2005 a challenging year

Gary Sliworsky
Ag. Rep.

The new year is almost here once again. For producers, 2005 continued to be a very challenging year. At the beginning of the year we came out of another relatively mild winter and things were looking pretty good heading into spring. We were looking forward to a more ‘normal’ year - warm with rain only when we needed it. And there was more and more talk the U.S. border would open to our cattle soon.
Of course things didn’t quite work out as hoped. Those that were able to get on their land very early managed to get their seeding in but many were delayed by the sudden arrival of moisture and a very cool spring. In many cases producers were one or two weeks behind schedule right from the beginning.
Animals that were ready to head to pasture were kept in the yard a little longer due to the wet conditions and the slow emergence of grass. Many were still holding on to calves under the Set-Aside program. Some had planned on the border being open by now and were now scrambling to find pasture for those animals. Many had their supply of hay run down to the last few bales.
Much of the haying started later than usual, again due to the wet conditions. Yields of first cut were generally pretty good, but in many cases the quality wasn’t there due to having to wait so long to get on the fields. Hopes were that the second cut would be better but once again, things didn’t work out.
We were reasonably warm but we were very wet and things just didn’t seem to want to dry up throughout the summer. Regrowth was not that spectacular and there were many reports of second cut yields being less than desirable. And due to the wet conditions some were still attempting to get their first cut of hay off the fields.
One good thing was the border reopened to cattle under 30 months of age. This allowed some Set-Aside program calves to leave farms and prices were reasonable enough to bring in some fairly good cash flow. Cow prices started to look good for awhile but that was short lived.
Fall arrived and the hope that there was still a chance to get that grain off, finish up some hay baling and get some plowing done. However it was taking everything a long time to dry out. Some producers had to bring cattle home early from the pastures, not because feed was running out, but because it was so wet and cattle were punching up the land.
October rolled around and the rains wouldn’t quit. Then along came a beautiful November. However it was too late for things to dry out. I know a lot of planned fall plowing just couldn’t get done.
Japan has announced they will begin taking some of our beef again and the U.S. is talking about accepting beef over 30 months of age in the next year. The Farmers Almanac says we should have a pretty winter in our part of the world. Maybe things will be better in 2006.
Wishing you a holiday season and beyond filled with beautiful moments and cherished memories.