Catching Up on Ag News

Chipolte LogoOnce again I find myself having virtually ignored this blog for way to long. Once again it is not because of lack of things that are agricultural in nature. Reality is, I have just been short on time for most of the last little bit and when that has not been the case, I have just been lazy. Regardless, more than a few things that I have noted about that I felt I should bring up here on the farm site. So, as I did once before not so long ago, an entry about several different things in brief. I have not completely decided, but I may even make this a somewhat regular feature. Anyway, on to those things that I feel the need to get off of my chest and share with you all. Continue reading

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Patio Gardening

Patio GardenSome few of you may recall that about this time last year I was excited with having moved into the new place with my lovely wife. You may also recall while there was not really a plot of land of do anything with there was opportunity to experiment with some smaller size container gardening. You may have noticed that there was not much follow-up over last summer and certainly not any astounding results reported. The reason is simple, there were none. That all aside, it is that time of year again, just past the first of May when most things I would want to grow in the containers can take off and to that end we spent some time early this afternoon kicking things off.

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USDA folds to Genetically Engineered Alfalfa

USDA LogoIt is probably with little surprise to most that this announcement comes, but on Friday (I believe that to be the date) the USDA lifted any and all restrictions on the planting of genetically engineered alfalfa. This debate has been stirring for sometime now, since a court placed an injunction the planting of any further GE alfalfa sometime back. It looked as if the USDA might actually be reasonable with the matter and perhaps restrict it in some ways, including potential zoning and requirements for barriers, as were some of the suggested possibility that came up in the various meetings that the USDA held. Apparently though, that was merely lip service to make the folks like me and the number of outraged and affected farmers from previous problems with GMO’s in the past.

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Horses Out!

Horses & WinterI got a frantic phone call just a little while from my Mom. Apparently one of my horses was out. Not sure about the why or how exactly. My folks had managed to get him back with the lure of some grain, which mind you, he does not need at all. We had a conversation about the fence and the charger. Apparently it is not working at all. I am not sure at this point what the problem is exactly. I suggest a fresh set of batteries, as it is wireless – in a different sense if you get my drift.

It has been a couple of hours now but I just got another one of those calls. This one not as frantic, but with the same message generally speaking. Jack is out of the paddock and I am going to have to do something in the morning about the situation and figure out what is going on with the fence. I am so in concurrence on this, but I have to wonder just exactly what has gotten his feathers up all the sudden. And apparently, he is going through the fence with taking the whole thing down – but just knocking one strand off or something.

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200 Dead Cows!

Cow HerdNot at all my normal kind of thing for here on Traveller’s Haven Farms, but just imagine… You are a farmer. You are just getting going with your Sunday morning routine and you get a call. The caller says they have some questions for you, but the most important thing is the information they have for you. Information that you have an entire herd of dead cattle out in a pasture. Numbering around two hundred head in fact. What a way to ruin a perfectly good day otherwise. Anyway, this or at least something similar to this, occurred in Wisconsin today. Facts are still sketchy and of course there is still a good deal of speculation, but this is what is know at this point.

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