Last year, marriage proved to be both a good move for me personally and a good source of column material for me professionally.
This year, I’m on the cusp of another life changing event: fatherhood.
I expect it, too, will be both a good move and a good source of column material.
As a matter of fact, when my wife told me about the local hospital’s free prenatal classes being offered to expectant parents, I said, “Sign us up. That’s got to be good for a column or two.”
Read Also
Agriculture needs to prepare for government spending cuts
As government makes necessary cuts to spending, what can be reduced or restructured in the budgets for agriculture?
I missed the first class as I had the chance at a speaking job that might help us pay for the first month’s diaper supply.
My wife said I could be excused.
She went and said they went over several things, including the signs of pregnancy. The ladies present decided that yes, indeed, they were pregnant.
This explained their substantial weight increase, their fashionable move from jeans to bib overalls, and the regular doctor visits they’d been making for several months.
The next week, I got to go and we listened to a dietician talk about expectant mothers and eating right.
Beef and dairy both got high grades for the nutrients they supply. I decided this dietician was OK.
We also discussed a little physical therapy.
My wife confided to the group that I was very supportive of her physical therapy activities during pregnancy.
I let her carry feed pails to 200 calves every day, and when the pregnancy demanded less lifting and more walking, I devised a complementary system for her to carry half pails with twice as many trips from the feed bin to the feed bunks.
I heard a few gasps from the others who were apparently quite impressed with my level of support and understanding.
At our last class, we really got into some fun stuff – breathing and relaxation.
We even brought a pillow to class. It had been a long day on the ranch and I was looking forward to putting that pillow to use for a little nap. It turned out that the pillow was for the mother to use to get comfortable when we sat on the floor.
We learned some breathing techniques to get the mother through the pains of labour and, possibly, a natural birth.
We learned the “hah and hee” breathing rhythms. I grew up watching Hee Haw, and, on occasion, have exclaimed “yeehaw!” but hah then hee were new to me.
I asked if it was similar to the commands of gee and haw used to steer mules left and right. I received a clear no.
Hahs are the short breaths taken in and hees are the longer breaths exhaled. Used appropriately, it can help you breathe away your pain.
So the lessons were mostly for the mother.
The husband is just supposed to remind her to breath, not scream, through those gut wrenching contractions. I can only imagine those unsolicited suggestions are met with a variety of responses.
I’m trying to take it all in, though. They say it helps to focus on your “happy place,” to have some soothing music playing and to take long, deep, cleansing breaths between the contractions.
Even though I’m not the one going through the labour, I’m jotting down a few notes to get me through some of the pains of ranching – calf kicks, cow crushing, slipped wrenches, and off target hammers. In the past, all I’ve done was cuss. Now, I can breath, focus and visualize.
And I have a feeling my new “happy place” will be the crib where my son or daughter sleeps – safe, healthy and content.
Ryan Taylor is a rancher, runner, writer, speaker and state senator from Towner, North Dakota.
Hill smoother
The Mole Hill Destroyer designed by Stewart Walker levels mole and pocket gopher mounds and harrows hayland or pasture in one operation.
The Destroyer fits on a Morris harrow packer bar and is available in 50, 60 or 70-foot widths.
The unit is hydraulically operated and automatically folds.
The units are manufactured by Bridgeview Manufacturing at Gerald, Sask.
For more information, contact Walker at Box 1418, Kamsack, Sask., S0A 1S0, phone 306-542-4498 or 306-542-7325 or visit www.nykolaishen.com.
Soil technology
Spectrum Technologies Inc. has two new products for sophisticated soil management.
The Field Scout Direct Soil EC Probe allows instant, accurate measurement of nutrient salts in soil and other growing media, as well as water or nutrient solutions.
Greenhouse growers can measure soil conductivity on the spot. It has a resolution of 0.01 mS per centimetre and an accuracy reading of plus or minus two percent.
The Field Scout pH 100 Meter has a built in data logger, global positioning system interface and RS-232 port.
It has an automatic buffer recognition for quick pH calibration. The memory can store more than 4,000 pH readings, 1,488 with GPS reference. There is automatic temperature compensation, a range of Ð2 to 16 pH and an accuracy of +0.01.
For more information, contact Spectrum Technologies at 23839 West Andrew Road, Plainfield, Illinois, U.S.A., 60544, phone 800-248-8873 of visit www.specmeters.com.
Self-propelled sprayer
AgChem has increased the size of its 1264 RoGator self-propelled applicator.
The Cat C9 engine produces 275 horsepower at 2,200 rpm and torque peaks at 904 foot pounds at 1,400 rpm.
There is a new cooling package and redesigned hydraulics.
It features radial piston direct drive wheel motors on all four wheels. There are low and high-speed modes for full-time four-wheel drive in four speed ranges, with a top road speed of 50 kilometres per hour.
The frame is 64 centimetres longer and the wheelbase is 46 cm longer for a smoother ride.
The application system and cab have also been improved.
For more information, contact a RoGator dealer or visit www.agchem.com.
Bin sensor
Brownlees Trucking Inc.’s Full Bin Super Sensor attaches to an auger spout and detects when the bin is full. It electronically signals a light placed in a visible location on the tube, telling the operator to shut down the auger.
The light attaches magnetically and can be placed where convenient. It withstands vibration and is visible night and day from up to a 90-degree angle.
The system is powered by the auger battery. The sensor and light are encased in a durable, weather-proof sealed housing.
For more information, contact Brownlees Trucking, Box 1172, Unity, Sask., S0K 4L0, phone 306-228-2971. In Alberta, call Clews Management at 800-665-5346.
Band sawmill
The LumberLite 24 from Norwood Industries Inc. is a band sawmill designed for individuals.
It can handle logs up to 24 inches wide, cutting lumber 17 inches wide and shaving veneer as thin as 1/16 of an inch.
In its standard configuration it handles logs up to eight feet long, but extensions are available.
The unit can produce 1,100-1,300 board feet of one-by-12 inch lumber per day. Sawdust exhausts away from the operator.
Power comes from a nine horsepower Honda engine with one inch output shaft. A 13 hp Honda engine is optional.
For more information, contact Norwood at 1660, Hwy 11 North, RR2, Kilworthy Ont., P0E 1G0, phone 800-567-0404 or visit the company’s website at www.norwoodindustries.com.
Seed treater
Graham Seed Treating Systems’ new A1AS system allows smaller operators to use controlled rate application.
Chemical and seed flow rates are controlled with S1AS, making the application rate and uniformity superior to drip type applicators.
The 30-litre tank unit mounts on the auger and applies the treatment via a controlled droplet, non-plug nozzle.
Calibrated application charts are provided. The 110 volt AC or 12 volt DC auto-off pumps supply pressurized chemical to the atomizing application nozzle.
All fittings and clamps are included.
The system will be sold this spring through UFA, Ramboc, Heartland Agro, other farm supply stores and from the factory.
For more information, contact Graham Seed Treating at RR 1, Box 9, Site 9, Olds, Alta., T4H 1P2, phone 866-556-2846 or visit www.grahamseed.ca.
