Third cutting

Donald Lehman · Aug 4, 2016

Just finished baling 3rd cutting. Had a few acres that was light enough we didn't mow it. The best of it was almost as heavy as the second cutting. At any rate Jeff now has enough hay for the year. Rain due starting tomorrow evening, which is perfect timing for getting the grass growing again in time to pasture some of it off in a month.

Didn't get away scot free, though. The neap broke off the rake. Got it partially torn apart, but gotta wait until they get done bagging for some help holding bolts from turning. It's been fixed once before, so I have some old welds to grind off and such before I can re-attach the thing. Doesn't look like it is going to be that difficult of a job. (for a change) Lol!

Destroked 450 · Aug 4, 2016

Mowed third cutting yesterday evening, got about a ten of an inch of rain on it this morning, going to ted it this evening and see if it will bale tomorrow.
Looks like it may turn off a better than second cutting.
Maybe the three tons pre acre of chicken litter we added between cuttings has something to do with that.

K Effective · Aug 4, 2016

I mowed the second half of our second cutting yesterday. First cutting got split by bad weather and work distractions. Most of this barely was worth mowing, the alfalfa and clover were mature for sure, maybe this will kick start the grass growing, as well. Rain due tonight or tomorrow. I raked and baled it all today- 40 small squares from about 10 acres. But it will feed nicely where the pastures are barren. Worst part was unfolding the moco too sharply and cutting the left rear tire on the jack peg . rrrrrrrr.

Bret4207 · Aug 6, 2016

Glad it's going good for you Don. I just mowed some more 1st cutting after a 3 week "repair" session. Got less than half what I should have, some parts less than a quarter. We haven't had any appreciable rain since early June. This isn't unprecedented, but it's not the norm. Got 5 minutes of sprinkles last night.

I just managed to get a flat rear on the MF65 trying to access a meadow that hasn't been seen in 15 years nor really used in probably 40. Things are getting a bit desperate here. I'm looking at selling off about half my sheep or more if we don't get some rain real soon.

Destroked 450 · Aug 6, 2016

Mowed Wed, 10th inch of rain Thru, 1/2 rain Fri, 80% humidity today, can't get it dried enough to bale.

Bret4207 · Aug 7, 2016

Sounds like you need a tedder friend!

bison · Aug 7, 2016

I am still working on the first cut, 50 acre in the bale(all of it rained on a couple times), 60 acre on the ground for 14 days and washed 5-6-7 times,190 acre more to cut yet. raining right now and rain in the forecast for all of next week as well.
Must've gotten 20" in the last 6 weeks.

Destroked 450 · Aug 7, 2016

(quoted from post at 08:24:00 08/07/16)
Sounds like you need a tedder friend!

Have a four basket tedder but wouldn't do much good when it rains and stays cloudy with high humidity.
Don't like working on Sunday but suns shining and things are drying out fast this morning. Going to check hay again after lunch to see if it needs tedded again or ready to rake and bale.
Was planning on square baling some of it but now I'll just roll it and get it off the field, square some of the fourth cutting, maybe it'll be a little dryer then.

Third cutting

Donald Lehman

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Destroked 450

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K Effective

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Bret4207

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Destroked 450

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Bret4207

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bison

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Destroked 450

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