There's Hope

Allan in NE · Dec 24, 2008

I think spring is on the way.

Clear up to -4 this morning and the first time in two months that the electric tank heater has stayed ahead of the ice.

Won't be long now. :>)

Allan

Mattlt · Dec 24, 2008

Yep, we're past the 21st of December. Days are getting longer. We've turned the corner.

Merry Christmas to all!

M Nut · Dec 24, 2008

Isn't it the truth! It's only gonna get down to -11 here in MN tonight, and it's predicted to be three days in between the snow storms this week. Oh well, gotta love farming!

rrlund · Dec 24, 2008

I don't know what happened to my 4 hole ball waterer for 2 days there. Monday morning one of the balls had rolled back under the lid where they aren't supposed to go. There was ice on the water,but I was EXTREMELY lucky,the valve hadn't frozen. It was stuck again everytime I checked it again through yesterday afternoon. It was the only hole they were using,the rest of'em were frozen in. I kicked two of the other ones loose,held them under and got the ice melted off and let them back up.I think one must have had some ice on it so it wasn't centered and wasn't stopping the other one from polling back under too far. Of course,it's up to 32 degrees today,so if it is gonna stick again,it won't happen until it's below zero.

Andy Motteberg · Dec 24, 2008

I can hardly wait til Spring, I can't stand this cold snowy weather.

M Nut · Dec 24, 2008

Mine does that quite often when it is well below zero. There will be either a build up of ice on the ball, or if you look inside, there will be a "lip" of ice built up that acts like a lock when the cattle push the ball down and it rolls back under the lid for them to drink. It then won't roll back into place. When it is -20 or colder, I know my valve will be frozen. I heat a tea kettle of boiling water on the stove, pop open the lid, and pour the hot water on the valve. If I don't unthaw it, and the cattle drink the water level down, it makes a real mess. Either the inside remaining water will freeze solid, or the valve eventually unthaws, and then it blows out and the water is free flowing. It makes for an icy rink by the waterer real quick.

rrlund · Dec 24, 2008

That's what I'm afraid is going to happen. We had several colder days last winter and it didn't do it,but there's been so much snow piled on top of it,I think it gets knocked down when they drink and that's what's causing the buildup. I'm gonna have to try to keep it swept off I guess,but the way it's been piling up,it ain't gonna be easy.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 24, 2008

You"re temps was be like a chinook for us.-30 here right now in Sunny Manitoba Canada.

Dave from MN · Dec 24, 2008

I have been using floating and sinking tank heaters and after a -20 night the tanks are always free of any ice. These are 100 gallon tanks, poly and steel. Maybe you need a hotter heater, or 2 heaters per tank depending on your size.

Mike (WA) · Dec 24, 2008

Not to be pessimistic, but first day of winter was only day before yesterday. Guess I'm just a little owly because we've had a couple of winter's worth in the past 2 weeks- a foot plus on the ground, more on the way. Not much by midwest standards, but a lot where a normal snowfall is a couple inches, and many years none at all. Bah, humbug.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 24, 2008

To my dear Yankee friends,

Are you masochistic or just plain nuts? Sell out and come south. We had BITTER cold weather last week. One night it got down to 10 degrees. It's now 60 degrees and raining slightly.

I lived in Minnesota for four years back in the early 70's. I'm serious when I say this, I don't know why anyone would purposely try to raise animals in the cold that you experience. I rented land and row cropped. That was bad enough. But I didn't have to mess with any animals in the winter.

Good luck. You're all better men than I am.

Tom in TN

Jim H SW-PA · Dec 24, 2008

If all us Yankees would take your advice, you would be living in town. not that we love the weather so much. We are born complainers and the changes from hot to cold gives us another reason to complain.

Thanks for the offer though.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 24, 2008

What's your weather like in June, July and August?

Glenn F.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 24, 2008

Yes sir. I always love seeing the days getting longer rather than shorter. It really does something to me psychologically.

Glenn

rgvtx · Dec 24, 2008

Eeeewwwwww, that"s just plain ugly. I feel for you folks in the cold country. 84 degrees today with the stupid useless palm trees swaying in the breeze. Next cold front comes in here Sunday, should get down around the 40"s.

old popper · Dec 24, 2008

My Grandma always said (on New Years Day) "Now the days get longer, and the cold gets stronger" She has been gone for 50 years but her philosophy stands as true today as it was then.

Todd-L · Dec 24, 2008

That looks like some of my tanks Allan. Sure is going to be nice to see some warmer weather and hopefully no more wind.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 24, 2008

Yes it is, like was mentioned, December 21st has passed, just that you won't notice until mid to late January, once that extra hour of light comes back, kind of helps boost that winter morale. Being hemmed in with snow and short days, and or trying to water critters in zero temps, no matter what you have, really takes the fun out of things. I think the anticipation of winter is even worse, one day at a time, before you know it, it's over, one milestone passed already, headed for the next. I'm just glad I got my tractor inside and don't have to deal with cold starts, 18" of snow on the ground and 5-10 deg temps at night, then back to 40's and rain today, make up yer mind already

RBnSC · Dec 24, 2008

Man Please!! don't be inviten em down here we got enough of em down here already. I went to Pennsylvania couple of times and I found that Yankees are really nice people in their own environment. But Ya know, I would like to have a white Christmas once in My life. God Bless, and Yall have a Merry Christmas up there.

Paul from MI · Dec 24, 2008

5F yesterday morning when I went to cut wood, 38F this afternoon wiht rain making a mess o ut of everything. I'd rather have the cold. Southern Michigan.
Paul

CWH · Dec 24, 2008

I'll take the winters you'll have up north over the summers we have here in central NC any time. I hate hot weather, wish summer would never come.

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