan, Holly and Family
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Snow and Cold
Hello,
How is everyone doing? I am often asked and if you haven't asked I am sure you have wondered. What Makes The HIDAY FARM different. That is a tough question sometimes, because a lot of things make us different. As I sat at the kitchen table watching the cattle grazing in the snow I realized how different we are from many farmers who also raise cattle. Most of the other farmers around us started feeding hay and/or grain in September or October. Me, I took one field that is 17 acres in size and grazed first thing in the spring. I grazed it for about two weeks and then pulled the cattle off. Then I let the field grow and grow to do what I call stockpiling. It really grew this year, so in August I put six young female calves in it to keep them away from the bull.(do not want any teenage moms) These six had very little impact on the grass as far as grazing it down. The week before Thanksgiving I did a flip flop with the cattle. I took the main herd and moved them from the 30 acres they were in, because it was 75% eaten. However it does have enough grazing in it for the six in the 17 acres. Then the main herd went to the 17 acres. Even with 2 inches of snow my cattle are grazing on the stockpiled grass. And this is December. I finally decided to take a bale of hay to them because it was so cold and blowy. I Took The Hay to Them in the Field. A 1000lb bale, that I took to the field and put next to a Brier patch. Why? One, the cattle will tramp that Brier patch into the ground and destroy it or at least stunt it for next year. Two, by taking the hay to the field I am keeping the manure they produce in the field. Instead of bringing the cattle into a barn lot, I will move hay bales all around the fields to control weeds and spread the manure around for next year. This saves time, saves labor, saves fuel, improves the land and most of all, saves old Farmer Dan's back. You would think this would be the norm, but it isn't. This is how we have raised cattle for over 20 years and one of the examples of what makes the Hiday Farm special.
Thought you might like a little insight into what we do.
Hope all is well with you and yours.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Dan
How is everyone doing? I am often asked and if you haven't asked I am sure you have wondered. What Makes The HIDAY FARM different. That is a tough question sometimes, because a lot of things make us different. As I sat at the kitchen table watching the cattle grazing in the snow I realized how different we are from many farmers who also raise cattle. Most of the other farmers around us started feeding hay and/or grain in September or October. Me, I took one field that is 17 acres in size and grazed first thing in the spring. I grazed it for about two weeks and then pulled the cattle off. Then I let the field grow and grow to do what I call stockpiling. It really grew this year, so in August I put six young female calves in it to keep them away from the bull.(do not want any teenage moms) These six had very little impact on the grass as far as grazing it down. The week before Thanksgiving I did a flip flop with the cattle. I took the main herd and moved them from the 30 acres they were in, because it was 75% eaten. However it does have enough grazing in it for the six in the 17 acres. Then the main herd went to the 17 acres. Even with 2 inches of snow my cattle are grazing on the stockpiled grass. And this is December. I finally decided to take a bale of hay to them because it was so cold and blowy. I Took The Hay to Them in the Field. A 1000lb bale, that I took to the field and put next to a Brier patch. Why? One, the cattle will tramp that Brier patch into the ground and destroy it or at least stunt it for next year. Two, by taking the hay to the field I am keeping the manure they produce in the field. Instead of bringing the cattle into a barn lot, I will move hay bales all around the fields to control weeds and spread the manure around for next year. This saves time, saves labor, saves fuel, improves the land and most of all, saves old Farmer Dan's back. You would think this would be the norm, but it isn't. This is how we have raised cattle for over 20 years and one of the examples of what makes the Hiday Farm special.
Thought you might like a little insight into what we do.
Hope all is well with you and yours.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Dan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)