Nobody should criticize you for wanting your cows to be as comfortable as possible. We know you love your animals and only have their best interest at heart . You're great people !!!
Hi Pete. I agree diesel or kerosene are no longer the way to go plus they evaporate more quickly than mineral oil so economy of scale mineral oil not as expensive as it seems to last longer. We use food grade mineral oil but different than the pymethrin instructions. Try 1 gallon mineral oil to 4 gallons water 8 oz permethrin and 1/4 cup dawn dish soap. Mix well. The dawn will act as an emulsifier and give a better bond to the water and oil making it last longer. In past we tried canola and soybean oil which works too but the cows tended to like the taste and licked themselves too much. We did find that adding 1/2 cup of dawn would stop them licking though but we still decided to switch back to mineral oil. Anyway good luck! Allen
Do you have any issue with the water, oil and soap mixture evaporating? How long till you need to soak the rub again? About to hang mine and do not wanna use any toxic ingredients. Going to use food grade mineral oil. I only have 6 dexters
I am something of an amateur/hobbyist entomologist. Not to downgrade any of your other videos, I found this one particularly fascinating. There’s a lot more to this problem and possible solutions than I realised. I’m not a farmer - nor will I ever be - but your videos are, IMHO, up there amongst the most interesting on UA-cam. Best wishes, Pete.
In almost 40 years of dairy cattle farming I, too, tried almost everything. For the most part we tried to keep the premises(free stall barn) as clean as possible and we used a pour on because we were putting the cows through a chute for other reasons; vaccinations, preg checks, health reasons. One of our key areas of concern was keeping the eating areas clean as this was always the highest concentration of insect larvae.
Pete you have done your homework! But remember, this is your farm. It doesn't matter what the viewers think. There will always be a few complainers in the bunch. Love your channel, can't wait to see how it progresses and your after thoughts. I've debated if this would help on our family's farm.
It sure matters what people think when you are trying to sell the product! At some level of compromise a customer base paying $$ for the higher quality wont amymore because you are no different than big cattle. This is definitely not that point, just wanted to point out the dangerous fallacy in your way of thinking.
I’m waging a war on flies this year myself. Love the type of content you’ve been putting out lately. Very helpful in our farm being just two hours from you.
What you said about attacking the flies with a little harsher hand early on makes sense to me. If you can break their cycle of reproducing somehow it's bound to be a bigger benefit later. Something my grandad had for his cows was a large stiff bristled brush he had mounted in the barn and another in the shady spot out in their pasture. They lasted a long time and all his cattle were crazy for them. They loved rubbing their heads and backs all over them. I think the bristles were even replaceable too.
If this is an option, go to your local DPW or a street sweeping company and get worn out sweeper brooms. They can come in long flat sections and would last forever.
I have tied strips of cloth about 2-3' long to the back rub. The permethrin wicks down the strips allowing it to get on the cattle's faces and sides. That has worked very well for us.
A transparent farmer! Pete, you do what you gotta do. In the end, I still believe you are a great animal husband and career. We just have to look at how the raccoon loss in the chicken tractor affected you both to know that you guys live for the farm and the animals.
It is really quite remarkable for you to so openly share your dilemma and your struggle to find a solution. No doubt there will be more options coming along in the future and I hope they do not leave you so torn between the environmental concern, the concern for the welfare of the cattle, and the financial concerns. Pete you have great courage and honesty to share this with us. I hope this works for this year and look forward to seeing the results.
11:16 at the Hereford Beef Farm I worked at years ago we used 2 back rubs for fly control. It worked really well, we didn’t have many flies at all. Actually the owner used to have parties at the farm in the barn with the cattle, never had a fly problem.
Good morning Pete & Hillary. As always love watching each and every video you put out. Well being a person who has never farmed (small home gardens and a few backyard chickens), I love that you take the time to show and explain the different methods you use on your farm for your animals. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to share your videos and have a great day.😊
All of these seem like very sound solutions. Have you ever thought about getting large round bristle brushes so the cows can scratch any flies on their sides and faces?
Thanks Pete, there are a few things that I do struggle with raising sheep and cattle. Flies, tick and chiggers control is one of those things. I know that it is an irritant for them. I like your approach to this irritant. Ultimately we all have to make the best decision for our situation.
Just a fyi you can check an area for chiggers by placing small 4 to 6 inch squares of black vinyl tile on the ground and leave them there for about 1 minute and then inspect them to see if you see tiny red dots moving around on them. Chiggers aka Red Bugs are attracted to black pieces of vinyl because they think it is the shadow of an animal passing by and will jump on it so it can burrow into the skin and get a meal which is why you need to check the pieces of tile fairly quickly otherwise they will jump off once they realize there is nothing there to attach themselves to. Additionally wearing light colored boots and pants sprayed with DEET insect spray will help to keep them off you. Additionally Chiggers do not spread themselves out on a piece of ground evenly. The US Military has spent a great deal of money issuing grants for research studies in an attempt to determine why a stretch of beach/ plot of land will be infested with them but 100 yards away will have none or almost none. The first military studies of Chiggers had Privates walk to a spot with their boots bloused and stand there and walk back to the researchers so they could count the number of Chiggers on their boots and later the number “bites” the pPrivate had on his body(that to me is the definition of an absolutely sucky job) And to my knowledge no one has come up with a reason why Chiggers or Ticks concentrate to one area especially if there is no trail or paths for animals and people to walk and or follow.
Hi Pete. I can understand your reluctance to using diesel on your cattle. Don’t know if it’s available to you but I think a solution would be to use Bio-diesel. It’s basically vegetable oil with the glycerin removed so it’s much less toxic than regular diesel
Controlling flies is a never ending battle. As you pointed it, you have to tackle it from multiple approaches. You have to use what you can afford and what is expected to work for your livestock. Treating a herd with pinkeye isn't cheap and those flies can be good at spreading it. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Pete, not sure what will work, but I agree with you, I don’t like using diesel fuel near cows and would try mineral oil. At least it can’t hurt the cows in any way! I watch your great videos in the am and it motivates me for the day! Sorry you lost your flock of chicks the other day.
Pete, I love your channel. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. It is a struggle to balance all the factors, and each person's operation will be different. I look forward to hearing how this works out for your herd.
I use the permethrin on my dexters and highlands. I wasn't comfortable using diesel either so I use mineral oil. I tried the rub but had limited success. I now use a pump sprayer and spray them down once every couple of weeks while they are at the feed trough. Garlic mineral supplement seemed to help last year as well so I'll be using it again.
Oh my you should not be so worried about any concerns your viewers have. No one has put more thought into the best way to control flies so that your cattle are happy and healthy and your workload is not increased exponentially than you just went through for us. I hope the methods you chose have the desired results.
One of your best, most informative vids. You should send the conclusion about compromise to Congress. It would be great to have them realize that no system is perfect...
It's a difficult balancing act between using natural remedies and conventional ones but the health of the cattle has got to come first. Hope things work out. All the best 🇬🇧.
We all know from watching you and Hillary that you both will decide to do what's best for the animals. I respect 🙏 🫡 what you need to do!! Blessings 🙌 Marion
Interesting video! I do like the back rubber, low-tech but hopefully highly effective! Mineral oil does sound like a more pleasant and eco-friendly option, better for the animals too!! Moving the manure pile is a great idea, especially since the new pig barn addition will be right next to the old manure-pile-area. Definitely a win-win!! 👍🏻
Mineral oil and diesel fuel are both made from petroleum. Mineral oil is the base for brake fluid, transmission fluid, hydraulic oil, and many other things such as make-up
@@sandraengstrand2784 its really all relative.....using diesel isnt really non-eco friendly to be honest. its not being burned so there is no "exhaust" like running it through a tractor. It also has shown to have minimal impact on the cattle themselves, certainly less so then the flies themselves. personally i believe it just has a stygma of sorts associated with it. But certainly each farmer should do what the feel is the best and that they are most comfortable with
The time and effort you and your wife put in to researching different methods and solutions to keep the farm running smoothly and the livestock as comfortable as possible is commendable, kudos, y'all are good people!
Hi Pete, ya know when push comes to shove, it's your farm, and you do what YOU think is right for it and your livestock. I'm not a farmer, so how would it be any of my business to agree or disagree with what you do on your farm? If anyone does like what you do, THEY do need to watch. It's just that simple. Whatever you and Hilary do is up to you, I'll continue to watch your videos regardless. 👍
Caring about doing the right thing for your cattle, your farm, your family, and your customers tells me you are the type of producer I would have no reservations buying from. Thanks for sharing.
Pete, I must say I’ve yet to find a person on UA-cam more “down home” and genuine than you. Fantastic channel. I grew up on a 300 acre cattle ranch and flies were always a concern. We did the same as you, with the roller and dust bags. But I heard about a different way to go about it. My grandson is in the scouts and they’re making “bat houses” to put up to keep insects in check. Just a thought
Learn more about farming with Pete than any other YT channel. Your analysis is perfect of the realities of pest management. No single solution is 100% effective, thus why it’s called Integrated Pest Management.
The back rubber will work great, but it will have to be lower, we have used them forever. Diesel fuel and used motor oil was the go to thing years ago. Buy a cheap old truck with a hoist, haul the poo far away from your building and stockpile. We used to make our own back rubbers by wrapping gunny sacks around a chain, then lacing them together with baler twine. Works great.
It needs to be controlled. You are the best judge of the method. I know you have thought it out for the well being of cattle and the need to reduce the problem. Pete, tough decisions have to be made without sending you to the poor house.😊
💖Pete, I would never question any decision that you and Hillary make. You both put so much thought into what you are doing. Why should I be the judge of what you are doing? I do not have your experience which appears to be a lifetime of living and being on a farm. I trust that you and Hillary will be satisfied with your decisions and that you will not allow the viewers to instill doubt into your ability to do what is right for you. Looking forward to continuing to follow you Pete and Hillary. Please take care. ❇❇❇
Enjoyed the breakdown of treatment options and look forward to seeing your results Pete. I think the backdrag will make a great difference. Have a great day Sir!
Hi Pete, the cattle farmer across the road and I were having a fly control conversation the other day. After discussing lots of options ... we ended up on oilers. It has to work and be low labor or you can't keep up with it. I have tried spraying when they come in for water. They never seemed to really get comfortable with the spray and I had to be there regularly when they showed up. The only issue I have seen with oilers is some of the calves are too short to rub the oilers. Put the oilers lower and the big girls tear them down. Oh well ... life on the farm! Might be the makings for a song!?
Evening Pete. Have been a viewer or your channel for years. I have not posted before; I respect your actions and admire your thought processes in all things you undertake. In the interest of your cattle herd, I'll comment on your limited confidence in bird houses. I've had livestock for 9 years. Horses and cattle. Fly control has always been a priority. I can say with complete confidence, that Tree Swallows and to a lesser extent Barn Swallows have been the catalyst to a more fly free herd. Like you, I live in an area with adequate upland bird habitat. Fencerows, brush, woodlots, etc. I don't know that I ever laid eyes on a Tree Swallow before I put up houses. Now it's a swarm (on 3 different Farms). I started small with 6 houses scattered across the pasture nearest my house. I now run 40+ houses, adequately spaced, on that same pasture. 200+ houses across all farms. You can build your own houses for little to no money from scrap/rough cut wood, just follow appropriate dimensions and instructions to mitigate sparrows from overtaking the houses. Some claim 5,000 flies/day for an adult pair of Tree Swallows. Hard to imagine it's that high, I just know from my situation it has been a great continual success.
I am sure this will get buried Pete, but I appreciate the research you put in to such problems. It is clear that you care about your livestock a great deal. Thanks!
Pete, good luck with your "FLY" situation. I would suggest going to Syracuse University and recruit an intern ( no cost to you ) for a study in "Fly Abatement". Hand them a flyswatter and a tally sheet. Everyday they record the numbers and at the end of the "Study", you will have fewer flies, the school will have a valuable data for the scientist and at least one college student will learn a valuable lesson. Good Luck, Mike from Michigan
Your farm, your cows. I will support whichever system you choose. I know nothing about farming but I am always impressed with the care and diligence you show all your animals.
I truly love watching your channel and the bond and respect you have for each of your live stock that you raise. You're doing your best and the internet is a cruel world. Keep shining positivity and love around your animals. 🩷
Good Morning Pete! I always really enjoy watching your new video before I head off to work for the day each morning your post it! :) I also grew up on a small family farm (Beef Cattle - 60-90 Head) and still enjoy working on the farm. My favorite thing to do is hay-making season when I go and mow the hay with a haybine (almost the same as yours) and a raker and 5x6 round baler. Sometimes I use the 5x6 round baler, sometimes i use the 4x4 round baler. Also I have a small square baler that I use to get the best hay for the 2 horses my sister has. Hope you have a great day! We also have lots of flys on our cattle each year! But we just do nothing...thats the way its been for YEARS and nothing ever hurt anything. One year we tried the ear tags. They worked decently but we only used them for two years and stopped. Keep up the great content and I will be looking forarwad to watching your next video! Off to work I go! I own my own lawn & landscaping company. I really enjoy it! :)
I think you might be on to something with the you were drawing flies to the cattle by what you were doing. I had Japanese beetles on my flowers and I put out several traps and I soon was infested with them. They could smell the bait and started coming to the traps which were near my flowers. I moved them quite away from the flowers and like magic my flowers had 1/10 as many as before. I was drawing them away it seemed. Also I know many loggers who used diesel fuel as a repellent on their skin and they all seemed to live to a ripe old age. They often joked it was shell no 5 a play on channel no5 hahahaha. Love your channel. My wife is from Korea and she learns so much from you and Sow the Land lol. Thanks
I, for one, would never want you or any other farmer I watch on UA-cam, to be so worried about my opinions that you would alter your business in any way that does not make sense to you. Most of us know diddly-squat about farming and should not be advising anyone. I might be concerned if I saw your cows covered with flies or being neglected etc. but I would just ask questions about it. If, after hearing more I felt you were just a bad farmer mistreating his animals I would turn you off. I love that you educate us and explain the pros and cons of certain techniques. It educates me more about my food sources. If you have subscribers trying to tell you how to run your business I would hope you could ignore them. They do not have your best interests at heart if they try to tell you what to do. But I also understand the desire to maintain your reputation and subscriber base. But many of us are here just to learn from you and we respect your independence and history of doing the right thing. I do hope you are able to reduce the fly load in a way that makes sense but I see wild animals covered in flies on all the nature shows and no one is rushing to save them from the flies because it’s nature! Keep up the great work!
Hey Pete, have you thought of building a massive battery of tesla coils around the pasture carefully calibrated to zap anything higher than the cows with 1000 MW of electricity. That'll teach those pesky flies!
We had a smallish herd (40-60 head) of dairy cattle. We used a slicker line - an old piece of cable with old cotton batting/twine/burlap/baling wire wrapped around it ~3" thick - but we hung it at something like a 30-45 degree angle to the ground - with an old milk can sat up at the top. From the bottom of the milk can was a rubber hose the ran down in to the middle of the slicker line. All we had to do was put some fly ointment and left over vegetable oil from the kitchen, (I'm sure there was some used fryer oil and bacon grease mixed in.) With the slanted line, the calves/heifers would get used to it early - and rest loved it. We kept 2-3 of them up and filled year-round - just outside of the barn.
I wouldn’t fret about it too much Pete. You & Hilary have thought long & hard about what to do this season 4all the while keeping the cattle health in mind. Those who don’t agree just won’t agree. So be it it’s their choice but when all is said & done, it’s your farm & your cattle. Keep up the great work, effort & content. I sure appreciate it. Happy farming. Cheers from BC
Hey Pete love the channel. When you move your manure pile how about fencing it in and letting some chickens live on or near it for the summer? They could eat the flys and maybe you raise a few extra chickens? Just a friendly idea. I’m excited to see the future of the pigs.
I think the three options you are doing are excellent choices for fly control. Also, you do you Pete. Don't worry about what other people think. If they don't have the million dollar solution , they are more of a problem then they are worth!
I think your ideas are very good and you have thought them through. It is hard to decide the best course for your farm and your animals. Thanks for sharing this information.
Hi Pete, I know how busy you are, but if you get a half hour free, Google The "Australian Dung Beetle Project.." It's an interesting read about how Australian scientists helped to partially solve, a unique cattle dung problem we had in Australia.....Native Dung beetles evolved to utilise marsupial droppings, and were unable to breed in the massive amounts of bovine poop, lying all around Australia, providing an ideal breeding environment for billions of flies!! As always, my wife and I love watching your vlogs, Pete, but 😉 ummm, maybe, a few more Dad jokes!!
Hi Pete, you haven't mentioned dung beetles. Perhaps it's too cold there but we introduced the Spanish Dung Beetle to the southwest of Western Australia in the early 1980's and have had a 90% fly reduction ever since. They roll the dung into burrows and lay their eggs putting your dung below ground in the root layer in a couple of days. They are now experimenting to find another breed to pick up another season of the year. We also have laws to control having fowl manure out in the open while it rots to control the horse fly.
Unfortunately, the rise in systemic pesticides in cattle feed has caused the demise of many beneficial insects, particularly dung beetles. Ivermectin seems to be the worst offender. And no way to get systemic pesticides into pasture grazed cattle.
@@molotov9502 There have been lots of mistakes in agriculture. As a result of bad management, Australia is plagued with cane toads, mice rats, swallows, rabbits, foxes, cats, pigs, goats, horses, water buffalo, and the worlds largest supply of healthy camels.
Farmer Tyler Ranch used to have a lot of issues with pink eye and flies, it's been 2 years since he made any videos about flies or dealing with pink eyes after he put some mineral with added garlic and stuff.
Silage tarp, Yeah! Your compost can only get better... So appreciate your thoroughness AND your unique way of including and teaching the viewer "here is the hill worth dying on" and why. That has got to resonate loudly with novice homesteaders, Pete! You da man!
So seeing the conviction of your thoughts being explained - no fault in doing what you think is best for your circumstances. I’m a recent subscriber and many have lost their conviction, passion and such in many things these days. Much respect to you and yours for how you wisely worked thru the final decision. If we had more of this in the world - we’d be better off as a whole. Kudos and May your summer be full of blessings and safety.
This video is just perfect for a non-farmer. I learned a great deal and understand your decision on how you will institute a no-fly zone on your farm. Thank you, and good luck for a fly free summer.
In my youth, the ranchers in East Texas used thick crude oil - sometimes thinned with coal oil for the cattle back rubs. Coal oil (called lamp oil sometimes), still available in 50's-'60's, was used medicinally for both people and animals.
Anyone who has watched any of your videos knows you care for your animals and have their best interest in mind when you take care of them. Those that would try and shame you for experimenting or testing different solutions to better your animals lives are ignorant of what it really takes to properly manage a farm/homestead. I really appreciate all your effort and work you put into teaching us through your videos and bringing us along for the ride of your daily life. Thanks for all your hard work! There are Many of us that would give up our daily grind to become the same type of rancher as you are.
We have only half a dozen head of cattle, Jerseys, and have lots of flies, too. We have put 6 or so old hens in the barn area with the cattle to do fly control. They have to be doing some good though don't know how much. And it's fun to have the hens loose with the cattle. We even get a couple eggs a day from them! When we started, the cattle were afraid of the hens! Very funny to watch.
Had a terrible day today actually. But just at work. Seeing the neighbors cattle and watching you talk about flies is a great start to the rest of my day. DIE FLIES!!
You got to do what you got to do for your family. I would not worry too much about what your subscribers think. Besides that, it gives them something to talk about.
Hi Pete, great analysis of the fly problem. You seemed a bit down at the end but I think you will create a great "no fly zone" Cheers from Brisbane and guess what, we get those little buzzers as well 👍
What’s the old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? It’s like compounded interest, doesn’t seem like much at first but in time it’s makes a huge difference. In my experience the rubs are the most affordable, cost effective and practical. The amount of diesel fuel used is negligible to the environment and is the most effective for what you are trying to do. There is no perfect solution for fly control but I think you have given it more effort and thought than anyone I’ve seen. Always a pleasure to watch your videos.
One idea I didn't see on your list was a large bug zapper. Yes, they take power, and must be protected from rain. But my son bought one to deal with insects on his half acre lot in rural PA, and it was incredibly effective in controlling more than flies over a much larger area than that. His neighbors got relief, too. I think he paid $300 for it, but used it for many years, until he moved. An added benefit was that the birds lived feasting on all the zapped bugs.😊
PETE I THINK YOU ARE DOING THE BEST FOR YOU COWS. FLIES ARE A PAIN FOR SURE. CONTROLING THEM IS A UPWARD BATTLE, THE MORE YOU FIGHT THEM THE HARDER THEY FIGHT BACK. ENJOY WATCHING YOUR CHANNEL. HAVE LEARN ALOT.
Doing a great job there 👍🙏💕... I'm in the UK but we lived in Spain for 6 years while there I used to eat a slice of bread with Marmite/Vegimite on it daily & it stopped Mosquitos from biting me - there has to be something similar to help the cattle 🙏 bloody flies are a pain 🙄
Oh, Pete, I felt your pain at what you feel is your best control of flies. I also saw your addendum where you just couldn't sustain the diesel fuel and elect to use mineral oil regardless of price. The program was an appraisal of methods and I enjoyed your logical endeavor and your eventual decision. Whether farming or life in general, there are compromises. Thank you for including us in your decision making.
The fact that you care about the animals like you do is top-shelf in my book, Pete. Food for thought (pun intended), people are taking used deep fry oil from restaurants and putting it into their diesel tanks and running their vehicles off this used cooking oil. They're having to process this oil a little (for running an engine) to clean particulates out of it and such. However, for your application (pun intended) that may not even need to be a consideration. Mix the permethrin with some used fryer oil as a carrier. Now you have an economic food grade carrier that smells like French Fries. Another thought, if the permethrin (on contact) is what kills the flies, than get some rolls of that outdoor shade screen material, which is reported to provide 70% shade. Soak the fabric in your cooking oil/permethrin solution and fly tarps of this treated screen fabric as shade for the cattle. Any flies lighting on it get juiced too. And, inexpensive shade options for the cattle. Since it's a screen material it'll have less of a parachute effect with the wind. At the edges, sandwich the fabric between two 1" x 2" boards and screw them together. Now you've also spread the load at your anchor points for your guy lines. There's many ways in which you can attach/fly the treated screen material.
Pete I have been raising and working cattle for over 50 years and haven't found a good solution to fly control, moving them to different pasture every few days seems to help the most with other controls. I use back rubs some, have used spray which works but they don't like it. You do the best you can and pray for the best. Anything is better than pinkeye.
There is a farm where the chickens are allowed access to a huge series of compost piles. That could be done with a small "home flock" that stays in one area during fly season. I can see adding some bird houses in that area. I have seen videos of a few chickens destroying 2-3 foot piles of compost in less than a day. We all need to think about an alternative to mineral oil for Pete or maybe we can have the "Buy Pete A Gallon of Oil" like other sites have "Buy a Cup of Coffee"!! Thanks Pete, that will be the day when I am qualified to second guess you and the Wife. If you could bottle and sell her gentle smile you could hire hands to do all the farm work and re-build old tractors and clocks till the cows come home (so to speak). Bob in Nevada
Don’t worry about the naysayers Pete, you do what you want on your farm. I’m excited to see these options as I’m in a fly battle myself. I’m going to try some of these!
If you ever want to feel stupid or constantly be told you're wrong just post something on the internet. You do you! Your cows are obviously very happy, they come to you any time you are near, they are constantly given fresh food supplies, they are the happiest cows I think I have ever seen (and that is saying a lot because we are beyond rural like no cell service rural).
I watch Pete more than TV 😂
What tv?
@@Mclovin21983 exactly
Me too!!
I don't own a TV
Same
Nobody should criticize you for wanting your cows to be as comfortable as possible. We know you love your animals and only have their best interest at heart . You're great people !!!
Hi Pete. I agree diesel or kerosene are no longer the way to go plus they evaporate more quickly than mineral oil so economy of scale mineral oil not as expensive as it seems to last longer. We use food grade mineral oil but different than the pymethrin instructions. Try 1 gallon mineral oil to 4 gallons water 8 oz permethrin and 1/4 cup dawn dish soap. Mix well. The dawn will act as an emulsifier and give a better bond to the water and oil making it last longer. In past we tried canola and soybean oil which works too but the cows tended to like the taste and licked themselves too much. We did find that adding 1/2 cup of dawn would stop them licking though but we still decided to switch back to mineral oil. Anyway good luck! Allen
Do you have any issue with the water, oil and soap mixture evaporating? How long till you need to soak the rub again? About to hang mine and do not wanna use any toxic ingredients. Going to use food grade mineral oil. I only have 6 dexters
I am something of an amateur/hobbyist entomologist. Not to downgrade any of your other videos, I found this one particularly fascinating. There’s a lot more to this problem and possible solutions than I realised. I’m not a farmer - nor will I ever be - but your videos are, IMHO, up there amongst the most interesting on UA-cam. Best wishes, Pete.
Good luck Pete. It’s a constant battle with predators and insects. Nothing worse than an outbreak of pinkeye. Controlling flies is a must.
We use evaporated milk, injected under the skin subcutaneous. Snaps them out of pinkeye quickly.
In almost 40 years of dairy cattle farming I, too, tried almost everything. For the most part we tried to keep the premises(free stall barn) as clean as possible and we used a pour on because we were putting the cows through a chute for other reasons; vaccinations, preg checks, health reasons. One of our key areas of concern was keeping the eating areas clean as this was always the highest concentration of insect larvae.
I think moving and covering the compost pile will be a big help.
Looking forward to see how things work out!
Pete you have done your homework! But remember, this is your farm. It doesn't matter what the viewers think. There will always be a few complainers in the bunch. Love your channel, can't wait to see how it progresses and your after thoughts. I've debated if this would help on our family's farm.
It sure matters what people think when you are trying to sell the product! At some level of compromise a customer base paying $$ for the higher quality wont amymore because you are no different than big cattle. This is definitely not that point, just wanted to point out the dangerous fallacy in your way of thinking.
I’m waging a war on flies this year myself. Love the type of content you’ve been putting out lately. Very helpful in our farm being just two hours from you.
Which method(s) are you going for?
If only half as many people as you, Pete, thought so much about problem solving!
What you said about attacking the flies with a little harsher hand early on makes sense to me. If you can break their cycle of reproducing somehow it's bound to be a bigger benefit later. Something my grandad had for his cows was a large stiff bristled brush he had mounted in the barn and another in the shady spot out in their pasture. They lasted a long time and all his cattle were crazy for them. They loved rubbing their heads and backs all over them. I think the bristles were even replaceable too.
I have seen some of them on a couple dairy farm youtube channels...you are right, they do really enjoy them.
If this is an option, go to your local DPW or a street sweeping company and get worn out sweeper brooms. They can come in long flat sections and would last forever.
Pete you are a good steward of the land and your livestock. Your concern shows in all you do.
I have tied strips of cloth about 2-3' long to the back rub. The permethrin wicks down the strips allowing it to get on the cattle's faces and sides. That has worked very well for us.
A transparent farmer! Pete, you do what you gotta do. In the end, I still believe you are a great animal husband and career. We just have to look at how the raccoon loss in the chicken tractor affected you both to know that you guys live for the farm and the animals.
Ya, that was brutal, 40 in one night.
It is really quite remarkable for you to so openly share your dilemma and your struggle to find a solution. No doubt there will be more options coming along in the future and I hope they do not leave you so torn between the environmental concern, the concern for the welfare of the cattle, and the financial concerns. Pete you have great courage and honesty to share this with us. I hope this works for this year and look forward to seeing the results.
I agree with your approach. The most important thing you have done is identify your specific fly species. Many "experts" skip this step.
11:16 at the Hereford Beef Farm I worked at years ago we used 2 back rubs for fly control. It worked really well, we didn’t have many flies at all. Actually the owner used to have parties at the farm in the barn with the cattle, never had a fly problem.
Good morning Pete & Hillary. As always love watching each and every video you put out. Well being a person who has never farmed (small home gardens and a few backyard chickens), I love that you take the time to show and explain the different methods you use on your farm for your animals. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to share your videos and have a great day.😊
Ahh Pete I see the concern on your face for the cattle. I know you care about them. I hope this works. I wish you and everyone here a great week.
All of these seem like very sound solutions. Have you ever thought about getting large round bristle brushes so the cows can scratch any flies on their sides and faces?
one of the commercial manufacturers ought to be willing to provide one to Pete to publicize the results....
Thanks Pete, there are a few things that I do struggle with raising sheep and cattle. Flies, tick and chiggers control is one of those things. I know that it is an irritant for them. I like your approach to this irritant. Ultimately we all have to make the best decision for our situation.
Just a fyi you can check an area for chiggers by placing small 4 to 6 inch squares of black vinyl tile on the ground and leave them there for about 1 minute and then inspect them to see if you see tiny red dots moving around on them. Chiggers aka Red Bugs are attracted to black pieces of vinyl because they think it is the shadow of an animal passing by and will jump on it so it can burrow into the skin and get a meal which is why you need to check the pieces of tile fairly quickly otherwise they will jump off once they realize there is nothing there to attach themselves to. Additionally wearing light colored boots and pants sprayed with DEET insect spray will help to keep them off you. Additionally Chiggers do not spread themselves out on a piece of ground evenly. The US Military has spent a great deal of money issuing grants for research studies in an attempt to determine why a stretch of beach/ plot of land will be infested with them but 100 yards away will have none or almost none. The first military studies of Chiggers had Privates walk to a spot with their boots bloused and stand there and walk back to the researchers so they could count the number of Chiggers on their boots and later the number “bites” the pPrivate had on his body(that to me is the definition of an absolutely sucky job) And to my knowledge no one has come up with a reason why Chiggers or Ticks concentrate to one area especially if there is no trail or paths for animals and people to walk and or follow.
Hi Pete. I can understand your reluctance to using diesel on your cattle. Don’t know if it’s available to you but I think a solution would be to use Bio-diesel. It’s basically vegetable oil with the glycerin removed so it’s much less toxic than regular diesel
Eureka!
This might work. But Biodiesel has a pleasant smell that might cause the cattle to lick at it like with cooking oils.
Controlling flies is a never ending battle. As you pointed it, you have to tackle it from multiple approaches. You have to use what you can afford and what is expected to work for your livestock. Treating a herd with pinkeye isn't cheap and those flies can be good at spreading it. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Pete, not sure what will work, but I agree with you, I don’t like using diesel fuel near cows and would try mineral oil. At least it can’t hurt the cows in any way! I watch your great videos in the am and it motivates me for the day! Sorry you lost your flock of chicks the other day.
I think you and your wife are amazing people. You always think of the pros and cons. I think you’re doing what’s right for your family and farm.
Pete, I love your channel. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. It is a struggle to balance all the factors, and each person's operation will be different.
I look forward to hearing how this works out for your herd.
I use the permethrin on my dexters and highlands. I wasn't comfortable using diesel either so I use mineral oil. I tried the rub but had limited success. I now use a pump sprayer and spray them down once every couple of weeks while they are at the feed trough. Garlic mineral supplement seemed to help last year as well so I'll be using it again.
@@nannettehuffman8397 I wouldn't use anything eatable. I can only assume it would attract flies and it stays on the cow longer than the permethrin.
Oh my you should not be so worried about any concerns your viewers have. No one has put more thought into the best way to control flies so that your cattle are happy and healthy and your workload is not increased exponentially than you just went through for us. I hope the methods you chose have the desired results.
One of your best, most informative vids. You should send the conclusion about compromise to Congress. It would be great to have them realize that no system is perfect...
It's a difficult balancing act between using natural remedies and conventional ones but the health of the cattle has got to come first. Hope things work out. All the best 🇬🇧.
I think what you're doing with the manure pile will impact the fly problem the most. Good job as always Pete.
We all know from watching you and Hillary that you both will decide to do what's best for the animals. I respect 🙏 🫡 what you need to do!!
Blessings 🙌 Marion
Interesting video! I do like the back rubber, low-tech but hopefully highly effective! Mineral oil does sound like a more pleasant and eco-friendly option, better for the animals too!! Moving the manure pile is a great idea, especially since the new pig barn addition will be right next to the old manure-pile-area. Definitely a win-win!! 👍🏻
Mineral oil and diesel fuel are both made from petroleum. Mineral oil is the base for brake fluid, transmission fluid, hydraulic oil, and many other things such as make-up
@@davidpotter7484 Sooooo, not eco-friendly?
@@sandraengstrand2784 its really all relative.....using diesel isnt really non-eco friendly to be honest. its not being burned so there is no "exhaust" like running it through a tractor. It also has shown to have minimal impact on the cattle themselves, certainly less so then the flies themselves. personally i believe it just has a stygma of sorts associated with it. But certainly each farmer should do what the feel is the best and that they are most comfortable with
The time and effort you and your wife put in to researching different methods and solutions to keep the farm running smoothly and the livestock as comfortable as possible is commendable, kudos, y'all are good people!
Hi Pete, ya know when push comes to shove, it's your farm, and you do what YOU think is right for it and your livestock.
I'm not a farmer, so how would it be any of my business to agree or disagree with what you do on your farm?
If anyone does like what you do, THEY do need to watch. It's just that simple.
Whatever you and Hilary do is up to you, I'll continue to watch your videos regardless. 👍
Caring about doing the right thing for your cattle, your farm, your family, and your customers tells me you are the type of producer I would have no reservations buying from. Thanks for sharing.
Pete, I must say I’ve yet to find a person on UA-cam more “down home” and genuine than you. Fantastic channel.
I grew up on a 300 acre cattle ranch and flies were always a concern. We did the same as you, with the roller and dust bags. But I heard about a different way to go about it. My grandson is in the scouts and they’re making “bat houses” to put up to keep insects in check.
Just a thought
Really an excellent video Pete! I’ve been thinking of trying the back rubs too
Learn more about farming with Pete than any other YT channel. Your analysis is perfect of the realities of pest management. No single solution is 100% effective, thus why it’s called Integrated Pest Management.
The back rubber will work great, but it will have to be lower, we have used them forever. Diesel fuel and used motor oil was the go to thing years ago. Buy a cheap old truck with a hoist, haul the poo far away from your building and stockpile. We used to make our own back rubbers by wrapping gunny sacks around a chain, then lacing them together with baler twine. Works great.
Yes, fly control is where it’s at. A happy cow is a productive cow
It needs to be controlled. You are the best judge of the method. I know you have thought it out for the well being of cattle and the need to reduce the problem. Pete, tough decisions have to be made without sending you to the poor house.😊
💖Pete, I would never question any decision that you and Hillary make. You both put so much thought into what you are doing. Why should I be the judge of what you are doing? I do not have your experience which appears to be a lifetime of living and being on a farm. I trust that you and Hillary will be satisfied with your decisions and that you will not allow the viewers to instill doubt into your ability to do what is right for you. Looking forward to continuing to follow you Pete and Hillary. Please take care. ❇❇❇
Hang in there Pete. At least you are doing something. You and Hillary are very caring people. We could do with a lot more like you.👍
Doing what best to keep cattle and you happy.
Enjoyed the breakdown of treatment options and look forward to seeing your results Pete. I think the backdrag will make a great difference. Have a great day Sir!
Hi Pete, the cattle farmer across the road and I were having a fly control conversation the other day. After discussing lots of options ... we ended up on oilers. It has to work and be low labor or you can't keep up with it. I have tried spraying when they come in for water. They never seemed to really get comfortable with the spray and I had to be there regularly when they showed up. The only issue I have seen with oilers is some of the calves are too short to rub the oilers. Put the oilers lower and the big girls tear them down. Oh well ... life on the farm! Might be the makings for a song!?
Oh where oh where have the flies gone
Oh where oh where can they be!
Evening Pete. Have been a viewer or your channel for years. I have not posted before; I respect your actions and admire your thought processes in all things you undertake.
In the interest of your cattle herd, I'll comment on your limited confidence in bird houses.
I've had livestock for 9 years. Horses and cattle. Fly control has always been a priority. I can say with complete confidence, that Tree Swallows and to a lesser extent Barn Swallows have been the catalyst to a more fly free herd.
Like you, I live in an area with adequate upland bird habitat. Fencerows, brush, woodlots, etc. I don't know that I ever laid eyes on a Tree Swallow before I put up houses. Now it's a swarm (on 3 different Farms).
I started small with 6 houses scattered across the pasture nearest my house. I now run 40+ houses, adequately spaced, on that same pasture.
200+ houses across all farms.
You can build your own houses for little to no money from scrap/rough cut wood, just follow appropriate dimensions and instructions to mitigate sparrows from overtaking the houses.
Some claim 5,000 flies/day for an adult pair of Tree Swallows. Hard to imagine it's that high, I just know from my situation it has been a great continual success.
I am sure this will get buried Pete, but I appreciate the research you put in to such problems. It is clear that you care about your livestock a great deal. Thanks!
Pete, good luck with your "FLY" situation. I would suggest going to Syracuse University and recruit an intern ( no cost to you ) for a study in "Fly Abatement". Hand them a flyswatter and a tally sheet. Everyday they record the numbers and at the end of the "Study", you will have fewer flies, the school will have a valuable data for the scientist and at least one college student will learn a valuable lesson. Good Luck, Mike from Michigan
Your farm, your cows. I will support whichever system you choose. I know nothing about farming but I am always impressed with the care and diligence you show all your animals.
I truly love watching your channel and the bond and respect you have for each of your live stock that you raise. You're doing your best and the internet is a cruel world. Keep shining positivity and love around your animals. 🩷
Good Morning Pete! I always really enjoy watching your new video before I head off to work for the day each morning your post it! :) I also grew up on a small family farm (Beef Cattle - 60-90 Head) and still enjoy working on the farm. My favorite thing to do is hay-making season when I go and mow the hay with a haybine (almost the same as yours) and a raker and 5x6 round baler. Sometimes I use the 5x6 round baler, sometimes i use the 4x4 round baler. Also I have a small square baler that I use to get the best hay for the 2 horses my sister has.
Hope you have a great day! We also have lots of flys on our cattle each year! But we just do nothing...thats the way its been for YEARS and nothing ever hurt anything. One year we tried the ear tags. They worked decently but we only used them for two years and stopped.
Keep up the great content and I will be looking forarwad to watching your next video! Off to work I go! I own my own lawn & landscaping company. I really enjoy it! :)
I think you might be on to something with the you were drawing flies to the cattle by what you were doing. I had Japanese beetles on my flowers and I put out several traps and I soon was infested with them. They could smell the bait and started coming to the traps which were near my flowers. I moved them quite away from the flowers and like magic my flowers had 1/10 as many as before. I was drawing them away it seemed. Also I know many loggers who used diesel fuel as a repellent on their skin and they all seemed to live to a ripe old age. They often joked it was shell no 5 a play on channel no5 hahahaha. Love your channel. My wife is from Korea and she learns so much from you and Sow the Land lol. Thanks
I’m betting that moving and covering your pile will give you the best results. Good luck Pete can’t wait to see how it goes.
I applaud your efforts to control those tormenting flys!
I, for one, would never want you or any other farmer I watch on UA-cam, to be so worried about my opinions that you would alter your business in any way that does not make sense to you. Most of us know diddly-squat about farming and should not be advising anyone. I might be concerned if I saw your cows covered with flies or being neglected etc. but I would just ask questions about it. If, after hearing more I felt you were just a bad farmer mistreating his animals I would turn you off. I love that you educate us and explain the pros and cons of certain techniques. It educates me more about my food sources. If you have subscribers trying to tell you how to run your business I would hope you could ignore them. They do not have your best interests at heart if they try to tell you what to do. But I also understand the desire to maintain your reputation and subscriber base. But many of us are here just to learn from you and we respect your independence and history of doing the right thing. I do hope you are able to reduce the fly load in a way that makes sense but I see wild animals covered in flies on all the nature shows and no one is rushing to save them from the flies because it’s nature! Keep up the great work!
Hey Pete, have you thought of building a massive battery of tesla coils around the pasture carefully calibrated to zap anything higher than the cows with 1000 MW of electricity. That'll teach those pesky flies!
Add a Flux capacitor and you're in business!!!😊
We had a smallish herd (40-60 head) of dairy cattle. We used a slicker line - an old piece of cable with old cotton batting/twine/burlap/baling wire wrapped around it ~3" thick - but we hung it at something like a 30-45 degree angle to the ground - with an old milk can sat up at the top. From the bottom of the milk can was a rubber hose the ran down in to the middle of the slicker line. All we had to do was put some fly ointment and left over vegetable oil from the kitchen, (I'm sure there was some used fryer oil and bacon grease mixed in.) With the slanted line, the calves/heifers would get used to it early - and rest loved it. We kept 2-3 of them up and filled year-round - just outside of the barn.
Hi Pete! I really respect your decision making process it's very thoughtful, careful and scientific. Good stuff thank you.
I wouldn’t fret about it too much Pete. You & Hilary have thought long & hard about what to do this season 4all the while keeping the cattle health in mind. Those who don’t agree just won’t agree. So be it it’s their choice but when all is said & done, it’s your farm & your cattle. Keep up the great work, effort & content. I sure appreciate it. Happy farming. Cheers from BC
Pete, I appreciate your concerns. You're an honest fella trying to make a living.
Hey Pete love the channel. When you move your manure pile how about fencing it in and letting some chickens live on or near it for the summer? They could eat the flys and maybe you raise a few extra chickens? Just a friendly idea. I’m excited to see the future of the pigs.
I think the three options you are doing are excellent choices for fly control. Also, you do you Pete. Don't worry about what other people think. If they don't have the million dollar solution , they are more of a problem then they are worth!
I think your ideas are very good and you have thought them through. It is hard to decide the best course for your farm and your animals. Thanks for sharing this information.
Hi Pete, I know how busy you are, but if you get a half hour free, Google The "Australian Dung Beetle Project.."
It's an interesting read about how Australian scientists helped to partially solve, a unique cattle dung problem we had in Australia.....Native Dung beetles evolved to utilise marsupial droppings, and were unable to breed in the massive amounts of bovine poop, lying all around Australia, providing an ideal
breeding environment for billions of flies!!
As always, my wife and I love watching your vlogs, Pete, but 😉 ummm, maybe, a few more Dad jokes!!
Hi Pete, you haven't mentioned dung beetles. Perhaps it's too cold there but we introduced the Spanish Dung Beetle to the southwest of Western Australia in the early 1980's and have had a 90% fly reduction ever since. They roll the dung into burrows and lay their eggs putting your dung below ground in the root layer in a couple of days. They are now experimenting to find another breed to pick up another season of the year. We also have laws to control having fowl manure out in the open while it rots to control the horse fly.
Unfortunately, the rise in systemic pesticides in cattle feed has caused the demise of many beneficial insects, particularly dung beetles. Ivermectin seems to be the worst offender. And no way to get systemic pesticides into pasture grazed cattle.
@@molotov9502 There have been lots of mistakes in agriculture. As a result of bad management, Australia is plagued with cane toads, mice rats, swallows, rabbits, foxes, cats, pigs, goats, horses, water buffalo, and the worlds largest supply of healthy camels.
Farmer Tyler Ranch used to have a lot of issues with pink eye and flies, it's been 2 years since he made any videos about flies or dealing with pink eyes after he put some mineral with added garlic and stuff.
Silage tarp, Yeah! Your compost can only get better... So appreciate your thoroughness AND your unique way of including and teaching the viewer "here is the hill worth dying on" and why. That has got to resonate loudly with novice homesteaders, Pete! You da man!
So seeing the conviction of your thoughts being explained - no fault in doing what you think is best for your circumstances. I’m a recent subscriber and many have lost their conviction, passion and such in many things these days. Much respect to you and yours for how you wisely worked thru the final decision. If we had more of this in the world - we’d be better off as a whole.
Kudos and May your summer be full of blessings and safety.
This video is just perfect for a non-farmer. I learned a great deal and understand your decision on how you will institute a no-fly zone on your farm. Thank you, and good luck for a fly free summer.
In my youth, the ranchers in East Texas used thick crude oil - sometimes thinned with coal oil for the cattle back rubs. Coal oil (called lamp oil sometimes), still available in 50's-'60's, was used medicinally for both people and animals.
Anyone who has watched any of your videos knows you care for your animals and have their best interest in mind when you take care of them. Those that would try and shame you for experimenting or testing different solutions to better your animals lives are ignorant of what it really takes to properly manage a farm/homestead. I really appreciate all your effort and work you put into teaching us through your videos and bringing us along for the ride of your daily life. Thanks for all your hard work! There are Many of us that would give up our daily grind to become the same type of rancher as you are.
I'm okay with whatever you do. You do what is best for you and your farm.
We have only half a dozen head of cattle, Jerseys, and have lots of flies, too. We have put 6 or so old hens in the barn area with the cattle to do fly control. They have to be doing some good though don't know how much. And it's fun to have the hens loose with the cattle. We even get a couple eggs a day from them! When we started, the cattle were afraid of the hens! Very funny to watch.
Had a terrible day today actually. But just at work. Seeing the neighbors cattle and watching you talk about flies is a great start to the rest of my day. DIE FLIES!!
You got to do what you got to do for your family. I would not worry too much about what your subscribers think. Besides that, it gives them something to talk about.
Hi Pete, great analysis of the fly problem. You seemed a bit down at the end but I think you will create a great "no fly zone" Cheers from Brisbane and guess what, we get those little buzzers as well 👍
Pete, you give me more and more confidence in what to try and what the ethics of our homestead is! Thanks for all you and Hillary and your family do!
If only more people thought and acted as such. Thanks Pete.
Here in Switzerland the farmers have a brush like the one they us to do to wash cars. The cows will go to the brush before they go in to the barn
Burnt motor oil also works great on rubs
What’s the old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? It’s like compounded interest, doesn’t seem like much at first but in time it’s makes a huge difference. In my experience the rubs are the most affordable, cost effective and practical. The amount of diesel fuel used is negligible to the environment and is the most effective for what you are trying to do. There is no perfect solution for fly control but I think you have given it more effort and thought than anyone I’ve seen. Always a pleasure to watch your videos.
I respect your honesty and showing the challenges you face.
One idea I didn't see on your list was a large bug zapper. Yes, they take power, and must be protected from rain. But my son bought one to deal with insects on his half acre lot in rural PA, and it was incredibly effective in controlling more than flies over a much larger area than that. His neighbors got relief, too. I think he paid $300 for it, but used it for many years, until he moved. An added benefit was that the birds lived feasting on all the zapped bugs.😊
Oh Pete. We could never be mad at you !! I appreciate your compassion every day : ) You are THE best farmer
PETE I THINK YOU ARE DOING THE BEST FOR YOU COWS. FLIES ARE A PAIN FOR SURE. CONTROLING THEM IS A UPWARD BATTLE, THE MORE YOU FIGHT THEM THE HARDER THEY FIGHT BACK. ENJOY WATCHING YOUR CHANNEL. HAVE LEARN ALOT.
Doing a great job there 👍🙏💕...
I'm in the UK but we lived in Spain for 6 years while there I used to eat a slice of bread with Marmite/Vegimite on it daily & it stopped Mosquitos from biting me - there has to be something similar to help the cattle 🙏 bloody flies are a pain 🙄
Like what the lady said about watching you instead of tv 📺 keep it up buddy 😊 I was on farm most of my younger life
Oh, Pete, I felt your pain at what you feel is your best control of flies. I also saw your addendum where you just couldn't sustain the diesel fuel and elect to use mineral oil regardless of price. The program was an appraisal of methods and I enjoyed your logical endeavor and your eventual decision. Whether farming or life in general, there are compromises. Thank you for including us in your decision making.
The fact that you care about the animals like you do is top-shelf in my book, Pete. Food for thought (pun intended), people are taking used deep fry oil from restaurants and putting it into their diesel tanks and running their vehicles off this used cooking oil. They're having to process this oil a little (for running an engine) to clean particulates out of it and such. However, for your application (pun intended) that may not even need to be a consideration. Mix the permethrin with some used fryer oil as a carrier. Now you have an economic food grade carrier that smells like French Fries.
Another thought, if the permethrin (on contact) is what kills the flies, than get some rolls of that outdoor shade screen material, which is reported to provide 70% shade. Soak the fabric in your cooking oil/permethrin solution and fly tarps of this treated screen fabric as shade for the cattle. Any flies lighting on it get juiced too. And, inexpensive shade options for the cattle. Since it's a screen material it'll have less of a parachute effect with the wind. At the edges, sandwich the fabric between two 1" x 2" boards and screw them together. Now you've also spread the load at your anchor points for your guy lines. There's many ways in which you can attach/fly the treated screen material.
Pete I have been raising and working cattle for over 50 years and haven't found a good solution to fly control, moving them to different pasture every few days seems to help the most with other controls. I use back rubs some, have used spray which works but they don't like it. You do the best you can and pray for the best. Anything is better than pinkeye.
No kidding I watch Pete all the time!
I like Farmer Tyler Ranch solution is Redmond garlic salt block simple.
You lead yourself around, like most of us do, to do the right thing. Thanks
There is a farm where the chickens are allowed access to a huge series of compost piles. That could be done with a small "home flock" that stays in one area during fly season. I can see adding some bird houses in that area. I have seen videos of a few chickens destroying 2-3 foot piles of compost in less than a day. We all need to think about an alternative to mineral oil for Pete or maybe we can have the "Buy Pete A Gallon of Oil" like other sites have "Buy a Cup of Coffee"!! Thanks Pete, that will be the day when I am qualified to second guess you and the Wife. If you could bottle and sell her gentle smile you could hire hands to do all the farm work and re-build old tractors and clocks till the cows come home (so to speak).
Bob in Nevada
Don’t worry about the naysayers Pete, you do what you want on your farm. I’m excited to see these options as I’m in a fly battle myself. I’m going to try some of these!
I am definitely okay with that Pete. Gotta do what is best for your situation. “Ideal is not always the best solution.”
It's that time of year again! 😊😊 Really enjoy the Pete and Hillary visits!
In my part of the country we say
A man gotta do what a man gotta do
Right choice 😊
If you ever want to feel stupid or constantly be told you're wrong just post something on the internet. You do you! Your cows are obviously very happy, they come to you any time you are near, they are constantly given fresh food supplies, they are the happiest cows I think I have ever seen (and that is saying a lot because we are beyond rural like no cell service rural).