Dave, rrlund - how's your hay drying?

RayP(MI) · Sep 18, 2014

Been worrying 'bout you and your haying project. When you started weather forecast was promising. With the wet mornings it can't be drying very fast. Mid afternoon and I'm still wearing my chore boots and they are still getting wet from the dew. Swear I'm feeling mist in the air.

That's the problem with late season hay.

RayP(MI) · Sep 18, 2014

Bill Steffen talking about thunderstorms for the weekend.

1130Leo · Sep 18, 2014

I am having the same issues you all are, and I'm in the thumb. I have lost about 12 acres of 2nd due to just plain rot via lack of drying. This year has been horrible. I have some down that has been rained on twice now, even though the forecast was decent when cut, just cut another 12 acres yesterday, hope like hell to get it baled saturday before the rain, but then again, it was supposed to be sunny here today, and fricking clouds all day.... do not know what I am going to do if I can't get some 2nd small squares baled, may have to dig a hole and bury some horses if it keeps up...

RayP(MI) · Sep 18, 2014

Has been a tough summer for haying. I got only two fields in without raining on. Got some not so nice hay. Some was so bad i discarded it. At this point I don't think any fields will come back to cut again. Fortunately, I didn't sell much last seasons hay, so probably have enough.

rrlund · Sep 18, 2014

I raked 43 acres yesterday. Rolled 7 bales of some real light stuff last night. I told Dave and JW early this afternoon on Tales that it would do just what it did yesterday and clear out at 5 o'clock. I was about fed up at 3:30 and went to finish up 16 acres of light grassy hay anyway. Do I need to tell you what happened? At 4:57 I saw the first peak of sunshine all day. I got done at 5:05 and headed home. At 5:06 the sun came out and still is. Can I call it or what? I've got 20 raked yet that I'll try to get tomorrow after I get home from Walkers auction,then there's 25 that isn't raked yet. If that gets wet,the hay head is going back on the chopper and it's going in the bunker under the corn.

rrlund · Sep 18, 2014

I was talking to a guy at the Farm Bureau meeting a week ago who lives about half way between you and me. He said they had all the haylage they need,but they haven't baled a single square bale yet.

DAVISFARMS · Sep 18, 2014

Made 200 square and 2 rolls loaded square all before the bus today put them in the barn tonight

Dave H (MI) · Sep 18, 2014

I haven't had any complaints from the first cutting. They even took bales I told them were not good...ground was swampy and the bales had to be wet. Took them without saying a word and paid for them. There had to be some bad bales in there and I WILL take them back if they call me but no calls. Worked most of the day but headed out before dinner. Hay is pretty dry. Once the dew burns off tomorrow I will rake it and put the baler on the field. Now I am not one to tell others how to do what they know how, but been driving around and there is hay on the ground everywhere. Folks cutting it like it is June and leaving it in those thick windrows. I don't know, with all the dew and cold, how they are ever going to dry it down. I pulled the shields off the rear of the mower and let it fall in a wide swath. Dries it down nice, not a lot of shatter with the dew each AM keeping it a little soft. Watch it for the right time after lunch and get it piled up and baled. You just have to get the air all the way thru. That's what works for me.

Dave, rrlund - how's your hay drying?

RayP(MI)

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