|
Weather: Starting to warm again no real chance of rain in sight.
L (13): Two more splits in L-13. Total of 7 splits, and I might add nicely done by cows and people alike.
0 Comments
Weather: More cooling follows the storm. Slight tint of green observed following the storm. A few more rains and we could generate a real greenup.
L (13); Fun visit with Ryan White of Snaplands on building a local monitoring program and looking at possible succession for ranch following Ryan’s retirement. Late afternoon move to fifth split. Still need to open the sagebrush canopy in L-13. May schedule a straw feeding period in winter to increase impact on dense canopy of sagebrush. Some mourning doves are working on 3rd clutch. Weather: Heavy thunderstorms last night dropping an amazing .8 inches of moisture. Some rain did run on shallow sites, but much filtered into the soil.
L (13): Daily splits continue sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the evening. Large flocks of nighthawks seen as they group up for a fall departure. Weather: Slight cooling and surprising shower mid-day that is but evaporated by evening, yet more may be coming. L (13): Through 8.24 we made 3 splits in L-13. Getting good harvest clip of forage while still supporting good condition and calm behavior. A useful afternoon ranch discussion with WSARE staff from MSU for a site visit for the RMG Project. Clayton Marlow, long-time range professor and WSARE supervisor joined us. A nice treat and possibly useful for future grant applications. Weather: Some overcast and predictions for some cooling and possibly moisture.
L (14-13): Later afternoon moved pairs into L-13. A fair amount still grazing in back end of L-14. A rash of ravens at the water. We have had nine porcupines raid the garden-4 have been caught and released the rest met a more permanent fate. Message: don’t mess with Dana’s Garden, especially if the garden is doing well from daily hard work. I suspect the dryness and the yard pond may be a factor. Hopefully a better fence next year. Prevention trumps cure. Weather: Very hot and very dry. Range looks bleached out.
L (14): On the 21st we opened our 5th split. Very creative work fencing in the trees. Our goal is to get a thorough grass harvest on the Lackey timbered paddocks (13 and 14) as not wishing to return in winter. As we are well into the second cycle of the breeding season, we still need to balance cow performance with effective harvest-daily fine-tuning. So far water delivery has proven very reliable. Dana capture bull snake actively drinking from the house pond. Increasing dryness seems to drive more species and more numbers of birds into the yard. Weather: Above average heat persists with little relief. Some meager thunderstorms throughout yet thankfully no fires triggered by lightning.
EG (3): Four splits during the period. A few spurge plants below the reservoir, which by the way is dry. Cover is some of the best on the ranch. On the 16th we checked East lackey tank in possible preparation for a move back over and realized measurable hopper damage in the crested wheat fields on west end of Lackey-most regrowth has been stripped off. An unlikely yet welcome song sparrow visits the garden on way to somewhere. Weather: More heat yet refreshing thunderstorm late evening.
EG (3): Nice to move again. Ryan and Carlyle getting ready for One Montana hunters to help work on fence. Weather: Just stuck in this persistent above average heat.
EG (11): Long stay in last split yet plan to move tomorrow. Wade and company try to rope suckers yet only catch one out of three. Type to implement mobile catch pens. Weather: Yes, the heat returns yet not too ridiculous.
EG (11): No moves. Nice flock of Lessor Yellowlegs on the mudflats of evaporating ponds along creek bottom. Dana’s garden looking pretty tuned up. |
Bill Milton
|
| Milton Ranch LLC | Daily Ranch Journal |
RSS Feed
Proudly powered by Weebly