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Spring calving full of challenges for Minnesota cattlemen and women

The president of the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association says spring calving has been full of challenges for many cow/calf producers.

Krist Wollum of Porter tells Brownfield it’s been a continual struggle from the end of March through the beginning of April.

“(It’s been) one snow storm after the other.  Nothing that we haven’t been through before.  Probably a little bit fortunate this year in the fact that the ground has remained relatively frozen, still allowing us to get out to fields to work with the cattle.”

He says Minnesota farmers are bracing for another round of snow this weekend.

“(Given the fact) the ground will probably be more thawed, we’ll be dealing with a lot more mud and moisture, which will make it a lot tougher for calving and for the health of the calves.”

Despite cold and wet conditions, Wollum says he’s not aware of any spikes in calf mortality so far this spring.

He is concerned about available feed.

“There are a lot of guys that are going to be cutting it very close, if not running out of hay.  That’s where situations like last year where there was some emergency haying on some CRP ground that could be very helpful again for producers this upcoming season.  If something like that were available, they could stockpile more hay and build up their supplies.”

On his cow/calf and feedlot operation, Wollum says cattle that normally feed on corn stalks by now can’t because of the snow cover.