2015 Hay Season

KiotiKowboy · May 9, 2015

Bob Ha said:
Hay season was looking great with all the Vetch, ..........

OMG! I hate that stuff in my pastures.

southerndeere · May 10, 2015

foreman Etexas said:
So usually would be posting a picture where I had the equipment out and made my first bale but it's just been way to wet. I have RYE grass in one pasture that is over knee high but not getting a tractor in there anytime soon and rain coming back in next week.
I ordered fertilizer for the 30acres at house for Monday,that's only meadow I believe can run a truck in without getting stuck will see. 300lbs of 21-8-17,$489 a ton.
This year I also bought a 2004 New Holland TL100 cab to pull the baler.<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=423217"/> it's at NH getting new paint on hood,new head liner,new pto clutch and few other things before it comes home...
Anybody else started baling anywhere?

You will like that tl100. My dad bought one at an auction couple years ago an it has become a work horse. Only bad thing about it is ac will not stay charged.

Bob Ha · May 10, 2015

foreman Etexas said:
So usually would be posting a picture where I had the equipment out and made my first bale but it's just been way to wet. I have RYE grass in one pasture that is over knee high but not getting a tractor in there anytime soon and rain coming back in next week.
I ordered fertilizer for the 30acres at house for Monday,that's only meadow I believe can run a truck in without getting stuck will see. 300lbs of 21-8-17,$489 a ton.
This year I also bought a 2004 New Holland TL100 cab to pull the baler.View attachment 423217 it's at NH getting new paint on hood,new head liner,new pto clutch and few other things before it comes home...
Anybody else started baling anywhere?

Should have been cutting a few weeks ago but fields are wet. Rain predicted all this week. Farm is in South Central Oklahoma near Red River. Thistle has been a problem this year. First time I've ever seen it but a Noxious weed and State can fine you $1,000 per day if not exposed of. Don't think they will but it is a State law. A lot of State land has it and they let it grow. We sprayed to control it but neighbors haven't. Our hay will be thistle free but seeds from neighbors will blow onto us. Put down 250lbs per acre of Urea(46-0-0) earlier in year at $425 a ton.

KiotiKowboy · May 11, 2015

Thistle is EVIL. The state does take this seriously - but they are not too quick with the fines. I had to report a neighbor in 2013 and 2014. The Dept of Ag sent out a field rep both times, took pictures and sent a warning to the offender.

This spring, as I was working on my property, the neighbor walked up to the fence line and motioned me to come over. He said - Just wanted you to know I'm out here today working on thistle. LOL I guess the 2nd warning got his attention.

Before anyone jumps on me - Yes, I could have gone over and knocked on his door. I discussed this with my wife and we decided a property owner should do the right thing without the neighbors having to come over and gripe. The state has people in position for just this reason - we used them. It has actually turned out well and the neighbor and I are on pretty good terms.

foreman Etexas · May 11, 2015

KiotiKowboy said:
Thistle is EVIL. The state does take this seriously - but they are not too quick with the fines. I had to report a neighbor in 2013 and 2014. The Dept of Ag sent out a field rep both times, took pictures and sent a warning to the offender.

This spring, as I was working on my property, the neighbor walked up to the fence line and motioned me to come over. He said - Just wanted you to know I'm out here today working on thistle. LOL I guess the 2nd warning got his attention.

Before anyone jumps on me - Yes, I could have gone over and knocked on his door. I discussed this with my wife and we decided a property owner should do the right thing without the neighbors having to come over and gripe. The state has people in position for just this reason - we used them. It has actually turned out well and the neighbor and I are on pretty good terms.

I wish they done something like that here,it sucks neighbors weeds blow over the fence over and over. Bastard cabbage is one I can think of here besides thistle.
He may just needed to be educated on the law, but then again it took twice in order for any action on his part.

farmer2009 · May 11, 2015

Bob Ha said:
Should have been cutting a few weeks ago but fields are wet. Rain predicted all this week. Farm is in South Central Oklahoma near Red River. Thistle has been a problem this year. First time I've ever seen it but a Noxious weed and State can fine you $1,000 per day if not exposed of. Don't think they will but it is a State law. A lot of State land has it and they let it grow. We sprayed to control it but neighbors haven't. Our hay will be thistle free but seeds from neighbors will blow onto us. Put down 250lbs per acre of Urea(46-0-0) earlier in year at $425 a ton.

We have something similar for noxious weeds. If you call it in and it's state ground ie. right of way.they have to come take care of it asap. If it's private land then the owner either does the control or gets a bill and fine from the state. Johnson grass is probably our biggest fight. Cattlemen live with it. Row croppers hate it. With proper management it's not a bad forage.

Did get urea with Agrotain put down last week. 100lbs/acre at $443/ton.

Creamer · May 11, 2015

KK - what type of thistle are you talking about - Canadien, Sow, Bull???

KiotiKowboy · May 11, 2015

Creamer said:
KK - what type of thistle are you talking about - Canadien, Sow, Bull???

Musk Thistle ... nasty stuff that will go through the thickest gloves you can find.

We tackled this by hand - going to each plant, cutting it off at ground level and spraying the exposed cut with Roundup. This was a grueling project to say the least but we felt it was the best way to get an initial handle on the problem. Now that it's under control, we spray our pastures to keep it that way.

Creamer · May 11, 2015

KiotiKowboy said:
Musk Thistle ... nasty stuff that will go through the thickest gloves you can find.

We tackled this by hand - going to each plant, cutting it off at ground level and spraying the exposed cut with Roundup. This was a grueling project to say the least but we felt it was the best way to get an initial handle on the problem. Now that it's under control, we spray our pastures to keep it that way.

That is one I have never heard of. Just looked it up and sounds like a nasty one.

Growing up in the Dakotas we always had issue with bull thistle but found the best control was to let horses loose in the pasture when it was blooming. They liked the heads and would go around and pick the heads. I don't know how they ate them without getting stickers but they ate a lot. Will they do the same for the musk thistle? They have the same type of seed head.

the Canadien is the one that gets me because it spreads via seeds and runners. In SD it was classified as a primary noxious weed where the state would take action and charge the landowner if they did not take care of it. Here in Indiana there are patches all over and nobody seems to care.