Mike, you are telling the story for nearly all of us in ranch country and doing it pretty darn well. You nailed it when you spoke about hanging on and doing everything you can to make sure the next generation has a choice. Keep up the good work!
We dairy in WI, could not imagine what you're industry is going through. Hard to believe it can get worse. So much respect for trying to keep positive attitude. God bless
This broke my heart. Been in this ranching business all my life and I'm 70 and still ranching. And boy some years are really tuff. Hang in there there will be better days
@@yomamapwnz ask me anything about the Science of Climate change. Since 1760 As long as man has been burning fossil fuels from the start of the industrial age, global climate keeps holding in heat and not releasing it into space. ua-cam.com/video/UatUDnFmNTY/v-deo.html
Dennis, I wish it were true that there'll be better days, but I'd say the handwriting is on the wall: there's no real future in ranching on these lands.
Here in the high desert Eastern side of Oregon we are experiencing the same harsh drought conditions. The reservoir that is suppose to provide us with our irrigation needs is so low as it never even filled to 25% of storage capacity. Ranching is hard with all of the issues facing production and boom we are hit with the drought of a century. We feel your pain and want you to know that you are not alone. Cattle ranching is not for the weak hearted. Even in the best of years it is still a challenge to keep things going forward and in times like these it is a dire situation. I love your channel and wish you the best. The struggle is real. Livestock producers are a dying breed. Our way of life is going away. No one can understand unless they have lived it for real, but your channel does help people see the big picture if they take the time to open their eyes.
@@calebmanuel17 another similar bill is being pursued in Colorado as well. Won’t pass, even if it does......do you really think all us ranchers are gonna lay down for them???Heck no.
Yep, suffering in my part of Eastern Oregon as well. My wells are suffering already and our stream is very low and probably will be dry by August. I'll definitely be hauling water and getting ready to do so. To top it off, our best horse died a couple weeks ago..... All we can do is press on. I would rather do this than anything else, even with the hardships. Take care my friend and God bless. Pray for rain !!!
Did you hear that "they" want to ban beef in Oregon? Cancel the Cowboys next. I warned people when they started taking out Confederate statues and symbols and everyone was next.
It's high time to learn to grow a garden. When farms and ranches fail, we must be self sustainable and helpful to each other and we will survive these hardships. Good Luck to you Mike.
@@judy8117 if you collect all your water you use in the kitchen without using soap: fast cleaning hands, washing fruits and salad... you can water a lot of plants in your garden.
Culling the herd in large numbers is something no one wants to do. But the cull allows the herd to keep going. So I agree your making the right move there. I hope you decide to keep Bambi and Blonde cow if they are still with you. Best Wishes Mike and Family
lol I'll admit to being a little surprised by this question but I'll answer none the less. Its true that a cull of human populace would help in some ways throughout the world. But, its not something I want to happen. For it would have unknown negative side effects I am sure. Also I'm very into genetic diversity so losing so many individuals would be quite a terrible loss to our species as a whole. In this ones humble opinion.
I thought windmills caused cancer and killed all the birds. Thats what Trumps says...... Thanks for helping build a useless pipeline that just raped our land. Youre a real patriot.
I think you're totally confused the difference between a big wind charger and a little small 5 or 6 ft windmill we've had hundreds of windmills on our Ranch is 4 years we've never seen a bird killed by one. In the pipelines are a little small trenches putting in it 2 inch pipe how is that Wrecking the land and if a leak it's only water there's no gas or oil in those. Educate yourself before you speak you'll be wise like Lincoln.
Mike, your story is a tough one. As I've been watching, I feel as if your family is my family. I feel like those cows are my friends. I know I eat them. But I also care about them. Thank you for sharing.
@@thejack9178 That's one of the reasons I subscribed to Wyoming Life. I wanted to learn more about where my food comes from and how it is treated. And it's been a revelation.
Mike I am so sorry because that's what happened to us back in the sixties we had such a bad drought in the cattle prices dropped so bad we lost everything so my friend we will pray hard that you find some way of keeping your livestock
Sometimes its not just mother nature. I grew up on a farm and watched everything die when a freeway opened just upwind of our place. Even the well tasted like gasoline, the fish in the lake died, the fruit trees shriveled and the crops had reduced yields.
Yup. Humans and the houses, parking lots, malls, roads big n small - they cover the surface area that Used to absorb the rainfall and fill aquifers - some water travels miles underground to help fill. Now, that water goes into man made sewers, not into aquifers. Until we un- do this, it may just get worse. Thank the ranchers and farmers for trying to keep us all fed. Peace.
@Bingo Sun Moon~ You are describing Mother Nature's reaction to the LACK of Love. It is a sad thing. We have all seen our planet suffering from a lack of good intention. Let us love our beautiful home in this galaxy and make things here right again. Together we succeed! 💜🌟
Sorry to hear. I am happiest working cows, cutting and baling hay. Here in sw Missouri it has been raining too much this year. Last year was drought. Praying for the folks out west.
I’m so sorry. It breaks my ❤️😢😢😢I am praying for you all and the animals. But America is in big trouble for all the sin and turning its back on God!!! America has killed more little babies with the Gov pro abortion and then the unnatural gay rights. And we are losing our freedom!!! And Yes we all have to suffer the wrath even if we didn’t do those things. As a nation we all suffer. BELIEVE ME HE IS IN CONTROL OF THE WEATHER READ THE BIBLE AND LIVE FOR THE MESSIAH. MAYBE HE WILL TURN THINGS AROUND 2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Jer. 10:13 “When He thunders, the waters in the heavens are in turmoil, and He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and brings the wind from His storehouses.” Psalm 147:8; 148:8 “Who covers the sky with clouds, prepares rain for the earth and causes grass to grow on the hills.” “lightning and hail, snow and cloud, stormy wind that executes His command,” Job 37: 3, 6, 10-13 “He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.” “He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’” “The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters his lightning through them. At His direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever He commands them. He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water His earth and show His love.” Amos 4:7 “I also withhold rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up.” Zechariah 10:1 “Ask the Lord for rain in the season of spring rain. The Lord makes the rain clouds, and He will give them showers of rain and crops in the field for everyone.” John 3:8 “The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” I mention John 3:8, as it uses the wind as an analogy for Christian life. Commentary from the Life Application Bible says, “Just as you did not control your physical birth, so you cannot control your spiritual birth. It is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit.” Weather can be unpredictable, which is a great analogy of how we are limited in our knowledge of God. But we know He is control of our lives-just as He is in control of the weather.
I live in Wright, 50 miles +/- SE of you and I am living this draught too. Drove by your place this morning. Been here since'07, this is bad. The prairie is almost "crunchy dry" already. Keep on keeping on man.
I feel deeply for you, Mike. We're about 200 miles south/southeast of you and we've had one of the wettest years on record. After last year's record drought (10-12 inches precip total) its been a godsend. Prayers from our ranch to yours
Also, my wife and I both grew in the city and began our ranching adventure 4 years ago with 1 cow, zero experience, and some fine neighbors. I was 21 at the time and looking back, I wouldn't change a thing. A lot of my peers covet this life, as hard as it is. There's hope for the future yet.
This one was hard to watch but new it was coming. Hard to stay positive in these tough situations but I know you will do all you and more to keep the ranch going. You have me in tears!
@@OurWyomingLife - why not cloud seeding for rain? Government still has equipment from HAARP and DARPA. Project Popeye was used in VietNam war to create heavier monsoons. Just saying doesn't hurt to ask your state government about getting some help.
@@nobodyspecial2655 - good idea … but in order to see the clouds you have to have clouds (moisture) in the air… not much of that in the west right now…
G'day, we come out of a six year drought down here by sticking together, those who had feed would help another who didn't, yeah we did destock but we all pulled thru. Hope you get the rain you need.
Thanks for the update- I know it's hard but it's very admirable to see you persevere though these tough times and it's great to hear to that you want to give the option for your children to ranch- in closing let's all hope Wyoming sees some rain sooner than later
I just saw a report on the CBS evening news about the drought out west and thought of you and your family. Sending my thoughts and prayers for rain and that the legacy your dad and you worked so hard for continues into the next generation. I pray that those with abundant supplies of hay can get it to you and your neighbors at fair and reasonable prices or at least donate. Bless you all!
Yes praying is good but God gave us brains feet hands to move. And think. So get your asses moving Upstate New York has all the hay and grass you need. Their is all kinds of farmland I see wasted every year. Just need man power to harvest
I’m right there with you brother. Trying to keep my family’s ranch going in the worst drought I’ve lived through, haven’t had enough moisture to measure since 2018.
@@dwightharber4873 no Dwight. This is the result of Anthropocene, or human caused, climate change. The science is settled on this. What is of major concern is the speed, in geological terms, with which the climate is changing.
Good luck. De-stock....sell older/unproductive cows, wean early. Then re stock when the rains come. It’s about survival. Buying expensive hay may not be the solution long term. Prayers from the UK.
Buddy, we went though a bad drought last year here in Texas. My hay/feed bills were twice as much as my return but what can you do besides keep praying for rain and don't lose the faith.
@@mrgadget1485 Glad no one knew about this fact 100 years ago when they had their last drought, or the one before that, and before that. They would have thought they were doomed. Lol!
Some promises demand more from us than others. I learned long ago, I'm75 yrs old, that life is a circle. It is a constant battle to fight your way through the bad to reach the good. Quitting is never the option. Hang in there.
I'm so sorry Mike and Erin! It's a disaster. I've been worried for all farmers and you. I hate to see you have to sell part of your herd or lose your alfalfa field. I'm in Northern California and I remember the 1976-77 severe drought. This year is just as bad with twice the population. My county has burned over 50% in the last 5 years and we're concerned for this fire season. My kids and grandkids have horses for HS Rodeo and hay has been around $20.00 a 3 wire bale (about 100-120 lbs per bale). That price is for oat hay. Alfalfa & grass is around $22.00 a bale and will only go up. The hay harvest is down and someone local had over 350 bales stolen from their field. That's the first I've heard of hay theft here. I hope and pray for your ranch. You have been working so hard to diversify your income to keep the ranch. Thank you for sharing💙
WHAT A DOWNER! 😩😭 There! I said it! But, thank you for the history and details of ranching and farming. My family has had some ranchers and farmers. But I only visited. Never lived the life. Will be interested in not only to continue following but hope to learn even more in detail about wether or not how much selling off cattle and buying hay effects your family financially, both in the present and future, if you share that kind of information. Regardless, you and your family, and animals and,even the fields so badly in need, will be in my prayers tonight in hopes the burden you’re carrying will be lightened. God bless OWL!! And, YES, that calf was precious!! Thanks, Mike!
Going through the exact same scenario Mike. We by the luck of the heavens just got 2 inches of beautiful rain which literally saved our entire SEASON! The Cattle 🐮 are going to pastures next week. Keep your head up my fellow cattle rancher & Cheers 🍻 from Prairie Sunset Ranch. Things can only get better.👍
I can tell by listening to you in the video that you are frustrated and mad. Please keep your head up. I will keep you, your family and all the animals in my prayers. Good luck and I hope the rains come soon.
Having a small cow calf operation in Kansas your words are very emotional for me im praying for you I've been through droughts as well. I think it the hard to deal with of all weather situations. Stay strong things will improve at some point it has always kinda been natures way
God bless you & your family and all farmers & ranchers as you work through the problems that arise. I had no idea that Wyoming was in such dire straits draught wise. I appreciate your frankness and your efforts. Thank you for taking the time to let us know. And thank you for your video shows.
I can see in your work ethic you'll do what you have to do. I believe in you when you told Gilbert you will do everything in your power To keep the ranch going. Stay positive and take one day at a time. I wish I physically help you but I only can watch your videos. Thanks for the videos.
Unfortunately this isn't a drought that will go away. This is a permanent change with our changing climate and yearly rainfall will only continue to go down and down. We need to stand with our farmers and help them through this tough time.
Prayers for guidance and solutions!!!! The hardships that farmers face are never ending. But Thank You for doing your part to feed the country!!!! Stay safe Mike, Erin and family!!!!
I'm praying very hard for the rain to come! Your doing an amazing job with what you have been delt. We love your family. You have a lot of of people on your side. I'm not tech savvy but lets start a hay fund for pur dear friend.
Hello from NYC! So sorry to hear this from you. All our prayers from the Ryder Family from Suffolk County, NY - Christ The King Church, Commack NY to your dining room table & your Ranch. God Bless Wyoming
Near the end of the video you reminded me of a prominent angus breeder I know (I don't raise Angus but I respect him). He said many times "I don't care if you never buy a bull from me, I just want the industry to survive so your grandkids have the option to buy a bull from my grandkids." As corny as it sounds, it's always about keeping keeping on!
stay positive, just had 2 dry years here in New Zealand and broke the drought a month ago with 10 inches of rain in one weekend, our thoughts go out to you, it will come good.
I hope you'll be able to get disaster assistance; is that a possibility. I'm almost in tears learning about the hardships you face, and if i was a praying type, i'd pray for rain for WY, and AZ, and every place afflicted by this dreadful drought.
You mean socialist income redistribution for the weak and lazy. Farmers, like the rest of us, should live within their means and put away some for bad times.
@@benishborogove2692 how about you take your ignorant ideology to the bank with your social security check. got medicare? Like the roads you drive on? Ever heard of a thing called the common good?
@@sdkemm I cast no aspersions on Mike. As a small business owner in a pandemic lock-down I can sympathize with his efforts to keep going. What mostly got me peeved though was how readily @barbtries called for government assistance for farmers. Substitute unemployed city workers for farmers and most of Wyoming would've agreed with me. Apologies for the rant that doesn't belong here.
WOW!! I follow a couple farmer channels and I see this problem there too, just as you described on the scope of this drought. It takes a ton of faith and courage to even get into farming or ranching. Even more to stay there. And in my opinion, the coming generations don't seem to have the courage and faith to face all the hardship involved in this life. YOU people are the backbone of this life, OUR life, ALL of us. If YOU go down, we all go down. My gratitude to you all for all your work and trouble. I certainly pray that enough rain comes your way to rebuild and sustain your operation. Thanks Mike, for all you and your family do for all of us "outsiders"!!
Looks like you need to start reducing that herd as soon as possible. That is the hard truth. As a beef producer of 35 years I know that is hard , but you can always buy young cows and start back later. Best of luck to you.
I feel Mike needs cover crops and holistic grazing he has a lot of bare ground and water is lost through evaporation. I’m not clued up on American weather, I don’t see a lot of trees and he’s paddocks do look quite a bit big. I wonder if he managed his land differently what the outcome may be
@@part2140 His yearly rainfall is normally 10 inches. I live in Kentucky and our rainfall is normally 40 inches. He can't do anything with no rain at all.
We put a lot of our old being feels into the USDA equip projects. Did this game their diversion planning trying to get cover crop so we can plant native grasses. Without Rain to get absolutely nothing for all the money and time and in some of these drought there is you actually do more damage to your land trying to restore it because you don't know if you're going to get any rain or not lot of our Ranch Land is being feels from the 1930s and you can still see the damage that was caused almost a hundred years ago good we planted trees and most 90% died because if you don't have water they can't survive. So that thing that's helped us the most is cross fencing and trying to keep the cattle in low production areas off of the land. So far for us that seems to be the best results.
I hope you guys make it, i love your work and i can see your sadness and the challenges you guys are facing. don't despair, stay strong and i hope that my little bit of support i can offer means something. my thoughts are with you and that with everyones support and prayers we can make it as a community.
Mike, we feel the pain in your voice. Last year here in Southeastern Massachusetts we had the worst drought I can remember in 40 years. Residential wells were drying up in July. The well drillers never got out from behind the backup. I too, made a promise to my father-in-law to continue his apple orchard to the best of my abilities. But there are days that just take everything you have to move through. Remember that there is a community behind you through your channel that are sending their best thoughts to you and the family for better days ahead.
I grew up in a farming and ranching family in south east New Mexico..... I can defiantly understand your situation, and your determination to keep going... Sometimes that's all we have to keep us going. I will keep you in my prayers. Love the channel.
In 1988 the prairies in Canada basically got zero rain all summer. Some monsoon years in between. Its just cycles. We are very dry right now where i live. But poor long term pasture management is really showing now. Big farms have gone to corn silage for bulk of their feed. Smaller hay dependent farmers are gonna suffer the most. Sad times in the cattle business
Coming from a ranching family, I watched with tears in my eyes. There are no good answers, like you said, get up every morning and do what needs to be done to make it another year. Perhaps by the skin of your teeth. When God made Ranchers, he made some of the toughest people on earth. I will be praying for rain, we have been getting a little here in central NM but no where near enough. I thank God for every drop. God bless
Praying for rain for you all Mike. I'm in Tucson, 111 degrees here..no rain. We are in the worse drought category here but, we don't have cattle. Gladly send any we get to you....prayers.
Damn Mike, so sorry that you have to go through this. This had to be a hard video for you make. Just a strark realization of what you have been thinking and feeling, but I'm sure putting it in video format wasn't easy. Here's to 🙏 for you some 🌧!
No rain, means no rain. Do not worry about others and their suggestions. You aren't dealing with a hobby garden. Sorry for your luck, you will make it through, you have a solid plan. Good luck and God speed.
Us Americans know how to help each other to survive.. ( just ask and it will be given. ) gods message in the bible.. I am here in Boonville New York. Their is so much fresh hay and grass. Vacant farm land. Its sadly a waste. Their is all kinds of machines just need man help. To get your free hay
@@sheilaamos7697 Oh I agree, here in the Catskills there is a lot of hay. They normally sell it because there is to much. Problem is getting it to Wyoming.
Brother we are in the western slope of the Sierra and rain is not to be seen. Praying for ranchers and their livestock to be blessed with some cool fresh water from the sky. God bless you all
Living in Oregon, our rain deficits seem small. I grew up in the Yakima valley where we used river water to irrigate. I can't imagine living in Oregon's high desert. I hope nature gives you a break and things ease by the time your kids are older.
Proud to have moved here and my family and I are doing what we can to support local businesses and trades. Ranching, farming and truck driving are just some of the trades/ lifestyles that are being adversely affected by a generation of “Now” and “immediate gratification” . Nothing worth having is ever easy to have or keep. God bless and stay strong. As my Grandma Pearl, a survivor of the Great Depression would say, “This too shall pass.”
Well said Mike. The last 10 mins were powerful. We are feeling the lack of rain here in Norcal on our small cattle farm this winter already. Love the channel.
The rain refuses to spread out... just a couple days ago we had .40" and no more than 25 miles east of us had 10" dumped.... TEN inches! It's been either famine with too much moisture or famine with lack thereof. There's still some fields that blow up by I94 around Bismarck... some due to too dry, some due to the dry ground crusting over from pounding rain.
I like the go fund me approach. Mike & Erin you made us all your family so now it’s time for family to step up and help. $185 per round of hay is doable for many of us. Let us roll that hay in ,❤️
Im in Michigan and we are in the middle of a drought as well. We raise corn and beans and farm muck ground.. Its so dry the muck has gone dry and is dangrous to drive the tractors on. As it has a poweder sugar texture and will swollow up the tires. Praying for rain..
And as farmers begin to sell off stock the price you get for those cows and calves go down, it's a vicious circle for a farmer. I can't even imagine how hard that is, and how much harder it could get. I well remember the look on my fathers face talking about what it takes to come back from rough years, it looked a lot like yours. But it's not a job, it's a way of life. No one but a farmer would work that hard for so little.
That's why I think it would make more sense for a cattle association to make it easier for ranchers to find partners where there is abundant hay and grass. Send some stock over there so you can come back easier from rough years.
@@Growmap Did you see the video on the cost of ranching? It did a nice job of laying out the expenses. Add $5/loaded mile to take them there and then another $5/loaded to pick them up and bring them home. It puts each animal at a greater loss. Your suggestion assumes that the ranchers with grass aren’t going to hay, which means they already have livestock. If they have livestock, the pastures are probably already stocked to carrying capacity. There are no easy answers to a lack of rain. The best answer, in my opinion, would be to reduce herd size right now. Sell the cow/calf pairs until he has a number that grass will support until winter, and buy hay to get them through the winter. That would reduce feed needs immediately, and allow money to be banked to purchase replacement animals when the weather is better.
A couple of weeks ago, our local auction barn called the sellers and told them to come pick up their cows and calves. They couldn't sell them. The buyers don't dare buy anything because they don't know how they're going to feed them.
Thank you for your diligence and constant striving. It is farmers like you that help feeds us and gives us milk and cheese. We appreciate all you do and pray that you may find water, grass, and hay to feed that herds.
We feel you down here in New Mexico this heat is too much 102°-109° this week🤦♂️ the weeds/grasses would grow up to 5 to 6 feet and now it’s just dirt and sand 😕
Thinking of you, wishing you the best. My concern, from an archaeological perspective, as that this might be the aridification of the American South West and mid west. Impossible to predict, however 7500 years ago the Sahara region was green, verdant, full of forests, grasslands, lakes and streams. I don't mean to sound like a total alarmist, but we need to be prepared for all eventualities as the climate continues to destabilize.
Mike , you have explained very well , the farming / ranching , water concern , rain in the near future! I did watch the lake Mead story two days ago , water levels down by 135 feet , now, place that will be effected in the near future , california , nevada , arizona , parts of mexico ! I live in Colorado , "Pueblo" 120 miles south of Denver ! Our farm area , fresh produce , hay , beans , chile ! I watch every day ! My dad farmed back in the 30's - 50's , team of horses , no tractor , I help sell produce in the summer time , it's in my blood .I worked retail grocery for 38 years King Soopers , 160 stores in Colorado ! I pay close attention to " our farmers / ranchers every day ! With out rain , snow it is getting more serious each year ! Your family is so special to carry on what you & Erin are doing ! Stay strong , prayers ! I watch you Wyoming life show each week , 30 for 30 days always ! Thank you for doing what you do , I do hope people are listening , I sure do !
All I have to say is drive it to the ground Mike. Drought separate the men from the boy. Your ranch look like the garden of eden comper to my place. No water no grass . Ween the calf to save the mama. 150 lb to 250 lb calf. I will rain soon. Good luck
There will always be problems on the farm and in life, but being free is the most important thing we have! Prayers for rain are headed your way Mike! Aloha! Gary and Renae!
That's rough...i guess i won't complain about having too much rain this year in Texas...where i wasn't about to work for 8 weeks...due to rain, standing water and knee deep mud that took my boot off more than 6 times...or having to jack the truck 4 times due to getting stuck in mud while on the gravel road...or having my gravel road bed sink 4 inches below the ground...alll my rocks on the road are gone!. Unprecedented rain in Texas this year. Cattle are doing fine...worried about hoof rot and blackleg with all this standing water in the fields.
In a country with so much access to water, WHY DON'T WE REALLOCATE NATURAL RESOURCES AS NEEDED TO AVOID THIS???? STATES WHERE RESERVOIRS ARE IN DANGER IF OVERFLOWING IR BREAKING COULD HAVE A CONVOY OF HELICOPTERS SUCK UP THE EXCESS WATER AND SPREAD IT OVER THE DROUGHT DRIED FIELDS. USE SOME "NATURAL DISASTER" MONEY TO AVOID THE NATURAL DISASTER. IF GOVERNMENT ONLY HAD A BRAIN (AND TRUMP WERE IN OFFICE 🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️)
@@teresakhaddouma5907 You're correct when you say there's lots of water and plenty of it. However logistically moving the water around would cost a lot of money. Underground Pipelines would be the best...however can you imagine the legal ramifications when one area is losing their water to another area. Fortunate people that have water near them don't want to see their lakes and underground reservoirs emptied and pumped dry for others. Someone will have to pay dearly for the water and pipeline infrastructure...and if you take away food and benefits from the poor...it's just a money mess. Water is difficult to move around, and super heavy at 7 lbs/gallon...natural evaporation and rain is the best we have.
@@LarsonFamilyFarm-LLC we move millions of gallons to fight the constant wildfires in California. They could save the livestock and crops by moving virtually the same. Actually meant declaring it a "Natural Disaster" and using Federal Money from maybe the Great Lakes or Iowa. Pipe dream since "Government" is money driven and not driven by the welfare of the people. They have reallocated Billions to take care of Illegal Immigrants but won't do the same to help legal US Farmers. Disgusting.
I just recently discover and follow you and I have learned a lot about farming and ranch. I am so sadden by the tough situation your ranch is in. Pray for rain and God to look out for your ranch, your cows and your family!
It's really bad all over the west, no end in sight. If things get worse you'll have to remember that sometimes a promise can't be kept because of dire circumstances. A lot of people going through what you're going through. We're pretty dry here in Florida too, but not like the West and midwest, at least not yet. Fire is one big concern, they are starting already in Cali, and AZ. Running out of money is a great concern too. I've been praying for rain for all of you out there and here and here too. I'll keep praying and may even do a rain dance too, if no one's looking! LOL! 😆
I'm running behind on my videos, sorry I'm late with this but I want to tell you this, Mike Don't Give Up! Stay strong, you and the other ranchers will get through this. My family and I are praying for you and the ranch. God Bless you and all the producers out there.
I hope and pray that Jesus Christ will bless y’all with gentle rain from Arizona up to the Canada boarders and across the east to South Dakota because I don’t y’all loss every thing
I see you guys are getting a little bit of rain right now. At least I hope, I know it’s not enough. But you guys have been on my mind and I’ve been keeping up with your all’s weather since I watched this video. I hope more comes.
We are under a really bad drought up here in Minnesota also, I got my first cut in but my second cut will be grim if we don't get rain, and our forecast shows nothing.
This is why we should appreciate our farmers!!!Pray for them daily.God Bless your family.
Amen!
Amen
Meat Packers get all the money
I sent him a box of prayers and blessings…in The end it was completely empty and void of anything.
@@USVIsteve they need all then can get. Thank you. Take Care and God Bless you
Mike, you are telling the story for nearly all of us in ranch country and doing it pretty darn well. You nailed it when you spoke about hanging on and doing everything you can to make sure the next generation has a choice. Keep up the good work!
We dairy in WI, could not imagine what you're industry is going through. Hard to believe it can get worse. So much respect for trying to keep positive attitude. God bless
They need to get them cows to upstairs New York. Half the state is vacant with lots of lakes and hay fields grass land. Is wasted
@@sheilaamos7697 we also could take a few just to keep up with the lawns. They are starving for water and we are drowning. God bless
@@randykrueger1021 heck with the grass. Try research ing on how to make water
Amen. I pray the Lord blesses with abundant needed rain.
This broke my heart. Been in this ranching business all my life and I'm 70 and still ranching. And boy some years are really tuff. Hang in there there will be better days
Climate change has made this the new normal. It is unsustainable
@@yomamapwnz ask me anything about the Science of Climate change. Since 1760 As long as man has been burning fossil fuels from the start of the industrial age, global climate keeps holding in heat and not releasing it into space. ua-cam.com/video/UatUDnFmNTY/v-deo.html
Dennis, I wish it were true that there'll be better days, but I'd say the handwriting is on the wall: there's no real future in ranching on these lands.
Here in the high desert Eastern side of Oregon we are experiencing the same harsh drought conditions. The reservoir that is suppose to provide us with our irrigation needs is so low as it never even filled to 25% of storage capacity. Ranching is hard with all of the issues facing production and boom we are hit with the drought of a century. We feel your pain and want you to know that you are not alone. Cattle ranching is not for the weak hearted. Even in the best of years it is still a challenge to keep things going forward and in times like these it is a dire situation. I love your channel and wish you the best. The struggle is real. Livestock producers are a dying breed. Our way of life is going away. No one can understand unless they have lived it for real, but your channel does help people see the big picture if they take the time to open their eyes.
I heard Oregon govt has new bill not kill any cattle. How’s it there.
@@calebmanuel17 another similar bill is being pursued in Colorado as well. Won’t pass, even if it does......do you really think all us ranchers are gonna lay down for them???Heck no.
@@robertensign8786 we must fight back
Yep, suffering in my part of Eastern Oregon as well. My wells are suffering already and our stream is very low and probably will be dry by August. I'll definitely be hauling water and getting ready to do so. To top it off, our best horse died a couple weeks ago..... All we can do is press on. I would rather do this than anything else, even with the hardships. Take care my friend and God bless. Pray for rain !!!
Did you hear that "they" want to ban beef in Oregon? Cancel the Cowboys next. I warned people when they started taking out Confederate statues and symbols and everyone was next.
It's high time to learn to grow a garden. When farms and ranches fail, we must be self sustainable and helpful to each other and we will survive these hardships.
Good Luck to you Mike.
YOU STILL NEED WATER!🐾❤🐾❤🐾❤🐾☘☘
@@judy8117 if you collect all your water you use in the kitchen without using soap: fast cleaning hands, washing fruits and salad... you can water a lot of plants in your garden.
Agree
Culling the herd in large numbers is something no one wants to do. But the cull allows the herd to keep going. So I agree your making the right move there. I hope you decide to keep Bambi and Blonde cow if they are still with you. Best Wishes Mike and Family
lol I'll admit to being a little surprised by this question but I'll answer none the less. Its true that a cull of human populace would help in some ways throughout the world. But, its not something I want to happen. For it would have unknown negative side effects I am sure. Also I'm very into genetic diversity so losing so many individuals would be quite a terrible loss to our species as a whole. In this ones humble opinion.
I installed that one-legged windmill for Gilbert, and dug a lot of ditch for the pipeline.....memories!
I thought windmills caused cancer and killed all the birds. Thats what Trumps says...... Thanks for helping build a useless pipeline that just raped our land. Youre a real patriot.
Thank you for your hard work.
@@duckyoutube6318
Windmills were accused of killing birds long before Trump decided to run for President.
I think you're totally confused the difference between a big wind charger and a little small 5 or 6 ft windmill we've had hundreds of windmills on our Ranch is 4 years we've never seen a bird killed by one. In the pipelines are a little small trenches putting in it 2 inch pipe how is that Wrecking the land and if a leak it's only water there's no gas or oil in those.
Educate yourself before you speak you'll be wise like Lincoln.
@@duckyoutube6318 That pipeline you speak of started under you’re beloved obama
Mike, your story is a tough one. As I've been watching, I feel as if your family is my family. I feel like those cows are my friends. I know I eat them. But I also care about them. Thank you for sharing.
Margaret you said it so well.
You dont care about something you send to be brutally killed
@@thejack9178 You are so wrong. You give these creatures the best life to give life.
@@thejack9178 That's one of the reasons I subscribed to Wyoming Life. I wanted to learn more about where my food comes from and how it is treated. And it's been a revelation.
@@thejack9178 come on back when you have a clue, otherwise GTFOH with your bleeding heart ideology. BTW, your food isn’t produced in a grocery store
Mike I am so sorry because that's what happened to us back in the sixties we had such a bad drought in the cattle prices dropped so bad we lost everything so my friend we will pray hard that you find some way of keeping your livestock
My heart breaks for you and all the ranchers and farmers. You are all in my prayers
Sometimes its not just mother nature. I grew up on a farm and watched everything die when a freeway opened just upwind of our place. Even the well tasted like gasoline, the fish in the lake died, the fruit trees shriveled and the crops had reduced yields.
Yup. Humans and the houses, parking lots, malls, roads big n small - they cover the surface area that Used to absorb the rainfall and fill aquifers - some water travels miles underground to help fill. Now, that water goes into man made sewers, not into aquifers. Until we un- do this, it may just get worse. Thank the ranchers and farmers for trying to keep us all fed. Peace.
That's gut wrenching Bingo.
@Bingo Sun Moon~ You are describing Mother Nature's reaction to the LACK of Love.
It is a sad thing. We have all seen our planet suffering from a lack of good intention.
Let us love our beautiful home in this galaxy and make things here right again.
Together we succeed! 💜🌟
I bet the freeway was there so people could go from city to city conveniently.
@@jjjackson5183 Cars, not people. There are better ways to move people.
Man we feeling it too. We’ve had to decrease our herd size from 60 to 16. 😢
That is a real shot to the gonads
Sorry to hear. I am happiest working cows, cutting and baling hay. Here in sw Missouri it has been raining too much this year. Last year was drought. Praying for the folks out west.
I’m so sorry. It breaks my ❤️😢😢😢I am praying for you all and the animals. But America is in big trouble for all the sin and turning its back on God!!! America has killed more little babies with the Gov pro abortion and then the unnatural gay rights. And we are losing our freedom!!! And Yes we all have to suffer the wrath even if we didn’t do those things. As a nation we all suffer. BELIEVE ME HE IS IN CONTROL OF THE WEATHER READ THE BIBLE AND LIVE FOR THE MESSIAH. MAYBE HE WILL TURN THINGS AROUND
2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Jer. 10:13
“When He thunders, the waters in the heavens are in turmoil, and He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and brings the wind from His storehouses.”
Psalm 147:8; 148:8
“Who covers the sky with clouds, prepares rain for the earth and causes grass to grow on the hills.”
“lightning and hail, snow and cloud, stormy wind that executes His command,”
Job 37: 3, 6, 10-13
“He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.”
“He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’”
“The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters his lightning through them. At His direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever He commands them. He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water His earth and show His love.”
Amos 4:7
“I also withhold rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up.”
Zechariah 10:1
“Ask the Lord for rain in the season of spring rain. The Lord makes the rain clouds, and He will give them showers of rain and crops in the field for everyone.”
John 3:8
“The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
I mention John 3:8, as it uses the wind as an analogy for Christian life. Commentary from the Life Application Bible says, “Just as you did not control your physical birth, so you cannot control your spiritual birth. It is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit.”
Weather can be unpredictable, which is a great analogy of how we are limited in our knowledge of God. But we know He is control of our lives-just as He is in control of the weather.
Maybe now you'll pay attention to planes spraying but probably not
Oh shit look it's Cody's lab. I've been watching your stuff for years. What a small world.
I live in Wright, 50 miles +/- SE of you and I am living this draught too. Drove by your place this morning. Been here since'07, this is bad. The prairie is almost "crunchy dry" already. Keep on keeping on man.
Thank you for being honest with us. Been following for 4 years now.
I feel deeply for you, Mike. We're about 200 miles south/southeast of you and we've had one of the wettest years on record. After last year's record drought (10-12 inches precip total) its been a godsend.
Prayers from our ranch to yours
Also, my wife and I both grew in the city and began our ranching adventure 4 years ago with 1 cow, zero experience, and some fine neighbors. I was 21 at the time and looking back, I wouldn't change a thing. A lot of my peers covet this life, as hard as it is. There's hope for the future yet.
Since watching Our Wyoming Life, I eat steaks and hamburgers now with a little more appreciation.
This one was hard to watch but new it was coming. Hard to stay positive in these tough situations but I know you will do all you and more to keep the ranch going. You have me in tears!
The end of the video had me tear up my prayers are with all the ranchers in my country
Thank you
We need our ranchers and farmers
@@BlandsPromisedLandRanch so true 👍
@@OurWyomingLife - why not cloud seeding for rain? Government still has equipment from HAARP and DARPA. Project Popeye was used in VietNam war to create heavier monsoons. Just saying doesn't hurt to ask your state government about getting some help.
@@nobodyspecial2655 - good idea … but in order to see the clouds you have to have clouds (moisture) in the air… not much of that in the west right now…
don't lose faith mike. you and your family are a huge inspiration, your channel is part of the reason we started a homestead last year.
G'day, we come out of a six year drought down here by sticking together, those who had feed would help another who didn't, yeah we did destock but we all pulled thru. Hope you get the rain you need.
Thanks for the update- I know it's hard but it's very admirable to see you persevere though these tough times and it's great to hear to that you want to give the option for your children to ranch- in closing let's all hope Wyoming sees some rain sooner than later
I just saw a report on the CBS evening news about the drought out west and thought of you and your family. Sending my thoughts and prayers for rain and that the legacy your dad and you worked so hard for continues into the next generation. I pray that those with abundant supplies of hay can get it to you and your neighbors at fair and reasonable prices or at least donate. Bless you all!
Yes praying is good but God gave us brains feet hands to move. And think. So get your asses moving Upstate New York has all the hay and grass you need. Their is all kinds of farmland I see wasted every year. Just need man power to harvest
I’m right there with you brother. Trying to keep my family’s ranch going in the worst drought I’ve lived through, haven’t had enough moisture to measure since 2018.
Can you partner with ranches where they're dumping all of your rain?
Climate change has made this the new normal. That’s the fact of it all
@@yomamapwnz
There has always been climate change. Some years drought other years to much rain. It's just the way it is and that's a fact
@@dwightharber4873 no Dwight. This is the result of Anthropocene, or human caused, climate change. The science is settled on this. What is of major concern is the speed, in geological terms, with which the climate is changing.
@@kpokpojiji
Science has been wrong so many times
Good luck. De-stock....sell older/unproductive cows, wean early. Then re stock when the rains come. It’s about survival.
Buying expensive hay may not be the solution long term. Prayers from the UK.
Buddy, we went though a bad drought last year here in Texas. My hay/feed bills were twice as much as my return but what can you do besides keep praying for rain and don't lose the faith.
"Run it to the ground..." - Gilbert. Prayers for better weather out west.
I’m on the other end of the spectrum. Saturated fields everywhere!
Yes run it into the ground
Amen.
It's not weather, it's called the climate change and it's to stay.
@@mrgadget1485 Glad no one knew about this fact 100 years ago when they had their last drought, or the one before that, and before that. They would have thought they were doomed. Lol!
Some promises demand more from us than others. I learned long ago, I'm75 yrs old, that life is a circle. It is a constant battle to fight your way through the bad to reach the good. Quitting is never the option. Hang in there.
I'm so sorry Mike and Erin! It's a disaster. I've been worried for all farmers and you. I hate to see you have to sell part of your herd or lose your alfalfa field. I'm in Northern California and I remember the 1976-77 severe drought. This year is just as bad with twice the population. My county has burned over 50% in the last 5 years and we're concerned for this fire season. My kids and grandkids have horses for HS Rodeo and hay has been around $20.00 a 3 wire bale (about 100-120 lbs per bale). That price is for oat hay. Alfalfa & grass is around $22.00 a bale and will only go up. The hay harvest is down and someone local had over 350 bales stolen from their field. That's the first I've heard of hay theft here. I hope and pray for your ranch. You have been working so hard to diversify your income to keep the ranch. Thank you for sharing💙
You and your family, and everybody affected are in our prayers! ..from South Africa
WHAT A DOWNER! 😩😭
There! I said it! But, thank you for the history and details of ranching and farming. My family has had some ranchers and farmers. But I only visited. Never lived the life. Will be interested in not only to continue following but hope to learn even more in detail about wether or not how much selling off cattle and buying hay effects your family financially, both in the present and future, if you share that kind of information.
Regardless, you and your family, and animals and,even the fields so badly in need, will be in my prayers tonight in hopes the burden you’re carrying will be lightened. God bless OWL!!
And, YES, that calf was precious!! Thanks, Mike!
Going through the exact same scenario Mike. We by the luck of the heavens just got 2 inches of beautiful rain which literally saved our entire SEASON! The Cattle 🐮 are going to pastures next week. Keep your head up my fellow cattle rancher & Cheers 🍻 from Prairie Sunset Ranch. Things can only get better.👍
I can tell by listening to you in the video that you are frustrated and mad. Please keep your head up. I will keep you, your family and all the animals in my prayers. Good luck and I hope the rains come soon.
Here in Utah and this drought is about as serious as it gets this year. Hoping next winter we get pounded with snow in the mountains.
Sadly, I feel this will just get worse. I pray I am wrong.
I'm in neola,ut and it's bad real bad, interested to see who makes it and how bad it gets
As a former farmer's kid, I wish the best for you guys. I know all about failure and success.
Having a small cow calf operation in Kansas your words are very emotional for me im praying for you I've been through droughts as well. I think it the hard to deal with of all weather situations. Stay strong things will improve at some point it has always kinda been natures way
God bless you & your family and all farmers & ranchers as you work through the problems that arise. I had no idea that Wyoming was in such dire straits draught wise. I appreciate your frankness and your efforts. Thank you for taking the time to let us know. And thank you for your video shows.
I can see in your work ethic you'll do what you have to do. I believe in you when you told Gilbert you will do everything in your power To keep the ranch going. Stay positive and take one day at a time. I wish I physically help you but I only can watch your videos. Thanks for the videos.
Unfortunately this isn't a drought that will go away. This is a permanent change with our changing climate and yearly rainfall will only continue to go down and down. We need to stand with our farmers and help them through this tough time.
Prayers for lots of rain. I think this is the first video I've seen where you look so stressed and sad. Hang in there.
Prayers for guidance and solutions!!!! The hardships that farmers face are never ending. But Thank You for doing your part to feed the country!!!! Stay safe Mike, Erin and family!!!!
I'm praying very hard for the rain to come! Your doing an amazing job with what you have been delt. We love your family. You have a lot of of people on your side. I'm not tech savvy but lets start a hay fund for pur dear friend.
Hello from NYC! So sorry to hear this from you. All our prayers from the Ryder Family from Suffolk County, NY - Christ The King Church, Commack NY to your dining room table & your Ranch. God Bless Wyoming
Near the end of the video you reminded me of a prominent angus breeder I know (I don't raise Angus but I respect him). He said many times "I don't care if you never buy a bull from me, I just want the industry to survive so your grandkids have the option to buy a bull from my grandkids." As corny as it sounds, it's always about keeping keeping on!
stay positive, just had 2 dry years here in New Zealand and broke the drought a month ago with 10 inches of rain in one weekend, our thoughts go out to you, it will come good.
I hope you'll be able to get disaster assistance; is that a possibility. I'm almost in tears learning about the hardships you face, and if i was a praying type, i'd pray for rain for WY, and AZ, and every place afflicted by this dreadful drought.
You mean socialist income redistribution for the weak and lazy. Farmers, like the rest of us, should live within their means and put away some for bad times.
@@benishborogove2692 how about you take your ignorant ideology to the bank with your social security check. got medicare? Like the roads you drive on? Ever heard of a thing called the common good?
@@benishborogove2692 aren't you a bottle of sunshine. Mike is not lazy or asking for handouts. Just sharing what is going on at the ranch.
@@sdkemm I cast no aspersions on Mike. As a small business owner in a pandemic lock-down I can sympathize with his efforts to keep going. What mostly got me peeved though was how readily @barbtries called for government assistance for farmers. Substitute unemployed city workers for farmers and most of Wyoming would've agreed with me. Apologies for the rant that doesn't belong here.
@@benishborogove2692 no worries. Understand what you were trying to say. Thanks for the reply
WOW!! I follow a couple farmer channels and I see this problem there too, just as you described on the scope of this drought. It takes a ton of faith and courage to even get into farming or ranching. Even more to stay there. And in my opinion, the coming generations don't seem to have the courage and faith to face all the hardship involved in this life. YOU people are the backbone of this life, OUR life, ALL of us. If YOU go down, we all go down. My gratitude to you all for all your work and trouble. I certainly pray that enough rain comes your way to rebuild and sustain your operation. Thanks Mike, for all you and your family do for all of us "outsiders"!!
Looks like you need to start reducing that herd as soon as possible. That is the hard truth. As a beef producer of 35 years I know that is hard , but you can always buy young cows and start back later. Best of luck to you.
I feel Mike needs cover crops and holistic grazing he has a lot of bare ground and water is lost through evaporation. I’m not clued up on American weather, I don’t see a lot of trees and he’s paddocks do look quite a bit big. I wonder if he managed his land differently what the outcome may be
@@part2140 His yearly rainfall is normally 10 inches. I live in Kentucky and our rainfall is normally 40 inches. He can't do anything with no rain at all.
Yeah this why younger generations won’t go into farming tbh. But fair enough sticky situation
@@part2140 can't grow cover crops without water. Can't grow anything without water.
We put a lot of our old being feels into the USDA equip projects. Did this game their diversion planning trying to get cover crop so we can plant native grasses. Without Rain to get absolutely nothing for all the money and time and in some of these drought there is you actually do more damage to your land trying to restore it because you don't know if you're going to get any rain or not lot of our Ranch Land is being feels from the 1930s and you can still see the damage that was caused almost a hundred years ago good we planted trees and most 90% died because if you don't have water they can't survive. So that thing that's helped us the most is cross fencing and trying to keep the cattle in low production areas off of the land.
So far for us that seems to be the best results.
I hope you guys make it, i love your work and i can see your sadness and the challenges you guys are facing. don't despair, stay strong and i hope that my little bit of support i can offer means something. my thoughts are with you and that with everyones support and prayers we can make it as a community.
Wishing you guys the best of luck. Hoping you get the rain you need to keep going
Mike, we feel the pain in your voice. Last year here in Southeastern Massachusetts we had the worst drought I can remember in 40 years. Residential wells were drying up in July. The well drillers never got out from behind the backup. I too, made a promise to my father-in-law to continue his apple orchard to the best of my abilities. But there are days that just take everything you have to move through. Remember that there is a community behind you through your channel that are sending their best thoughts to you and the family for better days ahead.
Praying for rain for all who need it. We’ve had our share in SW MO this spring, will try and send some you way 😉🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
We’ve almost had to much here. I’m in Barry County
I’m in the NE area of TX and we’re getting lots of rain as well.
Same here in NC - rain all winter, rain all this week. I wish there was a way to ship the water across the country.
I had to stop and pray for you guys that you receive all of the water that you need ❤️ Thank you for what you do.
When you are a Farmer or Rancher you put you’re life in Gods Hands. I know as a retired farmer in Texas😁🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
It's mother nature. Nothing to do with a "god".
@@markg6860 Well thanks for your intelligent comment. I'm sure you can explain the existence of humanity, MOTHER NATURE, and the universe.
@@deatralocklear17 Well, it was not a big man, sitting in a big chair!
he's pretty clear right now. "get the fuck out, clean up your act and the planet"
@@deatralocklear17 ooof and you went the distance with an intelligent comment of your own.
I grew up in a farming and ranching family in south east New Mexico..... I can defiantly understand your situation, and your determination to keep going... Sometimes that's all we have to keep us going. I will keep you in my prayers. Love the channel.
So sorry about your situation. It's not drought, it's the new climate and only getting worse.
In 1988 the prairies in Canada basically got zero rain all summer. Some monsoon years in between. Its just cycles. We are very dry right now where i live. But poor long term pasture management is really showing now. Big farms have gone to corn silage for bulk of their feed. Smaller hay dependent farmers are gonna suffer the most. Sad times in the cattle business
Hotter and drier
North America Has Its Hottest June on Record nyti.ms/3jPD3QF
@@northrockboy this rancher said that this is the worst drought in Wyoming in over 100 years.
Also in extreme drought are:
UT NV CO AZ NM CA ND
Amazing resilience and determination, Sir. Thanks for sharing and all the best of luck to you from your friends across the pond in Britain...
Coming from a ranching family, I watched with tears in my eyes. There are no good answers, like you said, get up every morning and do what needs to be done to make it another year. Perhaps by the skin of your teeth. When God made Ranchers, he made some of the toughest people on earth. I will be praying for rain, we have been getting a little here in central NM but no where near enough. I thank God for every drop. God bless
Praying for rain for you all Mike. I'm in Tucson, 111 degrees here..no rain. We are in the worse drought category here but, we don't have cattle. Gladly send any we get to you....prayers.
Damn Mike, so sorry that you have to go through this. This had to be a hard video for you make. Just a strark realization of what you have been thinking and feeling, but I'm sure putting it in video format wasn't easy. Here's to 🙏 for you some 🌧!
No rain, means no rain. Do not worry about others and their suggestions. You aren't dealing with a hobby garden. Sorry for your luck, you will make it through, you have a solid plan. Good luck and God speed.
I feel bad for you guys, we are going threw a drought in western Oregon also and I'm a cattle producer also with no irrigation.
Thanks for this video. You made a comment about the drought on a farm tour this last week and now we understand a lot better.
Hey Mike, just found out that there is an auction for hay in Corsica, SD every Monday. Yeah its a 6 hr drive, but it could save you some money.
Us Americans know how to help each other to survive.. ( just ask and it will be given. ) gods message in the bible.. I am here in Boonville New York. Their is so much fresh hay and grass. Vacant farm land. Its sadly a waste. Their is all kinds of machines just need man help. To get your free hay
We really need to help each other. NOW because its going to get bad
@@sheilaamos7697 Oh I agree, here in the Catskills there is a lot of hay. They normally sell it because there is to much. Problem is getting it to Wyoming.
@@onewhitestone were their is a will their s a way. Communication their are Retired people that still drive . Or we can stack it on trains
Brother we are in the western slope of the Sierra and rain is not to be seen. Praying for ranchers and their livestock to be blessed with some cool fresh water from the sky. God bless you all
Living in Oregon, our rain deficits seem small. I grew up in the Yakima valley where we used river water to irrigate. I can't imagine living in Oregon's high desert. I hope nature gives you a break and things ease by the time your kids are older.
Mike, your a smart and resourceful man, keep thinking outside the box for different solutions. Prayers for you & yours.
Proud to have moved here and my family and I are doing what we can to support local businesses and trades. Ranching, farming and truck driving are just some of the trades/ lifestyles that are being adversely affected by a generation of “Now” and “immediate gratification” . Nothing worth having is ever easy to have or keep. God bless and stay strong. As my Grandma Pearl, a survivor of the Great Depression would say, “This too shall pass.”
Well said Mike. The last 10 mins were powerful. We are feeling the lack of rain here in Norcal on our small cattle farm this winter already. Love the channel.
It IS enough to piss you off! God bless you guys!
You have an excellent attitude my friend. The weight of a drought is only truly felt by the farmers and ranchers and a challenge of a lifetime.
The rain refuses to spread out... just a couple days ago we had .40" and no more than 25 miles east of us had 10" dumped.... TEN inches! It's been either famine with too much moisture or famine with lack thereof. There's still some fields that blow up by I94 around Bismarck... some due to too dry, some due to the dry ground crusting over from pounding rain.
😍 💖💖💖 for you my folks in unique Wyoming ! Praying with you.
People, we may have to open our pockets and help Mike out.
We need a "Go Fund Me" for hay.....I'm in.
You could do that.. Or just support them by buying from their online store, which is more sustainable than a gofundme.
Buy more beef jerky from Mike's store, it's wonderful and melts in your mouth!!!
Handouts?......why is that the answer these days? What he needs to do is pull up his boots. Cull the herd for now the rains will come again.
I like the go fund me approach. Mike & Erin you made us all your family so now it’s time for family to step up and help. $185 per round of hay is doable for many of us. Let us roll that hay in ,❤️
My 🙏🏻 to you and your family and all those that farm to feed us , God Bless!
Disc up an area around the main each bldgs as a fire break.. ya may need it
Prayers will be said nightly for you and your family. I will ask for relief for the drought. May God Bless
Wish I could share some of this rain we've had here in South Carolina for the past week.
Your concern on youth & future of ranching, in any form is real;
Im in Michigan and we are in the middle of a drought as well. We raise corn and beans and farm muck ground.. Its so dry the muck has gone dry and is dangrous to drive the tractors on. As it has a poweder sugar texture and will swollow up the tires. Praying for rain..
I call that kind of stuff "moon dust"
Cheers from Arizona 🏜🔥👌
Regenerative farming ! You have to harvest and store the rain, it is not getting better.
@@xyzsame4081 You are going to have to send picture of a rain harvester. I can’t find any on the TractorHouse web site.
I appreciate the life you live. Thank you for growing the food I feed my family. As sad as the video is, it must be told. Thank you for telling it.
And as farmers begin to sell off stock the price you get for those cows and calves go down, it's a vicious circle for a farmer. I can't even imagine how hard that is, and how much harder it could get. I well remember the look on my fathers face talking about what it takes to come back from rough years, it looked a lot like yours. But it's not a job, it's a way of life. No one but a farmer would work that hard for so little.
That's why I think it would make more sense for a cattle association to make it easier for ranchers to find partners where there is abundant hay and grass. Send some stock over there so you can come back easier from rough years.
@@Growmap Did you see the video on the cost of ranching? It did a nice job of laying out the expenses. Add $5/loaded mile to take them there and then another $5/loaded to pick them up and bring them home. It puts each animal at a greater loss.
Your suggestion assumes that the ranchers with grass aren’t going to hay, which means they already have livestock. If they have livestock, the pastures are probably already stocked to carrying capacity. There are no easy answers to a lack of rain.
The best answer, in my opinion, would be to reduce herd size right now. Sell the cow/calf pairs until he has a number that grass will support until winter, and buy hay to get them through the winter. That would reduce feed needs immediately, and allow money to be banked to purchase replacement animals when the weather is better.
A couple of weeks ago, our local auction barn called the sellers and told them to come pick up their cows and calves. They couldn't sell them. The buyers don't dare buy anything because they don't know how they're going to feed them.
Thank you for your diligence and constant striving. It is farmers like you that help feeds us and gives us milk and cheese. We appreciate all you do and pray that you may find water, grass, and hay to feed that herds.
We feel you down here in New Mexico this heat is too much 102°-109° this week🤦♂️ the weeds/grasses would grow up to 5 to 6 feet and now it’s just dirt and sand 😕
Thinking of you, wishing you the best. My concern, from an archaeological perspective, as that this might be the aridification of the American South West and mid west. Impossible to predict, however 7500 years ago the Sahara region was green, verdant, full of forests, grasslands, lakes and streams. I don't mean to sound like a total alarmist, but we need to be prepared for all eventualities as the climate continues to destabilize.
Mike , you have explained very well , the farming / ranching , water concern , rain in the near future! I did watch the lake Mead story two days ago , water levels down by 135 feet , now, place that will be effected in the near future , california , nevada , arizona , parts of mexico ! I live in Colorado , "Pueblo" 120 miles south of Denver ! Our farm area , fresh produce , hay , beans , chile ! I watch every day ! My dad farmed back in the 30's - 50's , team of horses , no tractor , I help sell produce in the summer time , it's in my blood .I worked retail grocery for 38 years King Soopers , 160 stores in Colorado ! I pay close attention to " our farmers / ranchers every day ! With out rain , snow it is getting more serious each year ! Your family is so special to carry on what you & Erin are doing ! Stay strong , prayers ! I watch you Wyoming life show each week , 30 for 30 days always ! Thank you for doing what you do , I do hope people are listening , I sure do !
Hi Mike it's been a long time, but i'm still watching and enjoying. HI Mekenzie.🐂🐂🖐🧚♂️
Strength and Honour Mike we are with you in hope and prayers.
Keep on keeping on brother.
Thank you for sharing. This was a down and dirty true picture of drought and its effect on your family and community. Prayers!
All I have to say is drive it to the ground Mike. Drought separate the men from the boy. Your ranch look like the garden of eden comper to my place. No water no grass . Ween the calf to save the mama. 150 lb to 250 lb calf. I will rain soon. Good luck
There will always be problems on the farm and in life, but being free is the most important thing we have! Prayers for rain are headed your way Mike! Aloha! Gary and Renae!
That's rough...i guess i won't complain about having too much rain this year in Texas...where i wasn't about to work for 8 weeks...due to rain, standing water and knee deep mud that took my boot off more than 6 times...or having to jack the truck 4 times due to getting stuck in mud while on the gravel road...or having my gravel road bed sink 4 inches below the ground...alll my rocks on the road are gone!. Unprecedented rain in Texas this year. Cattle are doing fine...worried about hoof rot and blackleg with all this standing water in the fields.
Thankyou for the report . I don't think most people know this .
In a country with so much access to water, WHY DON'T WE REALLOCATE NATURAL RESOURCES AS NEEDED TO AVOID THIS???? STATES WHERE RESERVOIRS ARE IN DANGER IF OVERFLOWING IR BREAKING COULD HAVE A CONVOY OF HELICOPTERS SUCK UP THE EXCESS WATER AND SPREAD IT OVER THE DROUGHT DRIED FIELDS. USE SOME "NATURAL DISASTER" MONEY TO AVOID THE NATURAL DISASTER. IF GOVERNMENT ONLY HAD A BRAIN (AND TRUMP WERE IN OFFICE 🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️)
@@teresakhaddouma5907 You're correct when you say there's lots of water and plenty of it. However logistically moving the water around would cost a lot of money. Underground Pipelines would be the best...however can you imagine the legal ramifications when one area is losing their water to another area. Fortunate people that have water near them don't want to see their lakes and underground reservoirs emptied and pumped dry for others. Someone will have to pay dearly for the water and pipeline infrastructure...and if you take away food and benefits from the poor...it's just a money mess. Water is difficult to move around, and super heavy at 7 lbs/gallon...natural evaporation and rain is the best we have.
@@LarsonFamilyFarm-LLC we move millions of gallons to fight the constant wildfires in California. They could save the livestock and crops by moving virtually the same. Actually meant declaring it a "Natural Disaster" and using Federal Money from maybe the Great Lakes or Iowa. Pipe dream since "Government" is money driven and not driven by the welfare of the people. They have reallocated Billions to take care of Illegal Immigrants but won't do the same to help legal US Farmers. Disgusting.
I just recently discover and follow you and I have learned a lot about farming and ranch. I am so sadden by the tough situation your ranch is in. Pray for rain and God to look out for your ranch, your cows and your family!
Drought screwed us here in California too mike. We don’t have enough water to irrigate all summer.
Sorry to hear it
There isn’t any predicted for the next 10 days either.
@@BlandsPromisedLandRanch, it happens, it’s a cycle. Thanks
@@vxnova1, you’re right. I’m a half glass half type of guy.
It's really bad all over the west, no end in sight. If things get worse you'll have to remember that sometimes a promise can't be kept because of dire circumstances. A lot of people going through what you're going through. We're pretty dry here in Florida too, but not like the West and midwest, at least not yet. Fire is one big concern, they are starting already in Cali, and AZ. Running out of money is a great concern too. I've been praying for rain for all of you out there and here and here too. I'll keep praying and may even do a rain dance too, if no one's looking! LOL! 😆
I'm running behind on my videos, sorry I'm late with this but I want to tell you this, Mike Don't Give Up! Stay strong, you and the other ranchers will get through this. My family and I are praying for you and the ranch. God Bless you and all the producers out there.
Sending prayers for rain.
Our prayers, hearts, and best wishes are with you. Being from a Wyoming ranching family m
I hope and pray that Jesus Christ will bless y’all with gentle rain from Arizona up to the Canada boarders and across the east to South Dakota because I don’t y’all loss every thing
I see you guys are getting a little bit of rain right now. At least I hope, I know it’s not enough. But you guys have been on my mind and I’ve been keeping up with your all’s weather since I watched this video. I hope more comes.
We are under a really bad drought up here in Minnesota also, I got my first cut in but my second cut will be grim if we don't get rain, and our forecast shows nothing.
do a rain dance
At lest we’re gonna get some rain in mn tomorrow.
I’m scared that the second crop And pasture is going to get ate up by crickets and weevils
Sorry to hear this Mike. I like your attitude considering the circumstances. Keep up the great work and hopefully the drought will end soon.