Fitting in

Today was the big day to switch bulk tanks.

It had to be done really quickly and well.  The old one had to be taken out after the morning milking and the new one had to be installed before the afternoon milking.  (Because the milk has to be stored somewhere so the milk truck can pick it up.  And so we can get a check.)

Unfortunately, there was some miscommunication and ... the foundation of the bulk tank wasn't the right size.  So they had to build a temporary foundation to install the tank just so the afternoon milking could be done.

Stressful.  Kris was home to pick up his lunch and as I talked to him he got a phone call about 1) buying a new piece of machinery to replace one that just broke and 2) getting new tires for the chopper.  He also had to get a new quad this week because our old quad broke.

Ah, such is the farm business, right?  I read a farming friend's post tonight and one of their alfalfa fields didn't come up, so they have to start all over and replant.  On a much smaller scale, today in my garden I accidentally weeded my spinach.  (Wow, does spinach look like a weed.) 

Maybe today was off on all farms and tomorrow all the pieces will fit.

Milk on a hot day - yes or no?

The kids came home from school with a portfolio of this year's work.  This was my son's answer to: 'Draw a picture of your favorite thing to drink.'

 

 

 

 

I was happy Cole chose milk ... and couldn't help but remember a scene from Anchorman. I swear he's never seen it. But it seems he and Ron Burgundy have a disagreement. Please excuse the language in the video.

 

DC

This is actually how we always dress on trips.

 

Really, we went to the Young Cooperator Dairy Policy and Legislative Forum with the National Milk Producers Federation in DC. Part of the meeting involves going to speak with your congressman and senator's offices about dairy issues.

 

Since it was in the middle of calving, building the barn, and doing field work, it was not the best time for Kris to leave, but he quickly acclimated. Turns out it's much easier sitting in meetings and talking than it is doing manual labor for an entire day!  

 

Today things were back to normal.  112 heifer calves so far and three bulls born today.  None of them care about governmental regulations (that they've said), but we do.

 

Cutting one is done

 

Finally, despite all the rain and machinery malfunctions, we finished our first cutting of alfalfa. That meant yesterday was the time to put plastic and tires on top of the pile of chopped up feed.

 

It's a really tough job, physically. I mean, you've worked all day and then it's time to carry tires up a giant pile? GREAT!

 

In a strange twist, these are my sons' favorite days to work on the farm. It's because it's something they can do (sort of) without the danger of getting hurt. There's no machinery around and all the guys are there, talking and joking with them, so for them - it's a lot of fun. Plus, they all eat pizza together afterward!

 

Every year they get a little better at it ... at some point they're probably going to ask to get paid in more than food.

Breaking

Yesterday was quite the day ... while they were trying to harvest alfalfa, the chopper broke.  They fixed it and started again and a different part broke. This couldn't be fixed by us, which meant Kris had to go to another town and rent a chopper head.  At the same time, Kody missed a step on the chopper and cut his leg open.  He went to the ER.  Then a cow was having problems. 

At that exact moment, when Kris was dealing with these things and hooking up a trailer to go and pick up the chopper head - is when the boys and I visited the barn and learned that all of this was going on!  We didn't stay long, since we were no help at all.

Kris came back with the chopper head and they chopped last night and today.  It all turned out okay ... but when machinery breaks and the alfalfa is drying and rain is in the forecast - one can't help but be a little stressed!

I couldn't do anything to help except the usual, which is to make him dinner when he comes home.  (Everyone loves a warm meal at 10:00 p.m.!) 

I don't know how the chopping went today yet.  But just in case, I made dessert, too.

Farm tour for 4-H

My friend Heidi asked if she could bring some Cloverbuds out to tour the farm.  Cloverbuds are kids who are just getting started in 4-H. 

So I had the privilege of taking around a nice, smart group of kids.  They asked really good questions, were eager to learn, and liked climbing on the tractors, of course. 

I ordered some tour swag from UDIM (which every Michigan dairy farmer gives money to), and the kids liked their milk-themed coloring book, pencils, crayons, food clips, etc.

What they also loved was answering questions for a Gogurt!  I said I'd ask a question and the person who answered correctly would get a Gogurt.  The boy who answered first said, "How many can I get?!"  (I'd only brought a few extras, so I couldn't give him more.  But I liked the enthusiasm.)

They also got to see a REAL LIVE FARMERS doing REAL LIVE WORK.  Which is exactly how I introduced Kris and my dad.

But really, the Gogurt generated the most excitement.  Even tractors can't compete with free food.

Rain ... rain ... can't stop talking about ... rain

Freestall barn week three

This week it rained three inches!

Normally I would be rejoicing, but ...

all our corn isn't yet planted.  Now it's too wet to go in the field.

we couldn't cut alfalfa this week like we'd planned.

it delayed the barn building.  (These super hard working guys apparently do not work in a downpour.  But they do work in the light rain!  I felt for them.)

we had to move the cattle around and this made it quite difficult.

I'm not complaining, just stating some facts.  After all, why get upset about the weather?  I can't change it.  Besides, there are lots of other things going on!

For instance, today we found out that the motor we have for the new corn bin didn't have enough power.  Kris said they were going to use a more powerful motor from the old silo unloader.  I told Kris I was amazed that parts would fit together like that - that you could take an old motor from a different machine and hook it up to something new and different.  Kris said it was just like our kids' circuit boards - just wire the parts together and it'll work!

(I realize this is true but yet know I don't have the ability to do that.  I mean, I had to ask my dad to start my power washer today.)

Our relatives from Chicago came to visit!  Five of them had never been on a dairy farm before and for the others it had been a long time.  It was so fun showing them around because they asked insightful questions and the kids loved the calves and cows. 

Curious heifers and kids alike

 

Patient teacher, happy kids

Kris is working very long hours - by which I mean he leaves the house at 6:30 a.m., sometimes comes home for lunch for an hour, but sometimes not, and gets home about 9 or 10:00 p.m.  He plays in a weekly softball game and attends the occasional party - thanks to our dependable employees! -  but for these months he's busy.

But again, no complaints.  It's just the way it is this summer.  And who could be grumpy when you're looking at this?