Anyone made any hay yet?

[Pan mixer]

Another field I don't have to ted any more, only 10 or 11 left to do now - only 3 cut though.

I had already collected most of the bales here before I remembered to take a picture.

 

[Longlowdog]

Okay, noddy question here.
How does hay heat at day 21 if it doesn't (much) at baling?
No sarcasm in the question, I need a hay chemistry lesson.

 

[Pan mixer]

Okay, noddy question here.
How does hay heat at day 21 if it doesn't (much) at baling?
No sarcasm in the question, I need a hay chemistry lesson.

It is to do with the fermentation of the sugars in the sap, the same sugars that are kept anaerobic in silage by the plastic excluding the oxygen.

Unwrapped hay still has oxygen around and will make it overheat and possibly burn.

 

[hendrebc]

I made some hay today. Did 140 wrapped bales that would habe all been hay tomorrow if rain wasnt forecast and 60 of hay. We had some sun and a lot of wind and it dried enough to not have to wrap them. It was so windy i had to follow the haybob tight with the baler or the rows blew away. I do have a rake but the rows behind that would have been worse. Would have been more hay baled but the chain for the reel broke

So i have a corner of a field rowed up (more sheltered field less wind) in full view of the main road that just screams 'i had a breakdown' i await phone calls from nosey friends tomorrow wanting to know why i didnt finish

 

[Goweresque]

Okay, noddy question here.
How does hay heat at day 21 if it doesn't (much) at baling?
No sarcasm in the question, I need a hay chemistry lesson.

A good explanation here:

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/09/moist-baled-stacked-hay-catch-fire/

Its to do with the exponential growth of bacteria, living in the moisture in damp hay, and feeding on the sugars in the grass. Hence why early season hay is the most likely to spontaneously combust as it has more sugar content. As the grass ages standing up and loses energy content it becomes less likely to have enough sugar in it to sustain the growth of bacteria to a point where enough heat has been generated to create a fire. So old season grass baled damp won't catch fire, just go all mouldy and rank, rather as straw baled damp doesn't catch fire, just go into a solid lump. Hence why May hay is always considered the most at danger for fires.

 

[RushesToo]

I have talked this through with a number of farmers and the only conclusion I have come to is the following - it is not from academic papers, but probably correct.

The first bit of bales heating is organic - bugs growing and making chemicals.
The second bit it that the bugs get too hot and make chemicals that they wouldn't normally.
The third bit is that it stops being an organic [bug driven] system and the chemicals take over. The chemicals self combust because the heat is enough to draw oxygen in and make a chimney effect from exothermic [heat creating] reactions and they catch fire.

Someone will know the proper names for each of these steps, but that is what happens in understandable words.

 

[Hurdle bunter]

 

[ARW]

showers today, clear till next Wednesday, do you think I can make hay in 5 days in cloudy conditions?

 

[Werzle]

showers today, clear till next Wednesday, do you think I can make hay in 5 days in cloudy conditions?

Depends how much life is in the grass and if the field is open to catch the wind.

 

[essexpete]

Depends how much life is in the grass and if the field is open to catch the wind.

And the RH.

 

[ARW]

Depends how much life is in the grass and if the field is open to catch the wind.

There isn’t much wind forecast. I think I’m better off not even going to look at it and leave till there’s a better forecast

 

[David.]

Strange, I would say the opposite. The first pass with the Tedder is the most crucial one. Get it not quite right and it stays that way

The opposite of what?
I'm not advocating going like stink, merely going as fast as you can do a good job, moving all the grass, with the ground conditions prevailing.
I suppose that usually equates to 10/12k max, with engine revs giving 400-450 PTO speed on decent flat going.

 

[Werzle]

There isn’t much wind forecast. I think I’m better off not even going to look at it and leave till there’s a better forecast

If the forcasters are correct there isnt much rain about from tonight until tuesday late afternoon but it doesnt look very settled for the rest of july

 

[X344chap]

View attachment 819034
I made some hay today. Did 140 wrapped bales that would habe all been hay tomorrow if rain wasnt forecast and 60 of hay. We had some sun and a lot of wind and it dried enough to not have to wrap them. It was so windy i had to follow the haybob tight with the baler or the rows blew away. I do have a rake but the rows behind that would have been worse. Would have been more hay baled but the chain for the reel broke
View attachment 819036
So i have a corner of a field rowed up (more sheltered field less wind) in full view of the main road that just screams 'i had a breakdown' i await phone calls from nosey friends tomorrow wanting to know why i didnt finish

My neighbours would have been round with their baler to help out if it still hadnt been baled within the hour. We all try to help each other round here. Im lucky and i know it.

 

[Longlowdog]

Forecast for us is dry weekend and then back to rain. Looks like my bales and rather a lot more in this area will be sat out for quite some time.
Weather forecasters are accountable to nobody so it begs the question, do they just make it up or look at a pinecone/piece of seaweed hanging by the window? No one round here would have cut if we had had an accurate prediction.

 

[hendrebc]

My neighbours would have been round with their baler to help out if it still hadnt been baled within the hour. We all try to help each other round here. Im lucky and i know it.

That is very lucky. It used to be the same here when everyone made small bales but none of my neighbours have their own round baler. The neighbour i do most with only does pit silage but did phone to offer to come and help me carry them as he had seen rain forecast

 

[Longlowdog]

I don't have a baler so I phoned a neighbour at short notice. He agreed to help but broke down whilst doing his own. He phoned round his friends to get mine done. I had no idea till a strange tractor arrived. I was instantly invited to sit in with the chap and made another friend. My immediate neighbour will get a bottle of malt for his troubles and the new friend will be paid and get a bottle of malt. The reception I've had from folk round here has been really heart warming and I'm damned lucky and I know it.

 

[Tha Ulsterscot]

View attachment 819034
I made some hay today. Did 140 wrapped bales that would habe all been hay tomorrow if rain wasnt forecast and 60 of hay. We had some sun and a lot of wind and it dried enough to not have to wrap them. It was so windy i had to follow the haybob tight with the baler or the rows blew away. I do have a rake but the rows behind that would have been worse. Would have been more hay baled but the chain for the reel broke
View attachment 819036
So i have a corner of a field rowed up (more sheltered field less wind) in full view of the main road that just screams 'i had a breakdown' i await phone calls from nosey friends tomorrow wanting to know why i didnt finish

Just say you had abetter offer than baling hay, and leave them wondering .

 

[Pan mixer]

rowing up the timothy to preserve some colour. Bst haymaking day so far this year.

 

[bobk]

rowing up the timothy to preserve some colour. Bst haymaking day so far this year.

View attachment 819252

My Stabilo doesn't rake too well either if it isn't 100% ready .