Market update and invitation

[AlKluis]

At the farm show in Greeley Colorado, what is unusual is how the farmers here talk about the rain---  in 100's of an inch.  The last guy  who stopped by said "we had 58 - 100's a month ago and 38 100's two weeks ago"  - water is a big deal. Water was also a major topic a the Colorado Corn Growers meeting last night. In the grain markets it looks like a possible Tuesday low was put in yesterday, I am not getting bullish but prices may start to move sideways after the recent sharp sell off.

I've been helping develop a pro-farmer reality TV show called "Against The Grain". I believe it is important for the country to see what farmers really experience each year, all the work and risk. Now we're working on getting sponsors. We just put a preview online so farmers can see it and comment on it. There are also interviews of some farmers who got to see a preview. Here's the link: www.AgainstTheGrain.tv   (note that's .tv, not .com) . To log in use your email and the password "farmer". What do you think?

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[Mike M2692830]

You will have to keep us posted as to when it will air and on what channel. Looks good so far..looks great compared to all the other realty crap that is on. If the show catches on, I can Saturday night live spoofing this show with any of the housewive shows. Hope you show the drama watching a farmer get dressed in the morning. Sorry, couldn't leave that alone...MikeM

[jrsiajdranch]

Oh My word those guys got it so tough AL! all day drivng those tractors and new combines and worrying about getting to the football game!  I;ll tell you what hows about follow around a cow calf farmer or a dairyman!  OR maybe a hog and poultry guy. 

I am not saying it isn't a good show.  I mean if your most stressful moment is getting the corn head hooked up well I am thinkin that it might be percieved as very tough.  BUt I don't think so! Tell me about tough when it is 24 below and nothin starts and the cows are mooing caue they are hungry. Or you are chopping hay and the feedroll gear box explodes and you have been at it since 2:30 in the morning. and your dead tired but you need to rebuild it before the rain comes and ruins a crop of hay. I think there is better ways to show how tough it is.  I am reminded of the 4x4 guy who told me that he was tired after driving his tractor since the auto steer quit! Oh doggies that made for a long day! Steering your tractor such stress!

But deere gets  lot of face time!

[4wd]

If the cropers have it so good JR, and you livestock guys are slaving, my question to you is why do you do it? 'Why not sell the livestock, go down to the John Deere mega dealer store(s), sign some loan agreements and promissory notes, and start row crop farming. Quit your bitchin and take action

[deerguy]

I,ve been there when I had hogs in Iowa winters with poor facilities, I made it but it was stress at a level that is undefienable.  I do not miss that at all.  good luck to you and glad to see milk prices up.

[jrsiajdranch]

4WD come on take a joke would you! and if I come up with an answer I am gonna tell my wife first! HE HE

[Red Steele]

Hang in there , Buddy. I grew up with dairy cows, and saw the work my father and grandfather did. We had virtually no automation, lots of pitchfork action, and bucket carrying. The day in , day out grind of keeping the animals warm, fed, and watered is not an easy task.

When I see old barns, I don't see them as anything wonderful or beautiful. I see work...lots of it. Glorifying dairy barns is like saying San Quentin or Alcatraz Prisons are beautiful relics.

God Bless you!

[nwobcw]

JR the other day I spent a few hours on the Bobcat moving bales closer to the barn etc. for when the inevitable thaw and mud comes, loading excess bales on a trailer for the auction, and filling the feeders.  When my feet started getting cold and I began to feel sorry for myself for not having a heated cab skid loader I remembered the days of handling small squares and mostly hand pitching  ( I would rent a skid loader a couple times a year) I looked at my 5 year old Bobcat and said to myself "I kind of like this thing."  It did take a while to warm up the feet tho. ha