Hay not been cut yet!🙈

Mine was mown last night at 7.30pm. Luckily the sun and wind had pretty much dried it out so farmer coming to ted it early afternoon today, tomorrow and Tues and then will bale on Wednesday afternoon. I’ve got two stables and field shelter as well as a 12x 24 hay store so the plan is to spread it all out rather than cram all in hay barn. Farmer predicts that I will get at least 150 bales but probably close to 200 off my 2 acres so will probably have to sell some too😊
 
Still raining on dartmoor. Don't think we've had 2 dry days in a row since June 😭
I'm usually desperate to move off my summer grazing by september due to lack of grass, currently got more grass than I know what to do with, although my gateways are starting to look like winter 😪
 
we did out first cut yesterday for haylage , we are saving the second cut that we did in the hot spell just in case we can make more hay , it’s been awfull .
 
Mine was cut yesterday, I think the plan is for it to be wrapped into round bales - I've never had hay (well I guess it will be haylage) made before but hoping and praying that it turns out ok, we've cut about 3 acres
 
Our neighbour cut what has always previously been our hay field yesterday. He's going to make wrapped haylage off it. He's already turned it twice. He's keeping it all.

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It's a bulky looking crop, but it's a real hotch potch mix of what is almost foggage along with young green grass. This morning was dry, sunny and windy - perfect weather, but the damn unforecast rain is here yet again. They've already changed tomorrow's weather from dry to wet - this season is crazy.
 
Just to ask, how much are square big bales going for at the minute?
I've got some coming, but haven't been told how much it's going to cost.
Cost doesn't really matter as I will buy it as it's really good. I have been told that farmer had a good cut in June and just waiting for a window for a second so he should have loads!!
 
Friends cut their hay fields on Sunday, and whilst it hasn't rained, it has never really got hot enough to dry it out. With rain forecast today, they tried to bale it at 12 noon yesterday, but it wasn't ready, so laid it back out and tried again at 6pm, and then gave up and made round bales of it which shall be wrapped.
 
Had a slightly stressful day! It rained at 9am but only for 10 minutes and then luckily a fair bit of sun during the day. Hadn’t heard anything from hay guy but he suddenly turned up at 7pm to tow it up and another guy came to bale. He first thought I would be lucky to get 80/90 bales! But as they went, he changed his mind! It’s around 2 acres and we got 174 off tonight and still around 50 left in field🙈 It’s worked out at about £1.50 per bale and I’m going to sell 50 at £3! So it’s been worth the stress😂
 
windswoo said:
Just to ask, how much are square big bales going for at the minute?
I've got some coming, but haven't been told how much it's going to cost.
Cost doesn't really matter as I will buy it as it's really good. I have been told that farmer had a good cut in June and just waiting for a window for a second so he should have loads!!
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I'm paying £55 for 4 string square bales. This is June hay. I paid the same last year.
I'm in South Wales where we always seem to pay a premium for hay, as the weather, generally, means most local farmers make haylage. Hay usually has to be transported from the borders.
 
Ali27 said:
Had a slightly stressful day! It rained at 9am but only for 10 minutes and then luckily a fair bit of sun during the day. Hadn’t heard anything from hay guy but he suddenly turned up at 7pm to tow it up and another guy came to bale. He first thought I would be lucky to get 80/90 bales! But as they went, he changed his mind! It’s around 2 acres and we got 174 off tonight and still around 50 left in field🙈 It’s worked out at about £1.50 per bale and I’m going to sell 50 at £3! So it’s been worth the stress😂
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I hate to say this but they didn't even start to row it up until 7pm, then the dew will have been falling and the hay would have been damp when baled. It won't make good hay.

Shorter days in late August make the hay making window more difficult than in mid summer.

I know how tricky it is when you have a small acreage and and rely on busy contractors.
 
I was thinking this too but didn't like to say it. I can remember back when we used to make hay and I used to ride the sledge behind the baler stacking as we went. As the evening wore on the bales would start to get heavier with damp and we would have to stop. Keep a close eye on them.
 
gryff said:
I'm paying £55 for 4 string square bales. This is June hay. I paid the same last year.
I'm in South Wales where we always seem to pay a premium for hay, as the weather, generally, means most local farmers make haylage. Hay usually has to be transported from the borders.
Click to expand...
Thank you.
 
Mine's been baled and wrapped today, finished this evening - 31 big round bales and I was expecting about 20! Forecast is looking likely for rain tomorrow so I'm breathing a massive sigh of relief that it's done.
 
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