Hay making 2022

[som farmer]

So whats the easest way to farm say 1,000 acres if the land can grow good crops of arable, wheat, barley, oilseed rape, peas, machines can do most of the hard work now? plus its far less labour, less work and worry in the winter? yes in an ideal world mixed farming, that is both arable and livestock is better for the land, fertility from the muck and breaking the disease cycle and weed resistant buildup? but for ease, lifestyle, less work, employing people ,if you can find anyone, pure arable farming dominates? Plus do you actually make any more profit from livestock?

that system of farming continuous corn, leaves you dependant on chemical products, and losing soil structure. Mixed with stock, much of the minuses, are negated. But many arable farmers, seem very averse to keeping livestock.

 

[bluebell]

My point is that many parts of the UK thats farmed, the farmer has no choice, but keep livestock, the land is just not suitable to grow crops, with all the problems ? another important point, my area is a TB 4 area, cattle tested every 4 years, its also a mostly livestock free? large farms, estates arable area? Many traditonal livestock areas such as the southwest are they TB 6 month, and if you have a reactor it stops the selling of any animals, this must have a massive impact on farm profit, addtional work and worry? another reason livestock are on the decline?

 

[Billboy1]

10 p a kilo

minimum?

 

[Will 1594]

minimum?

well that’s 100 a ton ex
a good old friend in cumbria who moves a lot of crop , saying they want 100 for big square hay 1 st quality. not stewardship shire

 

[Billboy1]

well that’s 100 a ton ex
a good old friend in cumbria who moves a lot of crop , saying they want 100 for big square hay 1 st quality. not stewardship shire

the bales are heavier this year ,packed tighter and slightly longer ,I've got a weigher on the forklift so hopefully when i show my customers the weight they won't complain about the increase in price . i reckon fert alone has cost an extra #10/bale

 

[bluebell]

funny how its changed? when i started in the late 1970s- early 80s , straw was no problem to get? many cases for nothing just to clear it? it was a problem to get rid of for alot of my local farmers, that was the days of straw being able to be burned in the field, combine harvesters had no choppers as well? Grass, that was different, grass to make hay was fought over? any small parcel had lots of small one man bands chasing it? but back then in my part of the country here in essex, horses were every where? that was the first influx of new commers moving into my village, the orignal bungalows built before the war had a couple of acres, so alot of new people with a horse or horses came? plus the roads were alot quiter

 

[som farmer]

son asked me yesterday, why, by cutting, and drying grass, that cattle wouldn't eat standing, turns it into a sweet smelling dry feed, those same cattle would fight to eat it, must admit, asked myself that question.
yorkshire fog grass, cattle never liked that standing, makes nice hay, cocksfoot similar. We actually feed standing hay, to dry cows, and need to keep some 'tight' to stop them getting to fat, they soon learn to eat it. One unexpected bonus of that, now we include herbs, cows happily chew down docks now, even when on full grazing, if only they would eat thistles the same.......

 

[CPF]

Evenflow got got the baler out today. rain on Friday ?

 

[7610 super q]

It's too hot and sunny for making hay.














Just kidding.........

 

[robs1]

son asked me yesterday, why, by cutting, and drying grass, that cattle wouldn't eat standing, turns it into a sweet smelling dry feed, those same cattle would fight to eat it, must admit, asked myself that question.
yorkshire fog grass, cattle never liked that standing, makes nice hay, cocksfoot similar. We actually feed standing hay, to dry cows, and need to keep some 'tight' to stop them getting to fat, they soon learn to eat it. One unexpected bonus of that, now we include herbs, cows happily chew down docks now, even when on full grazing, if only they would eat thistles the same.......

Cattle and horses eat ragwort and buttercups when made in hay.
Must remove the bitterness

 

[Wombat]

Well thats all mine wrapped up as haulage and off to Tankfest at Bovington with the boys tomorrow night

 

[DrWazzock]

Well that’s it all under cover for another year. Baled reasonably dry enough thigh it was a bit humid this afternoon. It’ll be reet as our neighbour from Huddersfield used to say.

 

[pycoed]

son asked me yesterday, why, by cutting, and drying grass, that cattle wouldn't eat standing, turns it into a sweet smelling dry feed, those same cattle would fight to eat it, must admit, asked myself that question.
yorkshire fog grass, cattle never liked that standing, makes nice hay, cocksfoot similar. We actually feed standing hay, to dry cows, and need to keep some 'tight' to stop them getting to fat, they soon learn to eat it. One unexpected bonus of that, now we include herbs, cows happily chew down docks now, even when on full grazing, if only they would eat thistles the same.......

Perhaps its like Warburton's & supermarket bread: just about inedible when opened, but acceptable when well toasted?

 

[Goweresque]

Cattle and horses eat ragwort and buttercups when made in hay.
Must remove the bitterness

But fortunately the toxin in buttercups is destroyed by the drying process, so hay with buttercups in is fine for livestock, unlike ragwort. A bit lucky really, keeping every single buttercup out of forage would be a bit difficult.......

 

[som farmer]

Perhaps its like Warburton's & supermarket bread: just about inedible when opened, but acceptable when well toasted?

l hate s/mkt bread, made to rise, by adding double the yeast, and forced air in, by fast beating.
give me proper bread, anyday

 

[Pan mixer]

Promised rain amounted to zero but I baled anyway and wrapped it, 30% mc.

I haven't been brave enough to make any hay yet this year. Still making sure I have some stuff to feed the cows. Just need another 3-400.

 

[sahara]

Wow, that is a big heap of bales.
How many bales do you plan to make in total this year? @Pan mixer

 

[Pan mixer]

Wow, that is a big heap of bales.
How many bales do you plan to make in total this year? @Pan mixer

somewhere near 900 I hope.

 

[Two Tone]

Monumental push to get the conventionally bales in today. Even had Mrs Two Tone helping. I’ve just baled the last field in Rounds to get in done. Hopefully they won’t need wrapping. But some of my customers are going to have to get used to Rounds this year.

Showers on and off this morning and just as I finished the round baling.

 

[Pan mixer]

Monumental push to get the conventionally bales in today. Even had Mrs Two Tone helping. I’ve just baled the last field in Rounds to get in done. Hopefully they won’t need wrapping. But some of my customers are going to have to get used to Rounds this year.
View attachment 1044807
View attachment 1044808
Showers on and off this morning and just as I finished the round baling.

How come, when I stack new hay like that, the whole heap falls over?