Hay making help

[Phred]

Daryl,

Thanks for the info. Around here if you have fescue its usually spring and fall only since the summers are very hot and usually dry. The fescue goes dormant during the hot summer and does not grow well if at all. The bulk of the growth is in late winter early spring followed by a second spirt in the fall.

Fred

 

[mundamanu]

Apologies for interrupting this debate with a question, but what are "black cattle"? They sound like a not so high quality shortcut, or something.

For somebody that doesn't know anything about anything this debate is very informative, so if you (all) can keep your cool /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif, please keep it up! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Actually the opposite. Usually black cattle are very high quality. For the last several years "black cattle" have sold the best over any other type of cattle. Most black cattle are angus or at least part angus though not all. They are also less susceptible to pink eye and some other diseases and if they are in fact angus they have very good meat.

 

[mundamanu]

Thanks. I gotcha now.

By the way, speaking of cattle (it just popped into my head), NY Strip steaks were ~$14/lb at the store the other day! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif And that's at the cheapy cheapy meat not so tasty supermarket!!! Those are organic, grass fed prices! I nearly peed myself. A year ago, at the same store, they were $8.50/lb.

The thing that burns me up about it is that it is the retailer that reaps the windfall while the producer gets a little bump and that's it.

Anyway, rant over; I imagine I am preaching to the choir on that point. Thanks again for the explanation.

 

[cowboydoc]

The thing that burns me up about it is that it is the retailer that reaps the windfall while the producer gets a little bump and that's it.


Yep you got it. We are seeing better prices for sure but not $14/lb. steaks. On average we're getting about .15/lb. more than we were when prices were low.

 

[HayDR]

Go to a Ruth Chris Steak House and you'll pay $50 a LB. and it's worth it. LOL

 

[5030]

Because we, at our farm, raise no cattle but we live in the country, my wife and I usually buy a side from a local farmer. Money usually dosen't change hands though, we trade hay for beef.

Living in the city, you could go to the country and buy in bulk too. You'd need a freezer at home though.

Richard:

We bailed at 14% average moisture. It's all in the barns now. I do have one field that I didn't get to. I think those bales will be cattle feed. We have had almost continual rain here. The row croppers are real bad and the field corn has red root. Goning to be a crop insurance year here in Michigan.

I want to add that NH is offering 0 percent for up to 4 years on haying equipment. My partner just bought a new 4x4, 4x5, 4x6 NH with bale command on it for (I think) 22K. Nice bailer. he wants to run 4x6's in wheat straw. He uses about 800 for bedding every year. I think the wheat will be good. It's not suffering in the rain like the corn and beans.

That mowing at 10 mph., sticks in my craw. Not anywhere around here. Whether it's a discbine or a haybine, you'd never be able to stay in the seat of the tractor. You'd need a 4 point racing harness and still you'd probably loose your teeth. Maybe he means 10Km and even tha is fast.

 

[cowboydoc]

That mowing at 10 mph., sticks in my craw.'

I agree with you Daryl. I don't know anyplace that could be done. I really wish it was as simple as some people make it out to be. I love farming/ranching and even I'm getting disgusted. It's great when it all works but man you've got to have guts of steel when it all goes to heck.

 

[Egon]

From many years ago when we were putting up some hay that was a little damp we spread salt on the hay as we built up the stack.

One could say our cows were eating hay with a grain of salt! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Farmin is never easy. Just glad there are some dedicated people still willing to do it.

Egon

 

[tough451]

A budy of mine used to cut at about 10mph with a 2030 JD and a 7 ft Massey disc mower. I couldnt do it myself the ride was to rough and he broke the linkage on the right side of the 3 pt hitch 3 times. That kind of speed is to rough on you and the equipment. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif