cold & wet
Posted by KC Fox at 2015-05-19 22:15:58
it has been trying to rain since sundown, it is almost 32 degrees. supposed to go to a branding tomorrow. If it keeps this up they will have to cancel it for tomorrow. Hope you all are getting some moisture.
Response by Dale Wagner at 2015-05-20 09:22:37
I got 2/10 rain this last week. Temps in the 70's and not freezing at night. Much of the grass has dried out. Seen some winter wheat that has headed out. This year is about a month early.
Response by M. Burley at 2015-05-20 21:12:09
We are getting good moisture, but it varies all around the state. Went through Ohio and parts of Kentucky last week and I don't think we're very far behind them in our field work. Getting ready to start on hay soon.
Response by Klaus Karbaumer at 2015-05-20 22:16:58
We are getting almost too much of a good thing, more than 6 inches of rain this month already. Everything grows well, but the weeds, too, and I cannot get any cultivation done in the soggy soil.
Response by KC Fox at 2015-05-21 08:30:32
it quit raining about 11:30 by 1:30 we were branding, then last nite if frosted. this morning we had to scrape the windshield.
Response by T Payne at 2015-05-21 11:52:44
Finally looks like it will dry off enough here to get back into the fields. Plowing won't be done when its time to make hay.
Response by Vince Mautino at 2015-05-21 16:32:20
This is the most rainfall in May on record here in Colorado. It's been raining every day for more thant wo weeks now.
I am still wearing my winter coat and we are getting heavy frost every night. We had more snow two mornings ago.
I got the garden rototilled awhile back and now there is standing water in it.The dog went out in it the other day and sunk up to her chest and she is a big lab cross. Almost like quick sand.
Response by KM at 2015-05-21 21:59:43
Been a good spring so far. Planted oats and barley earlier than ever. Oats look great. Thought we would have to turn on the irrigation a month ago.
Had standing water in the potatoe rows. Still need to dry up enough to brand but that isn'ta big deal.
Response by Klaus Karbaumer at 2015-05-22 19:43:37
Except for movies I have never seen branding. Why is the weather so important - is it because of the mud ?
Response by Wes Lupher at 2015-05-23 07:22:05
We got branded early. Been super wet here too. Spit snowflakes at us yesterday. Frost this morning.
Klaus, if the cattle are damp your irons cool too fast and brands blotch.
We rope the calves and drag them to the fire. If the ground is wet it'll make things tough.
I have about 25 head left to do. They're getting big.
Response by KC Fox at 2015-05-23 08:36:22
the hair gets wet then the hot Iron does not burn through the hair to the hide and it don't leave a mark on the hide just a hair brand. In a short time the hair grows out and and the calf has no brand to sow who it belongs to.
Response by Dave Schulz at 2015-05-23 18:59:28
Klaus, if the hair is wet the irons will scald and not make a readable brand. They need to be dry to make that good quick mark , that should almost look like leather when you pull the iron off. I would guess a scald would have a hard time healing too. Wrestling calves in the muddy corrals would be bad but I have done that.
Vince, my end of Colorado is really soggy and there is still more coming! I am not complaining as all my hay is dry land hay.
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