Loading hay (pics)

[gerard]

Hey D7E

Do you get two cuttings in usually up there? I'm in Syracuse and my hay man usually gets in 2 cuttings, sometimes 3. Just curious what your growing seasons like a little further north?

 

[D7E]

Usually 3 cuts but the 3rd did'nt get done this year as combining and tillage was very late so there was'nt time to do everything and the hay got ignored a little.

 

[D7E]

It does look like a fresh clear day out.

What size and weight would those bales be?

Notice the Radiator covers on the Trucks?

Egon...they are 8ft bales and the few i weighed are just over 800lbs

 

[Egon]

Thanks

 

[Tongy]

D7...What kind of hay is that??? Alfalfa??? and where is it going? I thought it would be heavier than that. Only about 30,000 on truck.

 

[Duffster]

D7...What kind of hay is that??? Alfalfa??? and where is it going? I thought it would be heavier than that. Only about 30,000 on truck.

54 bales x 800# = 43,200#

 

[D7E]

54 bales x 800# = 43,200#

Drivers were aiming for 44'000..

 

[D7E]

D7...What kind of hay is that??? Alfalfa??? and where is it going? I thought it would be heavier than that. Only about 30,000 on truck.

It was going to winsconsin through a dealer..

 

[Duffster]

Drivers were aiming for 44'000..

Dang it.........should of squeezed one more on there.

 

[AKfish]

If you look real close at the pics you can see the tops of the alfalfa sticking up thru the snow.

Money in the bank... rolling out of those fields!

I used to sit in haystacks hunting coyotes at those temps. Now, if it was +90F at that time; you'd have to call 911 for me... wouldna made it off the stack!

Heated truck - heated tractor. The only time it's nippy is when you strap the bales down. I'd do it for $175-$225/ton.

Thanks for sharin' - D7E.

AKfish

 

[jimmyj]

I have never fed big squares. They look convenient vs rounds. Other than stacking and shipping, is there any other advantage? Nice pics, that's a lot of hay there!

Re clothing:
1 undershirt of moisture wicking fabric
2 sweatshirt type top
3. insulated coveralls or snowsuit
(same layers for the legs and lower half, 2 pairs of socks, good gloves and boots and a balaclava and hat)

That's enough to well below -40. Any more and you'd sweat and then you are messed up. We overnight camped at -43 once. It was pretty toasty inside 2 good sleeping bags but I don't think I'd do it again.

 

[Duffster]

I have never fed big squares. They look convenient vs rounds. Other than stacking and shipping, is there any other advantage?

Bales break into chunks/slices just like little squares.

Better leaf retention.

Easier to handle with small tractors/skidloaders.

 

[D7E]

We only do square for sale to the states.The rounds sell better up here and i think we prefer to make rounds as machinery is cheaper and you don't have the performance of stacking and tarping,Hay needs to be dryer to go into squares too.

 

[pitt_md]

-18 F as I type this. Thank God there is no wind. to **** cold to do anything outside but feed the horse's and come back in.

 

[Chilly807]

We only do square for sale to the states.The rounds sell better up here and i think we prefer to make rounds as machinery is cheaper and you don't have the performance of stacking and tarping,Hay needs to be dryer to go into squares too.

We've fed both small squares and round to the horses as availability dictated, they seem to much prefer the small squares for some reason known only to them, and we have a lot less waste. Some people here make the big squares, I hadn't realized they were the same as small only much bigger (individual flakes, etc.)

Rounds are a pain for horse feed, you need a turntable to unroll them easily.

Chilly

 

[D7E]

3 more loads went today,But the last one ......Only just..!

 

[pitt_md]

Bales break into chunks/slices just like little squares.

Better leaf retention.

Easier to handle with small tractors/skidloaders.

I have gone to using the large squares for our horses. Putting up hay takes me about 30 minutes per cutting of driving tractor and I'm done. At 50+ tossing hay all day long is not nearly as fun as it used to be.

 

[Tongy]

Either that driver wasn't looking in his mirror or if he did he gave a big OH S**T. Looks like there was plenty of room to make a wide turn.

 

[Duffster]

3 more loads went today,But the last one ......Only just..!

Going to WI too?

 

[D7E]

Going to WI too?

Apparently 1 load to same place and 2 to new customers in same area...I don't know where exactly..?