Dear Dave,
I hope you enjoyed the video I recently emailed your way. The video
depicts a Case/IH tracked tractor backed up to a John Deere in an
old-fashioned game called tug of war. John Deere uses two tracks
while Case/IH places a track at each corner of the tractor which has
created the most important debate since “less filling, tastes great.”
I know as a long-time Case/IH man you it would interest you greatly.
I don’t know for sure if the tractors were evenly matched for
horsepower or not however it was a definitive win. I dare not say
which side won as I like to walk into either Titan Machinery or
Evergreen Implement and not have to concern myself as to whether I
will be asked to leave.
We recently held a benefit for Adam Tongen here in town, Dave. Adam
has cancer but is doing well after his most recent surgery. I was
amazed at the willingness of businesses and individuals to
consistently offer generosity when asked. Time, talent, auction
items, food, money came forth at a rate I could not have imagined. I
must say that the Eagle’s Club is basically a structure made to
benefit those who need help. They provided expertise in a space which
seems architecturally purposeful in its making to generate community
and benevolence. It’s good to live in small-town America where we
know each other enough to have empathy when a good person has a bad
run.
Farmers are optimistic about farming but pessimistic about the
weather, with good reason. Just when you learn to suspect Mother
Nature wants to drown you, she turns her back and turns off the tap.
I’ve been digging in fence posts and found water at about three feet
however topsoil moisture seems a little short right now. I guess it
just means we have nice planting weather and should finish that
business soon before we get the needed rain. Our dad’s FFA director
always told them to “paint your wagon and stay out of the beer
parlors” when it rains; I guess when it doesn’t we should take
advantage and plant crops or make hay.
Due to short rainfall, I haven’t put the cattle on our main pasture
yet. I think I will let the alfalfa and grass roots get as deep as
possible before I let the four-legged harvesters begin their work. A
sacrifice paddock is one in which you allow the cattle to overgraze a
little if need be and that is what we are doing today. I also have a
little hay left so am bale grazing with that precious commodity. I
will plant two new paddocks this spring and plan to use a mix of
alfalfa, orchard grass and probably fescue. The fescue is supposed to
stay real palatable at advanced age which makes it work for winter
grazing. The alfalfa fixes nitrogen to help the grass and the cattle
just love orchard grass; it tests pretty high for sugar so maybe that
is why they are so enamored of it.
Tell everyone hello in Carrington and please let’s organize so not
everyone prays for rain at the same time, or we will drown.
Your little bro
