first cutting of hay

[southerndeere]

Been riding over our hay plots an I believe with all this rain its gonna be 1 of the best first cuttings we have had. We are planning on knocking it down here in about 3 weeks. How does everyone elses hay look?

 

[Lacattleman]

Volunteer ryegrass is ready here in northern Louisiana. We haven't had good hay curing weather around here yet. Hope conditions improve in next week or so. Some folks have started putting up baleage, but still a little early for dry hay.

 

[southerndeere]

Volunteer ryegrass is ready here in northern Louisiana. We haven't had good hay curing weather around here yet. Hope conditions improve in next week or so. Some folks have started putting up baleage, but still a little early for dry hay.

Yeah we looked at leasing a wrapper. Ut I'm hoping its gonna dry out.

 

[bobm6996]

Second year planted alfalfa in one field is looking great, already knee high. Alfalfa/grass mix looking very good as well. We had a very cold and wet winter here in Indiana and so far it has been a chilly and somewhat wet spring. We need it to warm up and dry out before the hay is waist high. Got a call from a friend this week who has a six acre field of good grass hay we will be putting up this year and he says it is waist high. I said until the ground dries there is no way we can get in there, the equipment will make a mess of the field.

Bottom line at least the first cutting is going to be pretty good it appears, hope the subsequent cuttings are good this year, last year they were not.

 

[Texasmark]

I planted a Brown Rib Sorghum-Sudan hybrid for the first time this year. I have seen internet advertisements about the gene but never realized just how great it is. I got it in April 18 during a warm, dry spell. I took the soil sample results from the local A & M to the fert dealer along with the tonnage expected and he fixed me up with a mix. I used their spreader and immediately came back and folded the fert into the soil which was about 2 weeks before I planted.

Was out yesterday and the part growing on the best soil (place used to be a cotton farm and a lot of the soil is just cottoned out) of the lot is chin high, few stems larger than a yellow pencil and no heads (boots) yet. This stuff has big fat, long leaves, which are close together on the stem and it is really making a crop. Advertisement said that it is approximately 30 days delayed maturing. Well I usually cut at 60 days so that says 90. Will put me into mid July for first cutting which will be great as I should get some good, dry, weather.

First time I used this seed and first time that I can recall that the weather did everything right. I'm looking at it and wondering if I can get it baled. I have a lot of irregular turns in the field and run a drum mower and separate crimper which I will be using for the first time this season. I doubt I will wait another 30 days. I'll post pictures before I cut it cause I'm not exaggerating.

Other great thing is that this fabulous seed was $32 per bag (local) and I put out 1 bag (50#) per acre to help in keeping the stems small.

Good luck on your plots. I'm in a dream world.

Edit: Wasn't doing anything this afternoon and rather than wait for bailing time, anyone interested in cattle feed, this may be of interest. Enjoy.

Edit #2: The seed heads you see in the panoramic view are Maverick Johnson grass that has, as you can see, already headed out. Putting a stem of that stuff against a stem of the Brown Rib is like day and night.

For you horse folks sorry, forget it. The mfgr says explicitly "Not for Horses".

Mark

 

[flusher]

Second year planted alfalfa in one field is looking great, already knee high. Alfalfa/grass mix looking very good as well. We had a very cold and wet winter here in Indiana and so far it has been a chilly and somewhat wet spring. We need it to warm up and dry out before the hay is waist high. Got a call from a friend this week who has a six acre field of good grass hay we will be putting up this year and he says it is waist high. I said until the ground dries there is no way we can get in there, the equipment will make a mess of the field.

Bottom line at least the first cutting is going to be pretty good it appears, hope the subsequent cuttings are good this year, last year they were not.

I have two neighbors who do irrigated alfalfa, one has about 20 acres, the other about 100 acres. The smaller operation uses flood irrigation, the larger uses those humongous traveling wheel irrigators with sprinkler heads (aka fence line irrigators--not the pivot type that you see in the plains states). Both of them are heading for their third cuttings, probably this week.

They are pumping a lot of ground water to keep those fields green. The price of water from the irrigation district canals jumped in April from $41 per acre foot to $625 per acre foot. Those well pump diesels are running a lot of hours now with the temperature hitting triple digits.

 

[Tx Jim]

Mark
Nice looking crop!!!!!! I hope you have good success with your crimper because your'e going to need it crimped good to get it dry.

 

[Texasmark]

Mark
Nice looking crop!!!!!! I hope you have good success with your crimper because your'e going to need it crimped good to get it dry.

You're telling me!!! Today is Friday and since I took those pictures, we have had over 4" of rain. I'm getting worried because as you said, this may turn into work. The good news is that the seed I planted is said to be delayed maturity and they advertise that it gives you an additional 30 days before boot stage. Well sir, I may need that but boy what a mess it's going to be to get it all sorted out and baled.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Texasmark]

Update on first cutting: Hay is 63 days since planting and well over 6'. The ground around the field is dry enough to get on but walk several feet into the crop and it is still like "Playdough". Now I see in the forecast that starting Monday through Friday, I have from a 30 to 50% chance of rain every day. Geez "poor farmer syndrome". It's either too dry or too wet, gripe gripe gripe. Looks like I am going to need that delayed heading out gene the supplier says this seed has but geez, what a mess to try and get put up when it dries up.

Anybody that says N. TX. is in a drought needs to reassess his/her career objectives.

Oh Well, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen.

Mark

 

[Tx Jim]

You have a MFWD tractor so "get to cutting" He-He:dance1::laughing: