Mike I know you need to reduce but before I sold 50 cows I would seriously look at they hay market I can get hay to you cheaper then that because of the pre plant this year hay is going to be cheap crp ground is able to be harvested farmers planted grass in some of the fields because they couldn't plant corn lots of options out there if it was me I'd sell 30 get a good trailer go right down the interstate load 24 bales for 60 a bale make 4 trips and call it good but I m different I try everything first before I sell but you do need to reduce some and figure out to grow a better hay crop it can be done even with soil like yours good luck to you Mike hope it works out

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that option Justin. We havent fully explored all our options yet. -Mike

@jwhitley101whitleyfarms9

5 жыл бұрын

@@OurWyomingLife good luck Mike it's a different field this year just look at it you might see something that will work for you and your family

@JS-yc9uu

5 жыл бұрын

@@OurWyomingLife I have a farm in MN with 180 acres of prevent plant corn that got seeded to oats last week. I am hoping to harvest about 360 tons of dry oat hay and sell for about 100 per ton this will be in Sept ish. at 800 miles from me $3 per mile 24 ton on a load your math is super close

@jonnies8478

5 жыл бұрын

Interesting video, thanks.

@jwhitley101whitleyfarms9

5 жыл бұрын

@@JS-yc9uu well you'll be hanging on to it for awhile i can that for 60 a ton from a hay exchange certified with a protein level it's not going to be a good year for those of us in the hay business you have to take in the fact farmers didn't get the acres of corn In lots of producers put In cover crops and they are allowed to harvest those this season hay reflects the market

Thank you for letting us in on all of your financial problems and decisions. It is a great way to learn how to smartly deal with money on the ranch. The best informational and motivational videos on KZread.👍🏻

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thank You KUBITUBE4LIKE - Mike

Please excuse my English, is my second language, I am following you from South America, I think you are doing a great work! Farming is difficult but very grateful at the same time. You are a great example of tenacity! Thank you! Keep going Mike!

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Daniel, No problem understood very well. Thank You- Mike

subscribed, I don't very often but this channel is therapy for. This channel allows me to decompress. I wish you and yours all the best.

Hey i just found your channel today but want to say hope all turns out good with the ranch and thanks for sharing these videos im just a city dude from CA (closes i get to farming is fs19) but love all these ranch and farming videos from our ranchers and farmers of America thanks for what yall do for us

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Welcome to the Channel. Hope you subscribe and feel free to comment. Check out "All Things Agriculture" great place to ask questions too. Thanks for watching APEX- Mike

I been waiting for this Video. Thanks Mike!!!! Stay cool in this heat wave!!!

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

It hasnt been to bad Heat wise that is. Thanks for watching- Mike

Mike and Erin, I know that the hail storm(s) were devastating. I admire your strength in continuing on. You folks are in our prayers. It may sound trite to quote that old axiom, that what doesn't kill you just makes you stronger, but it rings so true in this instance. Survivng this challenge will make you stronger. If only good wishes could make adversity go away -- but that would, I think, make you weaker. We'll just keep those prayers and good wishes heading your way -- that's all most of us can do.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the word of encouragement Jeanette- Mike

Ranching and farming is tough, but rewarding. Thanks for what you do. Sending thoughts & prayers your way.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

It sure can be D P. Thanks for watching- Mike

Thank you Mike for sharing the hardships of the weather and money. I enjoy the videos you make but this one was very informative for me. I'm living in SLC but moving to ranching in S.W. Colorado. I'm 60 now and can't wait to get to work! I grew up on a ranch but it will be way different now compared to what it was. I will be starting green like you did but I have people to guide me. Keep your head up. If I could help I would.

Very interesting and well done video. Best of luck to you and your family.

Thank you for the great useful info on haying in the last couple videos, lots of details. Paul E Dulin from Texas

Very interesting, thanks for sharing with us.

What a message brother! God bless you!

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Seth Acker- Mike

Always luv ur videos. Wishing u guys the best of luck, now in the future.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching- Mike

I found your channel looking for clues to Forrest Fenns treasure. Almost immediately after I subbed and have been hooked on Wyoming ever since. Love your channel, great stuff. From, Indiana (The Land of Corn)

Enjoyed video. The ups & downs of ranching keeps you optimistic as always. I do miss ranching

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching- Mike

Thank you so much for the video

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching- Mike

thanks for the info..

Praying for you and your family

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Paul- Mike

Good luck with everything hope it goes well thanks for getting back on my other comments look forward to other videos

Good luck Mike it’s tough you’ll bounce back and make the best decision. Hugs and high five from down under Xx

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Anna, we will bounce back. Hi 5 to ya from WY. -Mike

Mike I love following your channel I grew up on a very small Midwest farm with nothing but outdated equipment that almost every time you looked at it something else broke my grandparents started from less than nothing grandpa drove a truck during the day and farmed at night he and grandma had a lot of kids to grow up and help around the farm my dad was the youngest of the kids and never really left he graduated got a small bit of land and a house met mom and we’ll fast forward to me now I’m in the navy but when this contract is up (I tell my self every time I sign another haha) I’ll be back on the farm to help the ol man and to hopefully one day take the whole operation over and revise it to it’s “glory days” God bless you and your family and keep up the great work with the videos and live-streams always love seeing fellow farmers succeed

Bravo. Great lesson for your children as well.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

An unintended consequence of this Hay season. Thanks for watching- Mike

Great VLOG Mike, I get to visit Wyoming every now and then and you guys are living my daydream. I always wonder what it would be like to be out there on your own trying to make it on a ranch. Keep up the good work and good luck.

@OurWyomingLife

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much! - Mike

Every year you get smarter, you sound like a real farmer now. Keep up the good work.

Yep that's part of life right Mike keep on keeping up your heads

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching- Mike

Good luck Mike as you work out your hay options and figure out the herd size.

Another great video. Your outlook is positive even in not so good times. I'm very curious about your soil tests. Thanks for sharing your Wyoming life

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Tom, when we get into soil testing I will surely be making a video if I can. Thanks for watching- Mike

Great video Mike, I hope the haying is going well

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Hamish- Mike

we got hail on our 1st cutting too! WHAT A BUMMER!!!

I really appreciate the no "BS" cost breakdown on your videos. I couldn't imagine only getting one cut per year. We get 3-4, and still complain

Awesome channel

Thanks mike

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Thomas- Mike

WhooHoo...the hay is in - I pray it’s good news❣️🙏

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Wish it was better news, but Thanks for watching- Mike

Great video! here in Minnesota buying hay in the spring was painfull, but now we got our own hay going.

@BillTheTractorMan

5 жыл бұрын

Where are you in Minnesota? I'm by Alexandria, was a tough spring to find rounds and large squares however small squares were plentiful and relatively cheap for alfalfa compared to other years.

@vincevincethedairyfarmer6410

5 жыл бұрын

@@BillTheTractorMan north of litchfeild

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

I think we can all agree that buying Hay anytime is painful! Thanks for watching- Mike

Cant wait for the stream

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

See ya then- Mike

Best of luck to you Mike may the Lord smile down upon you .Love Jonathan from Arkansas

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Johnatan- Mike

Sorry you had a bad year with the hail. Good luck.

Good harvest next year,leaves have all the protien so good for the ground

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching- Mike

Hey Mike! Small request/suggestion: Can you please lower your music volume a bit more when you're talking?

Ranching, Finances and Science! Great videos.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Tyler, all you need to be able to utilize all those 3 things when your farming or Ranching- Mike

Praying for u guys-good folks like deserve a break

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Frank.- Mike

Run ads on YT and/or do a Patreon. People that want to give but can't afford to can let the ads play and contribute to you that way. JAT! Great videos, I had to subscribe.

Awesome video Mike I enjoy what you are doing

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jacob- Mike

@dieseljacobbrown4511

5 жыл бұрын

@@OurWyomingLife your welcome Mike

Mike...down on the Texas gulf coast I only put out hay from Jan 1st thru March 10th. While I have a much larger herd than you...I don’t worry about snow and we get 60 inches of rain a year. We sell lots of premium horse hay (jiggs and tifton 85) but for my cattle I have some Gordo fields that supply my hay. I bought 100 head from a guy last winter and he just had the cattle on peanut hulls cracked corn and cotton seed and they looked great.

We live in pa and this year was a good year, we got 4 cuttings. But the last cut was a little short. I hope you have a feeding year

Sorry to hear that Mike , cut the herd and in three years you'll be back to full again. God bless and say Hello to your beautiful family. Cheers, from Michigan.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Lady Jay- Mike

Great attitude. R Douglas

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Karen- Mike

Your detailed explanation of your times is impressive. Don't know if the guy that left the jack down on the trailer is impressive!!!!

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching- Mike

Sorry to hear about the hail, one thing we've learned is that you always cut your best Fields first. Yellow Clover while it looks good generally does not produce much in the way of tonnage. If it's still there at the end of the season go after it but be sure and get your Alfalfa down. As you can tell the weather is unpredictable and you've got to get your hay down as fast as you can to avoid risk of losing it. the humidity and rains this year has been made haying very difficult. Hard to complain about tain in this raid climate though

5:47 hate to point out more problems but someone left the jack down on the trailer

@379insk

5 жыл бұрын

I hate it when that happens!

@lorenkindschy7153

5 жыл бұрын

It didnt look to straight anymore.

@bodhixxx1

5 жыл бұрын

@@lorenkindschy7153 Ya I noticed that as well from a distance it looks pretty bad can only imagine what it looks like up close

@a.j.henderson7406

5 жыл бұрын

First thing i noticed too, i was happy to see i wasn't the only one whos trailers take a beating lol

@davidharris6581

5 жыл бұрын

Experience has taught me to spot those type things a mile away. :)

Enjoyed the video very interesting Texas

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Texas Johnny- Mike

Hello Mike & Erin Another great video 👍. Thank you so much for sharing. Enjoy your evening 😊

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Felicca- Mike

Your continued positivity amazes me. Wishing nothing but the best for you.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thank You floridag8fan. You cant fight mother nature! - Mike

Life: 10% what happens to you. 90% how you deal with it. Your doing a great job at life Mike. Keep it up.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Very true statement. Thanks for watching- Mike

Great video

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mike Bonge- Mike

I sure am sad you're facing the problem of reducing the herd. You've raised such good, healthy stock it's a shame Mother Nature created this problem. As another commenter said up above, those followers who could send $5 to a GoFundMe acct, you might could buy enough hay to keep the whole herd. I for one would love to donate. You ranchers mean that much to me. It's you guys that keep America fed. I think many of your followers would love to help. Please consider, okay! So many dairy and beef cattle have been lost this year due to all the extreme flooding that America needs all the healthy cattle you ranchers can keep and maintain. I love my beef and dairy ranchers, cause I love my steaks and milk!😊❤🐃❤🥩🥛❣

Love the cow's 😄 I have Angus and brangus cow's

Farming like any business is all about the numbers, with decisions much like a Chess Game must be given great thought about the moves you make & the consequinces that go with those decision. A wise Farmer once said keep good records and try not to repeat the mistakes you have made. I’d like to say that, you are very GOOD at knowing your cost involved which serves you well in the decisions you make. May GOD BLESS your Efforts, because you certainly try hard to DO BETTER.

You guys know me well enough to know that I'm a combination of caring, love, and good clean sarcasm. You know where I've been (living in the car) and the fact that I've made it back to the living comfortably level. All of that said, in love to you guys, I just want you to know that you are loved. You're loved by me and countless others. You've been knocked down, but you know TO adapt, HOW TO adapt, and you know that you're enveloped in prayer from me as well as hundreds if not thousands of others. As I hear your voice crack slightly, I hear my own. Do what you have to do, and I pledge to you that I and the other Lifers will hold you up along the way. I love you, your dear Erin, your sweet lambs, and the other Lifers do as well. God bless and keep you.

@90pi548

5 жыл бұрын

Things happen. Even to us more experienced ranchers. You have to remember. Mike wasn't raised in the country

HAY 🌾 nice Video 👍💲🤠

Carry on and do the best you can. I wish you luck in this endeavor. Jo Jo in VT

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jo Jo- Mike

I feel ya man. Last year we lost all of your best hay crop to a fire and then was forced to cut some overripe sudangrass that we were going to use for winter grazing. But, we persevere, and even if the odds aren't great, we play them out. I am going to tell you something my grandpa would say about any remaining available hay you have: cut it all. It may not be very nutritious, but there are always supplements like cake, mineral tubs, and blocks to help you through. The cows will take that as they need and they will then fill up on the rest of the strawish, mostly filler hay. I don't know what kind of supplement brands you guys have around there, but the main tub I give to my cows is the ADM Roughage Buster 35. It has minerals to help break up that more straw like hay and it gives them some other supplemental protein. I use it for grazing CRP ground or on milo stalks while my cattle are wintering. Then again, I do not know your situation, nor I claim to know, so you just do what you need to do. I would offer you some hay but you probably don't want stemmy sudangrass hay that is wrapped in twine only from roughly 550 miles away. Also, when you mention soil testing, you need to figure out ways to manage your soil health in the future. I believe your area is similar to mine as it gets pretty sandy (soil test maps show a lot). And, some times grasses do not take full effect from all the nutrients thrown at them, especially if they have been planted for about five years in sandy ground. This might be where you consider different crops in those fields. I know, this is a huge undertaking, planting fields, but it may be worth it in some instances. But, I am not going to get into that right now. If you have any more questions, I am just one reply away. I'm praying for y'all and I hope you can find a solution. I truly wish the best for all that you do. PS the biggest solution: cattle prices go back up to record highs ;)

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks J Bell- Mike

OUCH, that hurts. But, as you said, this is something that ranchers face from time to time. Hopefully cow number 2 can stay. She's got attitude. It's hard to reduce the herd, especially since you are so familiar with each and every cow on the ranch. God bless you and here's to things going smoother in the coming days.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

It does hurt, but we shall survive this bump in life. Thanks for watching- Mike

Have you looked into buying cottonseed hulls, and reducing the consumption of Hay

Part of the gamble of farming and ranching. At least you know where you are at and are not completely giving up and throwing in the towel. There is always next year.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching- Mike

Mike, have you looked into planting teff hay?

Nice video. Here in Wisconsin our hay crop was ruined by winter kill. I'm afraid it will be the last straw for a lot of dairy farmers.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

wide open outdoors, sorry to hear this. - Mike

I feel your pain good luck

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching- Mike

OMG 92.000 subcribers .well done . But it really is TV quality .

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thank You Liam. Mike

I feel badly for your hay shortage. You need to look up Tyson on Northern Farmer. He is a cattle rancher and grain farmer in Alberta. He never runs out of hay or straw. Maybe you two could work out a deal. Best of luck to you and the family!

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Tim- Mike

it's a good take on what is happening - you will learn and change from the problems and make them into solutions making the ranch stronger so it survives - how many cows do you think you could cull and turn into meat for the farmers market and farm store as it is a better return than selling cows - the non pregnant cows or older cows - is your oldest bull worth more to sell live or as beef steak?

To clarify I help my brother in the summer months. He has 150 pairs on pasture for the summer but runs on stalks after corn harvest. This year he had 420 acres of corn he is taking prevented planting on because we could not even take a tractor across. Trying to put a cover crop on so he can graze it when he has to bring cows back off pasture and still to wet to work and seed.

Mike I feel your pain I have gone through this myself. I don't know the weather or moisture where you are at but is there any way you want get a cover crop or emergency grazing crop into you hay ground You will not be able to harvest it but you can still extend you grazing season longer. And feed less hay cull heavy no.calves problem cows ugly cows Get rid of them and try to get replacements in the spring. Or maybe some stocker cattle to help in the spring with numbers. You have a lot of options in front of you .look at all of them. Also look at gabe brown and how he manages his cow herd and his pastures . He is a wealth of knowledge and ideas and gets you thing of what is.possible.

I am sorry to hear about the difficult time you are going through. Check the possibility that the grazing field where the cows are usually in the winter will be transferred to the harvest field. It's already enriched with all the cows left.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks esther lampert- Mike

Know your pain, we normally have our prairie hay cut by June 15, still not cut because of excessive rain. Had 4.40" rain and hay fields under water again. Maybe this week it will get cut & put up and may get a second cutting.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Best of luck to you Keith- Mike

Hey Mike, i was wondering what you do when you produce too much hay, do you sell it or store it for later in the year, love your videos!

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

pc sanders what is this hay selling thing you talk about? LOL We store any over-abundance of Hay produced. Mike

Can you frost seed or fall seed to increase the foliage density. Assuming you get the correct spring rain.

You could always buy some cheaper hay and grind it mix it with your good hay. That is what my neighbor does all the time and his cows look just as good as yours. If you could do something like that you might not have to sell as many. Good like Mike and Erin. I wish there was something I could do to help.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching- Mike

The Doherty family ranch use to be in Wyoming I think about moving back .

Hello Mike, We just got home from our “working” vacation at the Collins Ranch. The ranch is located on the Wildcat Creek on Collins Road north of Gillette. We go there every year to help with branding and haying. Home is Minnesota, but we have been spending our summers at the ranch helping out for many years. Was wondering where your ranch is located. Gary LaValley

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

We are South of town on hwy 50. Thanks -Mike

Hi again! NEVER to forget Mike Over Under Around or Through! And Never to forget your faith. Nothing is too big too heavy too anything for God to help you with if you go to Him. You keep doing your part and the remainder will be as it should be. Nothing in ranching and farming is quite the same and some things totally beyond one's control. If you aren't flexible and can roll with the punches then that person better find another business. You're a good rancher Mike so hang in there like you know to do. Thoughts and prayers from afar and keep holding on for the ride...

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching C C- Mike

Long term would it be worthwhile to add some more acres to hay. You have a lot of acres (my perspective) and some fencing would you you a hay buffer. Not gonna resolve this year, but maybe future.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

All options are on the table for consideration Tink - Thanks for watching- Mike

The $ on beef needs to be good. Fine calf herd cows as well. Bull power look grate. Love it keep em coming. ; )-

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching- Mike

Hang tough God will get you through

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching- Mike

I wish I could give you a lot of our hay

We always like to have 150 to 200 bales left over after the feeding season..hasn't been easy the last few years

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Doesnt seem that anyone of us has had it easy over these last few years. Good Luck to ya Northern Farmer- Mike

Hello Mike! Can you consider to irrigate lets say, progressively your land, if you own. Then one piece of property at a time if you get to irrigate them they probably yield you more hay and if you have extra you'll be selling them. Maybe if you haven't, you may want to consider to cover the costs of irrigating the closest to home piece of land and letting us know as well as if possible, if you can educate us in the cheapest and more effective irrigation system you feel you can or may use in your territory, that way if any of us is considering to follow your steps know a little bit of what would signify to irrigate a piece of land of such magnitudes. Thank you! And much more success, On Your, Wyoming Life!!!

I know these comparisons are nowhere near the same but it blows my mind when you say 800lbs an acre here in California we grow corn silage for our milking cows and we can yield up to 31ton an acre it’s also irrigated with clean and lagoon manure water

Man I would hate to have all that stress on me like you do . But I’m sure it will all work out

@tammysarrazin7078

5 жыл бұрын

he is asking for a stomach ulcer with all that worry....... it sucks when you the boss employee and everything in between

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

The stress come with the business. Thanks for watching- Mike

Does 32-0-0 or 34-0-0 help with the yearly hay yields? I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

if every subscriber or viewer gave owl hay/hail fund 5.00 there would bean emergency fund for hay and straw

@tammysarrazin7078

5 жыл бұрын

being on disability in Canada i cant contribute but i would love to hugssssss to those that do and lets hope they get enough to keep the whole herd from Ontario Canada

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the thoughts James- Mike

@jwhitley101whitleyfarms9

5 жыл бұрын

@@OurWyomingLife and I would be willing to donate personally as well hate to see anybody without dropping that many cows while the market isn't good is recipe for disaster cattle are down right now especially cows

A downturn came when I was in college and that wasn't fun. But I still graduated on time. Where there is a will there is a way. God has always been my co-pilot.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Earlene- Mike

We feel your pain and the decisions to be made Mike and Erin. With none being easy. Been in your shoes years back. Molasses and urea plus straw or cornstalks would be reasonable if you didn't have to much freight in it.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching- Mike

Have you considered drilling for Water and irrigate?

Please what type of grasses are planting for hay thank-you

Mike, I'm sure you are checking with the FSA to see what programs are available in your area?

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

We are. Thanks for watching- Mike

Going lower on the head count is hard as it also means a smaller paycheck next year after calving. Its hard work to make hay with only one cutting and picking what needs to be cut first. I have a gut feeling that this year's hay prices might get a little odd with the flooding in the Midwest effecting both the hay and corn markets. At least you have some time to think about it and make a plan.

@OurWyomingLife

5 жыл бұрын

S Squared Design Works, Yes we do have some time here to map out our course of action. Thanks for watching- Mike

Mike, is that possible to spread some grass seeds that are drought resistant? Some research labs focusing on agriculture might be able to help to develop this type of grass specific for north Wyoming ranches.

did you seed the sweet clover or did it come back from the seed bank?