High gas prices drive farmer to switch to mules

[hillbilly123069]

MCMINNVILLE, Tenn. - High gas prices have driven a Warren County farmer and his sons to hitch a tractor rake to a pair of mules to gather hay from their fields. T.R. Raymond bought Dolly and Molly at the Dixon mule sale last year. Son Danny Raymond trained them and also modified the tractor rake so the mules could pull it

T.R. Raymond says the mules are slower than a petroleum-powered tractor, but there are benefits.

"This fuel's so high, you can't afford it," he said. "We can feed these mules cheaper than we can buy fuel. That's the truth."

And Danny Raymond says he just likes using the mules around the farm.

"We've been using them quite a bit," he said.

Brother Robert Raymond added, "It's the way of the future."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080521/ap_on_fe_st/odd_mule_farming

 

[orafi]

T hat's going green for ya

 

[29ytsejam]

Before I clicked on this topic I was sure this was an Onion story or something. Unbelievable.

 

[Allen72289]

It's the beginning of living below our means.

 

[Dr.3D]

Perhaps the Amish have been right all along.

 

[raystone]

It's the beginning of living below our means.

qft

there was an article recently on how most Americans still aren't thinking on how changing energy costs are going to permanently affect their way of life.

Relatively easy to figure out: quitting current job for one with closer commute, death of the SUV, keeping house cooler in winter and warmer in summer

Others yet to be seen: extended families moving closer together/children not moving across the country for a new job, return to long distance train travel (cargo and people) - trains are incredibly fuel efficient, windmill farms or nuke station "on every corner"

 

[steve005]

It's the beginning of living below our means.

or the realization that we've been living above our means for a long time

 

[Mahkato]

It's not that we've been living that much above our means, it's just that we have been living with falsified means. People have no idea that a dollar bill is just money on the public credit card.

 

[UnReconstructed]

I saw an old guy, real old, in his garden with a plow and a mule just this week. I didn't think about gas prices I thought, 'man... that guy's old school'.

But damn, now I'm thinking gas prices. It shouldn't be like this.

 

[Cowlesy]

Brother Robert Raymond added, "It's the way of the future."

I saw this yesterday, and that was my favorite line. I just get a mental picture of the guy saying that.

 

[bander87]

Time for some family bonding!

 

[Ozwest]

I wonder if that mule is plowing a ethanol field?

 

[hillbilly123069]

bump