Going to have to start haying I guess

Seems odd for me to not have most of my first cut hay already done but, with us not milking cows anymore, the urgency to get out and get first cut done at the highest protein possible and off the field so second crop can start growing. Now just doing dry hay for a few beef cattle to over winter on. Hard to get that lush late May early June hay to cure to store dry.

So yesterday I mounted the discmower onto the tractor and ready to make a start. Maybe Ill make 500 bales this year, sounds like nothing compared to the 2,600 bales I made in 2021 or the 2,000 in 2022.

Sounds like you've made the change gracefully...from dairy farming to hay and beef.

Butch

Just like the song.....Take it easy...,
Ben

You are a youngster Bruce, my dad sold all his cattle 4 years ago and still does some hay. He is 88 this year.

One of my favorite tunes, Eagles.

Now it's starting to even sound like your a beef guy, and no longer dairy.

I've always said the dairy guys are on a whole different level when it comes to alfalfa. And what your talking about here, is what I mean by that.

Around here (my area), alot of dairy guys will chop thier first cutting and be all done with it before it even reaches bloom, and before the beef guys even think about getting thier swather out of the shed.

I'm old fashioned, and don't even have a swather. Every bit of my hay is sickle mowed. And that comes in handy putting that first cut up dry. Takes alot of time out of the drying process, if not laying in a window. A lot of times it actually gets to dry, and needs raked and baled in the morning when still tough from dew.

Not many beef guys even do alfalfa where I'm at. Others (non cattle people) see what the dairy guys are doing, and doing it so early all the time, and wonder why I'm not following suite with them. Seems I have to explain things, even to the locals around here. That I'm not milking, and not in need of the high quality more so than the tonnage. And I need it in big rounds, and not in the silo.

Doing alfalfa is kind of an art that needs to match what your needs are. Probably moreso, than any other crop.

You probably even feel somewhat relieved to not have to put up 'dairy' quality alfalfa anymore. Am I right?? Of course, I guess in the dairy world, it was a relief to be back into new crop feed after first cut alfalfa was done.

The year after I sold my cattle I was not as worried about the hay as before.There was years that I would unhook the corn planter to get that first cutting cut done.Hope you can enjoy the summer between crops

Yes first cutting was always silage. Many times I would knock off first cut haylage, then plough over a piece of hay ground and plant corn for silage, all before the 10th of June.

At least you have modern equipment.

Watching Duffy Ag on youtube, it will be interesting to see if he can make the transition from making forage for his dad to making grain for himself now. Both are corn, but entirely different crops, efforts.

He still has a forage mindset.

Paul