Hay Making on a Different Scale

[Farmerjonathan]

Have you considered rebating your rounds in the off season into small squares?

 

[LHF2019]

. Since 2015 only a hand full of times have we had rounds to sell in the winter. Not worth the investment however I have researched it and have it narrowed down. It also has purpose feeding the cattle.

Have you considered rebating your rounds in the off season into small squares?

 

[LHF2019]

And this brings my season to an official close. 116 bales. 11/13 is now the latest I have baled dry. Had 2 days of freeze drying that I got to take advantage of. Probably the first time taking 4 cuttings dry

View attachment 831990View attachment 831991

Finally unloaded the last of the hay we baled. Not all the bales made. Cattle sure are happy they didn't. Just a few sporadic ones, not the whole load.

 

[LHF2019]

Started fixing tile lines last year with the acquisition of a backhoe attachment. It is going to be a long process with as many lines that there are dating back to possibly early 1900's. First process is to find and install new ends then start making repairs further up the line. Lots of surprises along the way.

Last year

 

[LHF2019]

Started this years projects last couple days

It's a long slow process with the backhoe but cheaper and more convienant than trying to hire and can work as my schedule permits.

 

[Hay Dude]

You have to sometimes stop and appreciate the winter. It gives time to repair, retool, replace, restore and maybe even relax???

 

[LHF2019]

and maybe even relax???

Maybe. Lol

 

[ultrarunner]

One year in Washington I saw lots of hay heading for Texas… seems like a very long way but with drought conditions that year the options were few.

Bales here go for as much as 30 to the elite horse crowd in the greater SF Bay Area and a deal is when prices in the low 20’s can be found…

Interesting how hay varies around the country.

 

[LHF2019]

One year in Washington I saw lots of hay heading for Texas… seems like a very long way but with drought conditions that year the options were few.

Bales here go for as much as 30 to the elite horse crowd in the greater SF Bay Area and a deal is when prices in the low 20’s can be found…

Interesting how hay varies around the country.

Yes it is. $6 for 2nd cutting. Haven't moved one yet.

 

[LHF2019]

We used to sell a lot of rounds but those have really fell back with more squares leaving.

Last couple months hay sales picked up and......................the rounds that I did not think would sell moved fast at $65/4x4 bale. Squares, still haven't sold 100 of the 2nds at $6/bale. Still have over 2000 in the barn of them. Most of 2022 1st cutting carry over sold at $4.50/bale. Just never know what will move and what won't. 4x4 round bale is a 5% savings over the equivalent square bale. Based on bales not weight. Everything in this area is sold by bale. I would prefer to sell by weight but that would come with a lot of customer training.


Lots of progress made on tile lines and when you get weather like this it will make a difference in the field. None of the pictures are duplicates, each one is a different outlet on the farm in addition to 3 known others ones I did not take a picture of. 2 years ago none of these were running properly as the ends had collapsed or in some form of disrepair. Still lots of work to do but the results are very evident. Pictures were taken after after 2 inches of rain couple weeks ago. Yesterday I dumped 3 inches after we received that in a 12 hour period and rain and snow still falling.