March 25, 2010
Calving season improved from last year’s woes
By Michael Johnson, Editor
It’s that time of year when the ground turns to mush and area beef cattle numbers start to double as calving season begins. Though a hot sun may be desired by some, area ranchers are enjoying far better conditions this year than last. Mark Giedd, of the Giedd Cattle Company, north of Washburn, said that this year’s calving season may not be perfect but it’s 100 percent better than last year. Last year, drifts took over pens, water covered roads and calves were lost at a high rate. "We had a blizzard that came through in December and didn’t quit until April," Giedd grumbled. "It snowed almost every day," Ashley Giedd, Mark’s daughter, added.