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Show 8 Mpt62SL0HS B1 Wednesday, January 9, 2008 r by Kevin Askby Express Publisher Feeding stock in the middle of a cold and snowy winter is not the most wanted job, but even in these adverse conditions condi-tions local farmers and ranchers ranch-ers are not complaining. "We need the water," they all say. "We ran out of water on June 15 up here in Dry Fork last summer," explained Paul McCoy who is farming the original Morgan Hall homestead home-stead about half way up the canyon. "That was enough to get one cutting up here. That's not too good, but neither is the drought we have been in." McCoy feeds about seven 1,200 pound rolls of hay a day to several . small herds of cattle located throughout the Ashley Valley totaling about 450 head. He uses the rolled hay because of the simplicity and ease when it comes to feeding feed-ing time in the winter. "It takes about 20 minutes to roll out the hay on one roll," explained McCoy and that is enough hay for 60 head to maintain weight in the winter. "They won't be gaining anything, but it is a good amount to keep them If The snow is deep, but it brings IMXs Each office is independently owned and operated. M'.iniclrvA..,, X . A 7 ; A portion ' of every sale is n , , donated to the l820West 1 Children's Miracle U Vemal'Utah Hwy. 40, Ste F Network. 435-781-2500 Outstanding Agents. Outstanding Results ! t V 8X5gfflQjO (ft about the same." Another reason for the round bales is that he can use a four wheel drive pickup to haul and unroll the hay in the fields. When asked about the price of hay, he said, "Whew! It's higher than it has ever been at $150 a ton. It's crazy and hay supplies are short all over the state with a lot of people desperate for hay this year." McCoy then went on to explain bad winters usually usu-ally means there will be more water next summer which will . - . A A cow gathers in for a mouthful of hay just dropped from the truck. moderate the price of hay. But for right now, "It's darn right expensive!" He was quick to explain that machinery, fertilizer and water assessments are also at all time highs and in the end, the price of hay has not kept up with with it much needed water to use r ' i Kristen D.ivis 790 0803 ' . 'I - t 1 a n the rising costs associated with raising hay. "Equipment is an expensive ticket nowadays," explained McCoy. "It takes more calves selling for $1.25 a pound right now to raise enough money to buy a truck than in the 1970s when calves were going for 25 cents a pound." The cost of diesel is another an-other factor that is hitting area ranchers hard and is absolutely necessary in the farming and ranching process. McCoy has been in the busi- ness a long time. His granddad made it to the basin as a gold miner and when it was time to leave, he had to take a job to earn enough money to get out of the area. The job he took was herding sheep during the winter. The drawback was he to grow crops in the summer. You JriUifr-lll'iKifiiiii'ifl i New Construction ltoincj Available! Homes raninR from )6UU 4100 sq. ft. 5 Hrtirooim, j balln, over unfinished basements, with large lots. For additional information, cull Kristen today at 7W-0HO.I. r pj at was paid in sheep. He figured he didn't have anything better to do, so he started his own herd in 1895. McCoy's family may have started with sheep, but they are now in the business of cattle. "Shoot! I have to go and buy lamb when we eat it," he said. But he was quick to note that their decision to switch from sheep to cows was driven by the fact that predators kill more sheep, and the market. "As far as this winter is concerned, we have had six easy winters and we have paid for them with little to no water in the summer," said McCoy. "This winter is what I would call a normal winter for the Basin. This is the kind of winter we used to have all the time." He went on to describe just how bad six years of drought can be on the area's water supplies. "We have wells that were dug on Diamond Mountain in the 1930s that were rocked up and capped with cement later on," said McCoy. He explained that these wells were dug in the 1930s during one of the worst drought times the Basin has known and some of these wells are dry. McCoy also credited the energy economy in the area for saving almost every ranch that has ever existed in the Basin. "Back a time, it was the gilsonite mines that saved almost al-most everybody in the Valley," said McCoy. "Men would go to work for cash money while the family stayed at home and took care of the animals when times i t have to have the cold and snow t Charity Scott 790-2032 Beautiful 3 bed, 2 bath home In Maeser Meadows. Large open floor plan, hydro heating throughout home. Priced to sell at $210,000 X Above: Paul McCoy has been feeding hay to animals fora long time and he describes this winter as a normal one for the Basin. He has the feeding details down to a one man job by using hydraulics to move the round bale around to unwind on the ground so the cows can feed. got rough. Now it is the oil and gas drilling that is helping out." f I Paul McCoy cuts the strings before rolling hay out for cows while driving through the field. IN' to enjoy the other, said McCoy. M. i ( r f Amy Hacking 790-0482 Don't face cancer alone. Call 800-ACS-2345 or log on to www.cancer.org 247 for information or to find free services available in the Uintah Basin. January Uintah Recreation District fall and winter programs for youths, teens and adults. Call 781-0982 for more information. Golden Age Center Dances, 155 S. 100 W. Vernal. Every Friday night 8 to 10 p.m. Kays Band, all are welcome. TOPS meets Thursday at the city offices, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fall Kundalini Yoga classes. Wednesdays 6-7:30 6-7:30 p.m. Call Maragret 781-8711 for more information. Vernal Family History Center classes every Wednesday. Call 789-3618 789-3618 for times at the VHC. Uintah County Library, Toddler Story Time Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. & Tot and Mom Book Club Thursdays at 11 a.m. Call 789-0091. Ski Bus-The Canyons, Uintah Recreation District, 12-18 (high school), Jan 12 & 26, Feb. 9 & 23, March 8. Wildlife of the Uinta Basin exhibit, Utah Field House of Natural History, 496 E. Main, Vernal. Call 789-3799. Utah Arts Council Traveling Fine Art Exhibit, Western Heritage Museum, 328 E. 200 S., Jan. 5-31. Call 789-7399. January 10 Morning Glory Quilters, Multi-purpose Room, Uintah County Library, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Call 789-0091 or mbarlow co.uintah.ut.us ,. January 11 Cottonwood Creek Bells Concert, 7:30 p.m., Uintah High School Auditorium, Vernal. Tickets $6 adults, $5 seniors, & $4 ages 3-17, 3-17, available at Davis Jubilee, Ju-bilee, Bitter Creek Books or at the door. Hosted by the Uintah Arts Council. January 12 BYU Softball Hitting Clinic, in the Uintah High School Gym, ages 10 to 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information call Claye Robb at 789-9151. January 17-18 Uintah School District closed to students, Professional Pro-fessional Development Day for teachers and SEPSEOP Trade Day. January 18-19 Golden Championship Bull Riding competition at Western Park. January 19 Back Country Horsemen of Utah, Free Trail Riding Information Clinic, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m at Davis County Legacy arena in Farmington. Call Craig Allen 801-388-1175. January 21 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Uintah County Schools are closed. January 23 Glaucoma, macular degeneration and eye diseases discussed by Dr. Shane Powell, ophthalmologist with Active Re-Enrty. 2 p.m. at the Golden Age Center, 155 S. 100 W., Vernal. Free to the public. j Cute 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with open floor plan In excellent condltlonl Fully landscaped with auto sprinkler system and vinyl fence. Call Amy for more Info 790-0482 |