Eden Shale Farm
  • Blog
  • About
  • Pictures & Virtual Tour
  • Producer Resources
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • BLOG SIGN UP
  • FAQ
  • Calendar of Events

Eden Shale Farm Update - December 2019

1/2/2020

 
As we start the new year, I can’t help but think about both the challenges and successes of last year. Farming is hard, there are challenges everyday that we must address to remain on track, less we fall behind never to catch up.

But thankfully there are rewards as well. Rewards that outshine the challenges. Rewards such as watching a new calf run in the lush spring grass. Rewards such as watching a brilliant sunset over a freshly mowed hay field. Rewards such as knowing you have made your farm a little better than when you got it.

But as rewarding as farming can be the challenges are real, and 2019 certainly had its share. When I visit other producers at their operations there are always two topics that start the conversation. The first one is the weather. And that is because weather is the one constant that farmers have to deal with that can dictate our work down to the hour. We do everything because of the weather. We hurry up because of the weather. We wait because of the weather. We record the weather. We, sometimes foolishly, try to predict the weather. All because the weather controls every aspect of our operations.

2019 was a challenging weather year. We started off wet. There was mud, lots and lots of mud. And the rains didn’t let up going into summer. The first cutting of hay season was wet. There was both a lot of hurrying up and a lot of waiting in the hay fields. But then when the rain stopped, it dried up completely. The latter half of the summer was the driest that we had experienced since 2012. Much of the state was in the severe drought category and didn’t see rain for nearly 90 days. And to make matters worse, the dry and heat persisted into October.  There was no fall weather to speak of this year. It simply jumped from summer to winter. At Eden Shale Farm, there were exactly 40 days between the last 90 degree day and the first snow fall with a low of 7 degrees! 

There is no denying that the second half of the year was very challenging in regards to both weather and consequently, forages. The drought dried up all the grass, and the short fall window was not long enough to gain any regrowth. Some producers have been feeding hay since August, and its still a long way out until the grass will start growing again. I’m afraid mud is going to be another huge problem this spring given the conditions going into the winter. Weather; we talk about it so often because it is the largest challenge in our day to day operations.

The second topic that always comes up with producers is the markets. “How’s the cattle prices doin?” “What’s the market going to do this year?” “You think they’ll go up any?” This is always how the conversation starts. My response is always the same, I have no idea… 
What I do know is that things are volatile and can and will change quickly. We operate in a global economy and everything has a ripple effect. Whether it’s a packing plant burning or an ill-timed tweet, you can guarantee it will have an effect on the markets. This is a new age and the traditional cycles of marketing cattle don’t hold true. I would suggest you stay open to what the markets are giving you, and don’t get caught up in tradition.
​
2020 will certainly be a challenging year. But I know this, farmers are eternal optimist. Farmers are forever resilient, and we will find a way to continue doing what we love. Which is producing the safest, most secure source of food on the planet. So for all the challenges that will come our way this year, may you find greater rewards.

Picture

Comments are closed.
    Copyright © Kentucky Beef Network, LLC. All rights reserved. This content may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, or used in any manner without written approval from Kentucky Beef Network, LLC. For Informational Purposes Only. 

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Kentucky Beef Network

    Subscribe to Eden Shale Farm blog posts!

    * indicates required

    Categories

    All
    Cattle
    Forages
    Misc
    Monthly Wrap Up
    Water

    Welcome

    Hello, my name is Dan Miller and I work for the Kentucky Beef Network. KBN took over operation of the Eden Shale Farm in April of 2013. We are using the 961 acre farm as a demonstration and learning center for beef cattle producers. This blog serves as a place to document daily farm activity and host discussions about the demonstrations being implemented. I hope you find this information useful and that you come visit us at Eden Shale Farm.

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    RSS Feed

CONTACT US

                           EMAIL SIGN UP

Eden Shale Farm     
245 Eden Shale Rd.        Office: (859) 278-0899
Owenton, KY 40359       Fax: (859) 260-2060
© 2021 Kentucky Beef Network, LLC.. All rights reserved.
Picture
Sign Up Now
Receive our blog updates
  • Blog
  • About
  • Pictures & Virtual Tour
  • Producer Resources
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • BLOG SIGN UP
  • FAQ
  • Calendar of Events