Massive incoming grain and food shortages

[DrFyl]

Maybe it's about time the farmers in the dust bowl actually farm instead of being paid by the government not to.

Fertilizer is a problem as well as fuel.

 

[raingarden]

Fertilizer is a problem as well as fuel.

Also the supply and cost of Roundup this year.

 

[DrFyl]

How do we tell the difference between feed that molded in the bag versus feed made with moldy ingredients?

With my pelleted horse feed, the pellets seem clumped/packed inside the bag. Sometimes you can't tell till you open it and see/smell mold. Often, the tag on the bag will clue you in to the expiration date. All grain past the expiration date is not bad, but the chances of it being bad are greater. Don't buy any damp bags. Sometimes, the pallets are left outdoors in the weather for whatever reason, and eventhough they are shrink-wrapped, once moisture gets in, damage is done. Our farm store (I love 'em) often has feed on sale when it's close to or past the expiration date, and I have sometimes ended up with spoiled feed. They have always taken it back and given me credit, but it is a chore to get it out of the barrel and back into the bag.

 

[Sally PB]

In the 29 years that we've lived here, I don't ever recall the farm fields on our road being sown in winter wheat for two years in a row. Until last fall. So maybe they know something...? Or that's what was most profitable for them to grow this year, even they did it last year? There is a flour mill in town, and that may play into it too.

They usually do rotate their crops, wheat, corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. The latter is grown for two growing seasons, which is a good thing for the soil.

 

[Iluveggers]

What is acceptable to feed chickens if feed is gone? I have tons of dried grains…barley, millet, amaranth, rice, oats…for us humans. Plus a garden full of greens until October hopefully. I wouldn’t do this unless absolutely necessary of course. I actually found some amaranth seed so I might plant that in a corner of our property as well.

 

[MACCanadianCoop]

What is acceptable to feed chickens if feed is gone? I have tons of dried grains…barley, millet, amaranth, rice, oats…for us humans. Plus a garden full of greens until October hopefully. I wouldn’t do this unless absolutely necessary of course. I actually found some amaranth seed so I might plant that in a corner of our property as well.

My thoughts are that if chicken feed is unavailable, then any food is better than no food, right? All of those sound good for sharing with the chickens.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Chickens will do quite well on anything that you eat if it comes down to that. Kudos to those thinking about preparing for feed shortages.

 

[raingarden]

Chickens will do quite well on anything that you eat if it comes down to that. Kudos to those thinking about preparing for feed shortages.

How about that hornery old rooster we put in freezer camp? He's still edible, but probably as tough as a boot.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Ever see a flock of meat birds pecking at vents till one winds up "strung out"? Trust me, they would eat that old horny bird in a heart beat. You too if you had a heart attack and died in the coop. Little t rexes indeed.

 

[Sally PB]

In the 29 years that we've lived here, I don't ever recall the farm fields on our road being sown in winter wheat for two years in a row. Until last fall. So maybe they know something...? Or that's what was most profitable for them to grow this year, even they did it last year? There is a flour mill in town, and that may play into it too.

Well, so much for a second year of wheat in the field near us. They treated it with roundup (or something), killed it, and turned it under. Maybe that was the plan all along.