Fiddle farting around on the farm.

[Siesta Sundance]

We're expecting about 2in of rain later this week, hoping I can get some of the brush piles burned.

Update 4/5/23@7:45pm Just a trace of rain so far.

 

[Siesta Sundance]

Picked up my L305DT today and brought it back to the farm. It needs some maintenance to include an engine oil change & new filters.

 

[Siesta Sundance]

My future plans in next couple years is get more net wire fencing up and transition my place for sheep. The sheep reproduce faster, eat basically nothing, input costs are very minimal and they bring good money.

Texas lamb and goat prices strong amid challenges - AgriLife Today

Texas lamb and goat producers are seeing positive price trends, but challenges related to higher input costs, drought and predation remain,.

agrilifetoday.tamu.edu

 

[Siesta Sundance]

Very much needed, even if it washes my seed away.

 

[Siesta Sundance]

The lighting from some of the micro cells are pretty intense!!

 

[D2Cat]

Very much needed, even if it washes my seed away.

View attachment 99650

It must be dryer than a popcorn fart if you wanting rain bad enough to not care about $7.50 a pound seed!

 

[Siesta Sundance]

It must be dryer than a popcorn fart if you wanting rain bad enough to not care about $7.50 a pound seed!

Yup. Started the new year 14" deficit.
Started last year 2022 with a 19" deficit and from Jan 1s to Aug 22 driest on record with 6.35 for that period.
12" deficit for 2020.

4/10ths overnight.

 

[Siesta Sundance]

It must be dryer than a popcorn fart if you wanting rain bad enough to not care about $7.50 a pound seed!

The 2022/23 updated stocking rate, 1 cow per 17 to 20 acre now, lol

Air filter on the skidsteer is a 50hr service, nope not here, every 10hours with the grease interval. Engine oil is 500hr service, it's now gonna be at 250hrs.

 

[Siesta Sundance]

1.2in of rain yesterday.

Hired a neighbors ranch hand to help me light up all the brush piles, crawled into bed after 1am.

A very light mist this morning.

 

[Siesta Sundance]

3 day rain total 2.2in

 

[fried1765]

3 day rain total 2.2in

Nice!

 

[Siesta Sundance]

Most of the walk behind weed trimmers will not work with a blade(were excluding the very overpriced DR brand).

Saw this on Amazon and saw that it had a regular head for string trimmers and based off 1 review, the guy said he attached a 9in blade.

Very light weight, which I want maneuvering around easier. I hope it holds up.

Just made a few modifications, don't need height adjustments, tie wrapped down.

Re-routed the throttle cable underneath this rubber skid/debris protection.

Added 2 sheet metal screws to permanently keep the swivel from rotating, that can be dangerous with the blade on it.

 

[fried1765]

Most of the walk behind weed trimmers will not work with a blade(were excluding the very overpriced DR brand).

Saw this on Amazon and saw that it had a regular head for string trimmers and based off 1 review, the guy said he attached a 9in blade.

Very light weight, which I want maneuvering around easier. I hope it holds up.

Just made a few modifications, don't need height adjustments, tie wrapped down.
View attachment 99991

Re-routed the throttle cable underneath this rubber skid/debris protection.

View attachment 99990

Added 2 sheet metal screws to permanently keep the swivel from rotating, that can be dangerous with the blade on it.

View attachment 99989

View attachment 99988

View attachment 99987

Cost?
Please keep us up to date with your success level on this.

 

[Siesta Sundance]

Cost?
Please keep us up to date with your success level on this.

Bought off Amazon for $255, free shipping and no tax(I have AG tax exemption uploaded on their website).

2 pack of blades run $20

This past week, ran atleaat 7 tanks of 2cycle gas through it. I completely removed the front guard, it just gets hung up on brush. It's definitely easier on the lower back. I feel like you have to move the brush a bit more(out of the way) than using the hand held trimmer. I do find it easier to get the cuts closer to the ground. In the open areas where there are very few cuts, this beats carrying around the handheld. So far its been pretty useful, gonna continue to use and abuse it in the brush, time will tell if it holds up.

 

[fried1765]

Bought off Amazon for $255, free shipping and no tax(I have AG tax exemption uploaded on their website).

2 pack of blades run $20
View attachment 100283
View attachment 100284

View attachment 100285

This past week, ran atleaat 7 tanks of 2cycle gas through it. I completely removed the front guard, it just gets hung up on brush. It's definitely easier on the lower back. I feel like you have to move the brush a bit more(out of the way) than using the hand held trimmer. I do find it easier to get the cuts closer to the ground. In the open areas where there are very few cuts, this beats carrying around the handheld. So far its been pretty useful, gonna continue to use and abuse it in the brush, time will tell if it holds up.

Not to be critical, but my 12HP Gravely with 30" rotary deck, would eat through that stuff in two or 3 minutes.
Of course, the self-propelled, Gravely is a 400+ lb. monster, and at my age (82) is too much for me for more than 20 minutes.
If that little machine does hold up, I can certainly see where it could be very useful.

 

[Siesta Sundance]

Not to be critical, but my 12HP Gravely with 30" rotary deck, would eat through that stuff in two or 3 minutes.
Of course, the self-propelled, Gravely is a 400+ lb. monster, and at my age (82) is too much for me for more than 20 minutes.
If that little machine does hold up, I can certainly see where it could be very useful.

Yes, you mentioned that before.

The debris needs to burned, not shredded, EVERYTHING here in South Texas has thorns except the Live oaks.
If the debris from brush and small trees gets shredded and scattered everywhere, that can be a potential problem for the cattle grazing.

 

[fried1765]

Yes, you mentioned that before.

The debris needs to burned, not shredded, EVERYTHING here in South Texas has thorns except the Live oaks.
If the debris from brush and small trees gets shredded and scattered everywhere, that can be a potential problem for the cattle grazing.

Understood!

 

[Flintknapper]

The debris needs to burned, not shredded, EVERYTHING here in South Texas has thorns except the Live oaks.
If the debris from brush and small trees gets shredded and scattered everywhere, that can be a potential problem for the cattle grazing.

Same thing where I am......just different species. Honey Locust and Prickly Ash need to be removed, piled and burned.

I have to cut a lot of them out of overgrown fence lines.

At the end of the day I look as if I've been in a fight with a pair of Bobcats and fared poorly. But it has to be done.

 

[D2Cat]

If you have a lot of fence to install.

 

[Siesta Sundance]

If you have a lot of fence to install.

Nifty

Except I'm gonna replace most of it with net wire.