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AC720Man 
Orange Level
Joined: 10 Oct 2016
Location: Shenandoah, Va
Points: 5392
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 Topic: Snow in Va
Posted: 31 Jan 2026 at 8:58pm |
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This frozen snow/ice mix has caused massive problems in VA. Having trouble feeding our cattle with ice conditions. Cattle are having issues walking on frozen mix. Feeding extra hay to keep them warm, plowed multiple times to give a pathway to feeding hay. In my 60 years this is the worst it’s been. Anyone else having this issue?
Edited by AC720Man - 31 Jan 2026 at 9:01pm
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1968 B-208, 1976 720 (2 of them)Danco brush hog, single bottom plow,52" snow thrower, belly mower,rear tine tiller, rear blade, front blade, 57"sickle bar,1983 917 hydro, 1968 7hp sno-bee, 1968 190XTD
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Gary Burnett
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Virginia
Points: 3164
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Posted: 01 Feb 2026 at 7:16pm |
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Yea this is some nasty stuff,we got about 4" of ice crystals on top of the snow.Thankfully I have the Oliver 1365 4WD and its got all its wants getting around.I do have a good place to feed cattle for them to be during and after a snowfall but its definitely been a struggle.About the worst to go in in my lifetime (73 years)
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AC720Man
Orange Level
Joined: 10 Oct 2016
Location: Shenandoah, Va
Points: 5392
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Posted: 01 Feb 2026 at 7:39pm |
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Oddly the cows only go in the barn enough to eat and go back out. They would rather be out in the elements which is crazy. So I’ve been feeding them in the barn in the morning and in the field where I plowed in the afternoon. Busting ice so they can get to water. Creek is frozen over as well as the spring.
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1968 B-208, 1976 720 (2 of them)Danco brush hog, single bottom plow,52" snow thrower, belly mower,rear tine tiller, rear blade, front blade, 57"sickle bar,1983 917 hydro, 1968 7hp sno-bee, 1968 190XTD
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Gary Burnett
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Virginia
Points: 3164
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Posted: 01 Feb 2026 at 7:48pm |
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Where my cows are now is beside a heavy row of Cedars to block the wind and snow and very near a creek that so far hasn't frozen completely over.They are sitting tight in that area.They have eaten enough hay bales down now to have good places to lie down.
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Steve in NJ
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Andover, NJ
Points: 12065
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Posted: 4 hours 12 minutes ago at 8:20am |
We were lucky up here Rob. We only got snow, but 15" of the white stuff! First big snow storm we've had since 2010. I'd rather have the snow any day than the ice though! When I worked for the power company, we used to worry about possible ice conditions coming due to outages everywhere. They were looong a$$ days, sometimes turning into weeks to get things restored! Don't have to worry bout' the phone ringing off the hook anymore now that I'm retired. Yee ha!  Still had to plow and shovel it though.....  Steve@B&B
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39'RC, 43'WC, 48'B, 49'G, 50'WF, 65 Big 10, 67'B-110, 75'716H, 2-620's, & a Motorhead wife
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DanielW
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Joined: 19 Sep 2022
Location: Ontario
Points: 277
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Posted: 3 hours 56 minutes ago at 8:36am |
We've got a boat-load of snow recently, but are lucky its not the snow/ice combination you have. But we have had it in the past, and it sure makes things a pain. I think 2014 was the worst year - impossible to get around anywhere, and the cattle were having a really tough time.
I find that plowing/blowing snow for the cattle and feedway often makes the problems worse: It creates a smooth, level surface that can be more slick when it freezes solid, and holds water like a skating rink. I find the best thing for making routes to drive through the barnyard is to break some bales out over the area I need to feed/drive, without trying to plow/blow. The cattle will trample and compact the snow as they eat. The compaction from their hooves will make the area accessible to walk/drive on, but also keep things rough enough that it doesn't become a skating rink when it freezes solid again. The bits of hay they leave behind also freeze into the compaction from their hooves and help give some traction
Edited by DanielW - 3 hours 55 minutes ago at 8:37am
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