Another day of play with hay

[Soapweed]

Hey Soap, I had a question for ya. It dawned on me yesterday as I was actually able to go cutting.

I see plenty of southerners using sickle mowers, tedders and rakes yet. I was wondering if there was an environmental reason that you couldn't use mower/conditioners? One pass would cut, condition and rake, saving you some diesel fuel and lot of time.

Rod

It is not an environmental reason so much as an economic reason that we don't use a fancy windrower. About everyone I know that uses a swather to mow with, still uses a V-rake to put two windrows together before baling. Thus it doesn't really save any steps. We hire about half or our hay put up. This year it cost $30 per ton to do this. It is expensive, but the hay gets baled early when the quality of the hay is at its best. Then, if if rains, the aftergrass comes on strong for later grazing. If we were to get fancy and update our haying equipment, we would have to put up all of our hay to justify the expense. I guess I'd rather spend the money hiring some of the work done, as to spend the money on new iron and then have to work harder to make it pay. :wink:

 

[scout]

soapweed you ought to buy mrs soapweed a tractor with a cab. you ridn in style and her out there in the elements just don't seem far or at least trade her tractors mrs scout wouldn't go for that. :lol: .is the kosmo kid your youngest? hefiers look good. tell everyone hi

 

[Soapweed]

soapweed you ought to buy mrs soapweed a tractor with a cab. you ridn in style and her out there in the elements just don't seem far or at least trade her tractors mrs scout wouldn't go for that. :lol: .is the kosmo kid your youngest? hefiers look good. tell everyone hi

Peach Blossom has the freedom of the wind blowing through her hair, while I am confined in the cab of a stuffy old tractor. :wink:

Kosmo is the youngest.
Congratulations to you and your bride. Are there any "little scouts"? :???: :wink:

 

[DiamondSCattleCo]

It is not an environmental reason so much as an economic reason that we don't use a fancy windrower.

Thanks. I was just curious as I still see a fair number of sickle bar mowers and rakes down south.

Now if you don't mind me pelting you with a few more questions? How fast can you move with that sickle bar outfit? 5 mph? Do you leave it lay a day or two to dry down before raking it? How quick does it normally dry down? Does Peach Blossom have a sister? I've tried everything to convince my wife to cut or bale hay, even offering to give up my AC and radio, but she flat out refuses. Maybe another women in the picture would help.

:lol:

Rod

 

[Shelly]

Rod, if I can do it, she can do it. You just have to offer her the creature comforts, though ....... air conditioning, radio, cool drinks every once in a while, etc, etc. Actually, I hardly ever have the radio on, I like to be able to listen to my tractor and haybine, see if I develop any new noises that shouldn't be.
Good news, though! I'm getting a whole new outfit! A self-propelled windrower! Wonder what I can screw up on it? :???: I'm thinking I'm gonna need a few lessons on how to run it.
We've been plagued constantly this year with piddly breakdowns that's costing us precious time. If it isn't either one of the haybines, it's one of the tractors or one of the balers. I'll be glad when we're done!

 

[DiamondSCattleCo]

Good news, though! I'm getting a whole new outfit! A self-propelled windrower! Wonder what I can screw up on it? :???: I'm thinking I'm gonna need a few lessons on how to run it.

Well you just come on up here with that unit. I know how to run one, and would be more than happy to give you some instruction. I have about 400 acres left to drop, and oddly enough, I think thats about how much practice you'll need before you'll be proficient in its operation.



Rod

 

[Soapweed]

It is not an environmental reason so much as an economic reason that we don't use a fancy windrower.

Thanks. I was just curious as I still see a fair number of sickle bar mowers and rakes down south.

Now if you don't mind me pelting you with a few more questions? How fast can you move with that sickle bar outfit? 5 mph? Do you leave it lay a day or two to dry down before raking it? How quick does it normally dry down? Does Peach Blossom have a sister? I've tried everything to convince my wife to cut or bale hay, even offering to give up my AC and radio, but she flat out refuses. Maybe another women in the picture would help.

:lol:

Rod

The outfit travels about as fast as you want to go with it. The meadows are rough enough that speed isn't really the object--just getting the job done is more important. One big advantage of cutting hay with a bar mower is that it cures in one day instead of two. On a rainy summer, it comes in handy being able to dodge the rain storms to get the hay up. Unfortunately that isn't a problem this year.

Peach Blossom has a couple sisters, but they are both spoken for. One of them is unlucky enough to have married a rancher, so she also has to spend time in the hayfields. :wink:

 

[scout]

soapweed you ought to buy mrs soapweed a tractor with a cab. you ridn in style and her out there in the elements just don't seem far or at least trade her tractors mrs scout wouldn't go for that. :lol: .is the kosmo kid your youngest? hefiers look good. tell everyone hi

Peach Blossom has the freedom of the wind blowing through her hair, while I am confined in the cab of a stuffy old tractor. :wink:

Kosmo is the youngest.
Congratulations to you and your bride. Are there any "little scouts"? :???: :wink:

Thank you we were married last september 2nd. no there are no little scouts we are still practicing. :lol: :lol: I know alot about about those stuffy old cabs it can be rough in the a/c when its 90 degrees out and 80%humdity

 

[Cal]

Soapweed wrote

One big advantage of cutting hay with a bar mower is that it cures in one day instead of two.

Awww, shucks....wish you'd a told me that earlier, been balin' meadow hay that was windrowed yesterday. It's gonna take all night...at least... to unroll it all so I can roll it up again tomorrow. :wink:

 

[Soapweed]

Soapweed wrote

One big advantage of cutting hay with a bar mower is that it cures in one day instead of two.

Awww, shucks....wish you'd a told me that earlier, been balin' meadow hay that was windrowed yesterday. It's gonna take all night...at least... to unroll it all so I can roll it up again tomorrow. :wink:

I am talking about a normal year, not a drought year. :wink: