Dairy Update

So, what's new at Twin Oaks?

Well, like the rest of Texas, we've had a severe drought this past summer with over 70 days of 100+ degree heat. What that means for us, besides being miserably uncomfortable, is that a few of our tanks (ponds for my Okie friends) went dry and we had to take water to some of our cows in various pastures, and because the grass didn't grow, we only got one cutting of hay baled the first part of June. Our cows were hot, dry, and hungry all summer. Cows like that don't produce much milk and are at increased risk for disease because they are stressed. Let's not mention the stress of the dairy farmers....

So, because 98% of Texas was in a severe drought, everyone and their mother was looking for and buying and shipping hay of all kinds from anywhere they could find it. Hay is scarce and now very expensive. We have managed to stockpile enough hay to last through February but after that who knows? It will all get figured out and we'll go on.

We did get about 5 inches of rain last weekend and another inch or so this past Monday, so things are starting to look nice and green around here, finally! Most of the cracks in the ground are gone and the tanks are a little deeper than they were a week ago. However, shorter, cooler days are becoming more and more the norm which will, once again, turn the grass dormant. Even so, hopefully we'll have just enough water in our tanks and just enough grass to graze to get through the winter. Maybe.

Milk prices have gone up, as have all food prices, but the costs of hay and fuel have eaten into our profits. Last I heard, we were exporting more dairy products, which is always good for business. There is a lot of "dairy policy" going on right now in Washington to help regulate the way milk is sold in this country, which may help stabilize milk prices a little and take the stock market out of the equation. We'll see how that goes.

So, that is the state of affairs for now. Kenton and Scott continue to pour their life and soul into this livelihood and Suzan and I stand back and let them do it and try to be supportive all at the same time. Scott has gotten a part time job selling semen to dairies in our county and our two neighboring counties, so he is learning that business and looking forward to dabbling in something new. Other than that, we are preparing for the long winter and enjoying the temperate weather and rain!