Starting hay season 2017

RPW · May 16, 2017

Well the new season has started. Did my first cutting on Saturday. Everything went perfectly no problems at all. Raking went just as smooth. Baled first bale came out perfect second bale not so good after that could get a bale to save my rear end. It's an old baler so out with the old and in with a newer baler.

cat fever · May 16, 2017

I think I'm at least a month away from baling. Heck, it might snow tonight. My field is looking good so far. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for enough rain.

RPW · May 16, 2017

That field does look good. I had so much hay last year I didn't fertilize this first cutting knowing that my yield would be lower. Unfortunately since I'm having so many problems with my current baler I have to deal with rain for the rest of the week. The good thing is when I can get into the field to rake again I'll have a newer baler. Moving from a Vermeer 605C to a Vermeer Rebel 5400. Smaller bales but will still weigh the same If not a bit more.

cat fever · May 16, 2017

I have older equipment but so far it works good. My baler is a NH 316 and the haybine is a NH 488. I trust the baler more than the haybine.
Around here it's still cold enough that the field doesn't want to really take off and grow. After this storm tonight and tomorrow hopefully it will get into the 80's for several days. I think if the ground temps would go up the growth would increase dramatically.

RPW · May 30, 2017

After last post my neighbor came over and bought my remaining hay so just ordered more fertilizer and will be spraying between rain showers.

cat fever · Jun 2, 2017

Update;
It's been dry as of late. Looks like I'll be cutting next week for sure, just not sure what day. I work straight thru until Friday morning, but, I think I may cut Tuesday morning, rake Wednesday afternoon then bale Friday when I wake up. Of course all that is subject to Mother Nature.

cat fever · Jun 5, 2017

Cut the hay today. Looks like a good crop.

RPW · Jun 5, 2017

Nice. Curious, where do you have your swather plate set to. Can't remember the correct name. The plate that controls the with of your windrows? I have the same mower and mine is set to spread the windrow at it's maximum with and I believe if I adjust it for a bit smaller windrow I could eliminate the raking.

cat fever · Jun 5, 2017

I know some of these units are adjustable. I've looked under mine and there is nothing to adjust. I bought it this way and have not done anything to it other than tighten belts and chains.

cat fever · Jun 7, 2017

My plan was to rake the hay today and bale tomorrow. After raking I checked several places around the field, it was ready to bale. I worked last night and have to work tonight. 12 hour shifts. There was not a lot of time to get the baling done, but it's done. I'll be tired tonight with only 4 hours of sleep. Ended up with 400 bales about 75 pounds each.