04/20/2026
I just got back from 2 weeks in Paraguay, South America. I have family there, most of whom have ranches and when they asked what I wanted to see, I said cattle operations. I want to compare and learn from how they operate. They often suffer severe droughts and I was amazed at their resilience. They think we have it bad because we feed 200 days a year, I can't imagine collecting rain water off solar panels to utilize every drop received.
It was amazing and like every cattle operation, they were eager to show off their cattle and answer any questions I might have and sit me down for a drink and some food. I visited small ranches, large ranches, private and cooperative operations, stockyards, feedlots, research farms and even a new semen collection/freezing facility.
I came away with some ideas and there will be a whole new appreciation of water on our place and some experimenting with different ideas that this trip has generated.
Many thanks to Kristan for staying home to keep up with lambing and Kally McRae for helping him. I promise to plan the next one at a better time of year. Promise.
