The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Fleecewife on July 21, 2016, 09:50:21 pm
-
Has anyone north of the border got their hay in yet? I'm starting to panic a bit, not so much because it's late July, as we often haven't got in in by this time. It's more looking at the forecast, pressure charts etc, that there seems to be a never ending succession of low pressure systems heading our way, with their accompanying rain and clouds, and no prospect of change. We had a boiling day on Tuesday, followed by the best thunderstorm we've had for years on Wed morning. Spectacular to see, but not much good for haymaking.
So how's it going for everyone else? :farmer:
-
Having Shetlands I prefer to buy hay made the year before. I keep a stock and in the Spring buy another load. If no good hay I buy haylage. Its always touch and go for good hay in Scotland.
-
We cut two fields yesterday, but are hedging our bets and have kept the large one standing just in case we don't get these in. I only need about 150 bales and the guy cutting it for me reckons I'll get at least 100 off the smaller of the two done yesterday, so if it all comes in I might actually have some to sell as well, which would be great in my first year of having it off my own fields.
-
the guy I buy from baled some back in late May and he's busy doing it now. I'm buying barn-stored hay from 2014 from him for my horses though-this is around Carmichael. Not sure if my other hay guy has cut yet-he's Pentlands way-I usually get small bale off him and small bale haylage as a back up.
-
Thanks everyone - so at least I'm not alone :farmer:
<<<'there's a day for everything and everything has its day, you just need some patience'>>>
Scarlet.dragon - we have a lovely neighbour like that, so laid back and he never panics.
Ours is meadow hay too, so it didn't get flattened even during the enormous thunderstorm, and it dries out to the ground quite quickly.
We do have 44 bales left over from last year, and it's good, but I'd rather have more than that, although we won't be breeding and I don't know how many sheep we will have to overwinter. We like to help out a few friends locally if they don't have enough hay, and if the worst came to the worst we could buy some in at an exorbitant price.
I'll just sit back and wait then for some :sunshine: :sunshine: :sunshine: Ohm Ohm :farmer:
-
I'm just south of the Border, as you know.
Last year we didn't manage to get any small bale hay at all; just never had that window of predictable 4 dry days. We got some big round bales, and plenty of silage/haulage, so feed wasn't an issue per se - it's the difficulty of getting the forage to the outside stock. Needs a trailer to feed any quantity of animals, or several trips with rolls of hay strapped to the back of the quad - very laborious.
BH got so miserable as the wet winter rolled on, and the ground got more and more mashed by him going out with his quad and trailer. He's almost agreed with me now that he should buy in small bale hay if he can't make any, just to use for the outside livestock, so he can do it with just the quad when the ground's wet. It galls him though, passionate as he is about making hay, and grass being the only crop this farm grows.
So far this year we have cut twice, and both times not had that bit of luck. In both fields he risked a few bales as hay, the rest wrapped for safety. But we've had no chance of making small bale hay.
We have made small bales in August, and even once on Sept 1st, but it gets harder as the days get shorter and the evening and morning dew shortens the hay-working day even further.
That barn-drying system sounds very interesting, Scarlet.Dragon. Do you know any more about it?
-
I was reading somewhere (and annoyingly I can't remember where - I think it might have been a book about a year in the life of a meadow or similar) about a chap who cut his hay by scythe, a bit at a time, brought it inside almost straight away, laid it on frames to dry and then stacked loose. I must try and find it again.
(Current hay sit-rep, it's rained a bit this morning and it seems the baler has seized up at some point in the last six months - now applying large amounts of WD40 and grease!)
-
(Current hay sit-rep, it's rained a bit this morning and it seems the baler has seized up at some point in the last six months - now applying large amounts of WD40 and grease!)
What BH usually tries to do is get the outside of one of the earlier fields to be cut processed (by himself) into small bales. It gives the baler its first run-out of the year, and lets him get it sorted and running smoothly before it's needed to do a whole field in an afternoon. And if he struggles with it, he can just get the contractor that's baling the bulk of the field to do the outside too.
Great strategy, but several years in the last 7 he's never even got the baler out of the shed :(
-
Still waiting for a chance to cut my hay.
I work away from home so when the weather window does come I only have a 50% chance of being able to use it....
On holiday in the Dolomites (NE Italy) in June I watched the farmers mow their meadows on Wednesday morning and by tea time on Thursday it was all dried and stored in barns. Made me a bit jealous.
-
On holiday in the Dolomites (NE Italy) in June I watched the farmers mow their meadows on Wednesday morning and by tea time on Thursday it was all dried and stored in barns. Made me a bit jealous.
ha, yes-like when you go to Canada, see their enormous hay fields and in their summer heat, they dont have to turn it at all.
There is a hay supplier at Ratho who barn dries his hay with a grain drier. It is quite the luminous green! Lovely stuff but a bit too much for my ponies. Its about £6.50 a bale and very loosely (obvs by necessity) baled.
-
On holiday in the Dolomites (NE Italy) in June I watched the farmers mow their meadows on Wednesday morning and by tea time on Thursday it was all dried and stored in barns. Made me a bit jealous.
Where I'm moving to baled yesterday (Thursday), and were asking folk to give a hand getting the bales under cover. One was offering to help on Monday or Tuesday. Brought it home to me - I cannot remember ever having more than a day to get it all put away; usually we've had to bale because rain is forecast, so we've left it as late as we dared so it's as dry as possible, and then we're all flat out trying to get it under cover before the rain ruins it all, often working to midnight and beyond,
-
The big difference I've noticed between here and warmer climes ie mostly meaning the south of England as I haven't been anywhere else since we lived here, is that there is no rush about haymaking. People don't seem to be watching the met reports with eagle eyes, then doing the making as quickly and efficiently as possible, whilst watching the skies every minute.
In fact there's only been one year in the 21 we've been here that we lost the crop completely, and that was because we were relying on someone else to do the work for us, but of course they had to get their own in first. After that we got our own equipment. In some years we will cut our hay knowing that there will be rain that night or the next day. But even wet it still starts to wilt, so once the promised high pressure comes we've got a headstart. Rain at the end when the hay is nearly ready is much more of a problem.
Here we really need five good days. Once, but only once, the hay was made in three wonderful sunny, breezy days. Mmmm that was the year :thumbsup:
-
50/ 50 cut half and still waiting to bale , rest is still standing :-\
-
still rainy on and off , cut stuff on the ground too long to become haylage standing stuff getting too "woody" :( :( :(
so all the kit back in the shed , call the tractor club so they can play and buy it in this year :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
-
We're still hoping :fc: but it's not looking promising, with an endless stream of low pressure systems holding the Azores High at bay. The store is all cleaned out, ready and waiting.....
We have enough of last year's hay to maybe last the winter, given our very reduced numbers, but we would far rather have fresh, and not have rotting grass all over the hay field.
We have made hay as late as mid August, but really the days are shortening fast by then, and usually the heat is beginning to go out of the sun.
We need to be decisive like you Rupert the bear :)
I noted in my diary back in June, when we had a heatwave " does this mean it will be wet at haymaking?" The answer to that is "YES" :(
-
No chance of small bales here, either, yet. We've got a few big round bales of two of the three fields we've cut so far, but the bulk of the crop so far has had to be wrapped, as per usual :(. Annoying, especially as we didn't really need any more silage. >:(
-
Lots grass being cut or turned on the Carse of Stirling yesterday. Dry and a good breeze today too. Fingers crossed for everybody! :fc:
-
Lots grass being cut or turned on the Carse of Stirling yesterday. Dry and a good breeze today too. Fingers crossed for everybody! :fc:
Oh good - that's where we would buy it from if we have to buy.
You must get better weather on the Carse, or better luck, because the hay from there seems to be good quality and available in most years :farmer:
-
.......and it's just started raining! >:(
-
.......and it's just started raining! >:(
:roflanim: it's that or :'( isn't it.
-
Well we cut it today :farmer: It is due to rain a bit in a couple of days time, but after that, if they don't change the forecast, there should be 3 more drying days at least after that. We felt that if we didn't do it now the crop would be lost, whereas we at least have some chance by cutting it today.
-
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
-
Thank you Sally :)
I shouldn't even have mentioned the weather forecast as, yes, they've changed it all around and now it's going to rain for the next couple of days as well ::)
-
Mine is still standing and I see that we have a weather warning for rain over the next 2 days.
Because we haven't had any dry spells for ages the ground is soaking - yesterday my wee tractor was making a right mess whilst pulling a harrow in the mud. I suspect I will still be looking at the hay field at the end of the month.
-
It looks like this week might be our 1 chance this year. As Sod's law would have it I am working away from home for 2 weeks so can't get home to make use of this good weather!
The good news is that Mrs Oor Wullie has just taught herself how to work the mower and mowed the field.
Hopefully it stays dry long enough for me to get get home and bale it.......
-
We got the one that's been on the ground for nearly 3 weeks turned yesterday and today and we're baling it this afternoon. Emergency feed and bedding use only for that lot, I think! However, we cut the field out on the point on Saturday, it's thick, it's dried beautifully and we should be able to bale it tomorrow night, fingers crossed. :fc: :fc: :fc:
-
Looking out the window at the sun shining on my cut grass I'm feeling very blessed. Cut half on Sat and the rest last night. I've turned it twice today and it doesn't seem far too far off being ready to bale. Tomorrows meant to be a cracker so I think I'll turn it once late morning then start baling late afternoon. Even if I only get half baled and into the shed Wednesday is meant to be nice as well so can finish it then.
6 weeks left to finish my PhD and I'm spending best part of a week making hay ;D first things first!
-
I was reading somewhere (and annoyingly I can't remember where - I think it might have been a book about a year in the life of a meadow or similar) about a chap who cut his hay by scythe, a bit at a time, brought it inside almost straight away, laid it on frames to dry and then stacked loose. I must try and find it again.
(Current hay sit-rep, it's rained a bit this morning and it seems the baler has seized up at some point in the last six months - now applying large amounts of WD40 and grease!)
I remember, Caroline someone offering us mowing grass (this was about 30 years ago) not much, about half an acre and we scythed it, turned it by hand and carried it home, bit by bit, on the back of a motorbike!! It was lovely hay.
-
138 bales in the barn and it's actually not as much of a lost cause as I'd feared - the horses will certainly eat it anyway :excited: :excited: :excited: :excited: :excited: The point field is going to need another couple of days to dry, but the forecast is holding and we've got enough to feed everyone over winter now, so any more we get in is a bonus (and can be sold!)
-
Similar to caroline above. All baled and stacked. The last couple of days have been scorchers.
:sunshine: :relief: :farmer: :thumbsup:
Has everyone else got theirs in now?
-
Got all mines in tonight. 832 lovely bales ;D
Wondering if it was beginners luck. Perfect weather and my cheap "take a punt" baler didn't miss a beat.
Thank you for all the advice from everyone.
-
All but 6 of the 54 big bales in one field today are hay :relief: This was cut Sunday evening and worked hard yesterday and today, baled late this afternoon. Blistering days here yesterday and today :sunshine:
The other field is too damp, we think, to make hay by tomorrow, so it'll have to be wrapped. Loads of rain forecast for Friday :gloomy:
-
Whilst I am stuck offshore missing this great weather my (slightly mental) darling wife has learned how to use the mower, taught herself how the Vicon Acrobat works and turned the hay a couple of times, and hauled the baler out into the field ready to try and work out how it works tonight. I keep trying to say "just leave it in rows until I get home" but seem to be being ignored!
Also, at the weekend she bought a tractor at Dingwall Mart and she has a full time job so is doing all this hay making in the evenings.
:sunshine:
-
Argh, John wasn't available yesterday afternoon - if he had been, we could have rowed up the point and baled it early evening. There's been a big temperature drop overnight, everything is soaked in heavy dew and it's still so misty that I can't see past the end of the field next to the house.
Crossing everything very hard that the promised 22C and sunshine later today materialises and it dries out enough to bale this evening, because John's not around tomorrow and we've got rain on Saturday :fc: :fc: :fc: :fc: :fc: :fc: :fc:
-
Same here, CarolineJ. The sun is just beginning to burn off the cloud now. (11am.) Our remaining field will be wrapped anyway, but my goodness are we glad we baled the other yesterday, in baking heat.
I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed for you too :fc:
-
Thanks Sally, fingers crossed for you as well. The mist has gone, but it's overcast and the ground is still soaking.
-
Whilst I am stuck offshore missing this great weather my (slightly mental) darling wife has learned how to use the mower, taught herself how the Vicon Acrobat works and turned the hay a couple of times, and hauled the baler out into the field ready to try and work out how it works tonight. I keep trying to say "just leave it in rows until I get home" but seem to be being ignored!
Also, at the weekend she bought a tractor at Dingwall Mart and she has a full time job so is doing all this hay making in the evenings.
:sunshine:
Bless her heart!
-
Thanks Sally, fingers crossed for you as well. The mist has gone, but it's overcast and the ground is still soaking.
fingers crossed for you :fc:
-
We left it alone, it didn't dry until 9pm. 6.30am this morning the phone rings and it's John, saying he's rearranged his day and will be with us at 10.30 to give it a final flip before rowing it up and baling - we've had a breeze all night and it's gloriously sunny :excited: :excited:
-
The joys of working abroad - my hay field got ignored this week as the big boys have there priorities elsewhere - oh well it looks like the neighbour will be getting cheap silage again.
Last year was the same, my neighbour got 18 big rounds of silage and I ended up spending 5 days rolling out his round bales of hay in the shed, putting them back through the small square baler and got nearly 200 small bales. At least it heats you up in the cold days.
-
At least you got something in return Grant, for the last couple years a local farming has been taking 150+ large bales off our fields and I didn't get a thing in return. Thats why I decided to invest in some equipment and this year took over 800 small bales of hay off. If I sell most of the bales I've made my money back.
Hope the baling is going well Caroline!
-
*whimper*
I wasn't expecting to get 305 bales off that field!!! All safely stacked in various barns, sheds, trailers and vans around the village and my first year of taking hay off my own fields is done. 443 in total - I only needed about 100!
We finished at 10.30pm, so pretty much 12 hours.
-
well done , long hot soak in the bath now.
-
Brilliant! You've got some in hand for next year, now, too. And some to sell as well, by the sound of it! Congratulations!
-
Well I finally got home and have the hay in.
Whilst I was away my wife learned how to hitch up the mower and mowed the field. Learned how to use the Acrobat and turned the hay a couple if times. Went to the auction mart and bought a bigger tractor, learned how to work the baler and started baling, learned how to change shear bolts but unfortunately came to a halt trying to unjam the baler - I just can't get the staff!!!
It rained a few times but we have just had a weather window just long enough to get it baled and in, 200 small bales. Lots of hard work (which I mostly dodged!) but very satisfying looking at it in the shed.