Good day to all:

I am brand new to this board. Right now I live with a very high level of frustration. My husband and I are cattle farmers in mid Missouri. I view peak oil from an agriculture view point. I also view peak oil as it is being played out in small town midwest America. The picture is not a pretty one. I am hoping that I may add my insights to this board from where I see it. Please let me know if I am posting this on the wrong forum.

In this post I will just start with two aspects of peak oil that really frighten me:

First, I have attempted to start discussion groups, show films, etc. I have been shot down at every turn. Even our local public library has refused to allow me to show the film "End of Suburbia". At first I thought the negative response was just that people thought I was a left wing nutcase. Slowly, and eerily, it has evolved that people already know what is happening. People do not know consciously, they know it deep down inside. They want to keep this information hidden. I would call this a form of social cognitive dissonance. Tell me if I am off base here. From what I am picking up in the Midwest, there are basically just two groups of people; those that just don't understand this, and those that do, but don't want to. My level of frustration drove me to this board.

Second, my husband and I own 160 acres, and raise cattle with what is known as a cow/calf operation. Our 160 acres is entirely in pasture/woods. We raised crops, but had to stop in 1990 because of soil depletion. This is a common history for Missouri farms. The average size of a small Missouri farm is 160 acres. About 30 head of cows (breeding females) can be raised on this acreage. With mamas and offspring, bulls and steers, (meat animals) the head count usually runs about 60-75 animals.

Most people think that the backbone of farming is the gigantic conglomerate farms. A person doesn't have to do a lot of math to see that these farms will collapse first with the decline of natural resources. Most people think that the population can then fall back on the "small farm". Well, we are that small farm, and I can tell you right now, that it just won't work. For instance. 10 years ago we paid 26 cents a pound for synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, which is made from natural gas (another depleting resource). This year we paid 40 cents a pound. We could only afford to fertilize about 60 acres of land, at a cost of about 2,000.00 dollars. Without synthetic fertilizers to create nutritious grass, our head count on the farm would drop drastically. Carrying capacity on almost all farm land in the United States is artifically maintained by synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. Most people think of crops, combines, and large petroleum inputs, when they think of agriculture and oil depletion, but the picture is much broader.

My husband and I do our utmost to farm in a manner that preserves the farm while maintaining our carrying capacity for our cattle. We use huge amounts of ground water to water our cattle, and a lot of petroleum to put up hay for them to consume in the winter. We fertilize with synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. We cut the hay with a large International Harvester tractor. We rake the hay with a tractor, bale the hay with a tractor and a big baler. Then we use the same tractor to put the hay in the barn. We then use the same tractor to haul the hay out of the barn in the winter to feed it to the cattle. We use the pick-up truck and trailer to haul the cattle to the sale barn, or the slaughterhouse. We have ponds to water naturally, but their use is limited. Most of our watering is done with watering systems that utilize water that we pay for. We are part of a water co-op. We are using underground well water to water our cattle. We fence our cattle with electric fence. We use what is known as an intensive grazing management system. We move the cattle to new pasture every 3 or 4 days. This method prevents overgrazing and drastically reduces erosion, but we have a lot of fence, almost all of it electric.

Our farm is considered small, and we utilize a lot of energy saving practices. We have quail habitats, and many wild places that we keep fenced from cattle to prevent habitat destruction. Nonetheless, I do not know how we could continue our operation without our present use of petroleum. We raise a large garden, and have peaches, apples, strawberries and blackberries. We use no petroleum based insecticides of any kind. My husband ceased using herbicides years ago.
Now, that might sound like we use a lot of petroleum, but actually, we use less than most farming operations.

When we put up our big bales of hay, they are composed of grass that has just been allowed to sit and dry for a couple of days. You can't bale wet hay. The hay will mold and be ruined. The exception to this is a product called haylage. Haylage is similar to silage. Silage is fermented corn. Haylage is fermented hay. The standard way to achieve fermentation is to remove oxygen from the product. In farming, you do this with a silo. Modern silos are the large blue towers that you see on some farms. The blue silos are called harvestores. They work beautifully, are very airtight, and create wonderful haylage and silage. Cattle love haylage. it smells kind of like beer, and the fermentation process increases nutrition content and digestability. The problem with this system, and the link to petroleum depletion is that harvestores are very expensive. They start at about 80 thousand dollars. Farmers are now utilizing an inexpensive method to imitate the fermentation of harvestores. They are using a large machine that runs on petroleum to wrap the bales in plastic wrap made of petroleum. In all of my years in farming I have never seen such a stupid wasteful practice. The waste percentage is huge. So many bales do not ferment. Rips in the plastic, along with waste on the end bales of the wrapped rows make this a wasteful procedure. The plastic is not reused. We had neighbors who were doing this with thousands of bales per year. they were burning the plastic. I guess somebody reported them to the EPA because they have not burned any plastic in two years. I do not know what they do with the plastic now. More and more farmers are switching to this method of roughage production for cattle. The process is wasteful, expensive, and extremely energy and labor intensive. The world has gone crazy.

Sorry this is so long.

Phebagirl {pargraph editing by MQ}

Thanks for the insight into the workings of a small farm.

Does running the farm in this manner create enought income to pay for the land and all your expenses plus a little savings for retirement or do you and your husband have to work other jobs to make ends meet?

How many cattle could the land support with out the fertiliser additions?


Lastly how have profit margins changed in the last five years?

thanks

Thanks for the post phebagirl and welcome. We really need insight from folks like you.

There aren’t many commercial farmers here aside from pip that raises wheat in Texas and Colorado Valley who I think also has a cow calf outfit and you can guess where.

We just moved last year to a little place in Lawrence county and though I don’t know many people the ones I have met – farmers to one extent or another, nod when I say something about discovery vs. extraction but I’m not sure they could see a way out any more than you or a commuter that can’t afford the commute but can’t afford not to commute.

They see themselves as far more practical than the Amish around here and to give up round bales and go back to little squares worked by hand (just for an example) just ain’t an option.

In the long run I think people will be required to pay more for food or cut way down on what types they eat, in the short run however that means lots of farm families will go out of business – I hope it’s not you.

Have you looked into direct selling? Grass fed, no nasty chemicals and all that.

Great first post.

I think your first hand experiences will be a great addition to the site.

Phebagirl I think you are right as well that people know what is happening they just do not want to talk about it. They know something bad is coming but choose not to acknowledge it consciously.

You have land and you may have to just focus on survival in the future. Cheap energy means increased production with less man power. In the future man power will be in abundance.

Remember too that as PO continues to hit your place is going to sound like heaven to 99% of the earth's population. Even if you are faced with many troubles and tribulations.

Welcome Phebagirl. I agree that many people know something is up but just don't want their vision of the world to be shattered.

I wanted to suggest that since you can't afford to keep using chemical fertalizer...maybe you could start trying to revitalize the soil in areas you didn't fertalize this year & mark them off as to never use chem-fertalizer in this area again. Maybe grow alphalfa & just turn it into the soil (don't harvest it)...or turn in leaves/wood chips that alot of places (cities) would give you for free. I'm sure there are other methods as well.

as the fertalizer get's more & more expensive you'll need some acres to be productive! But you don't have to do it all in one season.

I concur with what Eli says, I can sense the trouble and all I want to do is forget about my career, and give my allegiance to a farmer so that we may together prepare for what is to come. (hmm, giving allegiance....kinda sounds like warriors for hire, hey, could this is the era where the pesant farmer will become king/queen to a whole fleet of people willing to give their allegiance for food? Way to go!)

And people believe there will not be a dieoff without oil!

It should be obvious what will happen. This cattle operation just described may go on but with maybe 1/3 of the cattle now carried because the pasture will be poorer and the hay yeild will be down, and because they may need to change to horse drawn hay rakes, bailers, and manure spreaders, which means that they must also feed the horse.

Some of these operations will not go on, because of debt on the place and the inability to fund the debt with lower yeilds.

Even if they can get gas for a tractor and nitrogen fertilizer, how long will they afford that at scarcity prices?

A die-off of Mickey D’s and family farms maybe – Americans only eat 38# of beef a year but they really like their hamburger!

Beef

Phebagirl, glad you're here and welcome.

I'm running some cows here in TX panhandle in addition to my "real" job. I don't use fertilizer, I just keep the stocking rate down to what the land can handle. I've got 160 acres of native buffalo grass that will support 1 cow per 15-20 acres. I also have another 160 acres of improved bluestem pasture that will support 1 cow/8 acres. Land is much cheaper here so the economics work at this stocking level. The grass is staying in good shape even during this dry summer so I believe this is somewhat sustainable.

I don't know how peak will affect the small farms. As you described, ag production should drop off considerably. It's my hope that commodity prices will rise sufficiently due to basic supply and demand to allow us to continue to make a profit. It's anybodys guess.

What a fascinating and well-written intro!

My partner and I have a subsistence farm in New England. We just got a milk cow and are VERY pleased with the results. We plan to raise a beef critter, too, and feed it hay we cut ourselves and store loose in the barn.

We are not large enough to produce commercially. We only have about 15 acres of pasture and hayfields. The balance of our hay comes from neighbors' fields. I'm horrified at the encroaching development and fear we may lose our haying privileges.

Our fields our fertilized entirely with manure via a John Deere spreader. We're planning on adding the short fiber waste from paper plants, which is available free through New England Organics.

With our orchard, chickens, turkeys and cow, we are able to grow much of our own food, plus sell surplus to friends for pocket money. Once the cows are producing well, we plan to (silently) sell raw milk from grass-fed cows, some of the healthiest food available.


One thing I'd like you to comment on if you would: Could you explain this a little more? What have you done, and what exactly have people said?

Here, we are in touch with a small group that are very receptive to peak oil news. In fact, this Monday we're showing "Suburbia" to a group of friends here at the farm.

One thing I might also suggest is www.meetup.com. Look for the PO groups, they are few down this way but I think KC, Jeff City and St Louis would have bigger groups.

Like this site they may be more urban than rural but it could be worth a try to get together.

BTW, what do you hear from the state? One of the reasons we liked MO is that it seems very small farmer friendly. Any word from them?


See, I told you that we need your input here!

We need "Small Farmer Fan Clubs" to support and applaud you folks who are trying to make a go of it.

Come Peak Oil, we will need your expertise and your products.

YOU will be the heroes of the future, not the movie stars and industry tycoons of today.

As for people who don't want to hear the Peak Oil message, there's no point in pushing it. Make your preparations, be willing to talk if people are curious, have a good life. In time, the others will come around. It's like any new idea.

Best of luck and welcome to the board, Phebagirl!

Welcome!!

For one thing, don't let it get you down. You will find most don't want to believe it, even if they know deep down it's true. It is the nature of our modern way. If it means a disruption in my 'keeping up with the Jones' lifestyle, I'm not interested.

Second, I am curious on your opinion of sustainable farming as it pertains to natural gardening/mini-farming. Biointensive techniques. Using less water and fertilizer, less land, higher outputs, etc. while replenishing the soil naturally. Are you familiar?

Anyway, nice to have you aboard. It's a great place to learn (and educate) and support each other for the tough times ahead.

Oh, this is the right forum, gal! I must say, your first post is one of the best posts this site has seen. A first hand view of the consequences of hydrocarbon depletion from the frontlines--and a well written account!

I have 212 acres in Northwest Missouri near the Iowa border that we rent to a neighbor. I can totally relate to all your words.

Welcome to peakoil.com!

Good day:

I talked to my husband this morning about what I posted yesterday. He had some fascinating facts for me to add. But first, some answers to some questions.

I do not know of a single farmer who makes a living from a 160 acre farm. Either with crop farming or a cow/calf operation. In the last 20 years our taxes have only shown a profit 2 or 3 times. My husband raises the cattle because he loves them. We both love living in the country, and the cattle help to justify living here. My husband bought this farm when he was just 19 years old. (52 now) He bought his first cow when he was just a kid. His father was born and raised here. We make about 8 to 10 thousand dollars a year from cattle. That's gross!

Fertilizer runs about two grand, shots and vet care run another thousand (if you get lucky). Then there is the cost of hay production, etc. My husband is a full-time union carpenter. I am a stay at home farm wife. There are not many good jobs in the area. Any decent job is in Columbia, Missouri, which is 26 miles away. I have rheumatoid arthritis which limits my ability to work full time. I get in enough mischief just staying home and doing volunteer work. I will disucss my volunteer work and the connection of small town America to peak oil in another post.

My husband told me this morning that he is trying to wean us away from using so much synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. Back in 1990 he stopped crop farming. The farm had been in constant production since the 1970's. In 1991 he put in 22 acres of a native Missouri grass called Gamma grass. gamma grass is a dicot like corn. Unlike corn, gamma grass is native to Missouri and grows well here. Also, unlike corn, gamma grass is a perennial. During the worst summer heat, when other grasses wilt, Gamma grass is available for cattle. Also, we do not bale the gamma grass, and do controlled burn in February to control weeds. No chemicals!. By not baling the grass, which grows up to 6 ft. tall, we also provide nesting ground for a lot of species. Unfortunately, most native grasses in Missouri have been pushed out to make way for a grass called K31 (or Kentucky31) Fescue. This grass was introduced several decades ago, and has taken over the state. the good points about fescue are that it is very sturdy. You can't kill it! The cattle eat it. Fescue helps stop erosion. Fescue has an extensive root system.

The downside to fescue is an endophyte fungus that invades the plant. The fungus is hard on cattle. Their milk production drops, and they develop foot infections. The fescue fungus also causes thickening of the placenta that can cause birthing problems. The thickening of the placenta is especially bad with horses that are kept on fescue.. Fescue and gamma are both grasses. Clover, Lespedeza, alfalfa are legumes. legumes actually fix or add nitrogen back into the soil. The problem is that fescue smothers the legume plants. Fescue is impossible to kill. ** Legumes self seed every year, and are not true perennials. Farmers must reseed the legumes every few years.

My husband found that by cutting back on the nitrogen fertilizer, he was not feeding the fescue. The legumes grow better, and self seed better.
We get less hay, but the hay is of a better quality. Less hay means lower carrying capacity. Gamma grass does need some nitrogen fertilizer to sustain our carrying capacity.

One more item that links our farm to natural gas and petroleum is what is called synthetic urea protein supplement. Keeping mama cows on grass is the common practice for raising beef cattle in a cow/calf operation. Unfortunately most green grasses do not have enough protein to sustain superior health. The legumes are much higher in protein than the grasses, but you still need to supplement when mothers are raising babies. The supplement is a liquid containing synthetic urea (made with natural gas!!) and molasses. The molasses is grown in Mexico using petroleum based agriculture, and trucked here with petroleum. We just ordered a ton of the supplement. by the way, the cattle consume the liquid from a "lick tank". The lick tank is made of plastic (petroleum). There is also salt added to force the cow to limit consumption. Each cow consumes about 24 cents per day, or about 1-2 pounds of supplement. At 250.00 a ton, that is quite expensive. What will supplenent cost when the price of natural gas and petroleum go up?

My husband said that when he was a young boy they farmed with horse drawn style equipment using just on old tractor. They hay was not baled but was piled in the large piles that you see on Amish farms. This system of agriculture is labor intensive, but everybody pitched in and helped. My Mother in law said that she remembers cooking huge meals for neighbors who helped during haying season.

My husband said that if the petroleum went up to 5.00 a gallon tomorrow he would have to sell 1/3 of our herd unless the beef market rose in accordance with the petroleum prices. Right now we sell hamburger for 2.00 a pound. When it cost 6.50 a pound I am wondering who will be able to afford it. I know other folks had more questions from my previous post. I need to go back and reread it and get back with more answers later.

By the way, we have had a very bad drought here in Missouri. As I type this my husband is outside on the tractor baling more hay. He believes that we are in for a very rough season. Hay baled this time of year is very low in nutritive value and is mostly filler. That means a lot more of the natural gas based synthetic urea supplement. Because of the drought our corn in this area is a goner.

A neighbor walked out into the middle of a corn field about a mile behind us. He pulled two nine inch ears of corn off the plant and counted the kernels of corn. One had two, the other 12. Sure couldn't make much ethanol with that!! The rules and laws of nature!

More later,

Phebagirl

** Fescue is so hard to kill that my husband was forced to apply a nasty (think Dioxin!) herbicide to the 22 acres before he could plant the warm season grass. That is the last time a petroleum based chemical was applied to the farm. (1991) {paragraph editing by MQ}
Even going natural is not as easy as some books make it seem.
Plowing fescue under does not kill it.