Brucellosis, you aren't a friend of mine

Montana has been struggling with Brucellosis for quite sometime. Trying to figure out how to control it, handle, take care of it, and deal with it. Montana just got done holding public meetings across the state on OCV. I wrote about it here and here. One thing producers, the state and officials can agree on is that something needs to be done. It is just that noone can agree on what that 'something' should be.

Now, I found an article titled Survey shows elk brucellosis on rise in Yellowstone region. This article states that the elk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem appear to be carrying this brucellosis at an increasing rate. The lead author on the study stated that high elk densities are a big factor in the alarming increase in brucellosis.

This is not good news for the cattle producers in that area, or for the state of montana. Something needs to be done, some regulations put in place, some help for vaccinating in that area. For the sake of many cattle operations and future operations and operators. we need to figure that 'something' out and soon.

Take a moment to read the article here

Arizona Rancher Killed

58 year old Robert Krenz was shot to death last Saturday while out checking water line and fences on his Arizona ranch. Investigators are saying Mr. Krenz came up one person when he was shot and his dog wounded. This incident has put the pressure on Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to beef up border patrol. It also has Senator and Representatives alike calling for more security steps and for dispatching the National Guard to watch over our southern border.

Robert Krenz, who was described a pillar of his community by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was recently inducted into the Arizona Farming and Ranching Hall of Fame.

"The cold-blooded killing of an Arizona rancher is a sad and sobering reminder of the threats to public safety that exist in our border communities," Giffords said. "It has not yet been determined who committed this atrocity or why, but I know that federal and local authorities are mobilizing every possible resource to locate and apprehend the assailant."

Sheriff's deputies, U.S. Border Patrol trackers and Department of Corrections dog chase teams followed footsteps approximately 20 miles south to the Mexican border. No suspects have been apprehended.

Read More Here

Tally & Fred

I am almost positive there's not anything much greater than A Girl and Her Love For Her Horse.

Tally loves Fred. She tells him everyday. She wants him to go to Sunday School with her. She gives him loves everyday.

I also was a little girl that loved her horses. Heck, I still love my horses. I have had some great ones. Some that were ok. And some bad ones.

How bad is bad? When I sold him, he got put in a bucking string and bucked at the Dodge Circuit Finals. My bad was someone elses good, I guess.

I have horses that are long gone that hold a special spot in my heart.

Horses have always been a part of my life.

It makes me happy to see Tally with Fred.

I am so glad Tally loves her Fred.

It makes my heart very happy!

Impatiently Waiting

I am impatiently waiting for days like this. Days when we know there is no chance of snow. Which, given where I live, is at least 6 weeks off. Days of being outside enjoying the day. Days of impromtu wagon rides after days of branding. Team roping after a long day of swathing. Cold beer after day of baling hay. Going down to the river and throwing the fishing pole in. BBQing and sitting outside with a bunch of friends. Picking fresh tomatoes from the garden. I. Can't. Wait.

Good Times. Good Friends.

Bringing the steers up.

Barrel Crawl. Tally's Favorite.

Watching the Team Roping and Playing in the Dirt.

A trip to the Zoo.

Spring is in the air

Spring is in the air!

We had our first BBQ Saturday night. Yes. We had some friends out, new and old. Shooted the breeze. Played some cards. And enjoyed the fact we could be cooking outside with out our Carharts on!

Future Farming Generations

I stumbled upon this story this afternoon.

Please take a moment to read it.

It's a little scary how close it is to the possible truth.

Disappearance


It will make you stop and think.

To Date or Not To Date....

.....that is the question on alot of peoples minds at the moment. Since 1980 Montana has required that all milk containers be stamped with a 12 day sell-by date. Recently the Montana Board of Livestock has been asked to drop this rule. The proposal calls for the 12 day sell-by date to be replaced by a date chosen individually by the milk processors. There would no longer be a standardized sell-by date in Montana.

As you can imagine this has sparked quite the conversation/debate. Some see the 12 day sel-by date as a way to keep out of state milk from entering the state and being sold. Some say it's a way to control the competition. Some say the sell-by date protects the costumer. The dairy industry states the sell-by date is a way for them to ensure they are delivering a good product to the customer.

The Board of Livestock took up the proposal (submitted by Core-Mark International Inc.) at a hearing earlier this month and it was continued until April 26. Both sides will file legal briefs and then the hearing officer will makes recommendations to the board.

The push to change the sell-by date seems to be the latest battle between Core-Mark and the Department of Livestock. In 2008 the department ordered several convience stores to quit selling lower-priced milk that was bought from Washington state.

To read the whole story go here.