Now, as I write this, the forecast is calling for temperatures above 30°C, and we still haven’t fixed the air conditioner. Since it wasn’t called to action over the past nine months, it was forgotten.
It’s not that I hadn’t noticed it over that course of time. It sits right outside the window in the hallway I walk past to get to and from my office. I just forgot it needed my attention.
Now, the service company tells us it will be two weeks until they can get to it. I imagine there may have been others who forgot, or possibly just put it off, and the company is working through its list of customers.
I was raised in an old farmhouse where air conditioning was a fan positioned by the window on a cool night. The next few days may not be comfortable, but I know I’ll survive until we can get it up and running again.
Certain pieces of equipment can be apt to be forgotten over others. For instance, you’re probably checking your milking system every day, at least twice a day, because it needs to run regularly. But what about your cattle trailer? How often is that being checked over as it sits by the shed waiting for the next cull cow trip?
If the answer is never, you may want to check out the article The often-forgotten stock trailer. It gives a thorough explanation of all the parts and pieces, from the hitch to the taillights, to make sure the trailer is ready to roll when you’re hauling cattle. Spending a little time now will probably be better than having to do a repair alongside the road with three cows staring at you from inside.
I realize cropping season is well underway, so you’ve probably already tuned up your harvest equipment for the year, but the articles Self-propelled forage harvester adjustment for better quality and Baleage: The hottest thing haymaking may provide you with a few more items to consider on your self-propelled forage harvester or baler. It may be worth pulling them back into the shop on a rainy day or in between crops to take another look to improve performance for the remainder of the season.
One thing to never forget is safety. Brad Nelson has been working with farm equipment for a long time. In the article Regular safety training required for inexperienced individuals, he reviews good safety protocols for working with machinery around the farm, including training tips for employees.
If these are all things you know you should do but tend to forget, try setting up a maintenance schedule for all of your equipment. If you have one, consider taking a walk around the farm to make sure all of your equipment is noted – even if it is something you happen to walk by every day.
Also, if your cows are like me and experiencing uncomfortable heat stress this summer, take a look at the articles Help cows rise to the challenge of increased temperatures and Heat stress: Feeding strategies to maintain productive dairy cows. There are a number of forage management and feeding strategies that can be put to use during hot weather to maintain productive cows in a challenging time.
Stay cool. 
-
Karen Lee
- Editor
- Progressive Dairyman
- Email Karen Lee
