This past week we have had a few nice rain showers late in the day. They have come in the late afternoon and are not like those that come in the night that lull you to sleep with rain hitting the metal roof. Never-the-less, they are much appreciated. Normally, by this time of the year, we have more than half of the hay needed for the cattle in the winter already baled. Due to the lack of rain since February, and at first very cool nights and then very hot days, we are way behind on setting aside our needs. When this rain band passes we will cut two hay meadows. I do not expect great results, but every bale counts.

We weaned over 20 calves this past week and some had to be dehorned; some castrated. We kept back four bull calves to see how they grow out. All of the calves look pretty good. They are still in the corral for a few days until they stop crying for their moms. We moved the steers from Rock Branch back home where we have some really nice paddocks for them to graze. Many have ordered our grass finished beef that will be harvested in the fall. The heifer calves being bred at Rocky Branch are doing fine and look good. All the cattle are in good condition as we enter the hotter, dryer part of the summer.

The grasses we planted are taking hold, but no as fast as I had hoped. Every time you plow ground you bring up old weed seeds. The goat weed is a problem on the new grass land and we have sprayed in some cases. The most productive grass planted is at Rocky Branch and the cows are keeping it well trimmed. On the side where the grass was planted it is about 4 inches tall. Next to it is the established grasses and they are almost a foot tall.

Our blueberry patch is doing great this season. The blackberry did not do so well. The berries dried up fast in the excessive heat we experienced and the brambles dried early. Next year's shoots have also not come along well. We do not know if we have to replant or what we will do yet. After we remove the dead canes in late July we will know more. The raspberry we planted are also having a difficult time. Our blueberry bushes are growing and the die off in some plants we experienced early stopped. The bushes are loaded with huge berries and many green ones are still to ripen. There is not a better time to pick than now.

Every day brings new challenges, but during the first half of the year much was accomplished and we anticipate in the second half we will also be as productive.