Has anyone made any Hay yet this year

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 3:27 pm

Carole

There's virtually nothing in the Midlands. Just a disaster hay-wise. Small bale your hay and sell it up here. There are dealers who will be paying excellent prices come early 2008 and masses of horsey people (and horses :;):).

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:26 am

Still no hay cut, and the weather does not seem to be improving. Living in a mainly arable area with little stock, (apart from horses) it is difficult to find a contractor that can silage my 12 acres. I must do something soon as I am becoming more worried as time goes on and the barn stays empty. After this weekend I have to make an effort to find someone to do whatever is neccessary to make whatever fodder possible. I normally make my own hay in conventional bales so silage/haylage in big bales will present me with further problems and expense. All this in the Garden Of England. I have just previewed this post and am even more depressed than when I started it, the only bright side is that we do not have any flooding.
Martin. Medway Valley Dexters.

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 7:22 am

Its sounding rather grim for you all. I do hope the weather improves for you soon.

Some contractors in NZ have started making small silage bales, suitable for Small holders to use. Especially in areas where there are a lot of Small holders with horses. They are charging NZ$12 per bale and each bale weighs about 40 kgs each.

kenseypark · Post by **kenseypark** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 5:10 pm

Hi, its pouring in East Cornwall as i write this, but the forecast (!!!!)is good for Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, however the OH won't cut the hay field as he says all the farmers will be cutting and we then won't get a baler!!. He's seriously thinking about buying his own baler again, we used to have a small bale baler but he's considering a round baler as there is less to go wrong. I've just picked up 10 x small bales of hay from a nearby farmer (last years, but lovely) at £2.50 per bale, so can't grumble at that. It hurts when you don't usually buy it in.

Post by **Mark Bowles** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:07 pm

Those of you out there that want contractors to do smallish acreage may stuggle, the whole season may well be compacted into the next few weeks so it will be "all hands to the pumps" pardon the pun to those in Glos.
£2.50 sounds like a good deal, buy some more and sell them for a profit later!
Mark

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:39 pm

Just to add variety, picked tonight from the PDCA blog site, image of Dexters in drought situation in the USA.

Duncan

Jo Kemp · Post by **Jo Kemp** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:18 pm

This week looked good for haymaking - except Wednesday .. impossible.
The climbers weatherman says things should look up around 15th August but I would risk cutting this week I think. Our 2nd field which must be for pony & sheep isn't ready yet - too short so will have to wait and continue to pray.
I believe that last year's fodder is likely to be of better quality than this year's so if anyone can get good quality hay I agree - buy it quick.
Good luck all
Jo
PS Why do I not get the emoticon when I click it?:p

Post by **Mark Bowles** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:50 am

Cut yesterday, ( Sunday) 6 acres, another 7 today, all for hay.
Full steam ahead, forecast clear till the weekend. Trouble is the headlands may be lost due to the wet ground, still who cares, press on regardless.
Mark

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:28 pm

Cut five acres this morning then onto a second field of seven acres, only four times round when the mower decided to eat its own innards, drive shaft, bearings and universal shaft all shot. Went to local dealer to be told one of the parts required could take about a weekto arrive. After a few frantic phone calls to other local dealers no replacement mower could be found, so a new mower is being delivered on Wednesday. I just hope the weather holds and no one tells the wife!

Martin, Medway Valley Dexters.

Jo Kemp · Post by **Jo Kemp** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:36 pm

Best wishes Martin - machinery is wonderful when it works and we never find out it is on the blink until we are desperately using it - this week should be OK though so try to keep calm!
Jo

happy hollidays · Post by **happy hollidays** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:18 pm

I hope it stays dry for you haymakers, but have heard rain is on its way again. A local contractor told me on Sunday that an equestrian feed merchant in a village 5 minutes away from me was charging £9.50 a square bale ands whats more people were buying it! Two farmers with big acreage have told me that they are not going to make hay this year because of their wet fields which will have a big effect on the horsey people around here, so glad we got our hay in earlier, although it very nearly flooded the other Friday!

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:28 am

I paid £8 a small bale in 1995, I think it was, and gave it to my horse by the handfull! Yes, heavy rainfalls (with sun as well) forecast for end of week/weekend in midlands.

Issy · Post by **Issy** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:14 am

All the hay in this area was cut over the last two days so hope all stays dry in the south. One local merchant was asking £60 for a large rectangle bale. Wether anyone bought them or not I don't know.

stew · Post by **stew** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:51 am

been good weather at york for hay but have still to start due to the bloody tractor gear stick coming of in my hand on monday have now got new part and fixed it ready to go but its given rain over the weekend so im gonna leave it agian till the next dry spell whenever that will be

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:54 am

I think things are supposed to be turning good from mid-August when the jet stream is going to move north or wherever it goes.