Poor year due to heavy rain in early June then high temperatures (100+) through the end of the month. Haying started late. All machinery worked well. Was able to replace wheel on rake and roll pins on tine arm.
July 3 Cut Field
July 9 Raked
July 10 Bailed
Total 269 bales
Total bales 817
Installed new bar on Gaspardo cutter.
Replaced tire on rake, blew out again within 1st 1/2 hour of use.
Total Bales 621
Rake: Flat tire, missing nylon bearings on one tine arm.
Gaspardo cutter: Broken cutter bar.
Temperatures soared into the 90’s for a few days which dried the hay quickly. We did not ted this year but went from the cutting directly to raking into windrows which helped to preserve the seed and color. The hay was cut on the 16th, raked on the 18th, baled on the 19th and brought in on the 20th. Total hay count 376
Previous hay count for 2017 was 576.
Cut Aug 3.
Late harvest this year. Thistle going to seed.
Bailer re-adjusted for tighter, shorter bales for easier handling.
Total bales: 560
Remaining hay from Last spring purchase is about 200 bales, so starting 17/18 fall season with 750 bales.
Hay cut early June
Total bales 650
May 30 – Cut field. Forecast is for no rain next 7 days with temps in the 70s.
May 31 – Tedded field in late afternoon.
June 1 – Tedded field in afternoon.
June 2 – Raked field into windrows.
June 3 – Prepared loft and bailer.
June 4 – Bailed field.
June 5 – Turned bails to help dry.
June 6,7,8 – stacked hay in barn. Left center isle to monitor temperature.
June 10 – Bale temps between 72 and 75 deg. 74 deg typical.
June 11 – Bale temps 80 deg typical.
Total 530 bales
July 3 mowed 1/3 (center) of field. Raked and baled after 5 days.
TOTAL 200 bales
Mow 2/3 of field August 4
Tedded August 6
Raked August 7
Stored August 10
TOTAL 530 bales
SEASON TOTAL 730 bales