When should I consider hay abandoned?

[quicksandfarmer]

Last summer I had a new guy hay three of my fields. Without going into the reasons, he won't be back this summer. He left about 40 round bales in the field. In January he came and got about five of them (and left big ruts in the process, I wasn't too pleased). The rest are still out there. I haven't heard from him since.

Tomorrow it will be May, the grass is growing and I'd like those bales out of my field. I think they're worthless, they've been in the weather for almost a year and the twine is letting go on some of them. But I don't want him coming back and complaining that I got rid of his hay. Thoughts?

If I do have to get rid of them, what should I do with them? There's only so much I can mulch!

Thanks.

 

[RickB]

Move them, they are already damaging the sod. As to what to do with them, make them go away for the least cost. Did you have a written agreement for a specified time?

 

[stuckmotor]

If you're on speaking terms call the guy and ask if he wants them.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

You can always burn them.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Did he leave them just setting everywhere in the field? I cannot see why folks do that then bale around them the next time,just lazy to not atleast stack them to the side of field.I would call and tell him to come get them if he Wont's them if pasture isn't to wet but if he says just waiting for it to dry up,then that may be just something that needs to wait and say next time they need to be moved within a few days of baled.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Did he leave them just setting everywhere in the field? I cannot see why folks do that then bale around them the next time,just lazy to not atleast stack them to the side of field at least. I would call and tell him to come get them if he Wont's them if pasture isn't to wet but if he says just waiting for it to dry up,then that may be just something that needs to wait and say next time they need to be moved within a few days of baled.

They haven't moved since they fell out of the baler.

I don't know why he did all that work and never came for them.

I don't particularly feel like calling him, I'm not having him back this year.

 

[KevT]

Find someone with goats, Goats like old nasty hay, goat farmers may not, so they may have to be free. Or are you seeding another field? It is great to spread out after seeding in new grass

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Rather than investing in the equipment and baling my own hay, i also have mine worked by someone else. Fortunately, I really like the guy and he does a great job - while respecting my property. Even so - not a bale leaves the property before I get an accurate count and a check. This, of course, provides additional incentive for them to haul off the hay.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Last year hay is still good hay,we try to keep several rolls left over in case bad year. I still think right thing to do is call him and give him the option to take them off place. Not many like him but believe me I see it every once in a while. I am personally getting my share hay off the place soon as done so it doesn't disappear. Only so many local folks going to bale hay and may not be able get that next guy to do it on sounds like you done shares. I mean if he done good job just have to say hey this year you need move it so I don't have that crap setting in my field.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Good hay in texas maybe, being covered in snow and rained on, that hay is garbage. Toss it off to the side, cut the strings and try to spread that nasty stuff out. If he hasn't been back and your not having him bale again, get that hay off of there before it really kills the grass off, you are still going to find those spots where the hay sat all summer long.

 

[CobyRupert]

Instead of talking with him man to man, I'd suggest you mitch and boan here for days on end.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Instead of talking with him man to man, I'd suggest you mitch and boan here for days on end.

I hear you. The way this is probably going to play out is I'll never hear from him again and I'm going to have to clean up his mess. The way things have gone so far I consider that a fair trade.

What kills me is that I offered to buy it from him out of the field last August and he said he needed it all.

 

[paulharvey]

Last summer I had a new guy hay three of my fields. Without going into the reasons, he won't be back this summer. He left about 40 round bales in the field. In January he came and got about five of them (and left big ruts in the process, I wasn't too pleased). The rest are still out there. I haven't heard from him since.

Tomorrow it will be May, the grass is growing and I'd like those bales out of my field. I think they're worthless, they've been in the weather for almost a year and the twine is letting go on some of them. But I don't want him coming back and complaining that I got rid of his hay. Thoughts?

If I do have to get rid of them, what should I do with them? There's only so much I can mulch!

Thanks.

I disagree with the people saying just get rid of it. It was/is his property; if there's no write agreement, call him (or text/email/tweet/smoke signal) and tell him he has two weeks to remove it, or he forfeits it. Cattle will eat some pretty rough hay, it doesn't need to be pretty and smell nice like for horses.

 

[TnAndy]

I'd disagree. It's abandoned property and one has no responsibility to protect it. Worse, it is damaging the field owner's property by killing the grass where it sits.

I watched a neighbor's field get the exact same treatment last year. I stopped and asked about the hay, and cutting it that year. He told me another guy cut/baled it and left it. He had me move it over in a hole at one end of the property. I cut the hay last year, and removed it the same day, two cuttings. I'll be cutting it from now on.

And where the round bales sat, there are still dead spots.

 

[MikeBo]

Every large round bale has at least $25 in potash in it, I would spread it back on the field it came from...

 

[RickB]

Every large round bale has at least $25 in potash in it, I would spread it back on the field it came from...

With what equipment the OP has available?
In May right on top of new growth?
If done, what value will this year's first crop have with old hay mixed in?

 

[redman135]

The bales will still be good. The outer most layer is sacrificed and the rest is good as the bales will shed water PROVIDED the sides don't touch anything. Call the guy and tell him you want the field cleared for this seasons hay, and if you have to shift them , he looses them, and record the call, or the message you leave.
Also can you level out the ruts for the new contractor, or warn the new contractor about them.