Hay 2015

merryberry

Anyone made hay or planning to make hay this year?

Kovu

merryberry wrote: »

Anyone made hay or planning to make hay this year?

I found Mr Optimistic

farmerjj

Agh its hardly been dry 2days in a row yet. Next week looks ok so there might be some small bit made

MickeyShtyles

merryberry wrote: »

Anyone made hay or planning to make hay this year?

Planning....

sea12

MickeyShtyles wrote: »

Planning....

It's a bit early around here. Meadows arnt ready to be dropped yet anyway. Hopefully end of June if we get the weather

merryberry

I was just browsing done deal and saw shed stored hay advertised ...had to b 2014 hay...had to b

merryberry

Kovu wrote: »

I found Mr Optimistic

I know. But do any of ye have faith in these long range weather forecasts like accuweather...its giving a poor month for june weatherwise.

Nettleman

merryberry wrote: »

I know. But do any of ye have faith in these long range weather forecasts like accuweather...its giving a poor month for june weatherwise.

Im hoping to make round bales of hay as I have plenty of silage left over from last year. I seen on the road yesterday dairy men with silage mowed and he let the cows into eat it. quality of grass probably not worth putting in a pit-didn't get any sun during may and needing aftergrass

CloughCasey1

Praying more than planning. Ive 30 round bales sold already if weather will turn later this month and will get out the square baler for the rest. It got no work last year so hopefully won't have to do too much servicing on it. Will do 3 rows around the headlands sunday with the rest of the silage being cut. Hopefully wont be wrapping the rest of it later in the month/early July. Nothing as bad as silage that was meant for hay.

Sam Kade

merryberry wrote: »

I know. But do any of ye have faith in these long range weather forecasts like accuweather...its giving a poor month for june weatherwise.

Anything after 4-5 days is crystal ball gazing, why can't people get that? You tell them long range forecasts are useless next time you meet them they're on about the very bad winter we're in for :rolleyes:

Mad4simmental

Nettleman wrote: »

Im hoping to make round bales of hay as I have plenty of silage left over from last year. I seen on the road yesterday dairy men with silage mowed and he let the cows into eat it. quality of grass probably not worth putting in a pit-didn't get any sun during may and needing aftergrass

Pre mowed?

Genghis Cant

I think there are very few years where there is no opportunity to make hay. I remember one in the mid 80's, outside of that I think there's always a chance. There were a few bad summers in a row around 5 years ago but somebody always gets a bit of hay.
It's another matter entirely making really good hay!

Muckit

Even if the weather is a scorcher, it's hard enough save hay if you are working. When do you turn it?

Dew isn't burnt off in the morning and the best of the day is gone by the time you are home!!

Bullocks

Muckit wrote: »

Even if the weather is a scorcher, it's hard enough save hay if you are working. When do you turn it?

Dew isn't burnt off in the morning and the best of the day is gone by the time you are home!!

Sacrifice a few work hours . I'm never happier than heading off from work to do a couple of hours on the farm and still be home for dinner - the same applies for porter

sea12

Muckit wrote: »

Even if the weather is a scorcher, it's hard enough save hay if you are working. When do you turn it?

Dew isn't burnt off in the morning and the best of the day is gone by the time you are home!!

Agree with that one. Lucky I have the father to do it during the day. But one year he wasn't around and it was torture. In the office all day looking out at it just waiting to get home.

Mayo_Boy

Planning on going for hay next week.....

dodo mommy

Mayo_Boy wrote:

Planning on going for hay next week.....

I might jump on that bandwagon to.

keep going

For what its worth you'll have an awful job trying to save hay these days as stuff has away too much green in it, I see a couple lads trying to cut early hay every year and ituusually its up in s##t

RobinBanks

keep going wrote: »

For what its worth you'll have an awful job trying to save hay these days as stuff has away too much green in it, I see a couple lads trying to cut early hay every year and ituusually its up in s##t

Out of interest when would be a good time to cut for hay. I have way to much grass ahead of cows and I was going to fence off a few acres and try to get round bales of hay. Never made hay before though!

Sam Kade

RobinBanks wrote: »

Out of interest when would be a good time to cut for hay. I have way to much grass ahead of cows and I was going to fence off a few acres and try to get round bales of hay. Never made hay before though!

I see disaster on the horizon

Sam Kade

RobinBanks wrote: »

Out of interest when would be a good time to cut for hay. I have way to much grass ahead of cows and I was going to fence off a few acres and try to get round bales of hay. Never made hay before though!

It would be too green if it's grass that's gone too strong from the last grazing especially if you intend to make round bales of it.

mahoney_j

RobinBanks wrote: »

Out of interest when would be a good time to cut for hay. I have way to much grass ahead of cows and I was going to fence off a few acres and try to get round bales of hay. Never made hay before though!

My advice wrap it soon as,better feed and after grass back quicker for cows.very few lads in this country can make really good hay.

Sam Kade

Mayo_Boy wrote: »

Planning on going for hay next week.....

mahoney_j wrote: »

My advice wrap it soon as,better feed and after grass back quicker for cows.very few lads in this country can make really good hay.

I happen to be one of them with years of experience under my belt I've seen farmers round bale hay that isn't fit in scorching weather because they haven't patience to wait, then they wonder why it heats also trying to make hay of grass that can never be saved. 3 things you need to make hay the right crop the right weather and plenty patience.

frazzledhome

Hay, why?

It's ball ache and the paddock is out of production for way too long. Good dry silage or haylage far superior

sea12

Sam Kade wrote: »

I happen to be one of them with years of experience under my belt I've seen farmers round bale hay that isn't fit in scorching weather because they haven't patience to wait, then they wonder why it heats also trying to make hay of grass that can never be saved. 3 things you need to make hay the right crop the right weather and plenty patience.

patience does be in short supply around here at hay making time. Lads lose the run of themselves completely.

howdee

The majority of hay made in this country is ****e with a lot of it full of weeds, weed grasses and rushes. Many farmers don't know how to make good hay and beat the life of of it with the haybob. Unfortunately it is a skill that is dying out.
I saved 10 acres of hay last year, it was new grass that was destined for the pit but due to lack of room on the slab so made hay out of it. I took exactly 15 days to save and that was during the big heat this time last year. Most lads wouldn't have the patience for this, thankfully the ould lad made a living in his earlier life as a hay contractor and knows hay making inside and out so I let him at it. Personally I would prefer haylage, given the good feeding quality in it.

sea12

howdee wrote: »

The majority of hay made in this country is ****e with a lot of it full of weeds, weed grasses and rushes. Many farmers don't know how to make good hay and beat the life of of it with the haybob. Unfortunately it is a skill that is dying out.
I saved 10 acres of hay last year, it was new grass that was destined for the pit but due to lack of room on the slab so made hay out of it. I took exactly 15 days to save and that was during the big heat this time last year. Most lads wouldn't have the patience for this, thankfully the ould lad made a living in his earlier life as a hay contractor and knows hay making inside and out so I let him at it. Personally I would prefer haylage, given the good feeding quality in it.

If u left hay down here for 15 days somebody would think you had died and some ****er would have come in and baled it for themselves.

howdee

sea12 wrote: »

If u left hay down here for 15 days somebody would think you had died and some ****er would have come in and baled it for themselves.

I know, a few of the neighbours were wondering what we were doing with it but been new grass it was so heavy it took that long to fitten.

Sam Kade

frazzledhome wrote: »

Hay, why?

It's ball ache and the paddock is out of production for way too long. Good dry silage or haylage far superior

Exactly, the amount of diesel and time spent arsing around turning it would pay for the wrapping.

20silkcut

Is the key to making hay to start with a light crop of older stemmy type grass.

My contractor knew of a lad who was able to make hay in 2 days by cutting a very light crop that was almost hay while on the stem.

trabpc

15 days to save hay!!! Last June 5 days was enough. Must have been like wire after 15 days

Reggie.

20 acres for hay here this year and 25 acres for haylage

Username John

Reggie. wrote: »

20 acres for hay here this year and 25 acres for haylage

Big rounds or small squares Reg?

Reggie.

Username John wrote: »

Big rounds or small squares Reg?

Both. Rounds mainly but take orders for small squares aswell. 100 booked in already weather depending. A few studs around us

Username John

Reggie. wrote: »

Both. Rounds mainly but take orders for small squares aswell. 100 booked in already weather depending. A few studs around us

Lad beside us makes hay every year, about 5000 small squares I'd say.
He has a special sleigh that puts the bales in a set position, and then a loader attachment to pick em up. No handling...
Serious job...

darragh_haven

Why do people need hay. What animals need it. Calves are as well eating the bedding straw for roughage.

Username John

darragh_haven wrote: »

Why do people need hay. What animals need it. Calves are as well eating the bedding straw for roughage.

Don't some lads feed it to cows before calving?

We would always have fed the sheep hay when inside, but lately I'm half feeding em straw plus more ration...

I know almost everyone is setup for silage now, but hay is still 'handy'

Kovu

darragh_haven wrote: »

Why do people need hay. What animals need it. Calves are as well eating the bedding straw for roughage.

Very handy for us to have 20 or so bales of it in case we have some cows in for a day or two. No point opening a bale of silage and letting half of it go to waste, a few flakes off a round bale of hay and the rest will keep.
Far cheaper to make as well, don't forget straw is more expensive up this side of the country!

RobinBanks

darragh_haven wrote: »

Why do people need hay. What animals need it. Calves are as well eating the bedding straw for roughage.

Would it keep cows dung drier than silage? Say when you have cows in the calving pin. Would feeding hay keep her and the udder cleaner? If a bale of haylage is opened how long would it keep before heating or going off? A bale of hay might be handier for this reason aswell?

Reggie.

Username John wrote: »

Lad beside us makes hay every year, about 5000 small squares I'd say.
He has a special sleigh that puts the bales in a set position, and then a loader attachment to pick em up. No handling...
Serious job...

The flat 8.

Reggie.

darragh_haven wrote: »

Why do people need hay. What animals need it. Calves are as well eating the bedding straw for roughage.

People with horses or ponies want a few squares. The round bales do be too awkward for them

Limestone Cowboy

Best hay we ever had was 2 years ago in July in scorching heat and a light enough leafy crop. Turned it twice and raked it and baled on day 4. Was still fairly green when we were feeding it out but it was cracking stuff. No heating either.

Reggie.

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

Best hay we ever had was 2 years ago in July in scorching heat and a light enough leafy crop. Turned it twice and raked it and baled on day 4. Was still fairly green when we were feeding it out but it was cracking stuff. No heating either.

The greener the better

C0N0R

Seen hay baled last Sunday in Castleblaney, the rolled out a few round bales and baled it back up with square balers!

Sam Kade

In the US they use popcorn acid to dry hay apply it through the baler baling around 30% moisture then store it straight away. Some fella was doing here a few years ago around the midlands I think. If it's stored too long the popcorn could wear off and you could be pulling dung out the shed also if you store it beside dried hay the moisture from the acid hay will seep into the dried hay.

Reggie.

Sam Kade wrote: »

In the US they use popcorn acid to dry hay apply it through the baler baling around 30% moisture then store it straight away. Some fella was doing here a few years ago around the midlands I think. If it's stored too long the popcorn could wear off and you could be pulling dung out the shed also if you store it beside dried hay the moisture from the acid hay will seep into the dried hay.

Local contractor here has the applicator on the baler for the additive

davidk1394

Friend a mine made hay in april. We've 25 ac stopped so hopefully we'll get it

Reggie.

davidk1394 wrote: »

Friend a mine made hay in april. We've 25 ac stopped so hopefully we'll get it

This April

Sam Kade

davidk1394 wrote: »

Friend a mine made hay in april. We've 25 ac stopped so hopefully we'll get it

Didn't some fella make hay in March? But it would be only light grass that went to seed the year before and was nearly ready for baling before it was cut. It would have sh1te feeding value and also costly having land tied up growing it all year.

davidk1394

Reggie. wrote: »

This April

Yeah there earlier on when the weather was good

Reggie.

davidk1394 wrote: »

Yeah there earlier on when the weather was good

Jaysus fair play if he got it. Wasn't weather like that around here