Hay Making on a Different Scale

[LHF2019]

When I see that moisture on my tires I know I'm in for a waiting game, the sun may be doing it's job on the top side but that grass on the bottom is pulling moisture from that damp soil and it's just a waiting game.

The photos are deceiving. Yes there are certain areas that are soft but not as bad as the rye field. This field is for the most part better drained. What you are seeing is dew. Mowing started at 9am and tedded shortly after so it is all residual moisture. I don't perceive any issue baling but will have preserve on the baler should we find it runs on the higher side. Small squares. Better control. I would not make rounds this time of year with this much moisture in the hay and/or ground and with having an exact 4 day window that offers no extension.

Have one round bale customer that just doesn't seem to understand my stance on this and if he wants a better quality product he needs to at least get some squares. You have no idea how often I hear about rounds that are dusty from customers.

 

[QRTRHRS]

We only baled our own hay, but when the moisture content was high, we scattered a handful of salt on each sq bale before stacking loosly in the barn. That kept the bales from molding and reduced heat-buildup.
A side-benefit was, the cows liked the hay, but never used for horses.

I have salted hay that I feed horses with no issues that I could see. I don't go overboard with the salt. Think a bit more than most people would put on their morning eggs but not "Cajon" style.

 

[QRTRHRS]

My area finally got a somewhat decent 4-5 day window. Afternoon temps around 80, nights a tad cool in the 50's. Take what you get and be glad for it.

 

[Hay Dude]

My area finally got a somewhat decent 4-5 day window. Afternoon temps around 80, nights a tad cool in the 50's. Take what you get and be glad for it.

Same here. I have one more day tomorrow to get what I cut baled-up. Then chances of showers later this week.
Shouldn’t be a problem, but with hay equipment….you never know.

 

[RayIN]

A friend has this cutting in the barn as of tonight. He mowed Sat, raked Monday and Tuesday, round baled today. I think it was about 50 acres.
May 18 a tornado destroyed the saddle club barn ½ mile South of him. It didn't even blow down his hay fields.

 

[LHF2019]

Everything turned out good. Took about 30 bales to get accumulator shined up where I wasn’t stopping every 4 bales to assist them. 865 bales. Yield was much better than expected. 96 bales/acre. It is our best field. No fertilizer. Had I only cut half of it would have seen much higher yield numbers. Lower 3-4 acres was really bad. Spent the money and got 2nd off to a good start and rained right in.

Straw coming along nicely. Gets rained on today and hoping it is ready to go Sunday. This tedding took place on day 7.

 

[EddieWalker]

How do you buy your fertilizer? Do they deliver it, or do you have something to haul it in?

 

[LHF2019]

How do you buy your fertilizer? Do they deliver it, or do you have something to haul it in?

Gets delivered

 

[RayIN]

My bottom field grass is heavy but the guy that harvests it is hampered by the weather. It rains every 3 days and the ground squishes when you take a step.
Looks like this year he won't get a cutting until perhaps July/August.
The contractor that is going to rebuild my pole barn can't get equipment and materials through the bottom either.

 

[Hay Dude]

My bottom field grass is heavy but the guy that harvests it is hampered by the weather. It rains every 3 days and the ground squishes when you take a step.
Looks like this year he won't get a cutting until perhaps July/August.

Undergoing the same pains here in PA.
June is pretty much shot for making anymore hay.

 

[RayIN]

I hear ya Dude! A friend said he has 300A of hay ready to harvest, but can't get a break from the weather.

 

[Hay Dude]

Worst I have seen in a decade+.

 

[LHF2019]

Just sitting here waiting. Straw still on the ground and hopefully get some tomorrow. smoke isn't helping either. seems now smoke early summer from Canada and smoke from the west in late summer.

 

[LHF2019]

Worst I have seen in a decade+.

In what way. Not unusual for us to struggle in June to make hay but when we can get it we expect it every year. I know everybody is behind though this year. Lots of corn not in the ground yet.

 

[Hay Dude]

In what way. Not unusual for us to struggle in June to make hay but when we can get it we expect it every year. I know everybody is behind though this year. Lots of corn not in the ground yet.

In terms of rain for 3 days, sun for 2-3 days, rain for 2 days, etc.

Can’t put together 5 dry days. Now the ground is so wet, even when the sun hits, the ground is real mushy to make dry hay.

June is usually hot & dry in this part of PA.

 

[RayIN]

I forsee a lot of over-ripe grass being put up in July/Aug. Take care of yourselves this summer; dehydration sneaks up on us and it can be a killer.

edited 6/12, 0025hrs. I gave up today and bush-hogged 10A of the bottom hay field this past evening; took me 4 hrs. Rain expected for the next 4 days.
About half of that field was so wet I left wet-looking tire tracks. I accomplished a 2nd mission, cutting off weeds before they go to seed. I had the bush hog set to cut 8" high.
By the time the field is dry the grass will again be 4' high and hopefully dry enough to harvest.

 

[LHF2019]

Got the straw picked up yesterday finally. Turned out better quality wise than expected. 1040 bales. Didn't take a single picture and spent the whole time in the mow. Dodged mud holes and standing water to get it picked up.

 

[EddieWalker]

On average, how long until you're ready for your second cutting?

 

[LHF2019]

On average, how long until you're ready for your second cutting?

If we can get it every 40 days we’re doing good

 

[EddieWalker]

That's impressive. I know the goal here is to cut at peak protein levels, and that's about 28 days, but it never happens. Three cuttings a year is a good year. I know that sometimes they get 4, but a lot of years they only get two.