Baling by moonlight

Fred Werring

Well-known Member
Yeah, it was kinda late, but I could still see the bale size indicator and the windrows.

Wanted to finish up this field, got done bout 9:45, more to do tomorrow before it starts raining again Tuesday.

Fred
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Last winter I worked on building a barn until 2 am during a full moon. I didn't have any lights. The moon was so bright I could read a tape and even see my pencil lines to cut boards. Couldn't believe how bright it was.
 
We finished baling about 930 this evening as well, it has cooled off to 78 outside, with almost no humidity. No effect on the bales, still warm enough to get a good sweat going. Both my sons helped tonight, as great a Fathers' Day gift I ever would have asked for!
 
It usually doesn't raise it much but it helps hold the leaves on. I have seen raking hay will raise moisture. But remember tough hay doesn't burn and it is surprising what hay feels like versus a moisture tester.
 
Locally a barn burned near here a day ago. The fire inspector said it was caused by the newly baled hay which burst into a fire because of the green hay. If it is baled in the round and left outside for a while it will be ok but if it is baled in small squares be careful. When the sun sets I stop baling.

When I bale with my round baler I can bale 20 acres of dry hay in about 4=5 hours and my baler is old. The big farms can bale the same acres in less than half that time with their newer, faster balers. If I was a big hay grower I would get a good modern baler and get the hay done under the sun. Happy farming.
 
In 1988 it was so dry around here most of the hay got baled at night to maintain what little moisture there was to keep the leaves from falling off. Lot's of folk's were baling @ 4 AM.
 
Old saying tough hay wouldn't burn but rained on will . I've baled hay that was questionable but with rain coming in went for it and that's always been ok.
 
Dad and I baled hay many times at night in Montana. Too dang dry during the day, hay would turn to dust. We'd have a good dinner and start about 8-9 pm. Lived in far west MT so it would stay light pretty late. Bale a couple racks full and then drop the rest on the ground (hated that part the next day). But on a moon-lite night it was kind of a neat experience.

Getting ready to head out to Dad's place close to the 4th of July to help bale the oat hay. I think it is about 30 acres. Dad is 76 but just won't give up putting in crops. He baled 80 squares by himself off a couple small fields by the house. Drove and then stacked it on the trailer after it piled up . I keep telling him he needs to find a high school kid to help him out. He says they all are useless, lol. Keeps him going!
 
that's what my dad always said,

green hay won't catch a barn on fire but wet/rained on hay could

safe thing is don't take a chance with either.
 
On the eastern slope of Colorado it is not uncommon to see hay being baled at night after the dew sets. The days here are often too hot and dry to bale and you just loose to much leaf and the stems just break down. Then you just get really dry loose bales that don't feed worth a darn.

Greg
 
I have baled many bales with no lights except the 3 or 4 inch flame on top of the muffler. As long as I could see the windrow beside the left rear tire and the baler was making the bang click noise everything was all right. Thank you for bringing back another memory.
 

I roll most of my hay and have always baled by the look of my tires. If the tires look dirty the hays still dry, if the tires look clean get off and check hay for moisture, if the tires look wet it's time to stop.
One year it was hot and dry so started baling late in the afternoon. As it got dark I keep watching the tires and they stayed dry and dirty so I keep baling. When I finished the field I looked at my watch, it was 2:00 am.
I have lights on all my tractors and have mowed, tedded and baled till near midnite on many occasions.
Square baling we stop at dark, I don't like to leave bales on the ground over night and it's hard to get helpers to work late. 4-500 squares is all we do anymore, everything else is rolled.
Finished up first cutting Friday with 840 rolls, got 20 acres of clover that will be ready for second cut next week that we'll square bale.
 
(quoted from post at 22:55:05 06/19/16) Yeah, it was kinda late, but I could still see the bale size indicator and the windrows.

Wanted to finish up this field, got done bout 9:45, more to do tomorrow before it starts raining again Tuesday.

Works fine for bagged haylage . For hay the dew isn't dried off until 10:00AM at the earliest . A couple of hours before sun set the baler has to slacked off a few turns as the bales are getting heavy.
 

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