A panoramic view of BellMar Ranch on a -20 Celsius day. There is snow on the ground and hoar frost on the trees. The sun is shining brightly in a clear blue sky, but the overall feeling is of deep cold.

-30°C Reality: Why Our Beef Costs More (And Why I'm Still Driving a 2003 Ford F-150)

Posted by Tim – CNP, OHP
BellMar Ranch & Gardens
November 30, 2025 – 5:17 a.m.

Outside temp: –25 °C real, –33 °C wind chill

Stock tanks: frozen, but hanging in there with the pond pumps.  

Barn pipes: frozen from the pumphouse

My truck: a 2003 Ford F-150 (because we don't have the resources to replace it right now)

When I'm outside today, I’m wearing long johns, two T-shirts, jeans, three hoodies, and the same $19 gloves from the farm store I bought in 2023.

No Carhartt Arctic bibs.

No heated gloves.

No hand warmers.

No balaclava.

Because every extra dollar goes to hay, propane, or keeping the lights on.

Today’s “just to keep animals alive” bill (so far)

Propane heater + fan in barn: $18

Heat tape on water line: $12

Electric heater in pumphouse: $10

Extra hay (cows eating 30 % more): $38

Gasoline to start and run the 2003 F-150: $25–$35

Firewood (gas & oil to harvest): $15

Total before breakfast: $118–$128

If the pipes don’t thaw, I’ll burn another $75-$125 hauling water in that old truck.

The Hay Truth

I don’t have “great” hay.

I have the hay I can afford.

It’s a bit stemmy.

The cows aren’t doing backflips for it, but they’re eating it.

Because the choice right now is stemmy hay… or no hay.

The Water Crisis

If we have to haul water today:
  • 4 round trips (40 km total)
  • 50-75L of gasoline in the 2003 F-150 = $120+
  • 8 hours of labor
  • More wear on a truck that’s already on borrowed time
Why This Matters to You

When you buy a BellMar welcome box or a quarter of Angus beef, you’re supporting:
  • Stemmy hay when that’s all we can afford
  • Gasoline to haul water in a 22-year-old truck
  • A rancher who chooses hay over a new pickup
That’s the real cost of meat that never saw a feedlot, never got hormones, never needed antibiotics.

It’s not cheap.

It’s not supposed to be.

It’s the price of doing it right when nobody’s watching.

Thanks for letting me feed my family by feeding yours.

Tim – CNP, OHP
BellMar Ranch & Gardens
(The guy in three hoodies who still hasn’t thawed the barn pipes yet)
P.S. Welcome boxes are still available - if you want one before Christmas, now’s the time...

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