Karina Jones is a real-life ranch wife in the Nebraska Sandhills and one of the most highly sought-after speakers in the cattle industry nationwide!
The only thing moving slower than molasses is…..
Much of the Midwest has been gripped in drought the last few years. Wishing for moisture that would make an impact at replenishing soil moisture ended up affirming the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for.” When Mother Nature decided to give us what we were badly needing, well, it has provided some other extreme challenges.
Snow has fallen over the Midwest the last 8 weeks and created not only mountains, quite literally, of moisture, but it has created extreme headaches for man and beast. These heavy bred momma cows are moving slower than molasses in winter. Heavy with calf they are having to break through drifts to get to and from feed and water sources expending a lot of extra energy. Energy is a buzzword to cattle producers this time of year. We know that the nutritional needs of our cow factory has to be a top concern. No one is cutting corners to try and save a penny. We are carefully accessing every nutritional bite giving our cows the best chance of growing that baby calf while maintaining momma’s body condition so that she is ready to head into a lactating phenom once that baby calf is born.
There is a lot riding on these next few weeks at every ranch around the country. Hay has been in short supply and when you can find it the price is so high it will give you a nose bleed. But, I have every confidence in all the cattle producers that I know, that they are doing their very best to get through till spring and green pastures ahead.
Karina ranches with her husband, Marty, and 3 daughters near Broken Bow, NE. She grew up in western NE, with roots also in southwest SD. The cattle industry and raising kids is her passion.
Watching the cattle industry go the path that it has gone, she could no longer sit quietly at home checking cows, fixing fence, and doing all the everyday tasks wondering when some else was going to make it all better. As she became more active and outspoken on industry issues, she was asked to join the R-CALF USA staff in September 2020 as the Checkoff Petition Campaign manager. That position transcended into her current role as full time Field Director for R-CALF USA.
You can hear her almost every Friday on Your Ag Network’s Hot Barn Report that is broadcast on 60 radio stations with coverage in 9 states, where she deep dives into cattle industry issues and highlights R-CALF’s work on industry reforms. Listen to Ranch Raised on a Your Ag Network hometown station or www.youragnetwork.com where she talks about her daily life on the ranch.
Cattle producers are her people. She will meet you at the county fair, at the sale barn, or anywhere the dusty trail leads.
karina@youragnetwork.com or visit facebook.com/ranchraisedwithkarinajones
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