Cutting hay

[wbvs58]

I am making my first foray into making my own hay. In Australia most hay tends to be made by specialist hay farmers and smaller producers like myself will usually get through winter and the tough times by just stockpiling feed in the paddocks. Our winters are nowhere near as severe as yours are. I live in the south of our state at an altitude of 960 metres and we get quite sever frosts and a fall of snow once in a blue moon however getting through winter is rarely a problem, if we don't get rain late winter early spring and the clover and rye doesn't happen then Sept/Oct can be pretty tough until the storms and summer grasses get going in late November. Having been on CT for a few years now you guys have got me thinking that I could do some hay. I have started a programme of replanting my paddocks one at a time and involves plowing them up and then putting in forage cereals for a couple of seasons to control weeds and unwanted grasses before replanting back to a more productive pasture.
At present I have a crop of millet that will be ready to cut in about another month and I have only started putting together some hay gear. I have an old IH small square baler and after this morning I hope I will have a hay rake. I don't have a big budget and as yet have not had a good hay mower come up at the right price. My question is, can the hay be cut without too much damage by using my slasher (bush hog) for the time being until I can get something more suitable?
Thanks, Ken

 

[tnwalkingred]

My 10' bush hog has plates on the sides that bolt on and off. I've been told you can take those plates off and use it to mow hay but I've never tried it. The idea is that it would spit the crop out and not grind it up as much. Not sure the type of bush hog you have but it might be worth a shot.

KW

 

[skyhightree1]

There has been many people that used bushhogs for that. Do they have sickle mowers there they are fairly cheap but a PITA sometimes

 

[regolith]

It would be possible, if that was the only option.

My machine is a grass topper - not designed for brush. I've used it to cut hay crops for the cows to graze when short of grass, it will drop it neatly enough in a run but really struggles on a heavy hay crop. Bottom gear high revs and it'll start smoking. If it's a light crop and you have a lot of patience I guess it would do the job.
It throws the grass slightly to the side - what I've always done is run the tractor in one direction if topping after the cows (any overlap and it'll spin the cut grass out again, and shred it a bit more) and if topping in front of the cows for them to graze it, run the tractor in the opposite direction and it won't touch the cut grass.

Most people here use contractors with big machinery to do their hay. It's incredible what they can do - ten years ago you could ruin both your pasture and your winter supplement because the contractor couldn't get it done in a timely manner; these days I never have a problem. Quite often the contractor will turn up on the farm within an hour, and 10 - 15 acres is lying on the ground drying an hour later.

 

[wbvs58]

There has been many people that used bushhogs for that. Do they have sickle mowers there they are fairly cheap but a PITA sometimes

I saw a couple at an auction a few weeks ago but were pretty well seized up and parts missing so I left them there. I have been looking at some disc mowers and just missed one the other day that was not too bad priced. I am sure something will turn up but just considering the bush hog in the interim.
Taking the sides off and sharpening the blades could be worth considering even on the side it throws the hay and maybe putting a wheel on it to help keep the height along with the draft control, thanks.
Ken

 

[wbvs58]

It would be possible, if that was the only option.

My machine is a grass topper - not designed for brush. I've used it to cut hay crops for the cows to graze when short of grass, it will drop it neatly enough in a run but really struggles on a heavy hay crop. Bottom gear high revs and it'll start smoking. If it's a light crop and you have a lot of patience I guess it would do the job.
It throws the grass slightly to the side - what I've always done is run the tractor in one direction if topping after the cows (any overlap and it'll spin the cut grass out again, and shred it a bit more) and if topping in front of the cows for them to graze it, run the tractor in the opposite direction and it won't touch the cut grass.

Most people here use contractors with big machinery to do their hay. It's incredible what they can do - ten years ago you could ruin both your pasture and your winter supplement because the contractor couldn't get it done in a timely manner; these days I never have a problem. Quite often the contractor will turn up on the farm within an hour, and 10 - 15 acres is lying on the ground drying an hour later.

We have one local fellow that does a bit part time but is hard to get, very expensive, he'll bale in 4x4 rounds for $38.50 if you cut it and rake it yourself. Plus I do like having control my self with where and when. Very little hay done in my area.
Ken

 

[ram]

A rotary mower will work. But a lot of the hay gets cut short and it's harder to rake and bale short grass.

 

[Tim/South]

Years ago a local used his shredder to cut hay. He took off one side and would sling the hay in that direction.
He also used the same mower as a tedder for rained on hay already in a windrow.

 

[wbvs58]

Well I got myself a hayrake today, here is a link to it, you have to scroll down the bottom to see it.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Holland- ... true&rt=nc

It is a long way away but I was already going down that way to pick up a forage harvester I bought so it helps spread the cost of the trip.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Grass-Silage ... true&rt=nc

If I stack it all well on the truck and have a bit of room left I might drop in on the way back and have a look at this mower.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/currabub ... 1093280905

So what do you guys think of this stuff.

 

[Banjo]

Well I got myself a hayrake today, here is a link to it, you have to scroll down the bottom to see it.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Holland- ... true&rt=nc

It is a long way away but I was already going down that way to pick up a forage harvester I bought so it helps spread the cost of the trip.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Grass-Silage ... true&rt=nc

If I stack it all well on the truck and have a bit of room left I might drop in on the way back and have a look at this mower.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/currabub ... 1093280905

So what do you guys think of this stuff.

What are the finger like things hanging down do, just curious?

 

[wbvs58]

Well I got myself a hayrake today, here is a link to it, you have to scroll down the bottom to see it.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Holland- ... true&rt=nc

It is a long way away but I was already going down that way to pick up a forage harvester I bought so it helps spread the cost of the trip.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Grass-Silage ... true&rt=nc

If I stack it all well on the truck and have a bit of room left I might drop in on the way back and have a look at this mower.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/currabub ... 1093280905

So what do you guys think of this stuff.

What are the finger like things hanging down do, just curious?

I don't really know but they seem to be after the cutting so may just help to lay the grass out though they do seem to be staggered so may rotate as well. Anyhow I guess that is what I have to find out if I go and have a look at it, I'll let you know.
Ken