Anyone cutting for hay now?

[neilo]

Still got hay to make, which was grazed a couple of months ago. Headed nicely but lots of green in the bottom, making for quite a heavy crop (like everyone else’s).
We saw bugger all of the promised rain yesterday, and doesn’t like we’ll get more than a shower today.
Forecast is now for 30 degrees plus on Monday/Tuesday, but uncertain after whether it will break down to thunder, or carry on.

I think the mower will be on shortly.

 

[tinsheet]

Next week if the weather's going to hold.

 

[Goweresque]

I'm going for it this week, last few bits. Going mowing now. Simon Keeling is suggesting that the first half of August will be more mixed weather, so I reckon the last 10 days of July could be the best bet to get some OK quality hay. If the grass gets a week or two of damp weather on it now its going to make pretty rubbish hay however sunny conditions its made in later.

 

[Still Farming]

Red hot next week Royal Welsh Show Week!

 

[michael N123]

I’ve 50 acre to cut but the weather changes every minute

 

[le bon paysan]

Last 10h to cut today, perhaps 40 C next week!!

 

[Dry Rot]

Whoever is in charge of the weather seems to have perfected the art of being annoying. Hay almost fit to bale and the drizzle starts again. I think mine has been down over a week now and the next fine spell isn't due until Tuesday/Wednesday next week. Well, fifty years in the Highlands and I am philosophical. Don't worry about what you can't change.

I see some of my neighbours cut around the same time and have left their hay tedded out. Ideally, of course, it would not be tedded at all in uncertain weather as the grass just stays there like flowers in a glass of water for quite a while. I've seen swathes with grass growing up through them that still make decent hay.

But there's another school of thought that once it's been tedded out and the weather is unreliable, best to get it rowed up. Then turn the rows over if it dries a bit to stop it rotting underneath. It does seem to keep better like this. Then when a few fine days and a nice breeze come along, just rowing up for the baler is sometimes enough.

Just love it when the horsey folk say if hay is rained on, it's ruined. There wouldn't be much hay made up here if that was true!

 

[Al R]

Got 4-5 acre to cut, completely rotten as it’s part of a Scheme agreement.........

 

[It was already broken.]

Only 6 acres left to cut. Have it cut Monday morning I would think. But, no room left in the dutch barn. Which means carrying them to the back of a big old timber barn!

 

[4course]

Whoever is in charge of the weather seems to have perfected the art of being annoying. Hay almost fit to bale and the drizzle starts again. I think mine has been down over a week now and the next fine spell isn't due until Tuesday/Wednesday next week. Well, fifty years in the Highlands and I am philosophical. Don't worry about what you can't change.

I see some of my neighbours cut around the same time and have left their hay tedded out. Ideally, of course, it would not be tedded at all in uncertain weather as the grass just stays there like flowers in a glass of water for quite a while. I've seen swathes with grass growing up through them that still make decent hay.

But there's another school of thought that once it's been tedded out and the weather is unreliable, best to get it rowed up. Then turn the rows over if it dries a bit to stop it rotting underneath. It does seem to keep better like this. Then when a few fine days and a nice breeze come along, just rowing up for the baler is sometimes enough.

Just love it when the horsey folk say if hay is rained on, it's ruined. There wouldn't be much hay made up here if that was true!

the horsey folk then take this non rained on hay and shove it in a trough of water overnight. ffs

 

[pipkins]

Ours is being knocked down today or tomorrow, horrible weather yesterday but set to be improving all week.

I've walked it today and seems a lot more leafy than last year. It's taken me two years to get rid of the ragwort that the previous occupant used to bale but plenty of cow parsley sprung up this year unfortunately. Small bales this year for various reasons so be interesting to see the yield from PP that's been neglected again. New contractor so will get lots of TLC from now on hopefully.

 

[neilo]

I’ve 50 acre to cut but the weather changes every minute

Yes, not looking so good for you guys further North.

 

[7610 super q]

Red hot next week Royal Welsh Show Week!

Nah.....forecasting rain for Wednesday and Thursday now. And all we hear is record breaking temperatures expected for London.

 

[Still Farming]

Nah.....forecasting rain for Wednesday and Thursday now. And all we hear is record breaking temperatures expected for London.

Always hot at Builth

 

[spin cycle]

can't make my mind up....bloomin forecast changing...i'd rather cut in the rain with a decent forecast after than cut when fine but dodgy forecast just as fit to bale

 

[Still Farming]

Where you been.
Been dry here for 26 days before rain come?

 

[Al R]

Where you been.
Been dry here for 26 days before rain come?

Scheme agreements?? desperate for grass with fields of hay dying off and going rotten yet couldn’t be cut

 

[Still Farming]

Scheme agreements?? desperate for grass with fields of hay dying off and going rotten yet couldn’t be cut

Penny and bun everytime?

 

[neilo]

Where you been.
Been dry here for 26 days before rain come?

Hasn't been here. Light shower that does no good at all, but would spoil hay here, pretty well every week. Certainly not been a long enough dry spell forecast to make cr*p hay by having it sat about a week ort more in low twenties temperatures and high humidity.

 

[Still Farming]

Hasn't been here. Light shower that does no good at all, but would spoil hay here, pretty well every week. Certainly not been a long enough dry spell forecast to make cr*p hay by having it sat about a week ort more in low twenties temperatures and high humidity.

Make haylage then -easy