First cutting is down..!!

DJ54 · May 22, 2014

Looks like the lime, potash, and composted horse 'nure kicked in, and made a pretty decent patch of hay this year. The knockdown bar on the ole' IH 990 MoCo is about 24" high. Red Top Clover & Alfalfa was 8" to 10" higher than the bar, Rye grass even taller. Had to put the TA in the low side, in 1rst gear on the 656 to get through the area of the hay only picture. Guess you can only cram so much through there at a time.

It's usually pretty thick hay in this field, but this year, it is very heavy..!! Hope the forecast doesn't change..!! I'll feel a lot better when I see it all in the barn.

Bengineer · May 23, 2014

That is some beautiful hay. Best of luck with the next few days.

Pieter78 · May 24, 2014

Nice looking hay.....Do you round bale or square bale? What was your yield?:thumbsup:

2458n · May 24, 2014

Near Dayton ,Ohio and the guy I help did not cut as night time temperature was 49 degrees. Wednesday the area got 5.5 inches of rain in 2 hours. Interstate 70 and 75 were both shut down with standing 4 foot water. And Phil is worried about night time temps not drying the hay. I think some of these horse farmers are smoking to much.

DJ54 · May 26, 2014

Those big storms missed us. They just split and went North & South of here. Daytime temps & humidity, & wind speed was what I was watching. Friday was high 70's, and humidity was 45% with a 10-16 mph wind. Sat. @ 2:00 p.m humidity was 41%,and was drying nice. I tedded Fri morning to kick it over, then again yesterday morning just as the dew was going off. Low humidity again, and a slight breeze. Didn't take long to dry on down.

I got 21 4X4 bales off that 4+ a dab acres, that have in the past averaged 580 lbs. Almost enough to feed the horses all next winter on the first cutting. I'm happy with that. Tomorrow, will try and get to the mill, and get potash to spread on the field before the rain gets here. Ought to make a dandy second cutting. Hopefully a 3rd..!!

redman135 · Jun 6, 2014

Hello DJ54, why are the bales stored on the round? The local farmers don't like hay or silage stored on the round as it flat spots the bales making the roll harder to unroll. The bales are normally stacked on their ends.

DJ54 · Jun 6, 2014

I set them up on end on a pallet, to unroll inside also. Stick a pitchfork in a layer, and unwrap. Depending on how much has been unwrapped from the bale, a couple wraps is enough for one feeding. 3-4 wraps when it gets smaller.

I tried setting whole bales in the off ground, round bale feeder I built. My old Gelding, and one mare have a tendency to be like an ole' Blue jay in the bird feeder. Eat the good stuff, and pull the courser stuff out on the ground, to get to more tender hay. My Donkey, and the other mare pretty well eat what they pull out. Way too much waste, so feeding this way.

Depending on the temps., one of these bales will last 7-10 days. I always give them extra when the temps. drop into the 20's, or below so as to generate body heat as needed.