Hay Making 2021

[Boohoo]

The west has had far better weather

Was talking to someone yesterday who said they've had no rain worth talking about since mid May, that's very unusual for our part of the world.
I would've made more hay if I had the room to store it. Could do with making extra in the good years to make up for years like 2019 and 2020 when I didn't manage to make any.

 

[glasshouse]

Was talking to someone yesterday who said they've had no rain worth talking about since mid May, that's very unusual for our part of the world.
I would've made more hay if I had the room to store it. Could do with making extra in the good years to make up for years like 2019 and 2020 when I didn't manage to make any.

No grass in ayrshire i hear

 

[Pan mixer]

Now, by no means do I mean to cause any offence, but, what the hell goes on for you and making hay? Is that rain forecast in the above pictures? When you see the original window does the weather just dramatically change and it just hasn't been right since?

I honestly feel your pain I really do. I would be in tears if that was mine.

What do you do now? Ted it back out or move the rows or leave it to nature?

I need the fields cleared so am baling it when I can get it dry enough to burn and when there is a contractor available.

As above really, the forecast was brilliant, hot all next week they said, so cut on the Thursday, bit of drizzle, no problem on fresh cut stuff. By Sunday, hay was still a few days away but then 'yellow warning for storms Tuesday, which started Monday, went on for 3 days whilst everyone else on here was putting green hay in the barn.

Hasn't dried enough since at all, 4 mm Thursday, 5 Friday and 7 so far today, wheat is nearly horizontal, hay is full of weeds and growing through.

I have been making hay on this farm for almost 40 years and I have never experienced a year like this, none even close except perhaps 1987 but we had 3 nice weeks of weather that year, not one so far this year.

 

[Boohoo]

No grass in ayrshire i hear

Wouldn't surprise me, it's scarce over here and the recent rain that most of us have had isn't helping. Plenty of silage being fed and 3rd cuts being grazed.

 

[Pan mixer]

Wouldn't surprise me, it's scarce over here and the recent rain that most of us have had isn't helping. Plenty of silage being fed and 3rd cuts being grazed.

We have more grass than I have ever seen for August

 

[Boohoo]

We have more grass than I have ever seen for August

I've heard people saying that some grass here is finished for the year. Most of the burnt bits have greened up but it isn't growing.
Strange how the weather is so different to normal and so different across the country.

 

[Pan mixer]

I've heard people saying that some grass here is finished for the year. Most of the burnt bits have greened up but it isn't growing.
Strange how the weather is so different to normal and so different across the country.

That is the usual state here - autumn flush eaten by the ravenous hordes before it has a chance to grow. Good luck it is very tedious starting winter feeding in early August

 

[Grassman]

Hay went from a Shortage in late June to a Supposed Glut in July but a lot of Rubbish made and now in August I dont know where we are , still hundreds of acres to do down South , so god knows now if its a shortage or a glutt

Also I see reports of numerous barns getting on fire with unfit hay the cause.

 

[Skintagain]

Also I see reports of numerous barns getting on fire with unfit hay the cause.

it’s been fickle this year to get right

 

[som farmer]

Also I see reports of numerous barns getting on fire with unfit hay the cause.

it’s been fickle this year to get right

two posts that exactly explain the reason you see huge stacks of wrapped bales about, you remove a big element of risk. Haymaking is a cheaper, easier and useful way to conserve forage, --only if the weather play's fair, otherwise it's a bloody nightmare.

 

[Ali_Maxxum]

I need the fields cleared so am baling it when I can get it dry enough to burn and when there is a contractor available.

As above really, the forecast was brilliant, hot all next week they said, so cut on the Thursday, bit of drizzle, no problem on fresh cut stuff. By Sunday, hay was still a few days away but then 'yellow warning for storms Tuesday, which started Monday, went on for 3 days whilst everyone else on here was putting green hay in the barn.

Hasn't dried enough since at all, 4 mm Thursday, 5 Friday and 7 so far today, wheat is nearly horizontal, hay is full of weeds and growing through.

I have been making hay on this farm for almost 40 years and I have never experienced a year like this, none even close except perhaps 1987 but we had 3 nice weeks of weather that year, not one so far this year.

Jeez. Well I think I speak for most when I say I hope you get it sorted and get an opportunity to make some other better stuff. Everyone I speak to says it will come eventually but just 2017 it never did.... flailed so much mowing grass or stock was turned into it and we had to buy hay in for customers. Desperately don't want that again.... Best of luck!

 

[Pan mixer]

Having another go at getting my wonderful sample ready to bale.

 

[Forkdriver]

Having another go at getting my wonderful sample ready to bale.

View attachment 979025

I well remember a year like that. Haylage ever since. Hay becomes a nightmare very quickly. Within a day of baling then eighteen days rain. Never again.

 

[Jimdog1]

Having another go at getting my wonderful sample ready to bale.

View attachment 979025

This is torture.

 

[jendan]

Having another go at getting my wonderful sample ready to bale.

View attachment 979025

Very common in Northern England in years gone by.It was all used and eaten by the cattle when the snowflakes were falling. ...........It doesnt even look black yet.........

 

[som farmer]

Very common in Northern England in years gone by.It was all used and eaten by the cattle when the snowflakes were falling. ...........It doesnt even look black yet.........

or, as my old man used to say, 'better than a snow ball, in winter' !

 

[Ali_Maxxum]

We slashed a load down sunday and monday, knocked the first lot out yesterday, was looking pretty good. Very dull and miserable today, not even a breeze and now some possible light rain for this evening. Think we're going to save the diesel and leave it where it is today....

 

[Pan mixer]

We slashed a load down sunday and monday, knocked the first lot out yesterday, was looking pretty good. Very dull and miserable today, not even a breeze and now some possible light rain for this evening. Think we're going to save the diesel and leave it where it is today....

That is the train of thought that lead to my magnificent hay above. Hoping to bale today and maybe mow some more?

 

[Ali_Maxxum]

That is the train of thought that lead to my magnificent hay above. Hoping to bale today and maybe mow some more?

Mmmm.... it looks at least dry for the week ahead but still waiting for this 'heatwave' people keep talking about. Not hay making weather as such but a dry opportunity. Not much other choice.

 

[Pan mixer]

Mmmm.... it looks at least dry for the week ahead but still waiting for this 'heatwave' people keep talking about. Not hay making weather as such but a dry opportunity. Not much other choice.

I am not sure that there any more difficult decisions in farming than those concerning hay making