Silage cut?

uck51js9zml2yt

Is it too late to take a cut for silage. I was thinking of approaching the local farmer to see if ilhe wanted to come in and cut the field.

The previous owner didn't give it to him this year.

Donald Trump

Define "too late"?

Will it be top quality? - No

Will it cost more to make than you'd get the value out of it? probably not.

If you thought you might be a bit short at the tail end, it'd be silly not to.


BTW, couldn't understand exactly from your description that you are asking. Whether you have the field or are asking if you can take the grass off someones elses' field

uck51js9zml2yt

Donald Trump wrote: »

Define "too late"?

Will it be top quality? - No

Will it cost more to make than you'd get the value out of it? probably not.

If you thought you might be a bit short at the tail end, it'd be silly not to.


BTW, couldn't understand exactly from your description that you are asking. Whether you have the field or are asking if you can take the grass off someones elses' field

I have the field 4 acres

bogman_bass

Nikolai Uptight Beer wrote: »

I have the field 4 acres

Ideally it should have been offered sooner but you’ll get a taker for it at the same time!

Buford T. Justice XIX

Nikolai Uptight Beer wrote: »

Is it too late to take a cut for silage. I was thinking of approaching the local farmer to see if ilhe wanted to come in and cut the field.

The previous owner didn't give it to him this year.

You could offer it anyway. If nothing else, it will clean up the field and you might make a few euro out of it. I'm sure someone will be willing to take it

Sacrolyte

How much you asking for it?

uck51js9zml2yt

Sacrolyte wrote: »

How much you asking for it?

Ideally if I could get half an acre ploughed in return I'd be happy.

I'll knock over to my neighbour at the weekend.

stretch film

option to zero graze??

Donald Trump

Nikolai Uptight Beer wrote: »

Ideally if I could get half an acre ploughed in return I'd be happy.

I'll knock over to my neighbour at the weekend.

You could always put a few quid down and get it baled and wrapped and hope some poor unfortunate fella is stuck next Spring and looking to buy it. Depends on how much of the gear you have yourself I suppose

uck51js9zml2yt

Donald Trump wrote: »

You could always put a few quid down and get it baled and wrapped and hope some poor unfortunate fella is stuck next Spring and looking to buy it. Depends on how much of the gear you have yourself I suppose

Just moved into the house and not from a farming background.

alps

Nikolai Uptight Beer wrote: »

Ideally if I could get half an acre ploughed in return I'd be happy.

I'll knock over to my neighbour at the weekend.

Good option. He may also have a bit of dung for you garden plot, and a bit of give and take could might suit everyone and get you nicely settled in the community...

_Brian

Saw bales made locally today.

Dunedin

Donald Trump wrote: »

You could always put a few quid down and get it baled and wrapped and hope some poor unfortunate fella is stuck next Spring and looking to buy it. Depends on how much of the gear you have yourself I suppose

Give the op a bit of credit here. He’s clearly not looking to make anything out of it and I think it’s fairly reasonable in asking for a bit of an acre to be ploughed.

Donald Trump

Dunedin wrote: »

Give the op a bit of credit here. He’s clearly not looking to make anything out of it and I think it’s fairly reasonable in asking for a bit of an acre to be ploughed.

I'm not sure what you read into my post. It's only a 4 acre field. In November. I'm assuming it wasn't cut or grazed during the year. Not that many fellas would be bothered with it to be honest. Even getting it for the taking away. Unless they were stuck. But it might still be useful to someone at the tail end. But he's not going to make money on it either now is he - especially if he has to get lads in to do it for him? Under my suggestion he'd get it cleaned up and maybe get his money back later on.



If I was offered it for nothing, to take away, I'd still only be doing it as a favour to the fella, maybe with the hope of taking the field off him the next year. I'd have rathered to have gotten it 3 weeks ago to throw a few animals onto it to eat it down for him.

Water John

Plenty take for anything this year. Would feed dry cows fine, nice bit of roughage. Saw fresh bales today.
It will clean the field for next year, the farmer will have his eye for that too. If you want one acre, he might use the other three.

Icelandicseige

With the good autumn were having would it not be cheaper to keep out livestock grazing for as all as weather allows, saving Silage and saving the cost of making more?
Also would ground thats cut now not be effected it it got frost?

wiggy123

do for feeding dry cows--once an auld lick was with them... clean it up-so might be suitable for silage next year

uck51js9zml2yt

The previous owner used to give it to him for €100 a year to come in and take the whatever he wanted.( She didn't do it this year)
Those days are over!!!

I'm in the house 4 weeks and planning ahead.
If he wants to come in and get a final cut, he's welcome to it.
If he'll plough a half acre for me and throw in a few loads of manure it will make me more amenable to doing something for him next year.

Otherwise I'll get it ploughed myself and come next year get a contractor in to cut and bale it for me. I'll then sell at the going rate.

I've no interest in livestock. It's behind my house and I've young kids who like to wander into it...as do I.
Added to that, my kids don't want "poopy cows" as their neighbours:) (work it out!!!)
I believe someone used to put horses on it in the past, but again no interest in doing it again.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll pop over to him in the morning and introduce myself.

uck51js9zml2yt

An update.
I called over today. He wasn't interested as he only cuts hay.
When I asked about anyone with a plough I got a story that it was all rock underneath.

I then called into the other neighbour who had called over last week and I missed him.

Lovely man. Told him what I was thinking. He just rolled up a while ago with a friend of his who offered to cut and bale the grass. In return, I get the "garden" sprayed, ploughed and then harrowed in spring. He knows someone who can give me as much manure as I want.

I'll be interested in seeing how many bales he gets off it. $$ for next year.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Nikolai Uptight Beer wrote: »

An update.
I called over today. He wasn't interested as he only cuts hay.
When I asked about anyone with a plough I got a story that it was all rock underneath.

I then called into the other neighbour who had called over last week and I missed him.

Lovely man. Told him what I was thinking. He just rolled up a while ago with a friend of his who offered to cut and bale the grass. In return, I get the "garden" sprayed, ploughed and then harrowed in spring. He knows someone who can give me as much manure as I want.

I'll be interested in seeing how many bales he gets off it. $$ for next year.

Great stuff, a win for everyone:)

Sacrolyte

Brilliant. And a nice way to get to know your neighbors. Farmers are a handy species to know. We know a little bit about everything and usually are fairly well tooled up.
Btw. Don’t expect to make a fortune outa bales of silage. With the exception of this year I can usually buy silage cheaper than it costs to make it. Enjoy your garden. I hope you have loads of spare time.

uck51js9zml2yt

Sacrolyte wrote: »

Brilliant. And a nice way to get to know your neighbors. Farmers are a handy species to know. We know a little bit about everything and usually are fairly well tooled up.
Btw. Don’t expect to make a fortune outa bales of silage. With the exception of this year I can usually buy silage cheaper than it costs to make it. Enjoy your garden. I hope you have loads of spare time.

I also learned a lot about farmer number one who had been fleecing the previous owner,cutting the hay and giving her peanuts.

I reckon the story about how bad the ground was was to preserve as much of it for himself next year should I give it to him.... He won't be setting foot inside the gate:)

kerryjack

LOL there is one of them lads in every Parrish 1 lad around here bits of land rented everywhere, not giving much for land but keeping an eye in on the ould people all the same. Its not all about the money.

mengele

Nikolai Uptight Beer wrote: »

I also learned a lot about farmer number one who had been fleecing the previous owner,cutting the hay and giving her peanuts.

I reckon the story about how bad the ground was was to preserve as much of it for himself next year should I give it to him.... He won't be setting foot inside the gate:)

There isn't a big amount to be made out of selling bales in a normal year. To mow each acre is 25 alone. 10 an acre to take up then. then to bale and wrap each bale would be about 15 including plastic. Finally give it four bags of 18.6.12 and that would be the bones of another 100 per acre. And how are you going to put it out, with your hands. You would be better off to rent it out to the local farmer for a couple of hundred if he would take it. You need to do the maths as there could also be years where bales are so plentiful that you will make a loss selling them. Also contractors won't be rushing to come in just for four acres.

Water John

Well OP is ploughing one, that leaves 3, €3/500? Handy bit of cash.

Sacrolyte

Water John wrote: »

Well OP is ploughing one, that leaves 3, €3/500? Handy bit of cash.

It’s a nice few quid when it’s in your paw

uck51js9zml2yt

Water John wrote: »

Well OP is ploughing one, that leaves 3, €3/500? Handy bit of cash.

I don't get the maths. It must be a jackeen thing;)

I'm ploughing half an acre. House sits on another half. Leaves 3.5 of grass.

Sacrolyte

He obviously don’t do things by half

Water John

Tatranska, you most likely want a good client as opposed to maximum profit. You may for example not want slurry spread near your house. I didn't want to set too greedy a price.
A neighbouring dairy farmer down here in Cork would pay more for it if it was adjacent to the farm.

uck51js9zml2yt

Water John wrote: »

Tatranska, you most likely want a good client as opposed to maximum profit. You may for example not want slurry spread near your house. I didn't want to set too greedy a price.
A neighbouring dairy farmer down here in Cork would pay more for it if it was adjacent to the farm.

Ah slurry. I remember it when we lived in Meath when I was in my teens. Farmers used to spread it on the field behind us ....normally when we were eating

But dayingt that, I wouldn't want slurry due to having well and perlocation area near the field.

Can you explain your calculations a few posts above

mengele

Nikolai Uptight Beer wrote: »

Ah slurry. I remember it when we lived in Meath when I was in my teens. Farmers used to spread it on the field behind us ....normally when we were eating

But dayingt that, I wouldn't want slurry due to having well and perlocation area near the field.

Can you explain your calculations a few posts above

Just out of curiosity what profit per year are you expecting to make from it?

Water John

It really depends on a number of factors. Is it a simple economic transaction? You maximise your rent. If you want restrictions eg slurry and want the neighbour to do a few jobs for you, lower price. A bit of give and take.
Remember at that you are possibly reseeding the field, if the grass is old.
Alternatively, the farmer reseeds for you and you allow him it rent free for about 2 years. Make sure he spreads lime on it.

uck51js9zml2yt

Water John wrote: »

It really depends on a number of factors. Is it a simple economic transaction? You maximise your rent. If you want restrictions eg slurry and want the neighbour to do a few jobs for you, lower price. A bit of give and take.
Remember at that you are possibly reseeding the field, if the grass is old.
Alternatively, the farmer reseeds for you and you allow him it rent free for about 2 years. Make sure he spreads lime on it.

Good idea on the reseeding. I assume it will mean ploughing up the field first?
Plan is to build up a relationship first...then try maximise the field. A bit of work to be done before then.
I'm on a hill and need a few ditches cleaned out as well.


What would it cost to get it reseeded?

Buford T. Justice XIX

Nikolai Uptight Beer wrote: »

Good idea on the reseeding. I assume it will mean ploughing up the field first?
Plan is to build up a relationship first...then try maximise the field. A bit of work to be done before then.
I'm on a hill and need a few ditches cleaned out as well.


What would it cost to get it reseeded?

On the ditches, cutting them back is allowed but, if you knock them, you're supposed to plant at least an equal length of hedging to replace them before they're knocked.


Reseeding wouldn't necessarily mean ploughing the field unless the field isn't level. Most seem to spray with roundup before cutting for silage and leave for a few days and then come in with lime and rotavator/power harrow. But if the grass is very old or the farmer prefers to plough then that's the way it'll be done.

uck51js9zml2yt

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

On the ditches, cutting them back is allowed but, if you knock them, you're supposed to plant at least an equal length of hedging to replace them before they're knocked.


Reseeding wouldn't necessarily mean ploughing the field unless the field isn't level. Most seem to spray with roundup before cutting for silage and leave for a few days and then come in with lime and rotavator/power harrow. But if the grass is very old or the farmer prefers to plough then that's the way it'll be done.

Its hard to tell how level it is until the grass is cut. Hoping for a few dry days this week to get him up.


I wasnt planning on taking out the ditches, more opening them up. It looks like its been neglected for a few years. I'm on a slope, so plan is to open up the higher part and then then end of the field to let the water drain off without hitting my land.
Again, this winter should let me see what its like. Theres a decent hedgerow around the field so I dont want to damage it. It might just mean me taking getting an inner channel dug out.


The previous owners husband had a farm,so I assume did a lot of the work himself. He's ben dead a few years and she's been relying on neighbours.



Only in the house a month and a lot done..with more to do

Buford T. Justice XIX

Nikolai Uptight Beer wrote: »

Its hard to tell how level it is until the grass is cut. Hoping for a few dry days this week to get him up.


I wasnt planning on taking out the ditches, more opening them up. It looks like its been neglected for a few years. I'm on a slope, so plan is to open up the higher part and then then end of the field to let the water drain off without hitting my land.
Again, this winter should let me see what its like. Theres a decent hedgerow around the field so I dont want to damage it. It might just mean me taking getting an inner channel dug out.


The previous owners husband had a farm,so I assume did a lot of the work himself. He's ben dead a few years and she's been relying on neighbours.



Only in the house a month and a lot done..with more to do

You'll get there, lots of good folk out that side of the country.

Just dont forget to enjoy yourself while you're doing it:)

uck51js9zml2yt

An update.
With the weather being bad for the last few weeks, we never got a chance to get the grass cut.

I had a local farmer up today with my "new best friend" who said he'd stick a few cows in the field for a few weeks.
He just needs to run an electric fence around the area.

He gets free grass for his cows I get the grass cut and a spread of slurry on the field next year.

I've been on to teagsc about getting the soil tested and they've put me into a local crowd so I'll pick up the kit next week.
As soon as the cows are gone I need to get some lime spread.

I could be getting myself into the middle of a land fued but just call me "bull"..

uck51js9zml2yt

The 11 cows have arrived and the kids are super excited having cows in their garden:)

The most they had in Dublin was an odd wood pigeon!


Also saw a fox last night on the lawn.

Donald Trump

Nikolai Uptight Beer wrote: »

The 11 cows have arrived and the kids are super excited having cows in their garden:)

The most they had in Dublin was an odd wood pigeon!


Also saw a fox last night on the lawn.

Just be careful they don't poach the shite out of your field.

Injuryprone

Donald Trump wrote: »

Just be careful they don't poach the shite out of your field.

Shur didn't he say he wanted it ploughed!

uck51js9zml2yt

Just to resurect an old thread.

I'm finally getting my first cut of silage today.

Still need to find a buyer but first things first.

Will be interesting to see how many bales I get and whether it's worth progressing with this project.