Baling Twine and Duct Tape

                                           Jean, Sydney, and Boyd splinting the calves feet
                                                 and ankles with boards and Duct tape.

(Published in Intermountain Farm and Ranch on Friday, March 18, 2011)

            The hay baler has to be considered one of the great inventions of all times; not necessarily for the activity of baling hay but for the availability of the baling twine.  Baling twine is to a farmer what aspirin is to a doctor: twine it together and call the mechanic in the morning. However, because the twine works so well, the proverbial “in the morning” never seems to arrive.

            Uses of this fixing medium are as numerous as farmers. Whenever the call “get me some baling twine” is heard the correct assumption can be that something is broken or loose or torn. Broken gates are fixed with it, fences are linked together with it, the shed is full of tools hung up with it, doors to pickups and trucks are tied shut with it and the tailgate of the pickup is secured with it.

            Twine is used for shoe laces, belts, halters on horses, ropes to lead calves and tie up dogs, tying a cowboy’s hat on during a wind storm, line to hang the clothes on, tying the tops of boots so snow doesn’t get down in them, etc. This is one way in which farmers recycle.

            Twine even works in the house. Not long ago our toilet broke – it wouldn’t flush. I remember this same thing happened about 18 months earlier and our oldest son, Doug, fixed it. Taking off the lid I assessed the new problem. There was a piece of water-rotted baling twine holding the two broken pieces of hardware together. This time I went to the hardware store and purchased the correct part. It will be interesting to see if the purchased part will outlast the twine. My bet goes on the store-bought part and also on the fact that the men will never be convinced that twine can be out-done. 

            Another piece of mending material is duct tape. The other day while reading a book, which I do a lot of, I came across the following information about duct tape:

There is a saying in every organization of the world, either military or civilian, that if something doesn’t move when it should, use WD-40, and if it moves when it shouldn’t, use duct tape. Originally designed during the Second World War to keep gun magazines and ammunition boxes watertight in jungle conditions, duct tape has since become the must have item for each and every mission. It was even used to fix a fender on the Apollo 17 Lunar Rover when it was broken on the moon, as well as making the circular CO2 scrubbers “fit” square holes to save the lives of the crew of the stricken Apollo 13. (Taken from Cross Fire by Dick Francis and Felix Francis.)

            We have found that duct tape can be used in places that baling twine can’t. For instance, the other day we had to splint all four legs on a new calf. It was trying to walk on the first joint of its legs with its hoofs bend under. Our son, Derrald, cut some small pieces of wood to use as splints. Then we wrapped the duct tape around the splints and legs. It didn’t take many hours for those splints to work and the calf was up walking normal on all four hoofs.

            Duct tape has been used to fix canvas on our birthing sheds, patch holes in the grain combine, and reattach a mirror on the pickup. Out driving around I’ve noticed it’s used to keep broken car windows in place and hold a fender onto a car.

            Why, with duct tape and baling twine, mechanics probably are losing a lot of business. And they probably have to use a lot of chemical to get the adhesive off from the cars and farm machinery that duct tape has been stuck to.

            Needless to say, farmers would be in a world of hurt without twine and duct tape. Wish I had invented one of those.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME

Beautiful sunrise, even with Daylight Saving Time

            Published March 4, 2011 in Intermountain Farm and Ranch

              Daylight Saving Time is almost upon us once again. “They” say young children have a hard time adjusting to this time change and I say they are not the only ones with adjustment problems. I’ve done some research, trying to find out who I can blame for this biannual disruption in my life. 

            There are a lot of stories about how, why and when this all started. One is that is was introduced to help the farmers have more time to do their work. Well, farmers work according to the light available, not according to the clock. A change in time doesn’t make a difference to agriculture. A poll conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation indicated the reason Americans liked Daylight Saving Time is that they enjoyed the recreational opportunities offered by long summer evenings.

The idea of Daylight Saving Time was conceived by Benjamin Franklin in 1784 when he was in Paris as an American delegate. Some friends of Franklin, who had invented a new kind of oil lamp, applauded this conception. However, nothing was done about this until 1907 when a London builder by the name of William Willett wrote a pamphlet “Waste of Daylight”, proposing that clocks be advanced 20 minutes on each of four Sundays in April, and moved back the same amount of time on four Sundays in September. About a year after Willett began lobbying for Daylight Saving Time, it attracted the attention of those in authority. In 1908 Robert Pearce – later Sir Robert Pearce – introduced a bill in the House of Commons making it mandatory to adjust the clocks. Though introduced in Parliament several times, this bill met with ridicule and opposition, especially from farming interests.

            Daylight Saving Time was instituted in the United States during World War I in order to save energy for war production by taking advantage of the later hours of daylight between April and October. During World War II, the federal government again required the states to observe the time change. Between the wars and after World War II, states and communities chose whether or not to observe Daylight Saving Time, causing much confusion. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which standardized the length of Daylight Saving Time.

            A 1975 study done by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) showed that because there was less electricity used for lighting and appliances Daylight Saving Time trimmed electricity usage by a small but significant amount,. The rational behind this study showed a direct relationship between energy used in the demand for electricity for lighting homes and the times when people went to bed at night and got up in the morning. Although a 1976 report by the National Bureau of Standards disputed the 1975 DOT study, and found that Daylight Saving Time-related energy savings were insignificant, the DOT study continued to influence decisions about Daylight Saving Time. Actually, determining energy savings from Daylight Saving time is difficult and based on a variety of factors. It’s possible that little or no energy is saved by this change of time.

            Not all areas observe Daylight Saving Time. Arizona (except some Indian Reservations), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have chosen not to.  European nations have been taking advantages of the time change for decades. Iceland observes year-round Daylight Saving Time. And Antarctica, where there is no daylight in the winter and months of 24-hour daylight in the summer, still have many of their research stations observe Daylight Saving Time to synchronize with the supply stations in Chile or New Zealand.

            But it really doesn’t matter if we switch to Daylight Savings Time or not: the cows need to be fed whether the clock says 2:30 or 3:30; the crops need to be planted  and irrigated, no matter what time the sun comes up or goes down; and the voles don’t seem to be affected much. I personally would like to see Daylight Saving time either completed abolished or moved to a permanent, year-round time. Then the young children and I wouldn’t have to go through this miserable process of adjustment twice a year!

                       

CHILD LABOR LAWS REVISITED

                      Published February 18, 2011, in Intermountain Farm and Ranch

             As I look at the growing concern over the lack of responsibility, over-absorption of today’s media, and obesity in our children as they get into their teens and young adulthood, I wonder if we should revisit the Child Labor Laws. One day last summer an early morning TV show was highlighting a lack of obedience to the Child Labor Law as it showed a child of five carrying two buckets of blue berries while her older brothers, ages  seven and eleven were picking blue berries along side of their parents. The TV show told how the family was paid per bucket, and that they were financially impoverished. In looking at these children, not one of the three looked obese, and they didn’t look unhappy. The buckets the little girl was carrying looked to be about the size of a five-quart ice cream container, and she didn’t appear to be struggling with them.

            The Child Labor Law, as a general rule, sets fourteen years of age as the minimum age for employment and limits the number of hours worked by minors under the age of sixteen. Come on, by the time teenagers are between fourteen and sixteen, they don’t want to work. They have been able to play until then, so why should they work.

            Maybe we should be able to use children when they are willing to work.  I have found with my own children, somewhere between the ages of three and ten is when they are willing and excited about work; finding it “fun”. Once they get into their teens, they view work as “work”.  I’m noticing, also, that by the time our youth reach the adolescent years, many of them are starting into the thought of “everyone owes me.” This attitude can carry on throughout their lives.

            I’m not suggesting that we put our children in a factory to work long hours at salaries below minimum wage. But picking blue berries, carrying a bucket full of the berries to the drop-off place? These children were not confined to a smoke filled room with loud machines. They were outside and actually exercising, being productive, and spending time with their family. 

            Yes, there is the concern of the chemicals used on crops, all agriculture crops.  But that concern should be for the parents also, not just the children. Are the chemicals more damaging physically to the child than some of the TV shows and video games are damaging to their mental and emotional health?

            Yes, there is the danger of large equipment being in the fields. I don’t know about the equipment in the blue berry patches, but I do know what equipment is required around the alfalfa and grain fields, and even with the cattle operation. However, there is the danger of large equipment on the roads when the children are riding their skateboards or bikes or playing ball. There are dangers when children have too much free time.

            Do we have our priorities wrong?  I know that all children can’t live on the farm where there are daily chores for them to take care of, no matter what their age.  But surely there are things that can be done that not only keep our children busy with responsible tasks, but things that will benefit others plus build their self esteem and sense of responsibility. Perhaps if children had responsibility at a young age, it would keep them from sitting in front of the TV or computer, eating junk food, and viewing violence.

            I’m aware there are a lot of young people who are responsible and hardworking. It seems, as in most cases, the irresponsible ones are those we look at and judge the rest by. 

            Those three children in the blue berry patch very likely know that work equals money.  Do the majority of our children understand this simple, yet so essential, truth? And these three children, if allowed to continue helping their parents, are less likely to become irresponsible or obese.

Skyler and Jaedn chopping wood at Dehlin ranch.

BUSY MORNING CONTEMPLATIONS

     Just have a minute to sit down, finally. It's 10 a.m. and I've been going since 5:30 a.m. The first hour and half I spent writing, so that wasn't very draining physcially, but did drain me mentally. Then fixing breakfast for the one to four guys who eat here. (It depends on what is going on whether I have four or one, and they usually don't let me know, so I always plan on four.)

     As I walked through the kitchen and livingroom, I decided my house is too big! I've been working at cleaning for a good hour and half and still have a couple of hours worth to do to get the main floor cleaned up. Then to the basement to mop and vacuum and pick up and dust. On days like this I miss the ranch house! Two bedrooms, kitchen/family room, and a back porch. I could go through it and mop all the floors and be done in a little over an hour. But then I don't have the modern convenience there that I have here. The wash machine and dish washer have both been running while I've been cleaning this morning. So I guess I could say I've had help with my work.

     As I've been cleaning I've opened all the blinds. What a beautiful morning this has been. As the sun was coming up, the snow sparkled so bright a person almost needed dark glasses.  The ground is appearing from underneath the layers of snow. Yes, this means mud tracked into the house, and it also means that spring is thinking of coming. With spring comes the busy times that last until next November. 

     The beautiful morning makes me anxious to start hanging clothes out on the line to dry. How I love to climb into bed with clean sheets that have been dried out in the sun. They smell so good!  And I enjoy being out listening to the birds singing their good morning songs as I hang the clothes out.

     When it comes right down to it, I'm very contented with my life. I wouldn't want to live any other place, to any other man. I wouldn't want to be involved in any other business than agriculture. We have a busy life, but it is busy with good things. I am thankful!

    

Calving Time

Splinting a calves hooves so it won't walk on it's ankles.

CALVING TIME

Published in Intermountain Farm and Ranch February 4, 2011

Calving time is a busy time on the ranch, a time of being alert to signs of eminent birth problems with cows and new-born calves. It’s also an exciting and rewarding time: watching the first-time mothers, the heifers. Seeing a new calf born is a miracle in itself as the mom gently licks her new baby and guides it to its first meal. Many times I have noticed a group of two or three older cows surrounding a heifer, giving her support through her labor. The older cows will be “lowing”, almost humming, as if they are saying, “You can do it, just hang in there.”

            Occasionally there will be a cow that doesn’t accept its newborn, and those two have to be worked with and watched carefully for a few days. They are isolated into a small pen so they can become acquainted. If the mother is aggressive and kicks as the baby tries to nurse, she will often have to be restrained so the baby can eat. After a few days of isolation and, if necessary, restraint, the mother will usually accept her calf.

            A few years ago we had some serious problems with our newborns. Within 3 or 4 days after birth they developed diarrhea (or scours as it’s called in animals). This can kill a newborn fairly quickly because they dehydrate so fast. A friend and neighbor, Keith Elkington, showed us how to do IVs so we set up an emergency room in our basement where we administered fluid through IVs. The ambulance was a wheelbarrow, pushed by the emergency technicians called ranchers. Our equipment was not the most modern, but it worked: an old floor lamp that we brought down from the attic – this was the IV pole; liter Coke bottles held the fluid; a clothes pin to clamp off the tubing when we needed to; no IV needles, just regular needles, so we had to be there to hold them in; old rugs on the floor to lay the calves on. Sometimes we had three calves to work on simultaneously. After a calf was up and moving around, it would be taken back out to its mother in the shed. When we would finish with one bunch, I would mop the floor with a Clorox or Lysol solution and wash the rugs in disinfectant solution preparing for the next bunch to be brought in. This went on for two or three weeks. I think we did IVs on close to 35 calves that year and only lost four or five.

            We have worked hard to prevent this happening again. Anti-scour vaccinations are available for the pregnant cows to give the newborn calves a boost against scours. Cleanliness is really important to maintain in calving area, and not always easy in muddy, sloppy weather. After we clean the sheds out in the fall, we spread lime on the floor before putting straw down as lime is an efficient and cheap disinfectant. Another thing that is important is constant checking on cows and calves. Recognizing scours early on before it can progress to dehydration is especially important. And this can only be done by walking through the animals often and observing them. A calf with its head hanging down and it’s back hunched up or one lying down with its tail straight out needs to be moved to the shed and closely watched.

            Yes, calving time is a time of heavy responsibility, but a special time also. As the weather warms up and the new calves start romping through the pasture, it’s like watching a group of kindergarten aged children out on the playground. They run and jump, seem to tease each other, almost seem to play tag with one another. How fun it is  observe these things in our own back yard! How blessed we are to be ranchers!

A Friend

Skyler has written a poem that I think is beautiful. I got his permission to share it with all of you. He is a gifted writer! Enjoy

A Friend

By Skyler Young

The idea of being alone,

Though our species is so vast,

Still exists so greatly.

Science may say impossible,

But in a human mind that concept takes no place,

I know this feeling.

The world seems so dark.

You feel so helpless.

It seems there is no escape from this one idea.

So small and insignificant.

As if it is you, yourself.

I know this feeling.

It emits a closed yet so distinct aura.

But nobody helps.

You tell yourself they don’t care.

You tell yourself they’re selfish.

Or maybe, could they just be scared?

I know this feeling

Then there is The One

Who sees past what the others do not.

He holds out His hand and lifts you up.

You’re a different person,

In a different world.

I know this feeling.

                                             Skyler carrying a sick calf into the incubator

CATTLEMEN VERSUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE CATTLE

CATTLEMEN VERSUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE CATTLE

            Published January 21, 2011 in Intermountain Farm and Ranch

            According to the Bible, Palestinian shepherds were noted for their protection of their sheep at the time of Jesus. In times of danger, the true shepherd was willing to give his life for his sheep. He would go in with the sheep and fight for their welfare. The hireling, or shepherd, on the other hand valued his own personal safety above that of the sheep and would usually run from any danger.

            In John 10:4 it states:

            “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”

            So, perhaps in working with cattle there would be a difference between a cattleman and “people with cattle”. They both build and repair fences, feed and water their animals even treat sick animals. But, as with the shepherd, the cattleman’s animals know him.

            My husband, Boyd knows his animals. He has a small red book that he carries with him so if there is a question about one of his animals he can quickly find the information. He can find birthdates of his calves faster than birthdates of his own kids. I watch Boyd walk daily through his herd of cows – speaking softly or not speaking at all, moving slowly and calmly. The cows recognize him. They “know” him; they “know his voice”. They remain calm in his presence. Even when the cows act rebellious, find a weak spot in a fence and get out, Boyd doesn’t rush them, doesn’t unnecessarily push them, but calmly directs them back to their pasture. Now there are times that he has to shout, even use a hot-shot or stick, but those times are few and far between. And through his example, our sons work with the cattle in the same way.

Boyd, Seth, and Kira in the calving shed

            Not long ago we had an accidental death of a heifer. Boyd and our son Derrald were upset about it because of the suffering the animal experienced. They talked at length about what they could have done to prevent this and what changes they needed to make so it doesn’t happen again. They did not walk away with a shrug of the shoulders and the comment, “well you lose some anyway.” No, they were the true cattlemen, sorrowing over the untimely and unnecessary death of one of their own.

            There are many in our area who work with animals in a compassionate and humane ways. Mark and Wendy Pratt are good examples of this. They run cattle east of Firth into the dry land area. On October 13, 2010, Wendy wrote the following in her blog:

            “We moved the cows to their fall pastures on the last two weekends. First the cows and calves on an uncomfortably hot day, over the mountain to Meadow Creek country. We do our best to practice low-stress cattle handling, but we found ourselves reverting to old methods as we pushed them begrudgingly up the steep incline.”

Yes, there are times when a hot-shot or whip needs to be used, but not every time the cattle are moved to another pasture, or even from corral to pasture or when loading cattle onto a truck. Sometimes you need to shout as they move as a group, usually to be heard more than from anger. But in observing – the cattleman tries not to stress his animals – the “people with cattle” don’t appear to think of the animal but of getting the job done, and even the monetary gain to be made when the cattle are sold. There are a lot of good cattlemen in our area, and a few “people with cattle”. It is difficult to watch the treatment of cattle under the care of the latter group. And you can usually tell by the way the cattle act if they are being taken care of by a cattleman or “people with cattle”.

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