Did a little hay last week ...

[blueriver]

I tried looking in to see but nope,its like a big suprise everytime I kick one out:laughing: Im gonna call and see what it cost to add but I am gonna bet not gonna be worth it,im just feeding to my cows and not selling anything so a slight lean will be okay with me. I have came across one issue with my back home-made 3point,one spear is the bales are so tight it doesnt not wonna go in some,so gonna have to get me a smaller spear to weld on it,works great with the big bales but it was just something I built. I have 2 other 3point bale movers but they go under the bale and dont like them cause hard to get string or net off,thats why I built the one that goes into the bale. Maybe I can scrap them and go to TSC and buy me a new one and fix my other.

Sometimes you can spear them a little higher or lower than center and get the spear in. Sometimes it pushes the center core out on mine. Sure not an exact science

Yes ... above the center core helps and sometimes even the thin little spears are hard to get in.

 

[blueriver]

Canary grass is great in that it takes flooding and droughts very well. It is not very good for horses if it gets mature though. If cut early enough it is ok but around here my customers won't accept it for horses regardless of when its cut (just how they think of canary, can't change that). For cattle I think you will be ok. I would still try to cut it early though just because it will be a better hay all together. When it gets mature it gets bitter and has a very stiff stem so try to keep up with it and you should be ok.

Just gotta love those hores folks !!

 

[blueriver]

I took your advise and looked up Pearl Millet, I had never heard of that grass before. It does have a unique look to it. I also looked up my Reed Canarygrass and like what I have read, it seems to be perfict for my ground and my pasture based hobby farm. It is not indigenous to this country, and was brought here for pasture and eroision control. It is considered a invasive species by most states, and is a cool season grass. It thrives in rich fertile bottom ground and can take the occasional flooding. What I like most is you can bale it and use it for hay if you do it early in the season before it matures and you can graze it 9 months out of the year and can be regrazed only after 2 weeks rest, perfict for someone who does rotational grazing. The plant spreads by seeds and rhizones root system, I am hoping my pasture raised hogs will love those.



blueriver it sounds like you been ranching and haying your whole life. I am sure you will hear back from me from time to time, I sure I will need your expert advise again as I start my farm. Thanks for your help.

I read a little about it as well ... the only thing as I said earlier was as a kid dad had some. According to Roberts post he would know more about it than I would.

 

[Gordo 56]

Canary grass is great in that it takes flooding and droughts very well. It is not very good for horses if it gets mature though. If cut early enough it is ok but around here my customers won't accept it for horses regardless of when its cut (just how they think of canary, can't change that). For cattle I think you will be ok. I would still try to cut it early though just because it will be a better hay all together. When it gets mature it gets bitter and has a very stiff stem so try to keep up with it and you should be ok.

Thanks for your input Robert, I didn't see your post until now.

 

[pacerron]

Yes ... above the center core helps and sometimes even the thin little spears are hard to get in.

Foreman Etexas
Not sure how you designed your homemade spear. Mine is sort of a universal fit made from heavy [ channel and square tubing. It can be used in place of the FEL bucket or on the rear 3pt.
The back end of the big center spear is welded to a square chunk of steel that is wide enough to have holes for [ bolts around the center channel through the square chunk. That way it can be adjusted up and down in distance relation to the small bottom spears for different size rolls or to enter off center. That also makes it easy to remove and replace with a spear that is longer, shorter, or a different diameter.
In my own experience I find the little bottom spears an important asset to keep the bales from rolling when lifting up with the FEL frame to stack either horizontally or vertically in the barn or load on a truck when the center spear is inserted off center intentionally or otherwise.
Ron

 

[Susanjoyce]

(I'm a lurking farmer groupie. I understand about 10% of what you guys are talking about, but boy, am I enjoy reading it! Kudus and thanks to all farmers!!!$

 

[Susanjoyce]

(I'm a lurking farmer groupie. I understand about 10% of what you guys are talking about, but boy, am I enjoy reading it! Kudus and thanks to all farmers!!)

 

[foreman Etexas]

(I'm a lurking farmer groupie. I understand about 10% of what you guys are talking about, but boy, am I enjoy reading it! Kudus and thanks to all farmers!!)

Glad to have you:thumbsup:

 

[foreman Etexas]

Foreman Etexas
Not sure how you designed your homemade spear. Mine is sort of a universal fit made from heavy [ channel and square tubing. It can be used in place of the FEL bucket or on the rear 3pt.
The back end of the big center spear is welded to a square chunk of steel that is wide enough to have holes for [ bolts around the center channel through the square chunk. That way it can be adjusted up and down in distance relation to the small bottom spears for different size rolls or to enter off center. That also makes it easy to remove and replace with a spear that is longer, shorter, or a different diameter.
In my own experience I find the little bottom spears an important asset to keep the bales from rolling when lifting up with the FEL frame to stack either horizontally or vertically in the barn or load on a truck when the center spear is inserted off center intentionally or otherwise.
Ron

Mine is just made out of pipe and the spear part is just a couple different size's stuck inside the other and the tip isnt real sharp. I actually bent the spear it has a slight downward angle to it,but I tried it just above center and would have to work it in with tractor. Sometimes even that didnt help had to just pick it up with loader and set it up against another bale then back into it.

 

[pacerron]

Mine is just made out of pipe and the spear part is just a couple different size's stuck inside the other and the tip isnt real sharp. I actually bent the spear it has a slight downward angle to it,but I tried it just above center and would have to work it in with tractor. Sometimes even that didnt help had to just pick it up with loader and set it up against another bale then back into it.

Maybe your making your rolls a bit too tight. Are they heating up any? Perhaps you could increase your ground speed a little if you want them more loose.
Are you storing them outside or in a barn?
Ron