High gas prices drive farmer to switch to mules
May 21 02:53 PM US/Eastern
MCMINNVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - 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."
