Finally cutting hay...

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

It has been SOOOOOO wet here we have not been able to get into the hay pasture! Now we have grass that is three to four feet high and ground that is a bit mushy. It is so high and thick that it took eight hours to cut 12 acres. There are five more to cut today. Glad I am not the one on the tractor doing this work!

It is so humid and cool that it will take four days to dry the hay before we can bale. Man, back in Texas we used to cut and rake in the morning and bale at night, same night. We'll be tossing hay bales this Saturday. I'm hoping to come out at about 2500 bales at 90 pounds each. We'll see what happens.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Groesbeck Hurricane

It has been SOOOOOO wet here we have not been able to get into the hay pasture! Now we have grass that is three to four feet high and ground that is a bit mushy. It is so high and thick that it took eight hours to cut 12 acres. There are five more to cut today. Glad I am not the one on the tractor doing this work!

It is so humid and cool that it will take four days to dry the hay before we can bale. Man, back in Texas we used to cut and rake in the morning and bale at night, same night. We'll be tossing hay bales this Saturday. I'm hoping to come out at about 2500 bales at 90 pounds each. We'll see what happens.

Too bad. It's tough when mother nature slaps you around like this. It's been a brutal first cutting hay season here in Ohio, too. It's been heartbreak after heartbreak. The weather will clear almost long enough to get some hay in, everybody gets their hopes up, then the sky opens up again for two days. A lot of hay has been on the ground so long it's basically just mulch now.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Patrick,

I feel for you!!! Same situation just due west quite a few miles. The skys are supposed to hold for both of us for up to a week, but that cool front yesterday lowered temps from the 90's to the 70's for us. We are West of Bloomington, IN.

At least we let the grass stay until now. Our other issue is the field is in the flood plain right where a live creek flows through. Very moist and foggy EVERY evening. I hope it dries out in four days!

I hope your crop comes in OK! Lots of money to lose in this...

[vash]

kinda nice "living off the land"! i occasionally get to play farmer/rancher when i do work for hunting access. rounding up little bulls to castrate them truly pushed the envelope for me.

david, i like reading your stories...except the sick baby turkey ones.

[Seahawk]

Exactly the opposite here...dry as a good martini.

First cutting of hay was early this month, no issues. Soybeans are struggling. Such is life.

Glad things are working out, Dave.

[Joeaksa]

I just flew over your neck of the woods (sometimes at 500 feet level!) and it really is wet out there. Saw entire fields that were completely covered after the storm fronts roll through the area.

How you guys work in the fields this time of year, especially in that humidity, is beyond me.

[targa911S]

Same here David. It's been really wet. Finally got it off last week. Now it's time ...TO SHOOT GROUNDHOGS! Yeah! The little bastards have been wreaking havoc with the beans.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Chickens eat moles!!! I have a pair of sharp shinned hawks and visiting red tail hawks that eat larger animals like bunnies and such! There seems to be a loose cat who is taking down some of the larger animals. I need to post a photo of it somewhere....

Kitty is about the same size as a large coyote who was out earlier that same day.

Vash,

Yep, I REALLY hate the baby turkey story!!!!! I don't mind losing the occassional chicken to the hawks in February, the hawks provide me other benefits so I can give up a meal or two. I just hate senseless.


Joe,

It is WET!!! I'm from Houston in the 60's, 70's, and 80's and I think this is wet!


Paul,

Best on those beans! We'll keep on buying them on the processed side!

[GWN7]

No hay has been cut at my place for two years now. Overland flooding last year and way too much rain this year. More rain expected this weekend. If I was a rice farmer I'd be doing well.....