OK HERE GOES NOTHING ...NEWBEE HAYER IN THE FIELDS HELP!!!

[BeeferMan]

newbee, to get the best quality hay, you want maximum leaf in the bale. There is relatively little nutritional value to the stalk. When to cut really depends on the type of forage you're cutting, having multiple vegetation types obviously complicates the issue. But it's going to be based on the maturity of the crop, not just the height.

Your best bet may be to bend the ear of that farmer down the road with the cows, he's probably familiar with the local crops and what's in your field, and he can tell you what he would be looking for.

 

[sweettractors]

Beeferman and everyone else thanks for all the help...One last question my fields are about 12" tall now maybe a little less I see you are from MA , when should I cut or how tall? I knwo you said quality vs quantity .I have a few horses of my own so majority will be goign to them I may sell a few bales to a farmer down the road who has cows... so whats your best guesstimate ? I promise I wont hold you to it I just need an idea to start from Thanks Again

Try to cut before it heads out and matures and gets stemmy. Don't worry about the height. Ken Sweet

 

[newbee83]

ok well I will go in head first this year thanks for all the help wish me luck

 

[Dave5264]

Good to see the experience folks chiming in....nothing worse than the blind leading the blind

 

[newbee83]

Yea everyon ehas been a ton of help...it a a tough call when to cut because its a mixture of things in the field I am just afraid of cutting to early thats all, Im getting anxious haha

 

[BeeferMan]

You're actually better off cutting too early rather than too late. Quality will almost certainly be better, and second cutting will start growing sooner!

Also, there's comes a point cutting even when you know it's going to get a little wet is better than waiting so long that your hay in nothing but straw.

Also x2, second and third cutting stands up much better to getting wet than first!

 

[newbee83]

ok so it is a safe bet then to cut memorial day weekend? I noticed the farmer down the road hasnt cut yet but his fields are strictly timothy I believe so I am not really comparing apples to apples....

 

[sweettractors]

ok so it is a safe bet then to cut memorial day weekend? I noticed the farmer down the road hasnt cut yet but his fields are strictly timothy I believe so I am not really comparing apples to apples....

What exactly are you going to cut? Ken Sweet

 

[flusher]

:laughing: OK so I finally found all my equipment to buy , I ended up with a 477 Haybine, A NH side rake and a NH Baler with a belt thrower.... after spending a lot of money I want to make sure this stuff lasts anything I should do before I used them?? I oiled all the chains and greased all the fittings, at least the ones I found, anything else they all seem to run smooth. I will be pulling these with my 870 Case tractor.
Also how fast should I run the tractor RPM and Speed? Anything I should look for while I cut or bale?? Thanks for all the help I have never done this before... I have about 30 acres to bale.


Wish Me Luck


Also One more question how tall should the fields be before I start cutting?I am from upstate NY

Is this new or used haying equipment?
What are you baling?

I grow oat hay. It's ready to mow when the plant is in the milk stage (squeeze the kernel and note if a white milky liquid squirts out). Generally, you mow and bale hay when the weight percentage of water is below 20%. So get yourself a hay moisture meter (some of the more expensive types mount on the baler and have a readout at the tractor so you can monitor each bale). Experienced hay farmers can tell by twisting a handful of plant stalks when the moisture level is right for mowing/raking/baling. Or you can dry a weighed amount of hay stalks in a microwave and note the weight loss to calculate % moisture.

If you don't have them, get the operation, parts and maintenance manuals for all your hay equipment. Study them closely so you know what's going on when your equipment is operating and the likely problems when the equipment starts acting up.

I assume your baler is the twine tie type. Keep the knotters scrupulously clean and spray them regularly with WD-40 (every few weeks when the baler is in storage and before each day's use during haying). Clean hay debris out of the hay dogs in the bale chamber regularly. Check the bale stop mechanism in the bale chamber to be sure it's adjusted properly and is working properly. Understand how the removable wedges in the bale chamber work and when you need to install or remove them.

 

[newbee83]

This is all used equipment, but it very good shape.I bought the whole set up from a guy down the road about 15 Mins away from me, I am haying a grass,timothy clover mixture as of now next yr I have a few fields that will be full timothy. Does anyone know what a moisture meter runs? Now do you test it when it is still standing or after you bale it? Thanks for all the help


Also I have orderd all the manuals off online they should be in anyday now.