Between the River Hills & the River Bottom

[cliftonbros89]

Well looks like I’ve got some catching up to do again. Hopefully I can get to it this weekend.

Getting back to cutting the tin. I figured a saw would be the most efficient way to do so. Luckily, there is a place in town that recently started selling Diablo stuff. I had looked at a blade the day or two before this post. They’re not cheap. But that’s probably what I’ll have to do. Blade is cheaper than a whole new too. Way easier than using snips too.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Ok. Well maybe I’ll get caught up this coming weekend.

Been keeping busy and feel like I haven’t been getting anything done all at the same time.

Last week we had some snow. That was followed by a little bit of rain. But now we’re expected to have snow again this Saturday.

I’ve been making some tool sales this week. So I’ve been busy selling and getting things ready for orders.

If it snows like they’re saying I’ll likely slow down for a day to catch up here.

 

[BORING HOP YARD]

Looking forward to seeing what you have been doing.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[cliftonbros89]

Still haven’t caught up. But I’ll try to get things added in here and there if I can. Nothing too exciting.

We had a few little light snows. Nothing that really amounted to anything. A few times the meteorologist cried wolf. Nothing came of it. But it’s cold today. I’m not enjoying it.

 

[jollygreengiant]

Still haven’t caught up. But I’ll try to get things added in here and there if I can. Nothing too exciting.

We had a few little light snows. Nothing that really amounted to anything. A few times the meteorologist cried wolf. Nothing came of it. But it’s cold today. I’m not enjoying it.

It's -20 here with a -26 windchill and I'd much rather have this than +2 and raining. We are the same as you for snowfall though, a few little storms. We missed the big storm earlier this week that dumped 1-2' of snow in places to the east of us.

 

[cliftonbros89]

It's -20 here with a -26 windchill and I'd much rather have this than +2 and raining. We are the same as you for snowfall though, a few little storms. We missed the big storm earlier this week that dumped 1-2' of snow in places to the east of us.

I definitely wouldn’t want that cold. Luckily rainfall has been minimal lately. I absolutely wouldn’t want any part of 1’-2’ of snow either. I like the north and west country a lot. But I sure wouldn’t enjoy things this time of year. I don’t know what it is. But I’m just not a winter person.

 

[racer-john]

Yep, we got the 1-2'. First time this year that the plows made it out.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Well as busy as I was for January it sure didn’t seem to be very productive. But I’ve been trying to get things done.

Weather has been back and forth. We’re about to get some more winter weather for the next few days. Not sounding too great. Too good of a chance for freezing rain and ice. That’s followed by several possible inches of snow.

We’ve been busy hauling off quite a bit of grain the past month. Luckily, prices have been somewhat on a gradual climb up. However, cost have not been on the decline. So it’d help if grain prices went up more yet.

Cattle have kept us busy as well. Luckily, they’ve all been staying healthy. Besides 2 that have been limping. Calves are doing good. I’m afraid we’ll have more arrive in this nasty weather we’re about to have. But it’s constant feeding somewhere all the time.

Luckily, despite a few cold weeks we haven’t had any issues with waterers freezing much. Only had to thaw one out a few times. Those new waterers (on this past summer, one fall before last) are really great. They stay in great shape.

I was a bit busy with tool sales this past month as well. Now it’s not like I’ve got 20 a week. But I did have over 20 sales for the month. Actually, my best month yet. Especially, as far as sales amount. So that’s been a plus. Keep in mind it’s not really generating income right now. But it is helping me build a comfortable stock of items for now. It’s a lot easier to make a sale when you have something right there for someone. Less of a chance for them to decide they don’t want to it. I’m just trying to slowly build to a variety of things and maybe start pulling some in when I get some more customers. Bad thing is shipping. Shipping cost are crazy. There’s still back orders on a ton of stuff with almost every company. Not to mention the price of everything I carry has gone up. Some not a lot. Just a couple bucks maybe. But other stuff has really taken a jump.

So it’s been busy. Took. A some weekend time off but haven’t really gotten anything accomplished. It’s also time to start finishing up on all that dreaded tax stuff.

But I do have some new to share. I’ll have to catch up on everything else and save it for last. Something new.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Well here we are again. I’m still not caught up. Things have been busy. We hauled more grain. Did some more jobs. We had more snow. Then we had rain. More rain is scheduled for the rest of the week starting tomorrow morning. Going to be a nasty week.

Sold some calves. Sold some grain. But it’s not staying in the wallet long. There’s plenty to spend money on.

I’ve been busy with lots of things. Trying to get the tool business organized. Trying to add a few lines to the list. Trying to find different sources for a few things at a better price. I’m also spending a lot of time trying to finish all my stuff for taxes as well. It’s all been time consuming.

So when I haven’t been doing tool business or farm business it’s honestly just been kind of nice to just sit the phone down for awhile.

I also kind of took the weekend off. Saturday I actually joined a metal detecting club. Sunday I decided to do some detecting. First trip out for the year. First trip out since Christmas Day. I’ve also got a few non-detecting plans lined out for this weekend.

So despite the fact that I’m not getting much of a break I’ve been trying to take one. I feel like this spring will likely be as busy as ever. Starting to get to that point that I really need to get a move on things so we’re ready to go.

With the way the weather forecast looks for this week I may be able to squeeze in some GJ time and catch things up from the almost first 2 full months of the year.

 

[jollygreengiant]

Well here we are again. I’m still not caught up. Things have been busy. We hauled more grain. Did some more jobs. We had more snow. Then we had rain. More rain is scheduled for the rest of the week starting tomorrow morning. Going to be a nasty week.

Sold some calves. Sold some grain. But it’s not staying in the wallet long. There’s plenty to spend money on.

I’ve been busy with lots of things. Trying to get the tool business organized. Trying to add a few lines to the list. Trying to find different sources for a few things at a better price. I’m also spending a lot of time trying to finish all my stuff for taxes as well. It’s all been time consuming.

So when I haven’t been doing tool business or farm business it’s honestly just been kind of nice to just sit the phone down for awhile.

I also kind of took the weekend off. Saturday I actually joined a metal detecting club. Sunday I decided to do some detecting. First trip out for the year. First trip out since Christmas Day. I’ve also got a few non-detecting plans lined out for this weekend.

So despite the fact that I’m not getting much of a break I’ve been trying to take one. I feel like this spring will likely be as busy as ever. Starting to get to that point that I really need to get a move on things so we’re ready to go.

With the way the weather forecast looks for this week I may be able to squeeze in some GJ time and catch things up from the almost first 2 full months of the year.

Enjoy some downtime while you can. As you said, spring is right around the corner and once spring hits, you blink your eyes and it's December.

 

[cliftonbros89]

If you ever wanted proof that grain commodities are a global market, the effects of the last 24 hours will definitely show it.

 

[welder57]

How's the search for a newer service truck coming along?

 

[cliftonbros89]

How's the search for a newer service truck coming along?

Well we sort of have that figured out. But not quite all the way. But I’ll update that soon.

 

[cliftonbros89]

So I’m jumping ahead of myself here. But I figured I’d kick the updated off with a highlight. I did get a different truck. 2001 F350. We’re almost exclusively a 7.3 farm now. I guess we just need to add a F450 to the lineup and we’ll have collected them all.

Does it have a utility bed? Obviously, not. Do I want it to? Definitely. But I haven’t been able to find anything that wasn’t overpriced, used and abused. My b-i-l found it on Craigslist. So the next day I went to go get it. It was a full day. About 6 hours round trip. West of me in Missouri.

Duals wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. But 140,000 miles. Only thing I had to do was replace a brake caliper. It’s ready to go. I’ll have heat and a/c for once. It’s actually a pretty clean truck. So I’m excited for that.

We’ll see how it goes. I’m running out of time to get things set for spring. Hopefully I’ll figure something out.

 

[XJSuperman]

I'll keep my eyes out for a bed. That should be a good truck for you around the farm!

 

[jollygreengiant]

That truck looks very clean! Also glad to hear it's a 7.3 and not that other abomination that Ford calls a diesel engine.

If service bodies are hard to find, why not leave the box on it? Put some toolboxes on top of the bed rails on each side, and put one of those truck bed drawer slides in the back of it.

 

[cliftonbros89]

That truck looks very clean! Also glad to hear it's a 7.3 and not that other abomination that Ford calls a diesel engine.

If service bodies are hard to find, why not leave the box on it? Put some toolboxes on top of the bed rails on each side, and put one of those truck bed drawer slides in the back of it.

I was glad we managed to find a 7.3 that didn’t have 350,000 on it too.

After having a utility bed for as long as I have no I don’t know if I could go back to some tool boxes in a regular bed. I don’t feel like I’d have as much room. Now that I’ve had enough room for tools, parts, oil. Plus, having it all in the dry and easy to get to. It’d be tough going back.

 

[captain14]

So what are your chances for finding a used utility body in good shape that will fit the Ford? Are these boxes custom built for each manufactures chassis or one sizes fits all with modifications done by the assembler?

I can remember a couple of box manufactures- Morrison (sp?) and Reading. Are there other local outfitters close to you ?

 

[welder57]

Wren Utility Truck Body, Wren MS. (Check their website)http://www.wrenbodyworks.com/products.htm, They supply a lot of the Service Trucks here. 662-256-2028 F.Y.I.
Call to see if they can provide you with more info for your truck. Good looking Ride.

 

[cliftonbros89]

So what are your chances for finding a used utility body in good shape that will fit the Ford? Are these boxes custom built for each manufactures chassis or one sizes fits all with modifications done by the assembler?

I can remember a couple of box manufactures- Morrison (sp?) and Reading. Are there other local outfitters close to you ?

It all depends. Some are made a little more universal than others. But it all depends on length and frame width.

there’s really nothing close to me other than if you want a flat bed. There’s a ton of dealers for flat beds.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Well let’s try to do a little catching up. Let’s start with tools.

January tool sales for me was great. It was my best month I’ve had. February and March slowed down but I am having another open house at the shop next Friday to hopefully whip up some more business.


But aside from that I’ve also made some purchases for myself as well.

Beginning of the January I got this step for $12 at an antique mall.


Grey Pneumatic 3/4” drive extensions for the truck and a few sockets for the truck as well.

I bought myself a few Wera ratchets to try out. I am loving them too. I’d put my Wera’s right beside my Snap On no doubt. Granted I have had any extensive use with it yet, it’s an awesome ratchet. Also with it being about half or less than half the cost of the new style SK ratchets I’d take the Wera all day. I’m not impressed with the new SK at all. So much so I actually took it out of my box. Reminds me of a Craftsman. I’ll stick to the classic SK.

Got a Match ratchet wrench that would’ve been useful for the 8400, and a Snap On torque extension that I thought I was going to need. It was on back order for 2 months and ended up not needing it anyway. But I’ve got one now. Also, side note. Last thing I bought and will buy from the local Snap On guy.

More Snap On that was bought online, not from the dealer. A crowfoot and angle wrench I didn’t have and could use. Also thought I’d try these new mini prybars that social media has been shoving down my throat. Thought I’d try out this 3/8” extension piece too. I have a 1/2” drive version that’s similar that I’ve found several uses for so I thought I’d give it a shot.

Got the last few Wera P2’s I was missing. Thought it’d be nice for customers to see all the different options.

I supposed this counts as a new tool. I modified a socket to fit a grease fitting to fit in a tight spot. It worked well.

Half the month of January I had tools spread out all over the shop for sale. Had one weekend that was really good. A few Deere mechanics dropped in and loaded up on some stuff.

 

[XJSuperman]

Lots of new stuff, Im sure itll get some use as planting season rolls by. Im needing at least one of those deadblow extensions...I'll shoot you a message later.

Got all the equipment ready or are you staging it for application and planting season yet?

 

[cliftonbros89]

Winter, as I’m sure it was for many, was up and down. One week 60’s for temps. The next it was in the teens with ice on the ground.
Since the start of winter we lost 2 small calves, cold was a big factor for a new born we didn’t get to in time. We also lost one big calf that decided to lay down with its back going down hill overnight and didn’t get up. But other than that the cattle faired pretty well through the winter. Hardly ever saw a snotty nose or heard a cough. Even with the mixed up weather.

We weened a large group of calves. They all faired well. We need to be getting another group weened soon before things get really busy. We also sold a group of calves as well.

We decided to keep that Hereford bull calf we held back some time ago. When we sold a group of calves we cut out 11 heifers to keep and hold on to. We put them out with the young bull. They’ve all got some growing to do. But he seems to be well aware of what he’s supposed to do. Pretty well behaved as well. Starting to act like his father, which is what I was hoping for.

I have to say I think this has been one winter that I really didn’t have much of anything to complain about much with the cattle. There were days it was cold, days it was muddy, days it was windy. But overall not bad.

I’ve been trying to keep them all in a routine of paying attention to the noise of the Kubota and me calling. They’ve all been doing fairly well. For the most part even the small calves seem to even be easier to work with.


We had some light snows that didn’t last long. We had a 4-6” snow that lasted 3 or 4 days. We had a 6-8” snow that lasted a good solid week. Had some ice with both heavier snows. But luckily no outages. No slips or falls. We even managed to keep all but one waterer unfroze. It went pretty well. There was also so rain. But the rain actually packed down the mud from the melted snows and made things a little better. For the most part the mud actually dried relatively quick. At least the cold weeks it had the mud frozen up so things weren’t as bad.

 

[cliftonbros89]

I didn’t keep track of all the feeding as I intended to this winter, yet again.

When we had the lost full of big calves I know I was grinding a batch of feed every 4 days. But after we sold several and moved those 11 heifers out it made a difference.

We definitely have gone through the hay this winter. We didn’t have much clover since we didn’t bale any last year. But the cattle seem to be enjoying all the fescue. Especially, the silage wrap forage wheat we made last spring. They’ll finish the last couple bales of that this week. I didn’t get any forage samples of the hay this year. But given how well they’ve been eating it and the overall appearance of the their health I’m assuming it must be some pretty decent stuff.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Since the first of the year we’ve also hauled off quite a bit of grain. Not just since the price spike either. Although it does make it enticing to try and get rid of some more.

We hauled off quite a few beans to start with. We had a few contracts to fill.

One problem though has been at the elevator we typically haul to and had made our contracts with. They’ve had loads of excuses and issues since the first week of January. Although the river has played a big part in that as well. The river was very low for a good part of January and February. It’s still somewhat low now. But not as low as it was. They had storage issues. Tug boat issues. Barge issues. Some days they can’t receive any grain. Other days just corn. Some days corn and beans. Some days just beans. A few days just white corn. Some days wheat is thrown in too. Plus, today was the first day they’ve been open they’re full receiving hours since the second week of January.

The first few weeks they were backed up. I’d have to wait in line over an hour each load. That get old pretty fast. I think with all their issues they’ve managed to loose quite a bit of business the past month or so.

We started hauling corn too. Same place. Same issues. But it was contracted. We didn’t really have any choice.


Of corse with loading trucks always comes the fun part of sweeping and scooping out the bins as well. Not always terrible when it’s colder. If you want to look at the bright side of it.

 

[BORING HOP YARD]

Wow, very nice update!
Looks like you have weathered the winter very nice.
I very much look forward to your postings, Thank you for sharing.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Lots of new stuff, Im sure itll get some use as planting season rolls by. Im needing at least one of those deadblow extensions...I'll shoot you a message later.

Got all the equipment ready or are you staging it for application and planting season yet?

I definitely don’t have all the equipment ready to go. It seems like it was one delay after another. So I’m not as ready as I’d like to be. Plus, unless I order parts overnight I have to wait on them.

 

[jollygreengiant]

Great pics!

It's always a bit funny to me to see the small trailers you guys have to use in the US. Here the grain haulers and bigger farmers run B-trains or 5 axle hopper trailers and can carry a 98,000lb payload.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Great pics!

It's always a bit funny to me to see the small trailers you guys have to use in the US. Here the grain haulers and bigger farmers run B-trains or 5 axle hopper trailers and can carry a 98,000lb payload.

Some guys do have larger trailers and they can definitely fit 90,000 and more. But it’s never good is the DOT catches you.

 

[jollygreengiant]

Some guys do have larger trailers and they can definitely fit 90,000 and more. But it’s never good is the DOT catches you.

Sorry, I meant the net is 98,000lbs. We can gross 140,000 lbs.

As funny as that is, I can never figure out how the US has much lower weight limits than Canada, except for Michigan.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Yea

Sorry, I meant the net is 98,000lbs. We can gross 140,000 lbs.

As funny as that is, I can never figure out how the US has much lower weight limits than Canada, except for Michigan.

We also have restrictions for bridges as well. To cross the bridge across the Mississippi you have to be a certain length or number of axles to gross 80,000 legally.

 

[captain14]

What’s the normal turnaround time to take a load to the elevator if there’s not a holdup or an issue out of your control. I know it’s got to be frustrating sitting in a deadline there with multiple trucks ahead of you.

Can you call ahead and find out what product they can receive each day?

 

[cliftonbros89]

What’s the normal turnaround time to take a load to the elevator if there’s not a holdup or an issue out of your control. I know it’s got to be frustrating sitting in a deadline there with multiple trucks ahead of you.

Can you call ahead and find out what product they can receive each day?

A normal trip I can load, get there and back in 2 hours. When they’re not backed up, open regular hours and we’re running both trucks it’s no problem to get 6 or 7 truck loads delivered in a day.

But some of those days that they would be backed up I’d sit in line as long as an hour before I’m pulling out of there. Making it 3 hours a trip. Then take into consideration them only being open til 2 instead of 4, then it all makes a big difference.

Luckily, they send out text messages giving the details on what they’re receiving and hours they’re operating. They’ll also send out a message giving a heads up on if you need to be on the look out for any possible delays along the road on the way there, if you get what I’m hunting at.

I receive daily text messages from 7 different facilities that buy grain in the area. Most of them send an opening and closing price for the day, some even a mid day report as well. It makes it easy to compare prices.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Well I was hoping to get caught up more this past week. But it was a busy week.
I cleared the shop out and got it cleaned up.

I decided to have another tool business open house at the shop on Friday. Fried up some fish, had some beverages, started at 4, closed it down at midnight. Had quite a few people show up. Not quite as many as I’d expected, but I did sell some stuff. Actually, best single day I’ve had so far. Sold about twice as much as I did back in August when I had one. So it wasn’t too bad.

I’ve got several things to order for some customers. A few more sales to make. Then stock up on some more items.

It was a busy week. Getting things moved around, cleaned up, set up, plus a whole bunch of other stuff. I’ve never kept an actual inventory of what I have. But my inventory has grown quite a bit. So I set that all up while I was setting up. I used the same app I use for my parts inventory. Then I had to finish setting up my list of items in QuickBooks. It’s what I use for invoices. Makes it easy to keep track of sales. I can quickly look up prices on items I have. Plus, it makes it easy to look up dates for warranty purposes and what not.

Got up this morning and packed everything up in boxes and took things down. It’s time to get back to work now.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Well I absolutely intend to make time to catch things up this week. Things are about to really pick up and start really getting busy. We’ve had some rain. But things have been drying a little. Things have been getting a little warmer. So things are about to pick up.

 

[jollygreengiant]

Well I absolutely intend to make time to catch things up this week. Things are about to really pick up and start really getting busy. We’ve had some rain. But things have been drying a little. Things have been getting a little warmer. So things are about to pick up.

"It's the deep breath before the plunge"

I've been trying to take advantage of the slow pace right now before things get busy. Once the spring rush starts it seems that it's all a blur until you look at the calendar one day and realize it's the end of June.

 

[cliftonbros89]

"It's the deep breath before the plunge"

I've been trying to take advantage of the slow pace right now before things get busy. Once the spring rush starts it seems that it's all a blur until you look at the calendar one day and realize it's the end of June.

That feeling is all too true.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Well there’s going to be a bit of a delay on this already way delayed update.

Truth is, it’s something I wouldn’t normally post. It’s something a little more personal. But a few years ago my grandpa (mom’s dad) was starting to show signs of dementia. Later that year, which was 2020, he came down with Covid. That ended up rapidly increasing the effects of the dementia. So ever since he’s been in the nursing home. This past Friday he passed away.

We had quite a bit of rain last week and over the weekend, more on the way tomorrow as well. So we haven’t been in the field. But with everything going on I haven’t really gotten anything else done either.

But today my dad, sister, brother-in-law and myself cleaned up my grandpa’s cars. We had to do a few things yesterday to get them both running. But they’re both ready to go.

A ‘33 Plymouth Coupe and a ‘71 Plymouth Duster.

I think I’ve posted them here before. The ‘33 my grandpa restored several years ago. Took a lot of time. He had help with building some stuff. Had a guy do the interior. But he did all the body work, all the paint, dropped the engine in, put everything together, everything.

The Duster is something he bought himself quite some time ago too. All original. I forgot where or who he brought it from. But it’s a pretty nice car.

The ‘33 was pretty dingy. The shed it was in got quite a bit of moisture in it a couple years ago. So it had kind of a dingy mildew on it. Even the leather interior was like that. We loaded it on a trailer and moved it to the road.

I drove the Duster down the road to the shop and then back this evening to put it in the garage at Grandma’s house.

Grandma said I’m supposed to drive a car and my brother-in-law is supposed to drive the other car for the funeral this week. So we made sure they were looking good.

So I’ll get back to regular updates one of these days.

 

[Mr.zippy]

Dang, so sorry to hear of your families loss.

 

[GGB]

I’m sorry for your loss and hope the good memories of your Grandpa ease some of the pain.