Unpredictably Constant -- or, is it the other way around?

It has been a year of flood, then drought, then flood again.  We have had a total of over 53 inches of rain this calendar year and may see more before the year is done, yet there is a severe shortage of hay in the area due to the drought during the summer.

Weather is the constant for agriculture.  It is the constant because we know it will be unpredictable.  I wonder if there has ever been an ideal year for the weather?

Yesterday we moved the cattle.  I say we moved them, when in reality, it was a matter of shutting one gate and opening another.  We have what we call "the trap" in the center of our place.  It is where the water, corrals and vet shed are located.  It is also where we usually feed the cattle.

With the arrival of the first calf of this year's calf crop, we decided to go ahead and shut the cattle off from the bottom land on our place and open the upper pasture to keep them farther from the woods.  The new babies attract predators.  In fact, it was quickly apparent yesterday when we arrived to check cattle that there was a new baby due to the large number of black vultures.

The other good thing about getting the cattle to higher ground was the expected rain last night.  We had heavy thunderstorms that passed through during the night which dumped 2.24" of rain.  That much rain on the saturated ground means the bottom is probably flooded this morning.  I would hate for a new baby to get caught in the flood.

Knowing that the weather will be unpredictable is a good thing.  It causes one to prepare for the ups and downs.  Most folks don't think about that in their life.  We should.  There will always be ups and downs -- good times and bad.  We need to prepare for those times when the bad times come along.

With the new year upon us, perhaps it would be a good idea to include plans to prepare for the unexpected -- for the things which will come that take us unaware -- to set aside for the rainy day....

Here's the new calf: