Tired and can't sleep, just baled 1066 square bales...

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Well, I was on the ground. A local guy had the equipment and he baled for 50/50 split. He had all his share minus 40/50 bales sold before it came out of the pasture. His guys were mainly loading for clients. We had a friend helping load our lot and the local judge stopped by to give us a hand for about 100 bales.

It would seem that our hay field has a certain local reputation. People REALLY wanted our hay. In comparison to the fields in Texas, this stuff is c&*p! Locally here, it is fairly good. Next year we should have a MUCH nicer field. Proper seeding and fertilizing will do wonders. Our yield was quite a bit UNDER what it should have been! The big plus, our field is on the edge of a flood plain so we get lots of moisture during the growing season. This is also the negative when trying to bale. But it is spectacular to watch the fog roll across our little valley and up our hill to the house!!

My Wife loaded what we threw on the trailer. She was keeping up with two guys throwing from the ground!! Spectacular woman!! Old guys in the crew told us on the side they would rather have had her on their team than the young guys who had some muscles as they guys gave out in two hours, she was going all day long!

Oh, and she is a dead shot too!!!! She and our friend spent breaks checking out deer stand locations... At least, the early breaks.

I went through two gallons of water today. Glad I don't have to do this more than a couple of times a year. We almost have enough hay for the winter for all our animals (friends and our horses and our cows). Horses are covered!!!

[Bill Douglas]

Well done David!

I spent my high school summers carting hay bales. HARD work but the money was excellent. Phew, I still remmember the heat in those big old tin sheds stacking hay bales with no end in sight.

Beers work well as a recovery type medicine.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

All I have is single malt and rum. Trouble is I got a major concussion last week (unrelated to hay work) and The Wife will not allow me to drink (again, unrelated to the injury) for another two weeks. Asprin are on the menu but she is pushing advil...

Working on my third gallon of water...

[BARON5011]

David,
Good to see a fellow farm boy here.
Yes I know the type of work you describe ,done it myself a few time.
Here in South Africa we are mainly doing the big round ones ( excuse to use mechanical equipment to load and stack them).
Hang on to that wife of yours ,Im only a part time farmer and my wife carries out most of the farm activities. and I know how to appreciate a good hard working wife not scared to roll up the sleeves when needed.

cheers Baron

[on2wheels52]

I had a hay job one summer in Oregon in the mid-70's, 1000 bales was about my biggest day (all I did was run the baler). Growing up we never put up more than 10 acres of hay a year. Earliest memory was putting it up as loose hay in the barn. Was still a mechanical operation but that method is long gone.
Jim

[targa911S]

A little more rain here and we will cut a second time.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by Groesbeck Hurricane

In comparison to the fields in Texas, this stuff is c&*p!

We almost have enough hay for the winter for all our animals (friends and our horses and our cows). Horses are covered!!!

Local news reported recently that due to the near epic drought around here (S. tx) , round bales of good hay bring upwards of $100 / bale - that is if you can even find any.

[targa911S]

We had orders for every single bale before we cut this year.

[GH85Carrera]

So did you go to the gym today to get some exercise

[lm6y]

Been there, done that. It's definately a younger man's work. I honestly don't think I could do it now.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by on2wheels52

Earliest memory was putting it up as loose hay in the barn. Was still a mechanical operation but that method is long gone.
Jim

Did loose hay that was not mechanical - One Pitch Fork at a time.......Worst job ever....

[fingpilot]

Hey! Almost thought you guys were referring to 'green hay'.

It appears that Kahleeforneeeah's biigest cash crop this year will be marijuana. Now that it has been defacto legalized, I expect all the zombies to both loaded and armed.

[T77911S]

we ran out of hay around here, i think it was the summer before last. not enough rain. when we did get it, it was crap. i managed to get 4 or 5 round bails for $50 before it went out the roof. i heard square bails were going for as much as $15.
now it is down to $6, delivered. but i think i have someone bringing me some for 3 a bail.

[pwd72s]

My 15th summer, my dad got rid of me...farmed me out to a friend of his who owned a cattle ranch near Adin, California. I bucked many bales of sweet alfalfa...
Shot coyotes with my single shot .22, tramped all over those hills when not loading hay. No girls about...I thought it was hell. Looking back today, it was a pretty great summer. Loren, (ranch owner) died a few years back...he's in Adin's
cemetary now. A long drive, but I've often thought of paying him a visit, thanking him for the things I learned that summer.

(edit) not only learned...developed a lot physically. Another kid there, 18, was working to get into police acadamy, taught me a few "cop moves". Bucking hay made me stonger, the moves taught by Bob were handy. Upon my move back home, a guy who had bullied me the previous year got his ass kicked.

[Seahawk]

We may get a second cutting as well...need rain.

[Cdnone1]

Did you say "can't sleep"?!
When I was growing up in Canada my best friend was a farmer.
I remember some of the bests sleeps I had in my life right after a long day of baling hay. Crap and I was 17 at the time!
I don't think there is anyway I could bale for a day now, heck an hour would probably kill me.

Steve

[DARISC]

Were you celebrating th Battle of Hastings?

[azasadny]

That's hard work! Take a well deserved break and relax!

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

We may get a second cutting as well...need rain.

And some heat!

Is that a GREEN tractor I see? Sweet.

[targa911S]

Gotta keep it cut so we can see the groundhogs!