 tree swallow Clear and warm today. Shipped 295 yearlings to Wolf Point. While loading the yearlings, we noticed recently arrived tree swallows fighting over the nest hole in the old light pole in the corral. I followed the trucks to Blaine’s and delivered our livestock health protocol. We agreed to cut light heifers before the bulls go in at end of July. A long day of driving through eastern Montana yet the country looked good. Pasque flowers (Anemone patens) and old man’s beard (Geum Triflorum) showing on north slopes at Blaine’s. Golden pea (Thermopsis rhombifolia) was blooming in pockets everywhere. Four more cows have calved and the calving season has officially begun.
 thermopsis rhombifolia
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Pleasant today. Worked the yearlings in preparation for shipment. The average weight was 530 pounds. In 150 days, the yearlings gained 80 pounds or a ½ pound gain per day. The daily feed costs were around 90 cents. Moved the young cows into South Griffith 6. The yellow-rumped warblers were spotted in the apple tree.   The morning began with a light morning frost. It turning to 70’s in the afternoon triggering the boreal chorus frogs. I was off early to start trailing the yearlings. When I arrived, the yearlings had broken into a new paddock with fresh alfalfa. They are very hard to gather to begin the move back to corrals when on fresh feed. I called for Ryan for help. Luckily, he brought a charger to heat the fence to help contain the yearlings and get them headed the right direction. Everyone kept their cool, while the yearlings just thought it was a fun diversion. Some lessons: Always keep yearlings contained with a hot fence; and always on the last trailing leg to the corrals have at least two people helping. Lithospermum incisum and Northocalais nigrescens, both petals of deep golden yellow, began their flowering cycle.
A hard frost this morning, clear and turning warmer later in the day. Moved the cows into North Big Wall 15 (N1/2). Now watering on the reservoir tank. Getting ready to move the calves-yearlings from West Lackey to the headquarter corrals for shipment to Wolf Point.
Overcast and very cool today. Occasional light drizzles throughout day. Moved the cows to east half of North Big Wall 16 with first split. Pulled out porcupine quills with one cow, and cut off wire wrapped on front hoof of another cow. Moved the young cows to South Griffith 6 (east ¼). Astragulus pectinatus and Erysimum asperum (wallflower) are beginning to flower.
Dana called early with news of .75 inches of rain. Wonderful to go into May-one of the two most important growing season months-with sufficient soil moisture to give the grass at least a start. Moved the calves into West Lackey 4. Returned on foot from Lackeys, crossing a full creek, I hear the welcome whistling of a Wilson Snipe. Walking along the shallow ridges in South Big Wall 4, flocks of McGowns Longspurs, just arriving, rise and descend in song. In just one day, timely moisture turns low-level anxiousness into hope and confidence.
Moist morning air wakes water-hungry grass, yet no rain. Moved the calves to next split on West Lackey 5. At end of day I called cows into last split in west half of North Big Wall 16. Dana harvested first asparagus for a tasty quiche. A lone yellow-headed blackbird joined the red-wing blackbirds spring chorus in the ranch yard with its jarring metallic, yet welcoming song. Commercial bee hives from Hardin have arrived and placed at three sites.
Earth Day. Pleasant today with southeast winds blowing in evening and feeling unsettled-maybe moisture? Moved the cows to the next split. Moved the calves to the next split. The calves will leave on April 30 to Blaine’s. Can’t wait. While checking the heifers cranes flew by very close to the ground heading to Frank’s grain field from the reservoir- a pattern every evening. I drove north into the expanse of sage grasslands, scattered old oil wells, and large swaths of grain fields that broke out in the 1980’s. A big space. While returning on North Gage road, I viewed the heart of the ranch with unbroken grasslands, ponds with ducks, and fat pregnant cows. I then enter the ranch headquarters with the ancient crab-apple tree white in blossom and Dana working in the 100 year old vegetable garden- grateful to be in such a sweet spot in the ‘north country’.  Warm today. Located the calves to next split after gathering a small breakout. It was good trailing practice for calves. Florin fixed the tough pipeline leak near Big Wall. A flock of avocets were at reservoir  |
Bill Milton
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