Summer 2026, In Spades
- John Hogeland
- Jul 8
- 5 min read
It's been a while since I have written a "what's going on at the farm" post, and I am beginning to realize that these posts actually do me a lot of good. It is easy to fall into the trap of the 'not being able to see the forest for the trees.' With all the issues that I find myself focusing on day to day, it's often hard to see the bigger (and objectively better) picture I get to share with you here.
So in recognition of that, here is another installment of farm news...
This year has been a green one with pretty regular rains, which has resulted in lots and lots (and lots) of grazing for our cattle. While I've been regularly chastising the cows for not keeping up with the mowing, they seem thoroughly unimpressed. Belly high grasses, flowers, clover and alfalfa has seemed to inure them to all criticism.
As a result, the fat calves, both this year's and next's, are becoming pillowy beef lumps in the fields, though they quickly retreat to the shade on our hotter days, doubtless from fear of melting.
The heat and more specifically, the humidity, this year that has been problematic. The phrase 'air that you can wear' has come up in conversation recently, as has 'a three t-shirt day.' As unpleasant as it is for us humans, it is likely more unpleasant for the cattle who aren't great at cooling off.
We are sure to build every paddock with access to shade trees. And, when we can, we give them shade trees on hilltops as that is where the best breezes are. Cattle will opt for partial shade with a breeze over full shade and no breeze, every time. They are wiser than I, so I try to provide their preferences.
Our hay crop this year has been very good, good enough in fact, that we have only needed to take the first cutting and half of a second. We will leave the rest in the field and graze it in our rotation (part of the reason we have so much for the cattle to keep up with). It looks like we will also wind up with a lot of stockpile grazing for the cattle to graze all winter too.
If my planning is worth anything, we should have enough forage on the ground to get us well into February before we really need to give the cattle any of our baled hay. The less hay we have to feed, the more economical it becomes to run the farm. Putting up hay costs money, while letting cattle harvest it themselves is pretty much free. It also frees up bales for us to sell--a great way for us to have an extra revenue source.
The goats, as many of you may know, were purchased by our most recent 'farmer trainee,' Alexis last fall. They have remained on the farm as she has explored the joys and trials of farm life. The goats, better suited to hot weather than cattle, sailed through the miasma of this summer without any complaints, other than "when do we move next?"
The goats, even in the heat, are clearing large parts of of our most overgrown pastures to the point that even the cattle are amazed. "They eat that stuff?" I've heard whispered more than once by the cattle as they graze through areas previously occupied by the goats. Having two species that eat different things is a pretty useful symbiosis.
Unfortunately, Alexis decided that being an animal manager/owner is more her cup of tea than being a full time farmer, and so she will be shipping the goats to the far north of Minnesota at the end of the season to a farmer who is interested in custom grazing them for her.
While we wish her the best of luck, I have been bitten by the goat bug and may have to restock the herd a bit to keep my infatuation in check. Discussions on the topic are ongoing with Beth, a woman less enamored with our caprine charges and more rigorous with her accounting. We'll let you know how it all turns out in future updates.
Our co-farmer, Jake, in his quest to figure out growing grain sustainably in south central Iowa, has a field planted to organic corn strip tilled into alfalfa this year and we made the 'knee high by the fourth of July' bar, although the final outcome is still up in the air. But then, that is farming.
The renovated house-barn, used for both cooking classes and overnight stays, is a useful and fretful addition to our business. Sometimes our classes fill quickly, almost mysteriously. Other times, not so much. The same can be said for overnight stays. But it is a work in progress and all of our reviews have been good, so it is simply a matter of time until the entire state sees us as a self-styled, farm-getaway destination that Gwyneth Paltrow raves about. Although she might need to visit first.
Last but not least, the pets. For those who know them, the dogs (Snooks and Ruti) are great, always trying to sneak in to enjoy the air conditioning after a morning managing cattle. They continue to learn cattle herding a la John and are helpful more often than they make me pull my hair out.
The cats, (Abe, Chubbs and Mojo Jojo) continue to keep the local populations of voles and field mice under control and also unfortunately extend their fascination of hunting to the local song bird population (gotta work on that one). The chickens and ducks keep the yard clear of almost all insects except mosquitos and are happily producing several eggs a day. We wish them long and happy lives.
If you have gotten to this point in a long post, thanks so much for all of your support!! I hope that I have both entertained and informed. Beth often says that I was born in the wrong era, considering some of my word choices, so thanks for putting up with me.
Come visit soon! We'd love to have you, and tell your friends about us. Let's make this farm a place for everyone to visit and love (even Gwenth Paltrow).
John and Beth
Whippoorwill Creek Farm
Lovilia
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