Hay

Lots of different items of interest today. First thing that caught my eye was the article on the <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/05/20/build/state/45-drought.inc">drought</a> in the Gazette. It's one of those things that I don't need to read articles about the drought since I am dealing with it on a daily basis, but I can't stop myself. It's kind of like a horse running back into a burning barn, I know I shouldn't read them but I can't help myself. <br />n<br />nNext I note <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41076-2004May19.html">this</a> article in the Washington Post that deals with the wonderful effecincy of our Federal Government. There is a old saying about the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing, well in this situation it more sounds like the right hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. The <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> sets a rule up on importing ground beef from Canada and then turns around and ignores it and allows the meat to flow since the big packers want it. Really shows a person who runs the <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym>, big buisness at the expense of the consumer.<br />n<!–more–><br />nJust a couple of different things that caught my eye this morning. Things here on the ranch continue as dry. Got the bull to the sale yesterday but didn't watch him sell. The check will come in the mail in a few days. Did get the fences fixed that he tore up though. That fencing is a never ending chore. <br />n<br />nMentioning fencing reminds me of a story I have to tell. My Darling Wife has friends on the Internet that are scattered all over North America that don't know anything about ranching. One day, while visiting with these friends, she mentioned that I had sent the hired man out to do some fencing. One lady, in all seriousness, asked why we were sending this guy out to sell stolen goods and where he was selling them at. My Darling Wife told me this and I thought I was going to fall down I was laughing so hard. She got the whole situation straightened out and they laugh about it to this day.<br />n<br />nThe only other thing of interest is I got my hay bought for next year. 600 tons on a handshake aggrement. I know my word is good and the guy I bought it from has a good reputation so the handshake should be enough. Buying hay in May, since I know I am not going to harvest any of my own, is just unbelieveable to me. $85 a ton laid in to the ranch is a lot of money to spend for feed but I believe the price is only going to go up so contract it early and get it done. Why pay down debt when you can just add more. Keeps life interesting.<br />n<br />n<b>Life is very interesting… in the end, some of your greatest pains, become your greatest strengths. Drew Barrymore</b>