2013 Hay Season

[AKfish]

I know I could probably get by cheaper, but I don't want to buy someone else's trouble. And, I really wanted an accumulator that didn't drag the hay on the ground.
What I want is a new JD 348 and a Steffen Systems Accumulator and Grapple

Anyway, I will have to have an accumulator/grapple system before I do square hay again. I'm too old and fat to do it by hand.

I've been looking at the Steffen System for the last 5 years... Can't justify it for the number of bales I put up! Wife doesn't want to get into more hay right now... and I'm not all that pumped about doing more hay, either.

Just turned down another 15 acres with the neighbor's, too.

If the rain turns on like it did last year - I'm probably gonna have to go with net wrap and haylage rounds.

AKfish

 

[sam5570]

Been trying to cut hay for 2 weeks and the chance of rain won't go away. 40 to 60 percent chance for the 10 day forecast. Sure as heck if I cut it, it will pour down.

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same here we just knew it was going to rain monday but didn't. at some point we will have to go ahead rain or not.

 

[Bigfoot62]

What percentage do you look for (whats the highest percentage before you decide to wait) and for how long of streak?

I try to cut when the chance of rain is 20% or less for next 4-5 days. (with no major weather systems on the way) I like to allow 3 days to cure, plus an extra day or two to get it all picked up and in the barn.

That's the ideal situation, however it's more complicated than that.
1. I live in Louisiana. (the Gulf South) It's gonna rain somewhere just about every day.
2. Weathermen are either idiots or habitual liars. No two sources will give the same forecast.
3. Life gets in the way. Sometimes I have to cut hay when I can, not necessarily when I want to.

 

[Bigfoot62]

I've been looking at the Steffen System for the last 5 years... Can't justify it for the number of bales I put up! Wife doesn't want to get into more hay right now... and I'm not all that pumped about doing more hay, either.

Just turned down another 15 acres with the neighbor's, too.

If the rain turns on like it did last year - I'm probably gonna have to go with net wrap and haylage rounds.

AKfish

Yep, great hay handling equipment. But it is pricey. That's the reason I don't have it yet.
BTW, same reason I don't have a roof on the new hay barn either.

 

[AGRIMAN]

We haven’t cut any hay yet, in fact there’s been very little cut at all. It seems to rain here almost every other day and we are still trying to get the Oat/Wheat cut and our soybeans planted. Some guys are still planting Cotton. We hope to be finished by the end of the week and hopefully then we can look at cutting some, but until then the hay will just have to wait.

 

[Lou66]

Well I got all the equipment to bale hay,, round baler, square baler, cutters, rakes, tractors plus storage,, but one thing missing,, hay,, my hay fields has dried up.. the fertilizer added in the spring may have burn them,, no rain to speak of,, our Keetch-Byram drought index is 575 out of 800,, that was last week,, we still haven't got any rain so it has gone up.. anything over 500 is consider in a drought,, Lou

 

[Bigfoot62]

Well I got all the equipment to bale hay,, round baler, square baler, cutters, rakes, tractors plus storage,, but one thing missing,, hay,, my hay fields has dried up.. the fertilizer added in the spring may have burn them,, no rain to speak of,, our Keetch-Byram drought index is 575 out of 800,, that was last week,, we still haven't got any rain so it has gone up.. anything over 500 is consider in a drought,, Lou

Lou, we were in the same shape 2-3 years ago. Sorry to hear it.
We do have plenty of hay this year. Truck are coming from Seminole, TX to pick up hay here next week.

 

[JasG]

Rain here again since Saturday late in the day. Long range forecast tonight and tomorrow 40%, then at least 60% chance everyday through next Tuesday. My wife uncle still has some corn to plant and some that he did plant didn't come up because the fields washed. Other than the last couple of days this has been the coldest spring I remember and also the wettest. The only guys that have been able to put up much hay have it all in forage. Some of the fields I have seen are all rutted up because it's been so wet.

 

[PMA]

This Bermuda high is got to go. Chance of rain is from 40 to 70 percent for the next 10 days.

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[Tx Jim]

Lou, we were in the same shape 2-3 years ago. Sorry to hear it.
We do have plenty of hay this year. Truck are coming from Seminole, TX to pick up hay here next week.

I glad you're moving some hay. I thought the trucking from your place to mine was too high for me but Seminole will be twice as much.