Powder Flat headquarters in winter
At this time two years ago, we were buried in snow and wondering how we would make it to green grass without buying a lot more expensive feed. As it turned out, green grass was even further out than we imagined. We quit feeding in early June, but would have kept it up if we hadn’t run out of hay. It flooded most of the summer–rivers and meadows alike, as we scrambled to grow hay and save structures.
Last year, the winter was mild all the way through, but in March, we were thinking we could count on the spring rains. Again we were reminded of the the old saw, “only fools and newcomers predict the weather”–and we didn’t think we fit in either category. The last rain came on May 2nd (I remembered because we had just started to shear) and didn’t see dark clouds again until early July.
That turned out to be part of a wide-spread drought–one that affected other parts of the country much more severely than it did us. The resulting spike in corn prices is haunting us still.
So far, the winter has been an “easy winter”–the kind we used to pray for. We haven’t had to buy much extra feed, which is lucky because, largely due to the drought, hay and grain are at record prices. Last year’s dry spring has made us cautious though. The federal and state land management agencies have been sending out letters warning of possible cut-backs in grazing for sheep and cattle.
Tonight the time springs forward. One of the neighbors asked me, “Are you hoping for spring?”
My reply–“Actually, I’m hoping for a little more winter.”
winter crew with young horse
Huey, the young stud
tres caballos
dos black baldies
heifers at Powder Flat
winter heifers
early lamber
twins!
pregnant ewes at Powder Flat
antelope in sage
Ladder Ranch
