We may get 1-2 inches of rain today and later tonight. It is making everything a MESS. It melted all the snow from last week and is just making everything MUDDY. So basically did chores and eat an slept today. LOL
The boy and I did have a little time to hash over some plans for the coming year. We are moving forward with building two hog confinement buildings. The sites have been approved for 4-5 years. I had the dirt work done two years ago. With the youngest son buying some land close to the site it became a GO with plenty of places to use the additional manure. This will allow the youngest to limit or even quit working an outside job. He is leaning towards still working seasonally. The company he works for has welding work year round so they are favorable with seasonal employment. So next year will be another busy one.
With the cheaper prices of grain and the livestock markets doing some what better we think focusing on the feeding part of the business will be the safest in the next 24 months or so. With the additional manure we can reduce input costs as well. I have some price protection under the grain and livestock for another year. It is paying dividends this year. So we should be OK for the near term and we hope the markets/inputs settle down to a more reasonable level. The markets over reacted and now they are showing that the production can out pace demand. There will be players weeded out in this cycle. I think those that are not diversified will have hard time.
PS to the fellow that could not imagine 2500 bales of corn stalks. Since last Friday we have used 175 bales. There will be 30-40 used tomorrow with this sloppy rainy/mess we are having. In this type of weather you can go through bedding real fast!!!
The boy and I did have a little time to hash over some plans for the coming year. We are moving forward with building two hog confinement buildings. The sites have been approved for 4-5 years. I had the dirt work done two years ago. With the youngest son buying some land close to the site it became a GO with plenty of places to use the additional manure. This will allow the youngest to limit or even quit working an outside job. He is leaning towards still working seasonally. The company he works for has welding work year round so they are favorable with seasonal employment. So next year will be another busy one.
With the cheaper prices of grain and the livestock markets doing some what better we think focusing on the feeding part of the business will be the safest in the next 24 months or so. With the additional manure we can reduce input costs as well. I have some price protection under the grain and livestock for another year. It is paying dividends this year. So we should be OK for the near term and we hope the markets/inputs settle down to a more reasonable level. The markets over reacted and now they are showing that the production can out pace demand. There will be players weeded out in this cycle. I think those that are not diversified will have hard time.
PS to the fellow that could not imagine 2500 bales of corn stalks. Since last Friday we have used 175 bales. There will be 30-40 used tomorrow with this sloppy rainy/mess we are having. In this type of weather you can go through bedding real fast!!!