Baling Bottom Bahia

This summer we cleaned a field called "the bottom" to start/improve the Bahia grass.

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Mowed several areas with "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq5uSpvEBaA">Vernon</a>" and the JD 350 sickle mower.

Even though there were no pine trees around, somehow managed to break two sections on the mower.

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Got the mower back in operation, but lost the grass board somewhere along the way.

Found the grass board without any trouble and back to the shop for repairs.

Got almost finished mowing when the right rear tire gave it up.

Made an early morning inspection with "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmVKtnfkV-U">Easy</a>" to check on the field.

Started raking with "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FlubDSU1es">Sam</a>" and the JD 640 hay rake last Saturday morning.

Notice the large oak tree in the video is the same one in the first photo.

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Used "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQSsw7q_TsA">Big John</a>" and the KRONE 260 to make the 4x5 round bales.

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Ended up with 18 bales of marginal/fair cow hay.

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Community neighbor came by Monday morning and bought all of it.

I expect it will be better next year, with the competing weeds out of the way, and more fertilizer. Will you do anything else between now and next summer to improve it?

BTW, you need an attractive dog to put in the last picture of each post ;>)

as always., some real nice pictures. Will Nancy drive the ford tractor? lol

Sam sounds like he had a bit of allergies this morning .Easy and Big John have the throaty sound. I like in JD's As always like all your vids and pix

Heck I see ya broke that dern cicle blade -- didn't ya see that hammer, and punch layin there?? --- LOL

Just kiddin

Interesting, my 350 has individual sections. I can plan on destroying several each year. Hit mole hills hidden in the hay. Moles push up small stones in their hills, and those will snap a section, or at least destroy a knife in a heartbeat.

Always enjoy your pictures { video } ...

THANKS for sharing ....

Wondering ... are you getting WET ?? Getting all the rain ... like the radio is talking { places getting 13 inches }

Mark

Nothing else planned between now and next Spring.

This field has been "rooted up" by wild hogs in many areas.

Early next Spring, if the ground is dry enough, we will spray for broad-leaf weeds.

After the weeds are dead, will go back with either a chisel plow or disk harrow and break up the ground.

Probably use the cultipacker afterward to smooth out the ground and hope the hogs don"t come back.

This is the first time we"ve bailed hay off this field.

Nancy would drive the Ford 2810 when hauling the water tub to the hay field.

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Put about 125 gallons in it to refill the 60 gallon Continental Belton sprayer on "Old John" her 48A,

Ordered a set of points and condensor for "Sam" about 3 weeks ago.

Went to AG Power ( Deere ) on Saturday and got the parts, but didn't the take time to do the maintenance.

"Easy" ran pretty good considering only being started about once a month.

"Big John" always runs good; very dependable tractor.

Don't have a clue what broke those two knife sections.

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Easy to figure out when you've got a section or two missing; grass clumps.

Took a look at the guards on all our 350's and all were the doubles.

Been really lucky considering all the trees I've hit with the mower.

Broke one guard on a utility pole in the middle of the field.

In this particular field, probably broke the sections on a tree stob or armadillo mound.

Most of the heavy rain was southwest of us near Belton, TX.

Nancy was scheduled for a competition ride this weekend in Cleburne, TX that was canceled today due to weather and flooding.

We did dodge a tornado this evening that was southeast of us about 10 miles (Ferris, TX) and another due east about 5 miles (Seagoville, TX).

Weather has calmed down and is just fine right now.

Glad to heard that , was thinking of you guys when I heard Tx. was getting hammer ...
Nancy has said you needed some rain... so was just wondering .. I know Tx. is BIG ... and not for sure where your farm or you guys live for sure ..{ somewhere around Dallas , I think }

Anyway glad to hear you didn't get the BAD weather ..

we are { central Ia. } suppose to get rain off and on for the next 3 days .. from the hurricane {sp} ..

Mark

Always enjoy your picture. I wonder what is good cow hay. We always give our Guernsey's the best we have.
gitrib

My community neighbor bought 20 bales of our very good Bahia grass cut on the other 3 fields.

Drove him down to the bottom and let him look at the grass before it was cut last week.

He said his cows would eat it and enjoy it during February.

Most of the folks around here supplement hay with range cubes; hay for filler and cubes for nutrition.

As I constantly remind Nancy, the Bahia bales are a byproduct of keeping the fields clean.

(quoted from post at 21:27:31 09/08/10) Most of the heavy rain was southwest of us near Belton, TX.Nancy was scheduled for a competition ride this weekend in Cleburne, TX that was canceled today due to weather and flooding.

Click to expand...

James,
My neighbor said he measured over 12 inches of rain in his gauge in 48 hrs. Water was over I35 north of Alvarado also and other roads were closed.

I have one of those riveting tools! I find that you really have to "lean into" that wrench to get the rivets tight, also need to be careful to get them to compress straight! I wonder how well that tool would work with an impact wrench? Guess I'll have to try it sometime.

Agree with you on getting the "tool" straight on the rivet.

Really not too bad making a "field" repair using this tool.

My preference would be to remove the knife and do preventive maintenance before going to work.

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Sure glad I don't have to use one of these!

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