Duty Calls

Hello fellow bloggers, and followers. I apologies for my absence of any new blog posts, here at YV Ranch we are heavy into seeding, with this comes long days. Days spent in the tractor seeding, harrowing and cultivating. These long, long work days gives me no free time. I will carry on the blog when there is an abundance of time, either when it rain's and is to wet to carry on with the field work, or when we are finished, until then so long! 

New Page, Questions and Answers

Since starting my blog up I have had people emailing me asking me questions about agricultural related subjects. I have been answering them to my fullest extent. I have been thinking about this and have realized from my many years in the class room that the majority of the time a question asked is a question that many people have, but just never spoke up. So I would like to let everyone feel free to email me (halnixdorff@gmail.com) or just post on my blog any questions you may have about agricultural related subjects. I will be starting up a new page to answer these questions to the best of my ability, any questions I cant answer I will hopefully be able to find someone that can or leave it open for other people to answer for you. Thanks and ask away!

Down fall of the Canadian Wheat Board

In 1935 the Parliament of Canada created the Canadian Wheat board, the main purpose of the Canadian wheat board was to give farmers across Canada the same fair prices for wheat and barley. The wheat board was a useful tool for many years to help farmers market the grains they harvest, producing tremendous profit. 

Fleming Saskatchewan, built in 1895

Since 1935 Canadian advancements in transportation and technology has come along way.  Recently many farmers feel that the Canadian wheat board has been more harm than help, it is a monopoly, there for no wheat or barley can be sold through any other companies for human consumption. These days many farmers feel the Canadian wheat board has been giving producers the short end of the stick, not giving fair prices for their crops. just last week the conservative party of canada was voted in to the house of commons with a majority number of seats. The agriculture minister promises there will be changes done to the Canadian wheat board, most likely being abolished. When this happens many farmers will rejoice with the happiness of freedom to sell their wheat or barley to whom ever they would like hopefully creating a stronger market with more opportunity. The future is looking bright!

Present day, southern Alberta 

A Smart Choice

Did you know ninety nine percent of the beef you buy from the grocery stores has four owners or more! The farmer who raises the cattle, the feeder who fattens the cattle up, the packing plant who processes the beef, and the grocery store who markets the beef. When ever the beef changes hands, money does as well, causing a inflation in the prices.  What many people don't know, that many farmers and produces sell beef direct in bulk. This can save the consumer up to fifty percent cost, putting MONEY back in to YOUR POCKET. Our farm has been selling custom beef for the past fifteen years. From neighbors to our doctor, dentist, and electrician they all love it and keep coming back for more. A neighbor that bought their first beef off us says "The steak is unreal, its like eating at a fine restaurant every night." All beef is all natural, hormone free, and only feed natural grains and forages. All beef is aged for twenty one days, for maximum tenderness and taste. As well, customer opportunity to pick the cuts off beef you would like. What an opportunity, saving money while buying a great healthy product. For any questions you can ask me to find out more!

The 100 Mile Challenge

With the twenty first centuries ease of transportation its not uncommon for simple ingredients in a meal to come from many different countries. The 100 mile challenge has been around for quite some time, but just recently the popular food network show 'The 100 Mile Challenge' has made it very popular. What a better way to cut down environmental impact while helping local farmers and ranchers. Not to mention it will taste great!

What is the 100 Mile Challenge?

Exactly what it sounds like: you challenge yourself to eat only foods grown, produced and sold within 100 miles of your home. Anywhere from a week to a year... the length of the challenge is up to you. 

Getting Started 

First visit 100mile.foodtv.ca to find out everything you need to know. from meal planing to venders that only carry products form a hundred miles. Its easy and remember You'll feel great when you do!

Twine Twine Twine

A Pile of Twine and netting after a long Albertan winter

      Living in Alberta has lots of benefits, but then again there are many heart ships. One of these heart ships is the long cold, snowy winters, winters that often last from the beginning of November to the end of April. These long winters call for a lot of feed. Many Albertan farmers feed their livestock hay, wrapped in Bailer twine or bale netting. With such a long feed period there is a large build up of twine or netting. It seems as if no matter how meticulous a farmer is on getting all the strings off the bales they always seem to miss some. These missed strings end up laying in the fields after the snow melts, and cause nothing but trouble. 

Wrecked quad wheel bearings 

        The twin or netting left in a field can have many negative effects. Twine can be tangled in live stocks feet or indigested causing many problems. Many times unwanted twine can get caught in the undercarriages of vehicles and cause much expensive damage.  To the left is a picture of a wrecked wheal bearing  I had to change on our farms quad because some string go caught up in it. luckily I could fix it myself to cut costs. 

           Luckily there are other alternatives to using plastic twine, sisal twine is a natural product that can be used as an alternative. It biodegrades very fast creating a easier twine to deal with. Sadly sisal twine has one draw back, it bio degrades some times two fast causing broken bales. This draw back has been the biggest barrier of on farm use. I would like to hear from you, the reader what you think. I would love to hear input on some great ideas on other alternative bale wrapping techniques, or even ways you think would work well to keep the fields free of twine and netting 

   

About me and my Blog.

    About me      

  

 Hi all, My names Hal I am 19 years young. I have gown up on a family farm just outside of Airdrie Alberta called YV Ranch. Our farm was named after the area in which I live, YV is a acronym for Yankee Valley. It's called Yankee Valley because in the late 1800's many Americans migrated here from the midwestern states. Our Brand as well is a Y over a V, and sorta looks like a arrow.

           For the past 100 years my family has had a large commercial heard of cattle, in the more recent 35 years have had purebred horned herefords, and for the past 7 years my  brothers Adam and Coleman and I have started breeding, showing and selling show steers and heifers. 

     I am currently going to school at Mount Royal University in my first year in the Factuality of Engineering. I don't really know what the future will bring, but i am sure it will lead me straight back to where I started, Agriculture!

        Now a bit about my blog

      I created 'A Day in the Life' to express my feelings about agriculture to the world. I feel for a long time Agriculture has been left in the dark, its such a fast pace life for most people they don't take the time to think how all the food in the grocery stores got there, let alone how it was produced. I am here to open peoples eyes, if nothing else. whether you are from down town LA or from the heart of Beef country my blog will have a little something for you. 

    My belief is that a blog should be about your true thoughts and or feelings, I make a promises  to you, the reader that no political slander or biases  towards a individual will be portrayed.  

    I feel that a Blog should be a short easy read that doesn't strain your brain, Because many times less is truly more. 'A Day in the Life' will have many interactive posts and I expect you, the reader to  feel free to express your opinion. 

The Birds and the Bees

In the past two weeks my cousins Sarah and Jenna Nixdorff were lucky enough to have two spring time presents. They are furry, long legged and go neigh! Can you guess what they are?

Yep your right 

Baby foals, and for all you asking what a foal is, its a baby horse.

-This little guy is a colt(a baby boy), is palomino colored

and is of the breed quarter horse, my cousins plan

 to train here and use here on the farm.

-This little girl is a filly, she is bay colored, 

and unlike the the first foal is of the breed thoroughbred.

They have great hopes for her. If all goes well she will

have the same love to run as here mom and maybe 

be a champion race horse.

Both these new little bundles of joy as you can see are quite cute and surprisingly both have not been named yet.  My cousin are finding this task very difficult, so they asked for your help, they want you to name them. So if any one has any good names for them let me know, leave a post  and I shall pass it on to them :) 

And just maybe you will be the proud namer of one of these fine foals!