2016 Hay season started for me.

[countrybumpkin]

Could also be ground compaction, less compaction where it was taller.

 

[RPW]

Finally going to able to get back into my fields. Was cutting with my JD350 sickle and the the hay was so thick this year that I couldn't get through it with the mower as it would just keep plugging up and tripping the safety. After tightening the safety a couple of times I finally gave up and fortunately the wife was helping and she told me to go get a new(er) mower. So last weekend we picked up a NH 489. It still needs some servicing (just got the manual today) but had to try it out. Boy what a differerence. Still had some problems but I think after replacing the blades and belts and chains I should be good to go. Now after to much rain should be able to get into the fields in a couple of days after drying out to rake (turn a couple of times to dry) and bale. So far out of a 10 acre field I got 20 bales. Might have got more but lost a few do to problems with the baler (probably operator head space). Hope to get at least 4ea out of the last 2 2ac fields. This is the most I've got out of these fields. I really should have cut and bailed weeks ago but didn't have the time to do it and I got caught in the May rains.

 

[cat fever]

Never thought about that Countrybumpkin.
There are a few things that will happen for next year and I will make sure the ground is evenly harrowed and leveled. I did have areas where some grapefruit sized dirt clods were, but that area grew just fine.

 

[CDennyRun]

It's been a good season for me so far. Cut and raked two fields totaling at 4.5 acres, and just landed a nice 3.5 acre field to hay yesterday! One of the fields I cut is EXTREMELY rough, and beat the crap out of me, the tractor and my new rake... probably won't be haying that next year.

The new rake



Sorry for the sideways pic, I tried to fix it!




Chris

 

[powerscol]

Your first pass should be with the cutter to the outmost edge of the field. Then you turn the tractor around and the cutter after the first pass in this direction will be in grass that has not been driven over.

I used to do it that way with the sickle mower and thats what I did with the drum mower, but.......
Actually what will work best for me with the width is to drive the outside and cut inside first (the whole field), then go back to the outside to give the driven over grass a chance to rebound. Where I had issues after raking was I discovered the diven over grass did not get cut, then stood up over time. This was an issue when wind rolling, trying not to get green grass in the role.

 

[farmer2009]

Had a buddy of mine call mad at me last week. He had a 13 acre field. He tedded it 4 times. Was barely able to get it through his rake. And yielded 90 4x5 round bales. It was my fault because I made the seed recommendations that he added 50% to. I pulled the soil test and showed him how to read them. And then this spring when it wasn't green enough for him, I said add a little nitrogen. After he was done with his rant I asked him if he remembered the conversation last summer about his yield goals for that field before we did anything to it. He said yea. His yield goal was "all he could get". I said you hit it didn't you. He agreed and informed me I was to ignore him the next time he said he wanted all he could get.

Just thought I'd share that story with y'all.

 

[farmer2009]

Cat Fever.
Was it the same thickness? Sometimes if you have spots that are a little thicker the plants will try to out grow each other.

Compaction is a possibility too.

So is a spot that had better natural fertility and received the same fertilizer. Lots of variables there.

 

[cat fever]

Cat Fever.
Was it the same thickness? Sometimes if you have spots that are a little thicker the plants will try to out grow each other.

Compaction is a possibility too.

So is a spot that had better natural fertility and received the same fertilizer. Lots of variables there.

Yes the thickness seemed the same over the whole field.
I tried to bale last night but it's still to wet. Maybe tonight. The six bales I did were only about 40' apart and about 90-100 pounds.
I'm going to end up with lots of hay.:thumbsup:
I will adjust for how heavy they are. I have no intention to lift that heavy of bales. I do think I'll find out how many bales fit into my small barn, cause I think I'm not going to have enough room.

 

[cat fever]

I was able to bale last night after work. Ended up with 200 bales. I adjusted twice for lighter bales and they are still to heavy. I have not weighed them but they have to be in the 80 pound range. I prefer 65ish, Just a little easier to handle.
The equipment worked fine except when I was going to fast, the baler would not tie and I would have to re-bale.

 

[wmonroe]

Sounds like a good first cutting.