Thanks again Doug, I'll get it mowed & sprayed and hopefully we'll get some rain soon.
The good rains have been spotty across this region....a friend 80 mi east of us had < 3.5" of rain since 15 May...when his text stated 'moving the herd slow'....I knew he was having problems and kinda shocked. His message last week were two of the pictures below. I know many of you are going through some dry times....and it's frustrating...and we've been there but are not very sympathetic....because sympathy will only make you more frustrated...and I don't do you a favor through frustration. So the following is a story of how a couple good friends make it through these dry times...read and learn how we stay upbeat and sane!
Our ranch is on opposite end of spectrum as my friend. Moved cows down on some bottom land when it got real hot/dry where so there would be moisture for regrowth and good forage quality. Now we are moving cows on 21-28 d rotation on a fourth of the ranch acres to try and get more high quality forage into the cow since she reduces intake in the heat. So far it has worked very well and the herd is calm/content. The herd is prepping those acres for fall planting next month....the better their prep job, then the less time and money I spend mowing with the hog to get proper sunlight penetration down low! Notice the bull is following 014...she calved first of June....maintaining good condition and breeding back ~70 days later...should calve early to mid-May next year which is a great time to calve for low winter feed bills. Cows in foreground are fall calvers.....nutzy fat as they should be this time of year because they have low requirements right now.....kinda look like barren doe deer don't they?
With three fourths of the ranch having been either regenerated by grazing and or fire and available for wildlife use, then you can see how our deer will carry good body condition as well...they reduce intake in the heat too and regenerating forbs are over abundant for that reason. So look at your preferred forb abundance this time of year...you either have enough or don't and some is regenerating or not....change things in the future if you don't see that. And if a deer isn't carrying good body condition this time of year then we have some remedies for that...reduce numbers hard and improve habitat in that area....and target the lone poor doers during season in other areas! There is high coincidence between the cow and deer herd here....you can look at one or the other and tell how both are doing and what kind of habitat you have! It ain't about pastures it's about cow habitat and that is deer habitat too...all animals need good habitat...and a brood cow is an animal....not a confined livestock!
At least temps have moderated recently and that will go a long way for the animal.....what most people don't understand about this area of the country is the combination of shallow soils, high temps with wind accelerates evaporation and plant transpiration loss of moisture....above 95 and plants will go through a bunch of water just cooling themselves.....then enter dormancy when water is exhausted. IT happens
every summer here in varying degrees....just a fact of life...learn to change with the flow! An inch of rain or less does little good....above 2" and one should get some regrowth provided you manage soils for good infiltration. As example, three 2+" rains have fell since 1 July to current and ponds haven't filled.....that is because we manage soils for good infiltration rates. It also shows how short lived that water can be when it is hot and transpiration rate high. Don't get over exited about 2" in August because 100F can make that short lived....remember the plant want's to cool itself and that takes extra water!
The text to my friend was this on 8 Aug......his reply was and ecstatic 1.2" at his place! This picture tells a bigger story than what is in the gauge. See that greenbrier right there by the gauge.....it has new growth because there is moisture deep in the soil....when you don't see that new growth, then you need to change what you are doing cuz the worst has yet to come. Green brier is a deep rooted woody surviving most of what God and man have thrown at it over centuries! My friend sent me pics of briers which were totally denuded (sorry, lost the pics when my old phone went down). He asked me what I do for brier suppression.....told him I mow briers in late winter once each 3-5 yrs....keeps the high quality woody stuff present (small stems) in pasture as forage rather than a diversity suppressing brush thicket (thick stems). Mow too frequently and briers will go away (the best brier control in the Noble Foundation study was the lanes between plots which were frequently mowed). Green brier is tough....a critical indicator plant...pay close attention to it!
Cool season perennials broke dormancy 20 Aug but the first wave of cool season annuals have yet to appear...that is a clue from mother nature that this summer ain't over yet! So be very patient and observant at this point (cuz the fat lady hasn't sung).....mowing and spraying can be done in a day....if you have a drill, planting can be done the next day or the next week...so just pay close attention to what is going on over the next month...these little details matter for successful planting!
Fall army worms are triggered by late summer rains which break dry spells. Anticipate this and let summer forage remain tall as insurance against damage....don't be in a hurry to plant winter annuals for this reason or a late replant may be needed (a common mistake when one plants on the calendar rather than no Nature's timing)! My friend had army worms and here is his reply with the pic, "I don't spray for them. Always figured did more harm to the beneficial bugs than any good I would get from grass. And yup. The mature stuff is immune. (to worm damage)."
And one of the beneficials he refers to are these dung beetles. His commentary, "These little guys are just trying to make more little guys and don't need to be sprayed. They are doing what you and I hope to do after the sun goes down."
So that is how we cope with the conditions Nature throws at us. Focus on the big picture (holistic management...land, social, ecomonics...family, friends, the animal...as an interacting whole).....focus on the little things which matter (animal body condition, indicator plants, plant dominance issues, insects)....and share a few inside jokes to break the tension. Your attitude and my sympathy won't make it rain, but managing for soil health and increased soil water storage sure makes the time between rain events easier to pass! Remember, it will get worse before it get's better!
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