First cutting is done

[johndeerefarmer]

My first cutting is done. Wild oats, ryegrass. Made 60 bales (4x5) from 17.5 acres. Sure was hard to get dry. I had to get it off so the coastal could start growing. I was going to use Roundup and kill off the winter grass but decided to fertilize and bale it since I am only down to 17 bales left in my reserve bank.

Got the field fertilized again with 300lbs acre of 34-0-0 before a good rain that night. This is the first time since we have been cutting this field (15 years) that the soil test only called for nitrogen.

My best guess is that the drought over the past two years didn't use all of the NPK that I applied and I finally had enough left over. What do you think?

Next week is showing us in the 80's so in about a month I guess that I will be ready to cut again.

 

[HAY MAKER]

60 bales huh ? that aint all bad,wish I had em here ,hay supplies are really gettin thin.
I planted wheat/oats last fall and thought about fertilizing them for baleing,but then I would of had to plant the sudan and Red Top late,so chose to plow it,kinda wish I would have fertilized and baled now............good luck

 

[johndeerefarmer]

I planted about 10 acres of ryegrass/arrowleaf clover and another 10 of wheat because I was short of hay last fall. It's about 18" tall right now but I probably won't bale it as I don't have a crimper and it would be tough to get it to dry with all of the cloudy, damp weather.

Good luck on your hay season. We have got about 6" of rain in the past month and a half. How is the Hill Country doing on rain?

 

[bigbull338]

I planted about 10 acres of ryegrass/arrowleaf clover and another 10 of wheat because I was short of hay last fall. It's about 18" tall right now but I probably won't bale it as I don't have a crimper and it would be tough to get it to dry with all of the cloudy, damp weather.

Good luck on your hay season. We have got about 6" of rain in the past month and a half. How is the Hill Country doing on rain?

i wouldnt say the drought is over yet.we are getting much needed rain now.but we all know that can end quick.weve got 80acs ready to bale.but im not going to have it cut till i know it can get baled without getting rained on.an hoping the rain makes a 2nd cutting.the pastures are all belly deep in grass now.

 

[johndeerefarmer]

What type of grass are you cutting? ryegrass, wheat?

 

[HAY MAKER]

I planted about 10 acres of ryegrass/arrowleaf clover and another 10 of wheat because I was short of hay last fall. It's about 18" tall right now but I probably won't bale it as I don't have a crimper and it would be tough to get it to dry with all of the cloudy, damp weather.

Good luck on your hay season. We have got about 6" of rain in the past month and a half. How is the Hill Country doing on rain?

Gettin rain pretty regular around here,sure nice to see all that green...............good luck
PS where in North TX are you ranching ?

 

[bigbull338]

What type of grass are you cutting? ryegrass, wheat?

this cutting will be rye grass an clover.an i think itll make 1.5 to 2 bales an ac.

 

[johndeerefarmer]

I planted about 10 acres of ryegrass/arrowleaf clover and another 10 of wheat because I was short of hay last fall. It's about 18" tall right now but I probably won't bale it as I don't have a crimper and it would be tough to get it to dry with all of the cloudy, damp weather.

Good luck on your hay season. We have got about 6" of rain in the past month and a half. How is the Hill Country doing on rain?

Gettin rain pretty regular around here,sure nice to see all that green...............good luck
PS where in North TX are you ranching ?

Between Denison and Pottsboro. My grandparents and parents had a Grade A dairy farm for nearly 30 years. Since '69 we have been running beef cattle.

 

[johndeerefarmer]

What type of grass are you cutting? ryegrass, wheat?

this cutting will be rye grass an clover.an i think itll make 1.5 to 2 bales an ac.

I cut about 10 acres of ryegrass/arrowleaf. I cut it high (to leave some for the cattle) and made 1 bale per acre. I couldn't get it to dry worth shucks. I cut it on Tuesday and the following Sunday, I baled it. It was still too green but rain was coming. Now, i wish that I had just left it for the cows. I raked it about 4 times and suprisingly the leaves didn't shatter on the clover.

It's always a gamble. If we wait for no rain, the grass may be so mature that we would have been better off cutting it earlier, gotten it a little wet and still end up with better hay.
Of course, one time it rained so much my hay turned black in the windrows. I went ahead baled it, brought it home and threw it in a ditch. Wouldn't you know, the cows ate it out of the ditch, black and all. :roll:

 

[Herefordcross]

Just cut 18 acres got 72 bales 4x4 high moisture, 1278lbs. average.

 

[Chuckie]

We have about 10 acres of Orchard Grass, fescue, red clover and Durana clover that needs cutting. But it won't stop raining enough for us to do it. The spring kicked everything in too early and the Orchard grass is getting past boot stage.
Then it always predicts it to rain the day after we plan to cut it, and we know the drying period is going to take longer now. I guess I had rather it be a little late as to let it get rained on or to bale it too quick and it mold. This hot weather so early just did a number on us here.
Chuckie

 

[Herefordcross]

Is wrapping it an option for you, it only runs us about $3 a bale for tube line and you only lose the little bit of grass under the bales.