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Wet spring not all bad for Illinois cattle producer
An Illinois cattleman says there are pros and cons to a cool, wet spring on his cow/calf operation.
Josh St. Peters of McLean County tells Brownfield excessive rain and mud can make spring calving difficult, but they’ve got most of their calves on the ground with little trouble.
“It has gone well for us this season. Next, we are working through the process of breeding for the next winter calving group in the weeks ahead.”
He says while conditions have been wetter than he likes for spring calving, he will be thankful for that extra soil moisture this summer.
“Come July we will appreciate that. When we are in that second cutting of hay, everyone always appreciates that subsoil moisture being there, so by summer we will make good use of the extra rainfall we have had this spring.”
St. Peters serves as Executive Vice President for the Illinois Beef Association.