Sustainability, farming is chic

[OakLeaf]

I didn't know that pigs, cows and horses could be left on their own with shelter and adequate food for a few days.

Mostly just water. Shelter isn't necessary except in extreme weather; cattle and horses should be getting most or all of their food from pasture.

Beef cattle - or dairy cows in early pregnancy - are just like any other animals. Milk cows need to be milked twice a day - three times when they're treated with rBGH - and can't be left unattended.

There's been a lot in the news lately about the new generation of farmers. It's great when the grandparents have been able to hang on long enough for the grandchildren to take over the farm. Most everyone in the intervening generation had no interest in farming, sadly.

[Tri Girl]

DH's grandparents used to mainly be a dairy farm, until the big dairy in the area bought them out. DH only drank fresh milk (pasteurized, of course) for the first few years of his life. They said that was really hard work- dairy farming- and they didn't have a huge operation.
They're getting old now and can't do as much as they used to. Grandpa just had back surgery this week. No doubt it'll be hard when they can no longer keep it up. Once that happens, I think they'll go downhill FAST.

Cool about your partner that he took classes and learned from a mentor. I think that's really neat. Does he do it full time now?