Haying Time (pics)

[randiliana]

Well ,we are finally right into haying. The Fall Rye is baled and it ran about 1 1/2 bales to the acre. We are happy with that since it was grazed pretty hard this spring AND the field is pretty alkaline. Now, we are getting into the alfalfa fields. Changed the knife sections on the swather and so far it is cutting quite well. Here are some pictures of the feild we are cutting now. It is the 3rd cutting off of it, and it looks like it will run pretty good. Consider also that it is on some of the sandiest land we have ( and believe me it IS sandy). Hubby jokes that we could sell sand to the beaches ;-)

 

[MrBilly]

Since I know the world is not flat, I am sure you will not fall off the other side when you get to the horizon in those pictures - but, are you sure?

What in the world is that contraption you are mowing with?

Regards,

Billy

 

[randiliana]

Since I know the world is not flat, I am sure you will not fall off the other side when you get to the horizon in those pictures - but, are you sure?

What in the world is that contraption you are mowing with?

Regards,

Billy

It is a pull-type Swather. 21 feet long.

 

[KNERSIE]

what is the grass in the alfalfa?

how many alfalfa cuttings do you typically get per season?

 

[CUZ]

Thanks for the pics. It's always interesting to see how folks do things in other parts of the world. I asked my brother-in-law about your 21' swather, before I knew what it was. He had no idea what I was talking about. then again it may have just been my description.

Cuz

 

[Bez>]

We used to use the same rig - never raked and baled it directly in about three days after cutting.

Love those pull type swathers!

I would have thought that was more Brome than Alfalfa.

Bez>

 

[randiliana]

what is the grass in the alfalfa?

how many alfalfa cuttings do you typically get per season?

The grass is Meadow Brome, and that is the only cutting we will get. 2 cuttings usually = winter kill in this country.

 

[randiliana]

We used to use the same rig - never raked and baled it directly in about three days after cutting.

Love those pull type swathers!

I would have thought that was more Brome than Alfalfa.

Bez>

Well, we will be baling about 2 days after cutting with this heat ;-) . But yes usually 3-4 days later.

It looks like mostly brome, but it is pretty heavy Alfalfa underneath.

 

[frenchie]

We used to use the same rig - never raked and baled it directly in about three days after cutting.

Love those pull type swathers!



Bez>

Gotta love those old Macdons ..they keep going and going.

 

[tytower]

It looks like mostly brome, but it is pretty heavy Alfalfa underneath.

riiight This lady is a saleswoman all right

 

[randiliana]

Well, that field looked pretty darn good up til last night. Now, there isn't a swath laying out there. We had quite a wind. Blew all the hay around and knocked all the leaves off of the alfalfa, to the point that it isn't worth raking it..... Looks like you went out there with a lawn mower and spread all the grass now :( :mad:

 

[VZCR]

Well, that field looked pretty darn good up til last night. Now, there isn't a swath laying out there. We had quite a wind. Blew all the hay around and knocked all the leaves off of the alfalfa, to the point that it isn't worth raking it..... Looks like you went out there with a lawn mower and spread all the grass now :( :mad:

OH No.......Sounds like my kind of luck........ :( :(

 

[CUZ]

Rats!!! I hate that for you. Re-reading this post, quite a change from Thursday to Saturday.

How many acres of hay did you lose? You said the Fall Rye ran about 1 1/2 bales to the acre, can you define what you are calling a bale? (To me a bale of hay is about 4' long, 2' high and 16" thick and weighs anywhere from 40-80 pounds.)

Anyway, just goes to show none of us knows what is going to happen tomorrow. Hang in here.

Cuz

 

[randiliana]

Rats!!! I hate that for you. Re-reading this post, quite a change from Thursday to Saturday.

How many acres of hay did you lose? You said the Fall Rye ran about 1 1/2 bales to the acre, can you define what you are calling a bale? (To me a bale of hay is about 4' long, 2' high and 16" thick and weighs anywhere from 40-80 pounds.)

Anyway, just goes to show none of us knows what is going to happen tomorrow. Hang in here.

Cuz

We lost most of 30-40 acres. Probably about 50 bales. He made 12 yesterday, and the one field will usually run over 30 by itself.

Our bales are 5' x 6' and usually weigh around 1200-1300 lb. Although, we will make a bunch of small squares too.

That is the truth. We were fortunate as some people lost several hundred acres of hay, and we hadn't gotten started on the "big" field yet. One guy had 200+ acres down, and it all either blew away or into huge piles that would probably have to be forked into the baler.

 

[Stocker Steve]

what is the grass in the alfalfa?

how many alfalfa cuttings do you typically get per season?

The grass is Meadow Brome, and that is the only cutting we will get. 2 cuttings usually = winter kill in this country.

How long do meadow brome stands last in your country vs. smooth brome?

 

[skcatlman]

Hi randillia, too bad about that little feild but look on the bright side at leat your big feild is still ok. I just started cutting this morn we are really wet up here hopefully we can get some dry wether . The hay crop is a bumper one this year and there is so much up here alot won't even be cut. I know of a couple of sections that won't get baled unless i do it on shares for the neighbors. Not to mention the DU land that hasn't been cut for a couple of years it is due but i can't see it being cut either.

 

[randiliana]

How long do meadow brome stands last in your country vs. smooth brome?

I honestly couldn't tell you. Very few people plant smooth brome around here.