shortages

[Mini Horses]

Farmers -- of some size or description -- are just so dedicated and stressed between ability, mother nature and $. Animals take dedication!! Feed, water, fence, shelter, health care, milking...all of it. Mine give back. Eggs, meat, milk, fertilizer, babies to replenish all. It isn't easy but, it is fulfilling. A few things are sold, helps offset the ever increasing feed costs....I just can't raise it all!

Learning skills to preserve them and your garden/crops is paramount to survival. @farmerjan is right, were getting older, less physically and financially able and the youngers aren't interested to work so hard for nil. I am thankful to have what I do and that includes good health along with a little "backyard farm" and knowing survival of SS.

I see and understand most of the dire conditions of today's world but, my concern must center on caring for "me and mine". Interesting to appreciate what others must do.

 

[CrealCritter]

For the farmers here - happened earlier this month. No mention of supply impact for farmers and gardeners, so IDK...

North Carolina fertilizer plant fire forces thousands from their homes; Wake Forest cancels classes

The evacuation area included about 6,500 people in 2,500 homes, the Winston-Salem Fire Department said. The explosion risk remains through Wednesday.

www.usatoday.com

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[Messybun]

For the farmers here - happened earlier this month. No mention of supply impact for farmers and gardeners, so IDK...

North Carolina fertilizer plant fire forces thousands from their homes; Wake Forest cancels classes

The evacuation area included about 6,500 people in 2,500 homes, the Winston-Salem Fire Department said. The explosion risk remains through Wednesday.

www.usatoday.com

Jesus is Lord and Christ

Oh that hits a little too close to home. Know some people there. I’ll have to check on them, had no clue. Thanks for sharing.

 

[CrealCritter]

Oh that hits a little too close to home. Know some people there. I’ll have to check on them, had no clue. Thanks for sharing.

Hope they are ok.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[Hinotori]

For the farmers here - happened earlier this month. No mention of supply impact for farmers and gardeners, so IDK...

North Carolina fertilizer plant fire forces thousands from their homes; Wake Forest cancels classes

The evacuation area included about 6,500 people in 2,500 homes, the Winston-Salem Fire Department said. The explosion risk remains through Wednesday.

www.usatoday.com

Jesus is Lord and Christ

There was real concerns of a horrific explosion when that caught fire. The news aggregate site I'm on was watching it and we had a lot of discussions at the time.

 

[CrealCritter]

There was real concerns of a horrific explosion when that caught fire. The news aggregate site I'm on was watching it and we had a lot of discussions at the time.

I can imagine there was...

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[Mini Horses]

Doesn't affect my use. Here, it's natural fertilizers. The mares plop wherever they like, the stallion makes a nice pile in just a couple areas, the goats have spinners installed I believe! They drop pellets every where. 60 chickens free range, scratch things up and add more. The barns/sheds/coops get cleaned for the garden. Haven't bought fertilizer in years.

BUT prices have doubled and tripled for commercial fertilizer sales lately. Crop farmers are feeling it big time.

 

[Messybun]

Hope they are ok.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

Yep, they evacuated to their family a little farther away.

 

[Messybun]

Doesn't affect my use. Here, it's natural fertilizers. The mares plop wherever they like, the stallion makes a nice pile in just a couple areas, the goats have spinners installed I believe! They drop pellets every where. 60 chickens free range, scratch things up and add more. The barns/sheds/coops get cleaned for the garden. Haven't bought fertilizer in years.

BUT prices have doubled and tripled for commercial fertilizer sales lately. Crop farmers are feeling it big time.

I have quite a few horses around. Free fertilizer for me! Just have to ask nicely and do the work. I’ve gotten asked “do you know how to handle horses” and “if I just wanted to ride them” like, uhm yes I can handle myself around them, I’m not going to be around yours though and I would never just ride a strange horse? I know some people would try to pull something like riding a stranger’s horse (because all equines are tame for riding and the few that aren’t are really easy to just jump on and break) but uh, no. I am, in fact, here for the apples. When I drop the word garden most people then realize I’m one of those crazy people who play in dirt so they’re good with me.

 

[farmerjan]

The fire is going to affect some of the fertilizer supply. Since it is gone sky high in price, the general discussion is unless it is a crop farm, many/most are cutting back or not going to apply commercial fertilizer. Poultry litter has always been available in this area and my DS called the 2 guys we get it from to make sure we are on the list as usual. We will be getting our usual amount BUT it has gone up too.... We get about 400 ton a year to put on pastures and hay fields and the little bit of corn we grow. We usually only grow corn in a crop rotation to renovate some hayfields. We do use some herbicides in order to kill the johnson grass because the horse hay customers do not want johnson grass in their hay. It is very invasive and will crowd out/smother the orchard grass. There is also some concern if it gets drought stressed or frosted, with the prussic acid produced, that it can make sick or kill an animal. So we will plant corn for 2-3 years and kill everything in the field before planting to try to stop the johnson grass taking over.
We are talking about only planting 10 acres this year and maybe using some roundup ready alfalfa in the one field to try to control the johnson grass in there. I am not sold on rr alfalfa as some studies have shown that the cattle do not like it.... We would make it and roll it for hay.... there is alot of leaf shattering though... it would make better haylage. But that means having to find someone who can cut/chop and then bag it when everyone else is busy making hay..... with not many dairies closeby, there are few options. I am thinking maybe we ought to plant sorghum-sudan instead to try to "crowd/smother" the johnson grass. more.