Dairy Chitchat 4, an udder new thread.

Water John wrote: »

Go back and have a second read. Point is, you agree a cutting date and arrange with your contractor what day he'll pick up, BEFORE you knock the grass.
This I do, no problem.

I'm delighted it works out for, still doesn't answer the question I asked though.

JustJoe7240 wrote: »

If that's your take on it fair enough. But from reading the post on the other forum, it didn't seem that the particular customer expected everything to be dropped.

It may be courteous to ring ahead, Sure. But if that's considered ignorant,Some people are easily offended IMO.

I'd consider it rude tbh

my father used to alot of bale silage on hire, he'd always get a few every year that would mow and wanted him there the next day to bale and wrap

Those were the guys that added the stress to the job and the long hours to get to that person

No need for it what so ever, ring the contractor before hand is just basic manners imo

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

I'd consider it rude tbh

my father used to alot of bale silage on hire, he'd always get a few every year that would mow and wanted him there the next day to bale and wrap

Those were the guys that added the stress to the job and the long hours to get to that person

No need for it what so ever, ring the contractor before hand is just basic manners imo

And then give out about the contractor.

Use the same contractors with years here. Has to be leeway in a year like this tbh. Chopping and changing at the drop of a hat could see you let down faster

K.G. wrote: »

The latest this year is lads promising to pay contractors leaving the yard In order to get them to come.as if they are great men to be paying straight away.

Even better here I pay by direct debit each month so he's sort of prepaid

JustJoe7240 wrote: »

How is it ignorant? He's not holding a gun to the contractors head to lift it. If it doesn't suit him, he asks him to get someone else to lift it.
I didn't realize the farmer needs to ask his contractors permission to mow

Tbh it is ,you need to work with not against contractors ,vast majority of farmers are on good terms and work well with there contractors because if the service they offer ,lads will always go on solo runs and do there own thing and expect a contractor to drop everything for there job ,that’s rude and there the lads constantly whinging and jumping from one contractor to other ,they’ll eventually be caught and with no one to blame I usually phone my contractor for baling Sunday Monday to let him know what I have that week and work a plan between us both ,never been let down .for main first cut I let him know early may an approx date /week I’ll be trying to cut ,again never an issue

Water John wrote: »

Contractor I know was telling of a place he used to bale for the previous gen. Then the young lad takes over. Gets a call requesting he row in and bale his cut grass that afternoon. Man says I'm already booked but will be able to get to you in the morning. 'That's no use' says the lad, 'I'll get back to you'.
Rings later and and says he'll take the morning. 'Sorry' says the contractor, 'the morning is gone now'

I move a good few bales each summer. This year, a lad rang me and said he'd have bales to draw in on a Wednesday. This was the Saturday beforehand. I said grand, see you then.

On Monday then, got a call to say his bales were ready and to come over ASAP as the crows were around. I told him he'll have to wait till Tuesday night at the earliest. I was flat out at my own and then had 2 other lads to get to. Got roared at down the phone. Told him to calm down and I'd be there Tuesday evening. If he wanted to get someone else, go ahead.

10 mins later my father rang wondering why I wouldn't go to yer man. Told him I was busy and didn't have time. Then he gave out! So I told him I'd head on now and leave our own bales in the field. Didn't like that.

Tuesday yer man rang me and said not to come, he had someone else lined up. No bother. Passed his place yesterday morning and bales still in the field. Stubborn man

K.G. wrote: »

West cork seem to be farther behind the rest of the country this year.most contractors have only about 25/% of their acreage done

And that's a fact lad. We only got a couple of weekends dry. I pay after each cut, but contractor can't come till the end of the week. Dirty old foggy rain from 12 tomorrow, the first cut will be handy to put the cows dry. I don't think paying fast is no guarantee of a good service.

My contractor used to say that to me as well, made me feel better anyway

straight wrote: »

Ah sure they know how to manage their customers alright. I had to buy 200 bales last year to make up for my small pit. No need this year. That's 5k saving at least.

Not if it needs 5k of nuts to make cows milk
2nd cut in 2 weeks here

Used to be proud to have the biggest crop of first cut silage around, it was a false economy tbh
Still get same yield over 3 cuts and doesn't cost a whole pile more

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Not if it needs 5k of nuts to make cows milk
2nd cut in 2 weeks here

Used to be proud to have the biggest crop of first cut silage around, it was a false economy tbh
Still get same yield over 3 cuts and doesn't cost a whole pile more

I don't milk off the pit. Use bales and grass for that when possible. I'll get the pit tested this year out of interest. Never tested before as its hard to get the quality sometimes around here.

DukeCaboom wrote: »

Genuinely don't think yee got a fraction of the rain we got down on the coast. Even up in North Cork they'd alot less rain than us.

Yes that's my point. If we were to take 3 cuts when we only closed the silage ground on April 20th we'd be looking for good weather in October. 3 cuts are fine in some areas but belittling people who can't actually do 3 cuts due to their land type or where they farm bugs me

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Didn't think I was criticising any one, just how I used to operate with heavy cuts of silage has changed

My point being not everyone can do 3 cuts....anyway just back from getting cattle out of the bog. First time in about 20 years they got in there.

straight wrote: »

Ah sure they know how to manage their customers alright. I had to buy 200 bales last year to make up for my small pit. No need this year. That's 5k saving at least.

You’re spot on, a great feeling of security when you have a big pit, I’ve been that soldier buying bales too .