Hot with strong SW winds-more red flag warnings throughout eastern Montana. Ryan and I moved the cows into the center of NG1, heading east to tank fed by west Lackey well. Florin senior, and Florin junior, along with Ryan worked all day on trouble-shooting the pipeline air lock. They replaced and added air vents, and used the water truck to push water-and air-clear to the pit. Their efforts are successful, and great re-charge returns to the water line. I spent most of the day building a new line in SBW4 to allow cows to access the west lackey well. Now, with pipeline fixed-do I move out of rotation? Fires blow up north if us in the lower Musselshell watershed-hitting 76,000 burnt acres by nightfall.
0 Comments
Three digit hot and windy-red flag warning. For a while it seems the pressure comes back from pit, only to quit later in the morning. Northwest energy picks today to replace some power poles, and shuts off power for 3 hours-remarkable bad timing. Florin will head out tomorrow to dig up air vents. Ryan and I spend rest of afternoon and evening preparing to move cows at first light to tanks east that are filled from another well. Pit appears not to be air locked on the line heading east to Lackey’s. Cows are still mostly SG7. First group of 5 bulls placed in herd. Eleven woodhouse toads are in ‘Milton Pond’ at 11:00 pm.
Very hot. At my sunset water check last night, I shockingly observed the pipeline had lost most of its pressure. For days in extreme heat, our water system has worked almost flawlessly. The following words capture the 24 hours that followed:
Panic: Yes, nothing best describes the feeling that watering 350 cow pairs might now be a big problem; Response; Contact Ryan and begin trouble shooting the cause (line break, pit plugged, air lock). I could not find or contact Ryan by phone. Later learned he had checked water before my last check and the pressure was fine, so he went to visit the Adolphs’, and overlooked that his cell phone was dead. Vulnerable: The water guy was not to be found, so the initial response was on me. Act: Turn Ryan’s well on (usually turned off at night so he can do water chores at home). I checked the pit. It was full. Closed line off to the east-possible cause of air in line. I walked the line with a flashlight-no leaks. Dry lightning cell passes over during this whole process. Last chore for the night was driving through ranch to check for possible firs Assess: Tank fills up and line pressures with Ryan’s home well. No fires. Good until morning. Remorse: What Ryan felt next morning when he realized what all came down while he was at the Adolph’s. Calm and confident: For a moment crises averted, and clear affirmation of everyone’s commitment to figure out next steps. Cooler but still very warm with a little breeze. Cows broke out during the night, as I failed to heat one side of the new paddock. This situation can exasperate water consumption and availability. The cows tend to stay longer on fresh dry feed, and when I gather the cows to place them in the correct paddock, they return to the water tank as a larger group. Their extra thirst, combined with the heat, put a lot of pressure on the tank and recharge from pipeline. As the tank takes longer to fill, it becomes harder for calves to drink.
Heat returns. Cow pairs move into second split in SG 6& mostly 7. Cows were surprisingly quiet and calm as I built the next paddock for the second split. The cows tend to get a little agitated when they expect a move to fresh feed.
A little cooler. Cow pairs moved into first split in SG6 and 7 along riparian corridor. For over a week, bird songs season is quickly giving way to calls and silence. The Lark Sparrow is holding out and sharing his song in early morning.
Fire two miles east of ranch begins with early morning lightning (see photos). With the great efforts of local, state (DNRC), and federal (BLM), the fire was contained by evening after having burnt over 3000 acres. No houses lost. Nothing moved at home.
Hot. Cows moved to the next split. Cows grazing having good impact on patches of Canadian thistle.
Hot. Cow pairs moved to the next split moving west up the creek area.
|
Bill Milton
|
Milton Ranch LLC | Daily Ranch Journal |