Hay Making on a Different Scale

[LHF2019]

What did you think about Cummins? Good quality?

Cummins and UPS are the only 2 places I have worked outside of farming. It is a eye opening experience to be in the workforce. The stuff you see would make you wonder if you should trust anything and I'm sure it is that way at any factory across the nation and world. Would I buy a Cummins, Absolutely. The factory I worked at builds the X/M series engines. I worked in the engine test department and every single engine had to pass before leaving our department. If it failed it went to repair and retested. Starting up those engines and breaking them in and only being a few feet away from them is awesome. Max torque, max rpms, Jake brakes. Everything gets run through their cycles and pushed to the their limits. At the time we were testing about 200 engines a day I believe. Maybe pushing 250 so a daily average of total engines going through would be approx. 450

 

[5030]

All but 40 of the bales went into storage. The rest went down the road. 15/trip 45 minute turn around. One of our most efficient haulers. 240 bales this year to feed the horses year around for our local Jew Camp.

Not a great picture but until the tongue broke this is how we hauled the bales. Another 10 bales. If they go in the barn this is how they are stacked. If in shed only 2 high. Using skidsteer most of the time. Best investment ever made. Did 5 high once on one stack and having a 3rd bale wobbling on top was a little unnerving so that was the one and only time that happened. They make a double clamp that specifically grapples 2 bales so with that thought I could go 6 easy using same clamping method. Maybe someday. $$$$$



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Exactly how I stack mine, or should I say 'did stack mine' because none of them stay here anymore. Stacking on end eliminates any 'we/damp' spots and they stay nice and round and never get oval either.

Kind of wish I had a bale grab but I don't. I just use my SSQA forks to stack them. Gotten real good at it after a lot of practice, but again, don't have to as they leave the farm pretty quick now. I may keep some of this upcoming cut as the guy down the road wants some to feed his hobby cattle with.

 

[LHF2019]

I think we are done with first and started 2nd. 2nd went 15 bales/acre. A very poor showing and not sure why. Rest of the fields look a lot better. Hope so to fill 5000+ bales worth of orders. If we don't get orders the last 30 acres of first getting brush hogged in a couple weeks.



Very rare to rake windrows 7 into 1

Caught fitting on something while putting hay away. At least an easy fix.

 

[Hay Dude]

I am going to wait another 2-3 weeks to start 2nd cut.
I finished 1st cut a week ago, My yields are below average expectations this year, too. My excuse is the very dry June we had. Easy to bale, but low bale weight and low yield/acre.

 

[MoKelly]

Yep! It’s amazing how time is our most precious asset.

TIME is what there is never enough of….especially during 2nd cutting.

I heard Warren Buffet say “I can buy anything in the world I want. Cars, houses or companies. But, I cannot buy more time”.

 

[LHF2019]

Just found a better picture of how we used to haul the round bales

 

[EddieWalker]

Three across!!! That's awesome.

 

[LHF2019]

A little shop time. Haven't used this mower all summer. Found some issues and need to send it to my welders for refurbishment. Finally dropped the cutterbar.

Good old harbor freight. Wasn't even used hard.

 

[LHF2019]

Mid season overview. 6200 small square bales and 540 4x4 round bales of 1st made and 99% sold out of the field. No mare orders coming in and have 1000 sq and 100 rounds for winter sales so will brushhog the last 30 acres of standing hay. This will be the first time doing this. In addition to the dry hay have made 200 bales of various baleage.

 

[Hay Dude]

Are you mowing last 30 because you are out of room? Or low sales?