Starting hay season 2017

RPW · May 16, 2017

Well the new season has started. Did my first cutting on Saturday. Everything went perfectly no problems at all. Raking went just as smooth. Baled first bale came out perfect second bale not so good after that could get a bale to save my rear end. It's an old baler so out with the old and in with a newer baler.

cat fever · May 16, 2017

I think I'm at least a month away from baling. Heck, it might snow tonight. My field is looking good so far. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for enough rain.

RPW · May 16, 2017

That field does look good. I had so much hay last year I didn't fertilize this first cutting knowing that my yield would be lower. Unfortunately since I'm having so many problems with my current baler I have to deal with rain for the rest of the week. The good thing is when I can get into the field to rake again I'll have a newer baler. Moving from a Vermeer 605C to a Vermeer Rebel 5400. Smaller bales but will still weigh the same If not a bit more.

cat fever · May 16, 2017

I have older equipment but so far it works good. My baler is a NH 316 and the haybine is a NH 488. I trust the baler more than the haybine.
Around here it's still cold enough that the field doesn't want to really take off and grow. After this storm tonight and tomorrow hopefully it will get into the 80's for several days. I think if the ground temps would go up the growth would increase dramatically.

RPW · May 30, 2017

After last post my neighbor came over and bought my remaining hay so just ordered more fertilizer and will be spraying between rain showers.

cat fever · Jun 2, 2017

Update;
It's been dry as of late. Looks like I'll be cutting next week for sure, just not sure what day. I work straight thru until Friday morning, but, I think I may cut Tuesday morning, rake Wednesday afternoon then bale Friday when I wake up. Of course all that is subject to Mother Nature.

cat fever · Jun 5, 2017

Cut the hay today. Looks like a good crop.

RPW · Jun 5, 2017

Nice. Curious, where do you have your swather plate set to. Can't remember the correct name. The plate that controls the with of your windrows? I have the same mower and mine is set to spread the windrow at it's maximum with and I believe if I adjust it for a bit smaller windrow I could eliminate the raking.

cat fever · Jun 5, 2017

I know some of these units are adjustable. I've looked under mine and there is nothing to adjust. I bought it this way and have not done anything to it other than tighten belts and chains.

cat fever · Jun 7, 2017

My plan was to rake the hay today and bale tomorrow. After raking I checked several places around the field, it was ready to bale. I worked last night and have to work tonight. 12 hour shifts. There was not a lot of time to get the baling done, but it's done. I'll be tired tonight with only 4 hours of sleep. Ended up with 400 bales about 75 pounds each.

RPW · Jun 8, 2017

Looks good. I fertilized a couple of days ago. Not sure if I messed up as it started raining shortly after application. Will probably top dress in a couple of weeks to add some additional nitrogen then I hope to be baling again at the end of the month.

cat fever · Jun 8, 2017

Nice, be sure to post some pictures of the hay process. Even though we have all seen it before.:laughing:

I bought this bale sweep so I wouldn't have to lift the hay in the trailer any more. It was sure nice. I could load the trailer in 10-15 minutes and not break a sweat.

cat fever · Jun 11, 2017

So all said and done I ended up with 400ish bales.

powerscol · Jun 15, 2017

Do you unload the trailer by hand? I have not seen a bale sweep unload before, Got 51 bales first cutting off of my 2 acres and have 12 acres cut and wind rowed ready for second turning then baling tomorrow. I cut a bit early to not have such thick stems. Blew a hose on my grapple (replaced locally within a hour or so), but otherwise even the sickle mower worked until I jammed the tip into a hole and sheared two knives off. Put on the replacement knife bar section and back at it. New rake is absolutely fabulous.

On edit. I noticed you have your hay on the concrete - ever any mold issue on the bottom? I have mine on pallets. I found the baler twine ones a perfect fit and tougher than most other full size ones.

M5farms · Jun 15, 2017

Different part of the world and different hay but I got 28 acres cut and bailed last week. only had a 4 day window but got it done.

cat fever · Jun 15, 2017

M5farms,
Hay and fields look great.

powerscol,
Yes I unload by hand. No choice the barn is to low for the tractor to fit. Otherwise I might have gone the grapple route. I don't mind to much, I can back in and unload right on spot. Plus it's a little exercise.
It sucks when you break equipment, glad you were able to get it fixed quickly. Just lucky this year but I didn't break anything. I did have a close call with a baseball sized rock in my neighbors field. It hit the post between my corner window and the back window. Couple inches either way and I'd be buying a new window.

As far as mold the answer is no. The only time I have dealt with mold is when I bale to wet. That only happened one time. (knocking on wood)

RPW · Jun 17, 2017

Well I hope to start second cutting in a week or so but may have to wait. Mother nature isn't cooperating to well as we're only got minimal rain and the fields are still short. Oh well gives me more time to move into the new house.

Creamer · Jun 17, 2017

I got really lucky this year. Hit a dry hot spell and finished cutting it about noon last Sunday and we baled it Monday afternoon. I have never had hay dry that quickly in this area. It is all grass though - tall fescue, brome and timothy. It was plenty mature but it has been too wet to cut it. Got an opening and took it.

cat fever · Jun 17, 2017

Creamer said:
I got really lucky this year. Hit a dry hot spell and finished cutting it about noon last Sunday and we baled it Monday afternoon. I have never had hay dry that quickly in this area. It is all grass though - tall fescue, brome and timothy. It was plenty mature but it has been too wet to cut it. Got an opening and took it.

Like the saying goes; "make hay while the sun is shining". Glad it worked out for you.