Hay

Albert Johnson · 11-07-2019 6:26pm

_blaaz wrote: »

Why dont lads just get it transported via CIE.?

How exactly would you go about arranging the like? It's something I've never considered and I wouldn't know where to start tbh.

As for the straddle stones I never heard of them being used locally until I observed the setup above during a trip to Bunratty castle. The days of cocks and pikes of hay were before my time but the auld fella and neighbours often told me about the process. I often heard Dad on about making a "tripod" type structure out of sticks and twine upon which the grass would be loosely built to get it off the ground and allow the air to circulate and dry it quicker especially in bad weather. When the pikes of hay were being built they'd cut bushes and branches and build the hay on top of this base to keep it off the ground. These branches would dry out over the winter and would have be used as tinder to light the fire, it always amazes me how little was wasted by the older generations, everything had a purpose and end use.

_blaaz · 11-07-2019 8:06pm

Albert Johnson wrote: »

How exactly would you go about arranging the like? It's something I've never considered and I wouldn't know where to start tbh.

Contact CIE....i pass empthy timber lorries at train depot every weekend

Ive a mate who used work for CIE,and said to me,they used come down from.mayo late at night twice a week loaded with timber to waterford city....no reason imo,these cant return trip with hay

2smiggy · 16-07-2019 10:53am

Just wondering did ye get it all sold/saved, and what sort of money around the country ?

Sami23 · 16-07-2019 2:01pm

2smiggy wrote: »

Just wondering did ye get it all sold/saved, and what sort of money around the country ?

Yeah got mine baled - did 1 field round and the other square as thought it wasn't fully fit to round bale.

By jesus there's some difference bringing them in work wise and time wise.
Think I learned my lesson again

kk.man · 16-07-2019 4:10pm

2smiggy wrote: »

Just wondering did ye get it all sold/saved, and what sort of money around the country ?

Yea got mine. A 5.5 acre field yielded 75 rounds I keep this for a hay meadow every year. I got it done in five days. A 4.5 acre yielded 64 hayledge bales cut the same time but needed just one more day which I was never going to get.

I agree with ppl there is an amount of hay in the country but alot of it got some rain.

ABlur · 16-07-2019 11:48pm

2smiggy wrote: »

Just wondering did ye get it all sold/saved, and what sort of money around the country ?

I'm finding it hard to sell mine. Have gone from €25 to €20 per bale on Donedeal and no takers. Stuck it in the shed yesterday.

TheFarrier · 16-07-2019 11:52pm

Square baled an acre last night. Down since last Wednesday week. Only saw the haybob half an hour before the baler. (Forgot I’d even cut it) 172 bales, of lovely stuff, couldn’t believe it was so fit...

Tileman · 17-07-2019 6:56am

Sold 80 bales to regular customer for 23 a bale off the girls. Higher than average price but sold it to him for 25 last year then it was making 30€ elsewhere.
Never saw as much hay made around here.

dohc turbo2 · 17-07-2019 7:22am

_blaaz wrote: »

Contact CIE....i pass empthy timber lorries at train depot every weekend

Ive a mate who used work for CIE,and said to me,they used come down from.mayo late at night twice a week loaded with timber to waterford city....no reason imo,these cant return trip with hay

Are they still running I taught when they lost the Guinness contract the road freight went ,

Sami23 · 17-07-2019 7:24am

ABlur wrote: »

I'm finding it hard to sell mine. Have gone from €25 to €20 per bale on Donedeal and no takers. Stuck it in the shed yesterday.

Not worth selling for anything under €25 imo for the work that goes into saving it.
I'd keep it if you have storage for it at all.

There's a lad near me who has over 600 round bales for sale and he said he'd rather rent a shed than sell it for €20. Not sure about those sums either though.

wrangler · 17-07-2019 7:33am

Sami23 wrote: »

Not worth selling for anything under €25 imo for the work that goes into saving it.
I'd keep it if you have storage for it at all.

There's a lad near me who has over 600 round bales for sale and he said he'd rather rent a shed than sell it for €20. Not sure about those sums either though.

He might rent a shed and still sell it for €20, more of a demand for straw than hay for feeding nowadays

Sami23 · 17-07-2019 7:34am

wrangler wrote: »

He might rent a shed and still sell it for €20, more of a demand for straw than hay for feeding nowadays

Fair point

2smiggy · 17-07-2019 8:00am

ended up selling for €20 , sort of glad, had way too many to store anyway. They are getting bales delivered to west kerry for €30 so there is little room for profit

_blaaz · 17-07-2019 10:53am

dohc turbo2 wrote: »

Are they still running I taught when they lost the Guinness contract the road freight went ,

I know i see timber loaded into them anyway.....i cant see why,with a bit of work and tying down hay cant be transported in same bays??

Unless there isnt an platform/suitable unloading spot up the west?

2smiggy · 17-07-2019 11:29am

_blaaz wrote: »

I know i see timber loaded into them anyway.....i cant see why,with a bit of work and tying down hay cant be transported in same bays??

Unless there isnt an platform/suitable unloading spot up the west?

I would imagine the rail would have no interest in moving hay , too many things to go wrong. Just from personal experience

Bass Reeves · 17-07-2019 11:29am

Sami23 wrote: »

Not worth selling for anything under €25 imo for the work that goes into saving it.
I'd keep it if you have storage for it at all.

There's a lad near me who has over 600 round bales for sale and he said he'd rather rent a shed than sell it for €20. Not sure about those sums either though.

He would need a shed 100X25 where you could stack 4 high. Transport and stacking in shed will cost a minimum of 1.5/bale. If shed cost 1200 until next april he would need 23/bale to break even. There is a lot o fodder around unless we get a really hard winter it hard to see hay exceeding 25/bale next February/March. As well he will need to have away of loading it for anyone that buys a truckload. If you have your own shed and do not need it for anything else it worth storing as it is likely you will get 30/bale within 2-3 years or 25/next spring. But there is no margin in renting a shed to store. Unless he contracted in the Cutting and tedding he still have a nice ball of money at the end of it.

Bass Reeves · 17-07-2019 11:33am

2smiggy wrote: »

I would imagine the rail would have no interest in moving hay , too many things to go wrong. Just from personal experience

It is not viable anyway. You have to draw it to and from a railway line, load it and strap it onto railway cars even if Iarnrod Eireann had interest in doing it. The cost of loading and unlaoding twice would negate any haulage price difference if there was one.

wrangler · 18-07-2019 10:09am

Grass starting to grow up around the bales, saw one farmer this morning rolling it a quarter turn to stop it sticking to the ground.
Must be plenty now with no shed available

Reggie. · 18-07-2019 10:37am

wrangler wrote: »

Grass starting to grow up around the bales, saw one farmer this morning rolling it a quarter turn to stop it sticking to the ground.
Must be plenty now with no shed available

Seen sheep eating bales in a field yesterday. Some waste

kevthegaff · 18-07-2019 9:30pm

Would hay be not a lot better than straw in the feeder

Bleating Lamb · 18-07-2019 10:19pm

You would imagine it would make sense to at least gather the round bales into a corner of a field with access near a gate,rather than waiting for the grass to grow up around them in the field.

whelan2 · 18-07-2019 10:42pm

kevthegaff wrote: »

Would hay be not a lot better than straw in the feeder

In a Keenan feeder? Straw is good for the tickle factor in the rumen. I assume that hay wouldn't be as good

Donald Trump · 18-07-2019 10:57pm

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

You would imagine it would make sense to at least gather the round bales into a corner of a field with access near a gate,rather than waiting for the grass to grow up around them in the field.

No. They'll start to rot if you put them together in the open. When it rains and they are like that, they don't dry off too well. If they are left in the field (i.e. with space between them) they just dry off

If you put them in a big heap, then yeah the ones on the bottom will be kept ok, but ones on the top and outside will go bad. A lot worse than if they were left out in the open

wrangler · 19-07-2019 7:11am

Donald Trump wrote: »

No. They'll start to rot if you put them together in the open. When it rains and they are like that, they don't dry off too well. If they are left in the field (i.e. with space between them) they just dry off

If you put them in a big heap, then yeah the ones on the bottom will be kept ok, but ones on the top and outside will go bad. A lot worse than if they were left out in the open

Storing outside is not an option if you're selling, there'll be plenty in sheds available during tha winter and customers won't buy poorly stored

bogman_bass · 19-07-2019 8:11am

I’m amazed by the number of lads that make hay and then just leave it rot in hell he field

lab man · 19-07-2019 8:27am

he could wrap them now12 wraps plenty

jaymla627 · 19-07-2019 8:57am

wrangler wrote: »

Grass starting to grow up around the bales, saw one farmer this morning rolling it a quarter turn to stop it sticking to the ground.
Must be plenty now with no shed available

Great sight to see, was shook down for 240 an acre at the start of year was 200 for silage/grazing ground that I have on a rolling one year lease, landowner wants to sort out a long term lease for 2020, in the autumn, won’t be getting a euro more then 180 a acre plus sfp and if he kicks no issues here I’ll walk away from it

whelan2 · 19-07-2019 9:24am

bogman_bass wrote: »

I’m amazed by the number of lads that make hay and then just leave it rot in hell he field

Ye they'd be so particular about baling it without rain and then just leave it there

Dinzee Conlee · 19-07-2019 11:16am

whelan2 wrote: »

Ye they'd be so particular about baling it without rain and then just leave it there

Has anyone ever left round hay bales outside and seen how they turn out in Jan / Feb?

Remember being in France years ago, and they were feeding bales of hay. The hay was out in the field all winter, snow on top of it. The top few inches looked bad, but after that was perfect.
Now, different climate and not as much rain so it could be very different here, but just wondering if anyone had any experience of it...

cute geoge · 19-07-2019 11:21am

Dinzee Conlee wrote: »

Has anyone ever left round hay bales outside and seen how they turn out in Jan / Feb?

Remember being in France years ago, and they were feeding bales of hay. The hay was out in the field all winter, snow on top of it. The top few inches looked bad, but after that was perfect.
Now, different climate and not as much rain so it could be very different here, but just wondering if anyone had any experience of it...

The heavy rain will just roll off bales but it is the sticky damp mucky weather that does any harm

Limestone Cowboy · 19-07-2019 11:28am

Dinzee Conlee wrote: »

Has anyone ever left round hay bales outside and seen how they turn out in Jan / Feb?

Remember being in France years ago, and they were feeding bales of hay. The hay was out in the field all winter, snow on top of it. The top few inches looked bad, but after that was perfect.
Now, different climate and not as much rain so it could be very different here, but just wondering if anyone had any experience of it...

Wouldn't it be cheaper wrap them than having the bit around the outside going bad which is the biggest part of the bale.

TheFarrier · 19-07-2019 11:53am

whelan2 wrote: »

Ye they'd be so particular about baling it without rain and then just leave it there

What I can’t follow is some lads would spend 2 weeks turning hay in a spell of broken weather yet in a good dry year like last year or the recent spell lads would bale hay with big green patches for want of turning it.
Seems the attitude is make ****e even when the sun shines...

Dinzee Conlee · 19-07-2019 12:08pm

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

Wouldn't it be cheaper wrap them than having the bit around the outside going bad which is the biggest part of the bale.

It would be more efficient / less waste to wrap, but cheaper - I suppose it depends on how you view it...

- If you know you only need, say 80% of the bales you have, and you aren't interested in selling - then by not wrapping you might have 20% waste, but you will still have the money from not wrapping in your pocket?
- By wrapping, you will have spent money on wrap, but at the end of the winter, you will have 20% of your bales left over...

Limestone Cowboy · 19-07-2019 12:13pm

Dinzee Conlee wrote: »

It would be more efficient / less waste to wrap, but cheaper - I suppose it depends on how you view it...

- If you know you only need, say 80% of the bales you have, and you aren't interested in selling - then by not wrapping you might have 20% waste, but you will still have the money from not wrapping in your pocket?
- By wrapping, you will have spent money on wrap, but at the end of the winter, you will have 20% of your bales left over...

I'd rather have a few bales in the bank than a pile of dung anyway.

wrangler · 19-07-2019 12:16pm

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

I'd rather have a few bales in the bank than a pile of dung anyway.

Will it be alright though, I've seen very high DM silage preserve poorly in bales

Limestone Cowboy · 19-07-2019 12:43pm

wrangler wrote: »

Will it be alright though, I've seen very high DM silage preserve poorly in bales

I have done it here. 24 wraps and it was fine.

Water John · 19-07-2019 12:49pm

Very dry stuff needs to be fed fairly quickly once opened, otherwise goes mouldy.

Jb1989 · 19-07-2019 1:14pm

Dinzee Conlee wrote: »

whelan2 wrote: »

Ye they'd be so particular about baling it without rain and then just leave it there

Has anyone ever left round hay bales outside and seen how they turn out in Jan / Feb?

Remember being in France years ago, and they were feeding bales of hay. The hay was out in the field all winter, snow on top of it. The top few inches looked bad, but after that was perfect.
Now, different climate and not as much rain so it could be very different here, but just wondering if anyone had any experience of it...

Yea done it hear when ran out of space in shed. Comes to damn all harm, with the netting on it, water just ran off.
Few dry or frosty days outside layer would be crispy, and would be ate, no waste at all ðŸ‘ðŸ»

Donald Trump · 19-07-2019 1:54pm

wrangler wrote: »

Storing outside is not an option if you're selling, there'll be plenty in sheds available during tha winter and customers won't buy poorly stored

Oh I'm not saying otherwise. Just saying it's not actually better to leave them together in a heap compared to leaving out singly on the field (in terms of effect on the bales). I wouldn't do either, although as another poster mentioned above, the net wrap does help the water run off them. I think it might also be due to the fact that it keeps the outside of the bale kinda flat and smooth compared to twine.

whelan2 · 19-07-2019 2:17pm

The other point though is if they are just left in the field you are not going to be able to use that field. Would you not want to be getting the grass back growing asap

_blaaz · 19-07-2019 2:18pm

wrangler wrote: »

Will it be alright though, I've seen very high DM silage preserve poorly in bales

It would....enough wraps

Thats what we tend to aim for,more or less hay,maybe a day or half day off saved,wrap it up then

We wrap here,what alot of other lads would take chance as hay ....

its serious stuff....its tends to be as good condition as day went into the bale

Sami23 · 22-07-2019 9:50am

Anyone here ever worry if your Hay heats a bit when put into the shed. Personally I wouldn't like any heat when it's put it but was talking to a lad over the wend who said the best Hay he ever had was stuff that heated a good bit in the shed

RobinBanks · 22-07-2019 10:37am

Round bales of hay I made heating in shed and turning black. Will it all rot or is there anything I can do I save them

Sami23 · 22-07-2019 10:39am

RobinBanks wrote: »

Round bales of hay I made heating in shed and turning black. Will it all rot or is there anything I can do I save them

Oh F*#k

theaceofspies · 22-07-2019 10:48am

Might be worth getting them out of the shed - they could be a fire hazard

Dinzee Conlee · 22-07-2019 11:19am

RobinBanks wrote: »

Round bales of hay I made heating in shed and turning black. Will it all rot or is there anything I can do I save them

Black or brown?

Had hay before that heated and kinda fermenting in the bales in the shed. Not sure of the feed value of it, but the sheep were mad for it...

The only concern I'd have would be of fire all right. is there a load of bales in tight together?

https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/holt-boyd/testing-and-feeding-tobacco-brown-hay-and-silage/

_blaaz · 22-07-2019 11:37am

Sami23 wrote: »

Anyone here ever worry if your Hay heats a bit when put into the shed. Personally I wouldn't like any heat when it's put it but was talking to a lad over the wend who said the best Hay he ever had was stuff that heated a good bit in the shed

Id stick my hand/crowbar as far into em as possible and see how hot its getting

Wouldnt be unheard of sheds to burn down over heating hay.....but we had stuff heat small bit here before and was grand after it

KatyMac · 22-07-2019 12:23pm

I seen my father putting salt on heating hay, both in the days when we used to have it loose in the shed and also in small bales. The cattle used to go mad for it.

davidk1394 · 25-07-2019 7:42am

These weather apps don’t know what’s going on. I’ve 14ac left to make hay of. Grass is gone too strong for silage. If I mowed it last Saturday I’d be baling today. Didn’t get a drop of rain here.

With regards the salt. Do you put it on the bales when it’s heating or when your about to feed it ?

Dinzee Conlee · 25-07-2019 7:46am

davidk1394 wrote: »

These weather apps don’t know what’s going on. I’ve 14ac left to make hay of. Grass is gone too strong for silage. If I mowed it last Saturday I’d be baling today. Didn’t get a drop of rain here.

With regards the salt. Do you put it on the bales when it’s heating or when your about to feed it ?

When I seen it done with the salt (a long time ago) - it was spread on the top of the bales in the shed. They were packed in tight...

It was like the salt was drawing the moisture out of the bales...
In hindsight, it seems a risky proposition, packing in bales you suspect would heat - but I think it worked out ok...

Katymac will prob have a better explanation....

Hay

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