fodder 2019/2020

buffalobilly

how is everyone for fodder for the winter
never seen as much silage gathered up
and hay baled i would think it will be
easily bought this winter and next spring

Muckit

Easy bought in a few weeks. Next spring ? THAT will depend on weather.

mengele

I have enough to do from October until April if everything was in fulltime and must still cut the second cut.

buffalobilly

Muckit wrote: »

Easy bought in a few weeks. Next spring ? THAT will depend on weather.

i think it will still be easily bought up here never seen as much stuff gathered up and good quality as well i did not make any myself as i have enough left over from last year (we did not have the drought ) but seen plenty with loads left over and made as much again this year

Donald Trump

Lads might not be as quick to sell off the Friesan bull calves for a tenner if they've space available in sheds what with all that's getting made.

TooOldBoots

Everyone has heaps at this stage and we still have second cut silage to be made. On top of which the fields are heaving with grass, cows are mud fat they'd nearly last the winter with whats on their backs.
I can see lads being reluctant to sell Weanlens for anything but good prices this fall. Sur why would they when they could easily carry them for another 12-16 weeks.

Danzy

Never seen as many fields cut locally, cut early, ready for second cuts with such volume and some fields double yield last year.

Never seen as much left over from last year.

The glas crop of hay in itself is significant.

Interesting to see how it affects Mart prices, may well firm it up.

Hard to fill a shed at winter prices now though.

Muckit

TooOldBoots wrote: »

Everyone has heaps at this stage and we still have second cut silage to be made. On top of which the fields are heaving with grass, cows are mud fat they'd nearly last the winter with whats on their backs.
I can see lads being reluctant to sell Weanlens for anything but good prices this fall. Sur why would they when they could easily carry them for another 12-16 weeks.

I hope they do!!

GrasstoMilk

100% of a 4 month winter fodder saved here.
Still have 30 acres of a second cut to come in. 30 acres of a 3rd cut and 10 acres of maize.

That should sort out my fodder reserve, last year and this year will have cost an eye watering amount of money in terms of feed/fodder but it should see us right for a long time. Unless we get another **** spring and very dry summer!

Markcheese

If well made silage bales were stacked in a shed, (away from the weather) how long could they last.? Or would it be the usual 2 years kind if thing..

Keepgrowing

Is the country understocked again or are we overstocked like last year?

whelan2

Haven't made any bales here yet this year Am not too worried about it

TooOldBoots

Keepgrowing wrote: »

Is the country understocked again or are we overstocked like last year?

Looking like understocked. Live exports are well up on last year already. Reduction in suckler numbers too, I expect the difference will be made up with dairy cross

Bullocks

Does anyone know the amount of suckler calves born this spring compared to last spring. I wonder is there much of a drop?

TooOldBoots

I think its down another 10% from 2018. Thats 20%+ since 2017. Agriland had the figures for March registrations a while back. link
I'm surprised it wasn't more with all the Suckler cows that went to slaughter last year

dohc turbo2

TooOldBoots wrote: »

I think its down another 10% from 2018. Thats 20%+ since 2017. Agriland had the figures for March registrations a while back. link
I'm surprised it wasn't more with all the Suckler cows that went to slaughter last year

It will be after the first round of bgdp you will see the suckler numbers fall

Limestone Cowboy

TooOldBoots wrote: »

Looking like understocked. Live exports are well up on last year already. Reduction in suckler numbers too, I expect the difference will be made up with dairy cross

It's only 15 months ago since there wasn't a bale to be got in the country. Farmers have short memories. This year was needed to build up reserves again for the next fodder crisis.

Reggie.

The auld farmers here claim that if you get a year like this for fodder then itll all be needed in the winter. One man said it happened in the 70s. Great year for fodder but nothing left in the country the following year after the winter.

That's the talk anyways. The older generation believe the year always balances itself out

Keep Sluicing

Keepgrowing wrote: »

Is the country understocked again or are we overstocked like last year?

The country is stock to the goldilocks .... just right

kk.man

Reggie. wrote: »

The auld farmers here claim that if you get a year like this for fodder then itll all be needed in the winter. One man said it happened in the 70s. Great year for fodder but nothing left in the country the following year after the winter.

That's the talk anyways. The older generation believe the year always balances itself out

+1 ...often heard same.

jaymla627

Reggie. wrote: »

The auld farmers here claim that if you get a year like this for fodder then itll all be needed in the winter. One man said it happened in the 70s. Great year for fodder but nothing left in the country the following year after the winter.

That's the talk anyways. The older generation believe the year always balances itself out

Is their shed space even out their to hold what hays after been made, the country’s full of lads trying to sell it...

Buford T. Justice XIX

Reggie. wrote: »

The auld farmers here claim that if you get a year like this for fodder then itll all be needed in the winter. One man said it happened in the 70s. Great year for fodder but nothing left in the country the following year after the winter.

That's the talk anyways. The older generation believe the year always balances itself out

You can NEVER have too much fodder. 17/18 I never had so much feed and was thinking of selling some. Then winter came early and overstayed its welcome the following year.

Markcheese

Reggie. wrote: »

The auld farmers here claim that if you get a year like this for fodder then itll all be needed in the winter. One man said it happened in the 70s. Great year for fodder but nothing left in the country the following year after the winter.

That's the talk anyways. The older generation believe the year always balances itself out

I doubt it'll balance out over 12 months, but it does all go in cycles... Probably over a 10 or15 year period a farm would have the same potential to grow grass (or crops), just not always at the times it's wanted, the idea of having 12 months of fodder saved up sounds ridiculous, but if you got 3 bad years in a row, (early winters, cold springs and crap summers) you'd probably need every bit of it... You might only need it ALL once in 40 or 50 years, but you wouldnt have to build it up in 1 or 2 years either..

Reggie.

Buford T. Justice VI wrote: »

You can NEVER have too much fodder. 17/18 I never had so much feed and was thinking of selling some. Then winter came early and overstayed its welcome the following year.

That's the thing. Plenty of lads talking of not bothering to do a second cut. They would be the first to be crying out for feed in Feb if we get a bad winter

Buford T. Justice XIX

Reggie. wrote: »

That's the thing. Plenty of lads talking of not bothering to do a second cut. They would be the first to be crying out for feed in Feb if we get a bad winter

True, seems mad not to make feed when it's there to be made. We have room for about 20 acres in the pit and 45 acres closed so well make bales with the remainder, assuming we're able to grow it with the weather here.

mahoney_j

Buford T. Justice VI wrote: »

You can NEVER have too much fodder. 17/18 I never had so much feed and was thinking of selling some. Then winter came early and overstayed its welcome the following year.

+1 I’m covered as is for 4 month winter but still have 36 acres second cut and whatever surpluses arrive for rest of summer it’ll all be banked and stored .pucked up 25 bales hay as well for 20 euro that I don’t need but it’ll do to dry off cows and at that price couldn’t leave it there .lads getting it hard to sell hay/silage around here as is fodder isn’t the worry now water in ground wells starting to become a huge worry
Was getting tight on grass for cows here last week and planned to start z grazing today but that plan shelved due to a lovely soft wet day Saturday

Buford T. Justice XIX

mahoney_j wrote: »

+1 I’m covered as is for 4 month winter but still have 36 acres second cut and whatever surpluses arrive for rest of summer it’ll all be banked and stored .pucked up 25 bales hay as well for 20 euro that I don’t need but it’ll do to dry off cows and at that price couldn’t leave it there .lads getting it hard to sell hay/silage around here as is fodder isn’t the worry now water in ground wells starting to become a huge worry
Was getting tight on grass for cows here last week and planned to start z grazing today but that plan shelved due to a lovely soft wet day Saturday

I have 2 round feeders ready for Wednesday if the rain doesn't come. Might still have to put out a few to build up covers.

emaherx

jaymla627 wrote: »

Is their shed space even out their to hold what hays after been made, the country’s full of lads trying to sell it...

I’m after filling what’s left of an old hay shed on an out farm, don’t think it’s ever had round bales in it before and we haven’t had small squares in nearly 30 years. Hay shed on home farm will be overflowing by the time straw comes in but can always stick a few of them under a tarp.

Already have plenty of fodder here even for a long winter but I’ll still take my second cuts, the hay will keep.

blackdog1

Buford T. Justice VI wrote: »

You can NEVER have too much fodder. 17/18 I never had so much feed and was thinking of selling some. Then winter came early and overstayed its welcome the following year.

All my swallows are gone. Had hundreds here a few months ago.....anyone else seeing this?

Attie Ross

blackdog1 wrote: »

All my swallows are gone. Had hundreds here a few months ago.....anyone else seeing this?

Yes not so many about this year mostly all gone.
In a few years don't there will be any left.

Say my name

Attie Ross wrote: »

Yes not so many about this year mostly all gone.
In a few years don't there will be any left.

Still have a few here. I'd estimate about 10.

Other years we'd be overrun with them. 50 + to a hundred. Shocking to think they could be under threat and maybe extinct in the next generations lifetime.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6993621/Where-swallows-gone.html

The natural world has changed so much even in our own lifetime.
The countryside has become a lot quieter.

Reggie.

Say my name wrote: »

Still have a few here. I'd estimate about 10.

Other years we'd be overrun with them. 50 + to a hundred. Shocking to think they could be under threat and maybe extinct in the next generations lifetime.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6993621/Where-swallows-gone.html

The natural world has changed so much even in our own lifetime.
The countryside has become a lot quieter.

Could be the birds of prey around. Seems alot of them around now compared to the past

Danzy

They are being caught in nets in North Africa in their millions.

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-scottish-mail-on-sunday/20190505/282011853788522

Say my name

Reggie. wrote: »

Could be the birds of prey around. Seems alot of them around now compared to the past

Could be maybe too. I'd imagine they'd be one of the harder birds to catch though.

Fly pour ons on cattle wouldn't help either I'd imagine. I doubt the manufacturers give any thought to swallows feeding on flies that ingest the pour ons or swallows feeding the flies to their young.

Reggie.

Say my name wrote: »

Could be maybe too. I'd imagine they'd be one of the harder birds to catch though.

Fly pour ons on cattle wouldn't help either I'd imagine. I doubt the manufacturers give any thought to swallows feeding on flies that ingest the pour ons or swallows feeding the flies to their young.

Still the fact there was a predator in the area

Say my name

Reggie. wrote: »

Still the fact there was a predator in the area

A buzzard wouldn't be able to kill a swallow. You'd want a peregrin or maybe a hobby. Not as many of those about.

The biggest predator is ourselves and our actions.

Dunedin

Reggie. wrote: »

Could be the birds of prey around. Seems alot of them around now compared to the past

Biggest threat to wildlife at the minute. Beggars belief that the relevant wildlife gurus seem to be ignoring it.

Danzy

Dunedin wrote: »

Biggest threat to wildlife at the minute. Beggars belief that the relevant wildlife gurus seem to be ignoring it.

Birds of prey existed in much greater numbers a century ago and with much greater variety as well, they had no negative impact then.

150 million migratory and small birds killed in Egypt alone in the last few years with mist nets.

That is only one part, hundreds of km of nets in that country alone.

Attie Ross

Reggie. wrote: »

Still the fact there was a predator in the area

Very few predators about sparrow hawk, red kite maybe few owls.
As for flies I use spotinor find it works after 12 hours very rain fast fly does not be long enough on animal to inject any of it.

Birdnuts

Reggie. wrote: »

Could be the birds of prey around. Seems alot of them around now compared to the past

There only recovering from being wiped out in the 19th century. Swallows have little to fear from them as they are too agile to be caught by most species. Hazards on migrations and loss of insect rich habitats are impacting severly on Swallows and many other migrant birds. Also bad weather in May/June across Europe also caused a reduction in many getting here.

To get back on topic, going at the hay next week so hope weather play's ball. One of my favourite jobs and love the smell of the Sweet Vernal grass we have in the meadows when cut.

Base price

Birdnuts wrote: »

There only recovering from being wiped out in the 19th century. Swallows have little to fear from them as they are too agile to be caught by most species. Hazards on migrations and loss of insect rich habitats are impacting severly on Swallows and many other migrant birds. Also bad weather in May/June across Europe also caused a reduction in many getting here.

To get back on topic, going at the hay next week so hope weather play's ball. One of my favourite jobs and love the smell of the Sweet Vernal grass we have in the meadows when cut.

I love the smell of old meadow hay. My brother cut a few meadows on my late Uncle's place last Wednesday and our contractor baled it yesterday before the rain. It is old meadow that hasn't got any artificial fertilizer since 2006. I got lime spread on it earlier this year and we got 23 more bales than other years. Other than spot spraying thistles/nettles and rushes in the lower ground and pulling the odd bit of ragworth it gets spread with fym.

Mooooo

6 swallows here in the parlour was eight last year. About a billion bastard crows tho. Plenty feed, with second cut to come altho could do with a Drop of rain to kick things on a bit. Only issue really is first cut ran late so quality is poor. Have a share of bales made as well

Buford T. Justice XIX

Mooooo wrote: »

6 swallows here in the parlour was eight last year. About a billion bastard crows tho. Plenty feed, with second cut to come altho could do with a Drop of rain to kick things on a bit. Only issue really is first cut ran late so quality is poor. Have a share of bales made as well

Cut 10 acres here this morning that I was thinking of making hay in, should be grand for drying off the cows and fat dry cows. That'll be all the silage I'll be making until we get a bit of rain, loads of this showing up this week.

Reggie.

Attie Ross wrote: »

Very few predators about sparrow hawk, red kite maybe few owls.
As for flies I use spotinor find it works after 12 hours very rain fast fly does not be long enough on animal to inject any of it.

Well they must be all in our area as theres a world of them around here

kevthegaff

Cats here have killed a good few of em

memorystick

Is there a drought situation in parts? I'm ok for grass but not in light sandy land.

Buford T. Justice XIX

memorystick wrote: »

Is there a drought situation in parts? I'm ok for grass but not in light sandy land.

Yeah, in parts. There's some dairy farms doing 6:6:6 atm, 6 kgs of grass, 6kgs of silage and 6 kgs of ration. We're going in with silage tomorrow, 3-4 kgs of silage and ration each and the rest grass. We'll see how it's going by the weekend.

mahoney_j

memorystick wrote: »

Is there a drought situation in parts? I'm ok for grass but not in light sandy land.

By early to mid next week good chunk south /south east will be in or close to it id say lots of experience built from last year to deal with it my big concern is ground water wells.they were low after last year snd after dryish winter/spring a lot will start to run dry over next few weeks

kk.man

mahoney_j wrote: »

By early to mid next week good chunk south /south east will be in or close to it id say lots of experience built from last year to deal with it my big concern is ground water wells.they were low after last year snd after dryish winter/spring a lot will start to run dry over next few weeks

Not looking good here in the south east alright.

Odelay

mahoney_j wrote: »

By early to mid next week good chunk south /south east will be in or close to it id say lots of experience built from last year to deal with it my big concern is ground water wells.they were low after last year snd after dryish winter/spring a lot will start to run dry over next few weeks

See a neighbor has duct taped a wavin pipe onto the end of a land drainage pipe and is feeding it into his well, not sure how good an idea that is?

Danzy

Odelay wrote: »

See a neighbor has duct taped a wavin pipe onto the end of a land drainage pipe and is feeding it into his well, not sure how good an idea that is?

Off the top it seems workable, might ease pressure on the supply, would have water from a drain going in to an old milk tank myself for pressure and supply build-up.