Barnesville, Minnesota rancher Jake Thompson describes this year’s calving season as a nice change of pace. The calves started to come at Four Hill Farms around February 1 and there haven’t been too many extremely cold nights in between. Thompson says the bigger challenge may come in the next couple months when the snow starts to melt in the Red River Valley. “We’re trying to plan for some adequate pen space, maybe on hilltops, different field areas and even permanent pasture.” Thompson is also watching feed supplies closely because of the earlier-than-normal snow cover and delayed weaning. “So we had to try and feed those cows a little heavier to help them support that calf longer,” says Thompson. “We sell a lot of hay and that market has remained strong, so it’s hard to hold on to it.” Listen to the full RRFN story.