Silage, not as exciting as years ago

20silkcut · 23-06-2016 9:31pm #1

Just finished up baling the first cut silage and by god it is underwhelming in regard to the annual circus that went on in these very same fields 25-30 years ago. There was always something. Harvesters getting blocked, head gaskets blown ,trailers over turning ,hydraulics seizing up clutches going, ****e tractors stoppages that lasted hours, the crew coming in for Dinner and Tay. Johny the uncle who never worked a day in his life was even put up on a tractor. Chasing lads out of the pub, lads actually going to the pub after a day in the fields.there seemed to be a lot more head cases from non farming backgrounds working with silage crews back then. It was a massive event and it went on for days . It's not the same nowadays or is it just me?

visatorro · 23-06-2016 9:40pm

And only bringing in twenty acres a day.

Timmaay · 23-06-2016 9:41pm

20silkcut wrote: »

Just finished up baling the first cut silage and by god it is underwhelming in regard to the annual circus that went on in these very same fields 25-30 years ago. There was always something. Harvesters getting blocked, head gaskets blown ,trailers over turning ,hydraulics seizing up clutches going, stoppages that lasted hours, the crew coming in for Dinner and Tay. Chasing lads out of the pub, lads actually going to the pub after a day in the fields.there seemed to be a lot more head cases from non farming backgrounds working with silage crews back then. It was a massive event and it went on for days . It's not the same nowadays or is it just me?

Go take up something like banger stock car racing if you want exciting hardship like that ha.

Parishlad · 23-06-2016 9:41pm

20silkcut wrote: »

Just finished up baling the first cut silage and by god it is underwhelming in regard to the annual circus that went on in these very same fields 25-30 years ago. There was always something. Harvesters getting blocked, head gaskets blown ,trailers over turning ,hydraulics seizing up clutches going, stoppages that lasted hours, the crew coming in for Dinner and Tay. Chasing lads out of the pub, lads actually going to the pub after a day in the fields.there seemed to be a lot more head cases from non farming backgrounds working with silage crews back then. It was a massive event and it went on for days . It's not the same nowadays or is it just me?

Nope, not just you. It was exactly like that here too. It was nearly as much work for my poor mother trying to feed the gang. I miss the bottles of tea and sandwiches in the meadow though!
Always guaranteed a breakdown as u say but it always got done. Definitely pints were drank after!

The Cuban · 23-06-2016 9:47pm

Yep all changed now, I remember it was a more a neighborly event, lads helping each other out with the pit etc. Nowadays its just a hungry baling contractor who wants to put his arms around the world, in and out as fast as he can without time to stop.
I guess I miss the old ways too.

patsy_mccabe · 23-06-2016 9:48pm

Not just silage, even the annual herd test was a communal event. 5 or six people running cattle along the road trying to keep them out of gardens.
My silage contractor is in and out know in a few hours.

20silkcut · 23-06-2016 10:03pm

Some contrast between a 165 yoked up to a trailer that doubled up as a bog trailer and the trailers you see these days.

Was there a department support to encourage neighbouring farmers to join up for silage in those days?

If there was its a pity it was lost.

Life is so much more serious these days.
Rain or a breakdown during the silage meant down to the local for a few tractor parked outside and back out again when it stopped.
Can't do that nowadays.
Tractors were handy sized back then anyone could be seen up on them during silage. Contractors nowadays would be a lot more careful about hiring.

Parishlad · 23-06-2016 10:06pm

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Not just silage, even the annual herd test was a communal event. 5 or six people running cattle along the road trying to keep them out of gardens.
My silage contractor is in and out know in a few hours.

Ah the herd test. Nightmare! Myself and my sisters doing a kind of relay/tag team from house to house. Timing was vital. If u left your post too early the last of the cattle could go in. But if u left it too late you might not get to the next house before the front runners!

20silkcut · 23-06-2016 10:07pm

When you look at the advice the guy got in the Agri contracting setup thread it starkly illustrates what a serious business it has become.

orm0nd · 23-06-2016 10:07pm

we were joined with 2 neighbours, start after morning milking & work till midnight, a 53" side mounted tarrup

one year we were going so well we decided to do some hire work

1 of the lads was going out with a daughter of a large (at the time) dairy farmer a fair bit up country, & managed to get in for the second cut, poor man thought he never see the end of us & eventually we were on the road home got pulled by the guards, about 30 summons between us, & when they were served the wrong address was noted, got a solicitor and some maps & all dismissed in court,

they're was a air amount of guinness comsumed in those years as well

these guys are a different generation but they have much the same approach we had

caseman · 23-06-2016 10:16pm

20silkcut wrote: »

Just finished up baling the first cut silage and by god it is underwhelming in regard to the annual circus that went on in these very same fields 25-30 years ago. There was always something. Harvesters getting blocked, head gaskets blown ,trailers over turning ,hydraulics seizing up clutches going, ****e tractors stoppages that lasted hours, the crew coming in for Dinner and Tay. Johny the uncle who never worked a day in his life was even put up on a tractor. Chasing lads out of the pub, lads actually going to the pub after a day in the fields.there seemed to be a lot more head cases from non farming backgrounds working with silage crews back then. It was a massive event and it went on for days . It's not the same nowadays or is it just me?

It's still like that here, lots of 20 and 30 year old machinery here doing our own silage.
Nearly always fixing something the day before it starts. And nearly always guaranteed a breakdown.Pure toucher but i love it.

darragh_haven · 23-06-2016 10:19pm

orm0nd wrote: »

we were joined with 2 neighbours, start after morning milking & work till midnight, a 53" side mounted tarrup

one year we were going so well we decided to do some hire work

1 of the lads was going out with a daughter of a large (at the time) dairy farmer a fair bit up country, & managed to get in for the second cut, poor man thought he never see the end of us & eventually we were on the road home got pulled by the guards, about 30 summons between us, & when they were served the wrong address was noted, got a solicitor and some maps & all dismissed in court,

they're was a air amount of guinness comsumed in those years as well

these guys are a different generation but they have much the same approach we had

That video ..... such a circus

f140 · 23-06-2016 10:38pm

I do my own silage here with a trailed harvester. The first cut takes 3 days. one day to mow it, a day to pick it up and a day to doctor the pit and cover it. Now mowing it and covering it, I can do myself but the problems I have is trying to get lads to drive my machines for the day picking it up. All lads nowadays are all with big contractors, its very hard to get a lad to drive a tractor for one day for ya.

I remember the yokes that would be pulled out years ago to do the silage. Tractors were always under pressure and over-heating. Every tractor now a days has at least nearly 50hp to spare and nearly too big for the item. I have the f140 on the harvester but a lot would think that is tiny nowadays and think you should have 200 hp +.

f140 · 23-06-2016 10:44pm

also remember lads throwing buckets of water up on the pit trying to compact it and to make it easier to roll. I suppose on hindsight it was more hay style silage they were putting into the pits rather than this green leafy grass that's here nowadays.

stop animal cruelty · 23-06-2016 10:45pm

I notice nowadays its the young boyos, with the hoods up, speeding round the bends, looking round them instead of in front, that only know that grass is green....have taken over!!

stanflt · 23-06-2016 10:57pm

No hassle just take it your stride- 2nd cut today

O.A.P · 23-06-2016 11:30pm

I remember my father making silage with a fordson major and a dexta.

He got a contractor the following year, who cut with a 178 with a lorry engine mounted on the lift powering the single chop harvester ,an old red David Brown( 990) I think drawing in and a 1410 David Brown 4WD with a front loader and a buck rake on the pit.
I loved them days, I wasn't paying for it though.

kevthegaff · 23-06-2016 11:41pm

Finished covering just there, trailer overturned, It's all in tho!

kevthegaff · 23-06-2016 11:42pm

Used to push up with a cat 910 myself no duels. bros picking and drawing. Yed miss those days!

Bullocks · 23-06-2016 11:42pm

O.A.P wrote: »

I remember my father making silage with a fordson major and a dexta.

He got a contractor the following year, who cut with a 178 with a lorry engine mounted on the lift powering the single chop harvester ,an old red David Brown( 990) I think drawing in and a 1410 David Brown 4WD with a front loader and a buck rake on the pit.
I loved them days, I wasn't paying for it though.

Would the 178 have needed an extra engine for a single chop ? The father had a UG on an international 434 here (it was under pressure )
I used to see a few lads using the donkey engine for a percission chop alright
The big thing with all the breakdowns that was alot tougher than nowadays was getting parts - no internet or magazines or mobiles , years ago we had no land-line either so he would have to use the neighbours phone to ring a lad .
You wouldn't throw out the journal for a few months at a time in case there was a number he might need in the future !
It was great craic when I was a young lad but I wouldn't like it now

Timmaay · 23-06-2016 11:52pm

When I think about it, it was only 4yrs ago when we use to ram the best part of 70acres of a huge early June 1st cut into 3pits. And then a solid 3days spent between rolling and covering. Once I have this 20acres baled early next week that will be a total of 65 acres of silage cut between proper silage ground and excess paddocks, but 4 different cuts, and no drama or hassle at all with any of them so far!

topper_harley2 · 24-06-2016 12:10am

Machinery is way better now I think. I was in my teens driving for 6 summers back in late 90s and we had two 1982 Deutz Fahrs 120hp drawing in, 150hp pulling side filling pottinger, and one piece of crap Ursus 2wd in reserve if the draw was very long. Something always going wrong. I preferred wrapping though. That was handy job after one baler, killer after two! The 120hp used to fly the wrapper as well though. Best craic was definitely going to the pub if you ran outta plastic or during heavy rain. Ah memories!

kay 9 · 24-06-2016 12:12am

The biggest stress the last few years is the way the weather is coming. Very hard work around it

O.A.P · 24-06-2016 12:13am

Bullocks wrote: »

Would the 178 have needed an extra engine for a single chop ? The father had a UG on an international 434 here (it was under pressure )
I used to see a few lads using the donkey engine for a percission chop alright
The big thing with all the breakdowns that was alot tougher than nowadays was getting parts - no internet or magazines or mobiles , years ago we had no land-line either so he would have to use the neighbours phone to ring a lad .
You wouldn't throw out the journal for a few months at a time in case there was a number he might need in the future !
It was great craic when I was a young lad but I wouldn't like it now

No probably not if your only cutting for yourself and a few neighbors but these lads loved to innovate and were the first silage contractors around here that's just what they did.
They knew what they were at all right good mechanics .

The Sidewards Man · 24-06-2016 12:13am

Op wake up, look at the gear now and advancement in technology. Grass has been the same ever.

O.A.P · 24-06-2016 12:28am

The Sidewards Man wrote: »

Op wake up, look at the gear now and advancement in technology. Grass has been the same ever.

We all know that, people are not the same though and the work has changed too.
Old fellas telling young lads to listen sometimes and then been completely ruled out will probably never change.

The Sidewards Man · 24-06-2016 12:32am

The cranky o.a.p will die it's a cycle of life. I am still struggling with the point of ops tread.

O.A.P · 24-06-2016 12:35am

The Sidewards Man wrote: »

The cranky o.a.p will die it's a cycle of life. I am still struggling with the point of ops tread.

The CRACK has gone from it .
I'm not cranky.

The Sidewards Man · 24-06-2016 12:37am

Where did I say you are? I'm an o.a.p myself.

O.A.P · 24-06-2016 12:42am

The Sidewards Man wrote: »

Where did I say you are? I'm an o.a.p myself.

I'm not it just my name here , Point of op I think was the crack is gone from silage making day or days.

Nekarsulm · 24-06-2016 1:02am

Started drawing with a Dexta when I was twelve. Home made trailer, comprising of the chassis of an old Commer lorry.
Cutting with a Taarup single chop on a 10/60.
The year before that, my job was to wait in the yard for trailer and hook up the tipping pipe and open the tail board, then close if after tipping, and remove the pipe.

There were close calls, looking back. Like when the eye of the trailer came off the shyte hitch Leyland fitted, and the emptying grass caused the drawbar to join me in the cab......

einn32 · 24-06-2016 1:30am

I remember the oul lad going to the co op for a tanker of molasses to spray it over the pit. Neighbour used do his own with a 188 and a double chop and draw in with a 165. It used take a week including stopping to let the tractor cool down! I don't think I'd go back to the old ways going on the fathers stories! All done in a few hours now with no breakdowns hardly.

visatorro · 24-06-2016 7:17am

stanflt wrote: »

No hassle just take it your stride- 2nd cut today

Did that fella get a new wagon stan?

blue5000 · 24-06-2016 9:29am

One thing I don't miss is barrels of acid, at this stage of the silage season only the lads on the mower and pit would have a pair of jeans left, some waste of money.

boggerman1 · 24-06-2016 10:58am

Done our silage Wednesday.the only time I was on the pit was to cover it,and even that took only 45 mins.thank god the drudgery is gone out of it

Sam Kade · 24-06-2016 11:23am

All the old characters are gone they always had a good story or up to some devilment and were very witty. Nowadays they have their heads planted in phones and hardly know how to hold a conversation.

When I used to be working for a contractor there was a young fella started and he kept telling us how he could drink us all under the table. Anyway he got his chance and after two pints he disappeared and we were wondering where he went. Next morning at 7 his mother rang the contractor wondering where he was and he asked us what we did with him, it turned out that he was afraid that his mother might smell the drink off him so he slept in the hayshed

Muckit · 24-06-2016 11:29am

Nekarsulm wrote: »

The year before that, my job was to wait in the yard for trailer and hook up the tipping pipe and open the tail board, then close if after tipping, and remove the pipe.

I remember spreading it out on the pit with forks. The lad driving the tractor would hop down and fit tipping pipe and we use the side of the fork to rise the ring and rekease the tailgate.

I also remember as a 7-8 year old watching like a hawk figuring out how it all worked ... and looking for my opportunity. It came when the guy drawing hopped down, fitted pipe, then decided to have a cigarette and went chatting to lads on pit. I clipped up the ring and climbed aboard the old zetor crystal. I revved the throttle just like the guy did, but couldn't figure out why the trailer wouldn't rise!!!!

Reggie. · 24-06-2016 2:33pm

Muckit wrote: »

I remember spreading it out on the pit with forks. The lad driving the tractor would hop down and fit tipping pipe and we use the side of the fork to rise the ring and rekease the tailgate.

I also remember as a 7-8 year old watching like a hawk figuring out how it all worked ... and looking for my opportunity. It came when the guy drawing hopped down, fitted pipe, then decided to have a cigarette and went chatting to lads on pit. I clipped up the ring and climbed aboard the old zetor crystal. I revved the throttle just like the guy did, but couldn't figure out why the trailer wouldn't rise!!!!

Have ya figured it out yet :P

bogman_bass · 24-06-2016 5:52pm

Muckit wrote: »

I remember spreading it out on the pit with forks. The lad driving the tractor would hop down and fit tipping pipe and we use the side of the fork to rise the ring and rekease the tailgate.

I also remember as a 7-8 year old watching like a hawk figuring out how it all worked ... and looking for my opportunity. It came when the guy drawing hopped down, fitted pipe, then decided to have a cigarette and went chatting to lads on pit. I clipped up the ring and climbed aboard the old zetor crystal. I revved the throttle just like the guy did, but couldn't figure out why the trailer wouldn't rise!!!!

God you were a cheeky 8 year old! I'd have been afraid of my sh1te to do that!

patsy_mccabe · 24-06-2016 6:25pm

blue5000 wrote: »

One thing I don't miss is barrels of acid, at this stage of the silage season only the lads on the mower and pit would have a pair of jeans left, some waste of money.

Why did they stop using acid? I just remember our contractor refusing to use it because it ate the machinery.

I remember drawing with a David brown 780. It had no pick up hitch so I made one up myself with chains. When I had it lifted I had a seperate chain going from the drawbar to the toplink pt on the tractor to hold it up. When the guy that was drawing for the contractor saw it, he was falling around of place laughing. The same guy had the front wheels taking clear off his tractor when he was nosing out a gap.

X6.430macman · 24-06-2016 8:19pm

patsy_mccabe wrote:

Why did they stop using acid? I just remember our contractor refusing to use it because it ate the machinery.

Is it something with reproduction and does something negative in their stomach. That's what I was told at a talk anyway

X6.430macman · 24-06-2016 8:22pm

The Cuban wrote:

Yep all changed now, I remember it was a more a neighborly event, lads helping each other out with the pit etc. Nowadays its just a hungry baling contractor who wants to put his arms around the world, in and out as fast as he can without time to stop. I guess I miss the old ways too.

Know a few lads like that around here alright

paddysdream · 24-06-2016 8:57pm

20silkcut wrote: »

Just finished up baling the first cut silage and by god it is underwhelming in regard to the annual circus that went on in these very same fields 25-30 years ago. There was always something. Harvesters getting blocked, head gaskets blown ,trailers over turning ,hydraulics seizing up clutches going, ****e tractors stoppages that lasted hours, the crew coming in for Dinner and Tay. Johny the uncle who never worked a day in his life was even put up on a tractor. Chasing lads out of the pub, lads actually going to the pub after a day in the fields.there seemed to be a lot more head cases from non farming backgrounds working with silage crews back then. It was a massive event and it went on for days . It's not the same nowadays or is it just me?

Its you!!!!Old age catches up on us all.

Seriously though,nowadays everyone wants their silage cut in a 2/3 week window around the end of May/early June.
Remember in the mid 1980's being at silage from mid May till maybe end of July and that just the first cut.People picking up maybe 15 or 20 acres a day and happy to plug along.No real rush like nowadays but still you would be busy.Tired too after sitting on a rattly auld Ford with no radio and considered yourself blessed if it had a fan and removable doors.
First precision chops side filling and picking up 30 or more acres in a long day were seen as the ultimate machine.
Today with a harvester costing serious money in repayments and tractor and trailer combo's running into maybe 80k plus each there aint a lot of time for messing/breakdowns etc.What farmer would like to see a contractor arriving with scrap and rain forecast for that evening?Or what idiot would let any joe soap off with his 161 reg. and 20k trailer and insurance premiums sky high as it is?20ft of wet grass and a browy field ain't a great mixture with a bald tyres or a messer behind the wheel.
All that said prob. enjoyed it more with a Ford 4000 and 14ft. single axle trailer than this year with 200hp,full suspension,climate control air seat and 20ft. all the bells and whistles trailer.

But then at 18 the money was yours for beer and women and it didn't really matter when you landed home but when you are older its a different story with different priorities.Ah all those Saturday nights of landing home at 11pm,quick wash and clubbing till 3 and then hoping Sunday was a pis*er cause you were still pis*ed at 9am.
Years ago contractor turned up with trailers and didn't give a sh**e who or what pulled them as he happily dragged the forager and a trailer up the field and the 50b shoved up grass into a little bun sometimes in the corner of the field,sometimes on a gravel yard and in some cases into an actual concrete silage pit with walls.

Less pressure it seemed but then everything was more relaxed or so it feels like anyways.Still manage to hit the pub for a "late one" an odd night.Into bed before 1am and shur aren't you grand for 7 the next morning although even a week of solid 16/18 hour days tests me nowadays.!!!
Breakdowns still happen but repair man from main dealer is usually in the field within an hour or 2 or mobile phone meltdown will occur.Trailer turnovers seem to be very rare thank fcuk(try spronging out a full redrock and I imagine the novelty would be long worn off before the bill for repair even hits).Sinking trailers(yes even here in the dry savannah of the sunny south east) still happen in wet years and are still as problematic cause although tractors and shovels are many times more powerful the trailers are many times heavier.

farawaygrass · 24-06-2016 10:39pm

Parishlad wrote: »

Nope, not just you. It was exactly like that here too. It was nearly as much work for my poor mother trying to feed the gang. I miss the bottles of tea and sandwiches in the meadow though!
Always guaranteed a breakdown as u say but it always got done. Definitely pints were drank after!

I can still taste the sandwiches that were brought out to the field, divine! Tea out of a glass bottle seemed nicer too. I'm not that old but they were good times, you would kinda miss them and the people

theaceofspies · 24-06-2016 11:07pm

farawaygrass wrote: »

I can still taste the sandwiches that were brought out to the field, divine! Tea out of a glass bottle seemed nicer too. I'm not that old but they were good times, you would kinda miss them and the people

Like most facets of life nowadays the soul is being dragged out of it - the real tragedy though is that people aren't questioning why. It's all a race to the bottom. Money is dominating peoples life either out of necessity or choice.

Bscan86 · 25-06-2016 1:10am

My father used to cut for hire, he had a thirsty staff!!!! Lad on da pit was bit grumpy once a farmers son gave him pain killers for his hangover only problem was dey wer for loosening a backed up calf I think. Needless to say took a while for pit to b finished he was crouched in d field for gud while. Plus no dock leaves in da field only nettles:)

Username John · 25-06-2016 8:33am

I can appreciate lads missing the craic of it all - but that's life...

To say the soul has been taken out of it, and money dominates life now makes me laugh...

What did ould lads say to ye back in the day when ye were cutting silage - did they say we used to cut hay, and it was a big community event and now yer coming in with yer monsters of machines and the soul is being taken outa farming and money is dominating everything

I think ye / we are all just getting old lads... That's the way life goes

If ye want to go back to the old ways, there is nothing stopping ye. Most lads have tractors and better kit now that are bigger than a lot of the tractors being spoken about here

20silkcut · 25-06-2016 9:10am

Username John wrote: »

I can appreciate lads missing the craic of it all - but that's life...

To say the soul has been taken out of it, and money dominates life now makes me laugh...
What did ould lads say to ye back in the day when ye were cutting silage - did they say we used to cut hay, and it was a big community event and now yer coming in with yer monsters of machines and the soul is being taken outa farming and money is dominating everything

I think ye / we are all just getting old lads... That's the way life goes

If ye want to go back to the old ways, there is nothing stopping ye. Most lads have tractors and better kit now that are bigger than a lot of the tractors being spoken about here

There will probably come a time in 25-30 years time when people will look back and say wasn't it great Craic when tractors and machines were driven by people . At that stage machines will probably be guided by GPS with no human input.
People of our age will be going to vintage rally's looking at taarup double chops and ford 7810s etc. The generation just below us will be starting threads on discussion forums reminiscing on the good old days of mchale fusions and new holland tm etc.
I suppose you don't hear the generation in their 60's and 70's now getting nostalgic about the 80's and 90's they go back to the 40's and 50's and threshing machines etc for their nostalgia.

Muckit · 25-06-2016 9:40am

Most definitely driverless machines is only around the corner. The technology is there already. Saab have developed a fully driverless car that recognises if a moose crosses unexpectedly (they are swedish). Just a few tweeks to make it safe for dogs, kids etc

There is a company in Tuam working on driverless technology, only a stones throw from their agri machinery manufacturing neighbours, the big M's from Mayo - Mchales, Major, Malone. Only a matter of time before their R&D teams will be colloborating on the next big thing.

Many may thing it airy fairy talk but driverless technology is the way things are heading. I'II hold out buying a new tractor til then!

The Cuban · 25-06-2016 10:09am

A driver-less tractor would be handy for going home from the Pub

Reggie. · 25-06-2016 10:11am

Muckit wrote: »

Most definitely driverless machines is only around the corner. The technology is there already. Saab have developed a fully driverless car that recognises if a moose crosses unexpectedly (they are swedish). Just a few tweeks to make it safe for dogs, kids etc

There is a company in Tuam working on driverless technology, only a stones throw from their agri machinery manufacturing neighbours, the big M's from Mayo - Mchales, Major, Malone. Only a matter of time before their R&D teams will be colloborating on the next big thing.

Many may thing it airy fairy talk but driverless technology is the way things are heading. I'II hold out buying a new tractor til then!

That will really knock the fun out if it then

Silage, not as exciting as years ago

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