Round 2 - Mowing the Hay

Bill VA · Aug 11, 2015

Mowed some hay this evening, 2nd cut of the year. More to do tomorrow.

MF50 diesel and MF32 sickle mower = very nice combo.

Mowed right up to dark. Sickle mower did great, even with the dew coming on as it grew dark. Probably could have kept going if the lights on the otherwise fine MF50 worked. Might be a winter project to get them going.

Note the mat coming off the drawbar area. Without out it, the stemmy stuff will wrap the PTO shaft pretty quick. Also my anti sun hat. Was on a business trip in Tuscon AZ and found a hat shop there. Told the guy I needed a hat to keep the sun off my ears and neck and he found a nice straw hat, very well vented on the sides. He custom fit the hat and brim and shipped it back to VA. I've used various straw hats and floppy cloth hats, but this western hat beats them all. Cool and comfortable.

Next up, finish mowing and ready the tedder.

Bill

JD Seller · Aug 11, 2015

Bill that sickle bar is doing a good job. They seldom worked that well for me. We rarely had straight grass hay so the clover or alfalfa would plug the sickle.

One question??? Is that Johnson Grass hay??? That purple seed head on it and the coarser stem sure look like Johnson grass does around here. I know that some Sudan grass can look that way too. I have talked to southern producers that actually plant Johnson Grass hybrids for hay. I have never seen it done thought.

Bill VA · Aug 12, 2015

Thx!

Not Johnson grass - broomsedge. In late May, it's predominately orchard grass, mid - late August, broomsedge. The tall stems came very quickly. I don't think they were present, or at least so visible and seem to have grown 2 ft as the rainy summer started to dry out and with it hot temperatures. The seed heads are what appear to be purple. Later they turn light brown/tan and look like abandoned wheat.

We are slowly taking back these fields - I'm amazed at how much progress we've made. Last August was the first cutting of hay in several years and that first cut yielded a ton of weeds. I hit the fields this spring with 2,4-D and after the first cut, Pasturegard. Hoping to kill off everything and start over at some point.

The leafy hay beneath the stems was VERY thick. We got the first cut just before Memorial Day, and as weak (nutritionally) as these fields are, a steady stream of rain throughout the spring and summer has made for what appears to be a nice 2nd cut.

Kickinbull · Aug 12, 2015

Not an expert but the grass looks like greasy grass.

Richard G. · Aug 12, 2015

I was thinking the same thing. What we call broom sedge around here is worthless, but it is not the same as what you are cutting.
Richard in NW SC

Jim in NC · Aug 12, 2015

In these parts it's called herds grass.

Traditional Farmer · Aug 12, 2015

Thats not bromesedge its Greasy Top or Purple top grass far superior to broomsedge
in food value.And will wrap on a PTO quicker than anything that grows,I use a mudflap under the PTO shaft.

Round 2 - Mowing the Hay

Bill VA

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JD Seller

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Bill VA

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Kickinbull

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Richard G.

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Jim in NC

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Traditional Farmer

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