90 Degrees in the Shade

This heat is great for the garden. It is growing like crazy.  In a few days there will be tomatoes.

The scarecrow has done a good job of keeping "nibblers" out of the garden.

The cows enjoy the shade during the day.

And everyone is staying hydrated!

Hope you all are staying cool with healthy fluids!

August Tails

Its been a little cooler here today, but still dry.   Very cloudy, but no rain.   You can not imagine how desperate all us farmers are for rain.  Apples have prematurely been falling off of all the trees for 3 weeks.

Rain, we need rain.       The drought has affected all kinds of things in this state

Flys, extremely sunny days, heat, dust, short dry grass, tall weeds and humidity have caused many of the herd to get pink eye.
Haven't had a case in 10 years.  The worst ones were vaccinated about 3 weeks ago and I have been spraying the herd every 3 days.   They see me coming and they run now.    One of my young Simmental cows has it the worst in one eye.  I want to put a patch on her and need to move the whole herd back to the farm so I can treat the new worst ones.    Frustrating situation.   The cloudy day today gave them some relief.

Any of you cattle ranchers have any good ideas for pink eye?     Unusual methods welcomed.

Anyhow, here is the herd yesterday at sundown as I circled them up to spray them down.

The newest calf and a proud heavy milking mom. Gotta love those Simmentals!

Tails Tails as far as I see
A sea of tails "waving" at me.

Red ones, white ones, black and brown
Stampeding away as the sun goes down

Spray them, chute them, get rid of the flys
Pray for cool weather to protect their eyes

To help the herd, need clouds and rain
Keep down the dust and stop the pain

Cows are a blessing, some work and a laugh
Especially cows very moody with calf

Watch those tails a swinging by
A parade of a herd with runny eyes.

Babes in the Woods

95 degrees and the herd is hanging out in the woods where there is a cool breeze blowing through and keeping the bugs away as well.   Smart cows.    They will be out grazing again when the heat of the day starts to cool off around 4 pm.         Chance of thunderstorms tonight.