Haying this spring

QRTRHRS · Jun 6, 2019

John Fitzgerald said:
I've seen other people put rock salt between their square bales when putting them up when baled damp. They say it's to prevent mold and fires starting in them. I have no personal experience with this, don't know if it actually works.

I have used regular loose salt that I get at Southern States in 50lb bags. Dipping it out of the bag with a plastic tub, I sprinkle it on kind of like someone wanting to raise their blood pressure. Usually, I just put it on the floorboards and then on top of each bale but if the hay is really moist then I will lay a bale on it's side, salt it then quick flip it against the previous bales before I salt the top. I strongly feel that it does indeed work. I have heard that you can overdo it by using too much salt?

Prior to this week, my area in KY has been dry but we had one of the best windows for putting up hay that one could pray for.

John Fitzgerald · Jun 26, 2019

We had a decent window, with only some very light showers, and haying for this cut was finished on the 16th with decent, but not ideal, results. Had plenty of rain since and great regrowth so far.

kcflhrc · Jun 27, 2019

My neighbor Hays my 10 acres around the house. He is the eternal procrastinator. He does something I don't understand. Every year he will cut, rake and bail about the outer 30 feet of the field. He did this again this year and leaves the rest standing to do later. Later this year means he hasn't got it done because of all the rain. What if any is the reason for this? Does he do it so there is more air getting into the rest of the field? Seems odd and I don't see anyone else doing it besides him. He tried to cut again yesterday and said the tires were wet so it was still too wet to cut. But like I said, he works on his crappy equipment and procrastinates more than he gets work done.

aczlan · Jul 4, 2019

kcflhrc said:
My neighbor Hays my 10 acres around the house. He is the eternal procrastinator. He does something I don't understand. Every year he will cut, rake and bail about the outer 30 feet of the field. He did this again this year and leaves the rest standing to do later. Later this year means he hasn't got it done because of all the rain. What if any is the reason for this? Does he do it so there is more air getting into the rest of the field? Seems odd and I don't see anyone else doing it besides him. He tried to cut again yesterday and said the tires were wet so it was still too wet to cut. But like I said, he works on his crappy equipment and procrastinates more than he gets work done.

Some people do that to make it easier to get in out and around the field, that way they don't have to cut up to the edge the next time. In his case, perhaps he wants to make sure his equipment will function before he drops the whole field?

Aaron Z

LouNY · Jul 4, 2019

Many times we will cut of the headlands first (we do 6 rounds) and pick those up first either by baling or chopping.
That way the windrows are not being run over and packed down as the rest of the field gets worked.
Especially with good forage on damp fields where it can be packed down into the dirt.
Also when doubling up windrows it helps to do a better job with less bunching and wads when you aren't turning and raking through the headlands.

Jstpssng · Jul 4, 2019

On the buying end... I tried to get some mulch hay yesterday from a place I've been getting it for 25 years. They've been out for two months as last year was dry and the crop was low, this year it's been raining so much that they haven't been able to get onto the fields.

LouNY · Jul 4, 2019

Well the weather here has cooperated a bit, many of the fields are still soft from all the rain.
But we got another 200 tons of haylage chopped and bagged yesterday and today.
Heck of a note just getting first cutting in July, hay is quite mature and cows wouldn't care for it or get much nutrition out of it if dry baled.
Had to chop right behind the mower or it would be to dry for good haylage, once it ensilages the cows will eat it better and get some good out of it.
This has been my view almost 20 hours the last two days.

Looking out the rear window;