Mendocino County Horse and Equestrian Supply!

I've never had the land, time or money to own a horse, though I love their immense grace and power. As such, I haven't written much about Mendocino County Farm Supply's equestrian offerings on here for fear of being readily identified as a greenhorn. As the years go by, however, I have grown to become much more familiar with our horse feed and tack options thanks to the help of people like Denise, Sam and Darcie, our resident horse experts.

Horse Feed & Supplements


We carry the largest selection of feed in our county, with offerings from LMF, TDI, Nutrena, ASI and more. We also carry everything you need to create a fully balanced custom feeding routine for your horse, be it a retired mare, or a champion barrel racer. Our bi-annual events (Customer Appreciation Day, and Hay Day) often feature equestrian nutrition experts who can not only evaluate your horses health and body scoring, but can also advise you on maximizing your feed's results.

Need supplements? We've got em, and we know that everyone has very specific tastes. We carry every major brand of equine supplements, so you can get exactly what you want from the brands you trust. Fat supplements, glucosamine, micro-minerals, electrolytes and even colostrum from a number of respected brands.

Horse Shoes and Farrier Supplies

We carry every type of horse shoe you could want, from St. Croix and Delta, in every size possible. We also feature a remarkable selection of farrier and black smithing supplies including anvils from 75 to 150 lbs, tongs, rasps, nails and yes, even we even sell the least expensive propane in town! Do you prefer your horse barefoot? We've got Cavallo and Delta boots in every size.

Tack and Saddlery

From saddle blankets and harnesses to lunge whips and cribbing collars, we've got every horse supply you need. if you've been to any of our local rodeos, trail rides or shows, you've seen much of our selection hard at work; cactus and fastback ropes, breakaways and a full selection of custom roping supplies. Of course, we've also got riding helmets, spurs and all the standard fare.

For optimum training and practice with your performance or rodeo horse, we've got roping dummies, including calf and steer heads, heels and steer stands. No matter if you are packing out, gathering cattle, hunting or just enjoying our immense number of regional trails in the company of your equestrian companion, we've got what you need. Make your own, or just need to make a repair, we've got a good selection of buckles and snaps from the ornamental to the rugged and utilitarian.

Medicine

A house call from a horse veterinarian can be incredibly expensive, and preventive medicine is imperative! We carry a wide selection of ivermectrins, pyrantels, and psylliums from the most reputable brands in America. Our veterinary supply section is immense, with DMSO, MSM, gall salves, anti-thrush gels and ointments, wound dressings, powders salves and bandages, antibiotics, including the increasingly popular Vetericyn, a number of pain managers and, surgical supplies abscess and vet kits. We proudly feature products from the most trusted names in the industry, including W.F. Young, Farnam, Ideal, Pfizer Animal Health, Aspen, Manna Pro, Priority Care, Vermont's Original, Kaeco, EquiAid, Merial, Bimeda, Cooper's Best, Absorbine, Dr, Naylor's, Equilite, Fort Dodge, Microcyn, Bio-Nutrition, Oralx, Kentucky Performance, AHCP, Bickmore, Select, AniMed and Forco. We keep a wide variety of breeding and foaling supplies on hand at all times, and we pride ourselves in our ability to special order even the most obscure products.

Grooming
So much more than Mane and Tail! No matter if you merely want to keep the flies away, knock off the sweat at the end of a long ride, or prepare for lead in one of Mendocino County's many parades and shows, we've got what you need. Heck, if you wanted to start a horse spa, we'd be able to take care of you. With full lines of shampoos, conditioners, shines, polishes, fly sprays and tools from Eqyss, Farnam, Absorbine, Prolap, Cowboy Magic, Tuttle's EQ Solutions, Procter & Gamble, Manna Pro, QuicSilver, CoCo's Equicare, Sullivan's, Silver Lining and, of course, the ubiquitous Mane 'n Tail, we've got you clean and clear!

More on the Livestock Swap!

Wow, has the Livestock Swap grown! The August livestock swap saw us grow to include used tack, and suddenly, the parking lot was full of horses, goats, chickens, pigs and more! We're so happy to see this new county resource grow, and excited to see all the connections being made as people compare breeds, discuss feeds and generally enjoy an informal atmosphere of buying selling and trading!

The next livestock swap falls on Saturday September 11th, and will once again welcome people to come in and trade and sell used and outgrown tack and saddlery.

Our October swap is occurring on the third Saturday, October 16th! (Don't worry, it will almost always be the second Saturday, but we're expecting a baby too close to the 9th)

The November livestock swap falls on November 13th and the December swap falls on the 11th.

Check out the FAQ on our website for more information on buying and selling.

See ya there!

More Pet Food Than You Can Wag a Tail At!

It always makes me smile when first time customers walk into our store, and exclaim, "Oh my! You have so much pet stuff!" It's true, we have one of the largest selections of pet food, treat and toys in Northern California. And since everybody here has their own menagerie, we've tried almost all of it! We also have a huge network of suppliers, distributors and manufacturers, so if we don't have it, we can almost always find it.

On a lark, last week we compiled a list of every type of dog and cat food we had in stock. This doesn't even include the immense range of small-mammal, reptile, fish and bird food we carry. For a complete up-to-date inventory, you can visit our online store, and even place an order for pickup in Ukiah. 

OMG! BBQ!

If the rains subside and the summer finally arrives, our kitchens will begin the annual move to the backyard. As serious BBQ aficionados, we tend to keep the farm supply well stocked for any sort of grilling.

Propane? No problem, we have the cheapest propane in town and always ready to fill your small or large tanks. Just stop by the small engine shop and fill er' up!

Charcoal? Now you're talking! 40lb bags of pure mesquite charcoal are only 14.50! Forget those flimsy briquettes, this whole-wood char has branches! The taste imparted by pure mesquite is so exquisite, you can skip marinating your more tender cuts. Really, a thousand times better than briquettes; inexpensive and flavorful!

Smoke? Yep, we even have hardwood chips for your smoker, and not those tiny bags you get over charged for at the grocery store, either. Selection varies with popularity, so check back all summer long for a selection of hickory, apple, cherry, and mesquite. Want some seriously deep and local flavor? Cut a few small pieces of bay laurel and try smoking with that for a deep spicy flavor. Even if you don't have a proper smoker, you can still get the rich taste of smoke in a regular BBQ simply by soaking your chips and putting them in an old tin can next to the coals. For extra flavor, try soaking your chips in apple cider or beer.

Accessories? Well, we're still a farm supply, so you'll have to look elsewhere for spatulas and grill forks, but we've got firestarters, chimneys, char rock and more!

And if the rains don't stop? Don't worry, we've got tarps and steel buildings to keep those grills dry!

Livestock Swap and Fish Market! June 12th

The first livestock swap was so much fun, we're doing it again! (And again, and again) The Livestock Swaps will be continuing (all summer long, in fact) on the second Saturday of each month! In May we had heirloom chickens, goats and pigs, and everybody sold! The next one will be on Saturday, June 12th.

If you have animals to sell, contact us to reserve a space. We expect to have plenty of room, but do not want to run out! You can stop by, call or e-mail us. We'd really like to see some sheep and horses out there this time!

Inside, we'll be offering 10% off on all aquatic supplies to celebrate the launch of our new collection of tropical fish! From sea salt to lights, we've got everything you need to keep your fish happy, or to get started a with fresh or saltwater aquarium!

If you are looking for animals to buy, or just pet, stop by and take a look. We'll be on hand to answer questions, and make sure you are all set! But, please... don't pet the fish!

Here fishie, fishie, fishie! Tropical Fish at Farm Supply!

For a while now, many of our customers have been frustrated by the lack of fish in Mendocino County. While we have been diligent in providing top quality supplies and food for both fresh and saltwater fish, it has been nearly impossible to acquire fish without a lengthy drive to Santa Rosa. We heard you. So, coming in the next month, we're adding a wide variety of salt water fish to keep our rabbits, guinea pigs and chicks company. An amazing 14 foot long aquarium is getting set up right now, and once the system is established, we will be stocking a tremendous variety of salt water fish. Clownfish, snails, salt-water vegetation, live coral, leviathans and man eating whales will be amongst the selection. So no more driving to the ends of the earth to find nemo! Keep an eye here and on our website for more information.

Fighting the European Grapevine Moth in Mendocino County: The War Starts at Home

     I love our Mendocino growers. We’re a community deeper than most can imagine, constantly gossiping in conspiratorial tones about the the expanse of Jane’s tomatoes and the girth of Tom’s zucchinis. We share seeds, plants and recipes; both for our harvests and our soils.  In short; we grow together.

      Today, our gardens and perhaps livelihoods are threatened by a new and nefarious garden pest. The recent discovery of the European Grapevine Moth in Mendocino County does not just affect the commercial vineyards, our largest economic contributor; it affects every gardener and grower in our county.

     Lobesia botrana will either go down in Mendocino county history as the only moth who’s scientific name was easier to say than its common name, or it will not go down in history at all. The European Grapevine Moth (EGVM) will be here to stay.

     When botrana was introduced in Chile, its spread was aided by the prevalence of home and hobby grape growing in urban areas. Poorly maintained backyard grapevines provided both an ideal and safe habitat for the invader. Home growers were either unaware or unconcerned about the pest. When they saw much of their fruit shrivel and die that year these home grape growers realized what a threat the moth truly was and invited commercial growers to come spray their vines. Unfortunately, by then it was too late; EGVM was firmly established.

     Right now, we need the help of every gardener, farmer, rancher and grower in Mendocino County. Together we can stop this pest, or at least diminish its future impact. One Napa vineyard experienced a 100% crop loss due to the moth last year. We can stop that from happening here.

What you can do:

1. If you grow grapes within the greater Ukiah area, request a trap from the Agricultural Department. Early detection is the best form of control.
2. If you know the location of wild grapes or abandoned vineyards in or near the quarantine area, please report them so they can be trimmed back.
3. Remove old and neglected grapevines from your property, or at the very least prune them back and start taking care of them.
4. Learn to recognize the moth.
5. Share. Please, if you feel strongly about this, tell your neighbors, fellow gardeners and anyone with a grapevine about the pest

Please, everyone, lets tackle this thing.If you have questions regarding this pest, feel free to stop by the Farm Supply and talk to us.