Did a little hay last week ...

[foreman Etexas]

Thats nice ... I really like the monitor ... does it also show which side of the bale needs more hay?

I thought it did but thats a BIG no,guy that set up the baler said could be added. I guess that should have been a question I should have asked when buying it

 

[blueriver]

I thought it did but thats a BIG no,guy that set up the baler said could be added. I guess that should have been a question I should have asked when buying it

Man thats not right ... should have been that way.

 

[Gordo 56]

Rolled the Pearl Millet today ... averaged 3 bales to the acre ... 4x5.5 net wraped. I can see regrowth already ... may get a second cutting on it. Started cutting Bermuda grass this afternoon... I have never had any Bermuda so thick and so dark green ... almost black when its layed down. Won't be a cut today bale tomorrow type ... may bale Wed evening.

Hi again blueriver, you need to start taking your camara with you on your tractor, I would liked to see what Pearl Millet and Bermuda grass look like before and after bailing. In my bottom ground the guy who planted my trees says I have canary grass, it seems to grow great and dosn't mind the occasional flooding. Is that grass very palatable for cows and could I use that as hay? Or is there something else that you would recomend for bottom ground like mine. I plan to raise a few Scottish Highland cattle that are said to eat forage that other domestic cows would pass by.

 

[blueriver]

Hi again blueriver, you need to start taking your camara with you on your tractor, I would liked to see what Pearl Millet and Bermuda grass look like before and after bailing. In my bottom ground the guy who planted my trees says I have canary grass, it seems to grow great and dosn't mind the occasional flooding. Is that grass very palatable for cows and could I use that as hay? Or is there something else that you would recomend for bottom ground like mine. I plan to raise a few Scottish Highland cattle that are said to eat forage that other domestic cows would pass by.

Your so right ... I always leave the camera at home. I would google Pearl Millet and Bermuda Grass to get some idea ... I do know Pearl Millet is a warm season grass as is Bermuda. There are different Canary Grasses, I recall as a kid my dad had some canery grass that he used to graze and bale ... I'm not up on Canary grass and will have to search it and learn.

I'd also like to grow some alfalfa ... they say it doesn't do good on sandy soils.

 

[pacerron]

I thought it did but thats a BIG no,guy that set up the baler said could be added. I guess that should have been a question I should have asked when buying it

That's what you get with those fancy balers with belts close together
My old Heston has so much space between the belts I can just watch how even the roll is by looking in the mirror.
Balers like yours sure are nice though!
Ron

 

[foreman Etexas]

I tried looking in to see but nope,its like a big suprise everytime I kick one out:laughing: Im gonna call and see what it cost to add but I am gonna bet not gonna be worth it,im just feeding to my cows and not selling anything so a slight lean will be okay with me. I have came across one issue with my back home-made 3point,one spear is the bales are so tight it doesnt not wonna go in some,so gonna have to get me a smaller spear to weld on it,works great with the big bales but it was just something I built. I have 2 other 3point bale movers but they go under the bale and dont like them cause hard to get string or net off,thats why I built the one that goes into the bale. Maybe I can scrap them and go to TSC and buy me a new one and fix my other.


I pulled it with the 7040 and some of the hills with almost a full bale the tractor sure felt it. Im gonna put it on the 5040 next time if the weather isnt calling for rain and see how it does. I bet its gonna grunt alot,probaly will need to run in 4x4.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Gotta question what can I spray myself to kill the grasshoppers in hay meadow.

 

[pacerron]

I tried looking in to see but nope,its like a big suprise everytime I kick one out:laughing: Im gonna call and see what it cost to add but I am gonna bet not gonna be worth it,im just feeding to my cows and not selling anything so a slight lean will be okay with me. I have came across one issue with my back home-made 3point,one spear is the bales are so tight it doesnt not wonna go in some,so gonna have to get me a smaller spear to weld on it,works great with the big bales but it was just something I built. I have 2 other 3point bale movers but they go under the bale and dont like them cause hard to get string or net off,thats why I built the one that goes into the bale. Maybe I can scrap them and go to TSC and buy me a new one and fix my other.

Sometimes you can spear them a little higher or lower than center and get the spear in. Sometimes it pushes the center core out on mine. Sure not an exact science

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Hi again blueriver, you need to start taking your camara with you on your tractor, I would liked to see what Pearl Millet and Bermuda grass look like before and after bailing. In my bottom ground the guy who planted my trees says I have canary grass, it seems to grow great and dosn't mind the occasional flooding. Is that grass very palatable for cows and could I use that as hay? Or is there something else that you would recomend for bottom ground like mine. I plan to raise a few Scottish Highland cattle that are said to eat forage that other domestic cows would pass by.

Canary grass is great in that it takes flooding and droughts very well. It is not very good for horses if it gets mature though. If cut early enough it is ok but around here my customers won't accept it for horses regardless of when its cut (just how they think of canary, can't change that). For cattle I think you will be ok. I would still try to cut it early though just because it will be a better hay all together. When it gets mature it gets bitter and has a very stiff stem so try to keep up with it and you should be ok.

 

[Gordo 56]

Your so right ... I always leave the camera at home. I would google Pearl Millet and Bermuda Grass to get some idea ... I do know Pearl Millet is a warm season grass as is Bermuda. There are different Canary Grasses, I recall as a kid my dad had some canery grass that he used to graze and bale ... I'm not up on Canary grass and will have to search it and learn.

I'd also like to grow some alfalfa ... they say it doesn't do good on sandy soils.

I took your advise and looked up Pearl Millet, I had never heard of that grass before. It does have a unique look to it. I also looked up my Reed Canarygrass and like what I have read, it seems to be perfict for my ground and my pasture based hobby farm. It is not indigenous to this country, and was brought here for pasture and eroision control. It is considered a invasive species by most states, and is a cool season grass. It thrives in rich fertile bottom ground and can take the occasional flooding. What I like most is you can bale it and use it for hay if you do it early in the season before it matures and you can graze it 9 months out of the year and can be regrazed only after 2 weeks rest, perfict for someone who does rotational grazing. The plant spreads by seeds and rhizones root system, I am hoping my pasture raised hogs will love those.

blueriver it sounds like you been ranching and haying your whole life. I am sure you will hear back from me from time to time, I sure I will need your expert advise again as I start my farm. Thanks for your help.

 

[blueriver]

I tried looking in to see but nope,its like a big suprise everytime I kick one out:laughing: Im gonna call and see what it cost to add but I am gonna bet not gonna be worth it,im just feeding to my cows and not selling anything so a slight lean will be okay with me. I have came across one issue with my back home-made 3point,one spear is the bales are so tight it doesnt not wonna go in some,so gonna have to get me a smaller spear to weld on it,works great with the big bales but it was just something I built. I have 2 other 3point bale movers but they go under the bale and dont like them cause hard to get string or net off,thats why I built the one that goes into the bale. Maybe I can scrap them and go to TSC and buy me a new one and fix my other.

Sometimes you can spear them a little higher or lower than center and get the spear in. Sometimes it pushes the center core out on mine. Sure not an exact science

Yes ... above the center core helps and sometimes even the thin little spears are hard to get in.

 

[blueriver]

Canary grass is great in that it takes flooding and droughts very well. It is not very good for horses if it gets mature though. If cut early enough it is ok but around here my customers won't accept it for horses regardless of when its cut (just how they think of canary, can't change that). For cattle I think you will be ok. I would still try to cut it early though just because it will be a better hay all together. When it gets mature it gets bitter and has a very stiff stem so try to keep up with it and you should be ok.

Just gotta love those hores folks !!

 

[blueriver]

I took your advise and looked up Pearl Millet, I had never heard of that grass before. It does have a unique look to it. I also looked up my Reed Canarygrass and like what I have read, it seems to be perfict for my ground and my pasture based hobby farm. It is not indigenous to this country, and was brought here for pasture and eroision control. It is considered a invasive species by most states, and is a cool season grass. It thrives in rich fertile bottom ground and can take the occasional flooding. What I like most is you can bale it and use it for hay if you do it early in the season before it matures and you can graze it 9 months out of the year and can be regrazed only after 2 weeks rest, perfict for someone who does rotational grazing. The plant spreads by seeds and rhizones root system, I am hoping my pasture raised hogs will love those.



blueriver it sounds like you been ranching and haying your whole life. I am sure you will hear back from me from time to time, I sure I will need your expert advise again as I start my farm. Thanks for your help.

I read a little about it as well ... the only thing as I said earlier was as a kid dad had some. According to Roberts post he would know more about it than I would.

 

[Gordo 56]

Canary grass is great in that it takes flooding and droughts very well. It is not very good for horses if it gets mature though. If cut early enough it is ok but around here my customers won't accept it for horses regardless of when its cut (just how they think of canary, can't change that). For cattle I think you will be ok. I would still try to cut it early though just because it will be a better hay all together. When it gets mature it gets bitter and has a very stiff stem so try to keep up with it and you should be ok.

Thanks for your input Robert, I didn't see your post until now.

 

[pacerron]

Yes ... above the center core helps and sometimes even the thin little spears are hard to get in.

Foreman Etexas
Not sure how you designed your homemade spear. Mine is sort of a universal fit made from heavy [ channel and square tubing. It can be used in place of the FEL bucket or on the rear 3pt.
The back end of the big center spear is welded to a square chunk of steel that is wide enough to have holes for [ bolts around the center channel through the square chunk. That way it can be adjusted up and down in distance relation to the small bottom spears for different size rolls or to enter off center. That also makes it easy to remove and replace with a spear that is longer, shorter, or a different diameter.
In my own experience I find the little bottom spears an important asset to keep the bales from rolling when lifting up with the FEL frame to stack either horizontally or vertically in the barn or load on a truck when the center spear is inserted off center intentionally or otherwise.
Ron

 

[Susanjoyce]

(I'm a lurking farmer groupie. I understand about 10% of what you guys are talking about, but boy, am I enjoy reading it! Kudus and thanks to all farmers!!!$

 

[Susanjoyce]

(I'm a lurking farmer groupie. I understand about 10% of what you guys are talking about, but boy, am I enjoy reading it! Kudus and thanks to all farmers!!)

 

[foreman Etexas]

(I'm a lurking farmer groupie. I understand about 10% of what you guys are talking about, but boy, am I enjoy reading it! Kudus and thanks to all farmers!!)

Glad to have you:thumbsup:

 

[foreman Etexas]

Foreman Etexas
Not sure how you designed your homemade spear. Mine is sort of a universal fit made from heavy [ channel and square tubing. It can be used in place of the FEL bucket or on the rear 3pt.
The back end of the big center spear is welded to a square chunk of steel that is wide enough to have holes for [ bolts around the center channel through the square chunk. That way it can be adjusted up and down in distance relation to the small bottom spears for different size rolls or to enter off center. That also makes it easy to remove and replace with a spear that is longer, shorter, or a different diameter.
In my own experience I find the little bottom spears an important asset to keep the bales from rolling when lifting up with the FEL frame to stack either horizontally or vertically in the barn or load on a truck when the center spear is inserted off center intentionally or otherwise.
Ron

Mine is just made out of pipe and the spear part is just a couple different size's stuck inside the other and the tip isnt real sharp. I actually bent the spear it has a slight downward angle to it,but I tried it just above center and would have to work it in with tractor. Sometimes even that didnt help had to just pick it up with loader and set it up against another bale then back into it.

 

[pacerron]

Mine is just made out of pipe and the spear part is just a couple different size's stuck inside the other and the tip isnt real sharp. I actually bent the spear it has a slight downward angle to it,but I tried it just above center and would have to work it in with tractor. Sometimes even that didnt help had to just pick it up with loader and set it up against another bale then back into it.

Maybe your making your rolls a bit too tight. Are they heating up any? Perhaps you could increase your ground speed a little if you want them more loose.
Are you storing them outside or in a barn?
Ron