To Hay or not to hay, that is the ?

Animal

Well-known Member
This has been a most unusual year to say the least. I finally finished planting beans last week, and want to move on to hay. Its hot and humid with a chance of rain every other day. All the hay here is over mature and I hate to screw it up any more. I really don't know whether to wait, or put it down a little at a time, or maybe drop it all. No closer than the weather people have been they are no help at all. At 6 a.m. this morning we were supposed to have a sunny hot day, the warnings for thunder storms started at 11 a.m. and they are still flashing warnings tonight at 9 p.m. Stuff like this did not bother me when I was a heavy drinker, here lately I have been thinking about taking it up again. Their is one thing about it, I am not in this boat alone. And I realize my problems are small compared to the poor folks up north and south that are catching this flooding.
 
I've put down a little at a time. I got a little wet hay in the barn...... Its a mess. And we have much better weather than you.

In the middle of a storm warning this morning, got 1/2 inch and more out there, and maybe high winds somewhere around.

Planting went well here, then the winds and the rains. Spraying and hay has been an adventure......

Paul
 
Not all is in the barn yet I guess. ;)

Under roof, I should say.

Paul
a194214.jpg
 
It's been a drawn out season so far,but I haven't had anything to speak of rained on. About 45 acres to go yet out of 160.
You have to get your forecast from at least four different sources,average them out,consider the date on the calendar,use some instinct and common sense,and about 50% of the time,you'll get lucky.
 
I got some hay done about 2 weeks ago. I tried to put some down yesterday but the sickle bar mower kept breaking down on me. Still have to try and get it fixed so I can cut more. Plus I need to grade the driveway since it is washed out badly
 
Only did 350 bales of brome over two weeks ago and no window in the next 7 day forecast. Have over 300 acres to go. I found it is mostly a waist of time to gamble a little here and a little there. Rulund, heard over your way a lot of hay got baled in mid May. I would have also but was no chance on this side of the state.
 
We ended up with just over 2 inches of rain this forenoon. We can about take that as rains have been neusence type every other day small ones of late, but needs to quit for a while.

Strong winds east and west of me with damage, nothing bad here thankfully.

Paul
 
I don't know if any got baled or not,but there was a lot of chopping going on around the 20th or so. I think the big dairy is chopping second cutting right now. I saw the neighbor go by with the air compressor in the back of his pickup. He does the maintenance on their trucks and chopper and when he has the compressor in there,that's usually what it means.
I started cutting June first,baled the first of it the 3rd and 4th. It's been four days on and three off for the most part since then.
 
The window was a few weeks ago here in central MI . Around here there is going to be a nice 2nd cutting.
<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto23166.jpg"/>
 
Have windrows sitting waiting on me to bale it up. But boy is it hot and humid out. Going to be baling it up in just a few minutes.
 
I rolled 92 bales today. 22 acres to go. It's looking more and more like those two systems are going to split and go either side of us tomorrow. I'll see how it looks in the morning,I just might knock it down.
 
I got all of 6.5 bales this evening. Been fighting a sickle bar mower that keeps on breaking down on me. But at least 6 bales is sure better then no bales
 
Me too. I have a huge appreciation for everyone who makes their living off the land. It's a hobby and a way to spend time with family for me. never make any real money at it. but might not cover expenses this year. Rain day yesterday, two mostly cloudy days, then two 50% chance of rain days. half cut field.
 
Farmers get in to trouble when they go from trying to make a living to trying to make money. I just make a living.
 
Well,the last 22 acres in on the ground. Extremely heavy alfalfa and clover. God only knows how long it'll have to lay there. Guess I'll be the first one to know.
 
Well I went for it Monday, baled 140 bales the last two days. I never would have gotten it with out my moco and tedder.
 
DONE! I just rolled the last 133 bales. Brought number 134 home with no twine. That's 774 bales that I put twine on. I brought one home without,everytime I came home.
 
We had a really good run late May through the first half of June. Had a couple of bearing failures on the round baler or would have gotten more up. Right now sitting watching it rain daily 13th straight day. 1250 rolls in the barn net wrapped, 185 rolls outside net wrapped (95 of them shouldn't be but the rain started about 10 minutes after I finished rolling), and 170 rolls outside twine wrapped. Left to go 760 acres of first cutting grass, 42 acres of second cutting alfalfa orchardgrass due to cut today, and 48 acres of third cutting alfalfa and orchardgrass due on the 10th.

Right now my biggest traffic jam is needing to ship hay. I've got orders for barn stored to barn stored that we can't move.
 
Very late start here. Mowed some Thursday as weather was supposed to be good until next Wednesday. Surprise, rain this morning. Ground was already saturated. Really don't need anymore. Last weekend had a pail outside and from about 11:00 on Saturday morning to noon on Sunday there was 3" in the pail. In the last three weeks we have had 10" of rain. It can stop anytime now and that would be a good thing. Very little dry hay done in this area. Have a friend making baleage and he is having a hard time and making ruts. Quality and quantity are poor this year. I hear you on the drinking heavy.
 
Welp my hay has been down in windrows for over a week now. It has been rained on just about everyday since, lots of rain too. now what do i do with it? Imagine it's not any good no more.
 
Me I would rake it up and pile it up and make it a big compost pile. By this time next year it will make good compost for a garden etc.
 
Have you baled it yet? We are in the same boat. 1.5 last night. Good thing just a few acres. Looks like 2
cloudy days and 4 sunny days coming up!
 
I went ahead and raked mine again let it dry good and it really didn't look to bad. No mold to speak of so I baled it. It bale good. Worse comes to worse I sell it for bedding or putting on new seed in waterways. Only had 160 bales of it.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top