Cutting Bahia Grass

Last weekend Nancy and I cut, raked, and baled what we call the Hunt Place, the Old Barn, and the Long Hill.

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The Hunt Place is a 5 acre tract that was originally owned by Mr. Anglo Saxon Hunt back at the turn of the century.

My grandmother passed away when my dad was 7 and Mr. and Mrs. Hunt took care of him while his dad was away.

Saturday was the coolest day at 102 degrees.

We used 'Big John' our 55 70 diesel and the 350 sickle mower.

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Some how I managed to break the spring on the mower.

The good part is that it did not cause any problems and the local JD dealer can get a new spring for only $125!

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Sunday was the hottest day at 105 degrees, so 'Old John' Nancy's 48A got to 'sport' the umbrella and pull the 640 hay rake.

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Some how I managed to break an eye-bolt on the left frame support.

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This shut down the raking operation late Sunday evening until I repaired it with another bolt.

Monday was only 103 degrees, so we baled with 'Vernon' our 56 70 gas and the KRONE 260 baler.

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Sharpened the right twine knife after tying problems during last operation.

No missed ties on the right any of the bales.

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In all we put up 45 bales (4x5); 13 bales on the Hunt Place, 4 bales on the Old Barn, and 28 bales on the Long Hill.

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These bales are 95% Bahia grass and 5% grasshoppers.

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Somewhere up there Mr. Anglo Saxon Hunt is smiling.

Nice pics. Glad you had the 102 heat instead of me.
Paul

James,

I sure enjoy your postings and your pictures. Here in Florida, Bahia grass is what they put in the Interstate highway medians, and it never gets tall enough to cut for baling (not that I would want to try to do that on these highways).

Is it good livestock feed?

Stan
Melbourne, FL

Bahia makes a marginal livestock hay. By the time it's tall enough to make decent hay, it's lost all most of it's nutritional value. It fills thier bellies I guess. A decent profit can be made from combining for seed without too many imputs. I used to burn ours in the spring, graze it low until June then let it go to seed. Made $2400 in seed off of 15 acres a year or two ago. Timing's pretty important for good yield. A strong thunderstorm just before you pick can wipeout your harvest.

Very nice country! Bahia or not, you've got 45 bales you didn't have when you started...........

Glad to hear that you enjoy the pictures.

My dad always called Bahia grass 'poor man's hay' because it is a native grass and much less expensive than planting/sprigging Coastal Bermuda.

Both he and his father used these as grazing pastures for their cattle over the last 70+ years.

They 'supplemented' during the winter with the Coastal Bermuda from our hay meadow.

Cows seem to like Bahia well enough, but anytime one of the surrounding neighbor's cow or bull gets loose, they usually find them in my Coastal/Cheyenne Bermuda hay meadow.

For many years both Nancy and I would mow these pastures with both of our Bush Hog 720 finishing mowers.

This year it was time to stop 'wasting' the gas and the grass.

Some one will be able to feed it to their cattle.

I agree with you on the marginal nutritional value.

We did not even consider having it tested locally for nutritional value.

Interesting to know that you 'combine' Bahia grass for the seed.

I would be interested in knowing 'how' you combine Bahia grass.

Send me an email if easier than a post.

Glad you liked the pictures.

I enjoyed your photos of baling straw.

Looks like we both employ and enjoy some of the older JD tractors in our haying operation.

All three of the tractors we used have power steering which makes maneuvering much easier.

Nancy's 48A has an aftermarket Behlen unit that her dad installed.

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Her tractor will turn on a dime and give back nine cents in change.

Very nice pics,but how about one of Nancy every now and then,lol.

Nancy is the 'better' photographer and, although a very pretty woman, is a little camera shy.

She is in charge of all the spraying operation.

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She always uses 'Old John' her dad's 48A.

Your reference to fields by name brings back some memories. I worked for Production Credit Assn. in the '70's and '80's, and had occasion to train a number of "newbies". When we'd go out to talk to a farmer, and he'd start referring to "the back 40", "Grandpa's hill" and "frog hollow", my trainees would get nervous, and start wanting maps and legal descriptions. I told them to relax- just ask the acreage of that field, make a note of it, and move on. In all my years in that business, I never had anyone deny or challenge the description of the field- its just the way farmers refer to things, and it makes things a lot easier if you just go with the flow.

Although it may not be the best of forages, it does graze well and is bulletproof as far as drought goes. I've seen it dead as a doornail and 1 inch of rain later, pretty as can be. I'm selling most of my bahia fields right now as share-cropped sod. There is alot of hwy projects right now using the big rolls. As far as the combining for seed goes, my buddy uses a newer John Deere combine. Can't remember the model #, but I think it says "Rice Special" on it somewhere (although the closest rice to here is in the pantry). Looks like the head on it is a typical small grain head. If your in the South, check out the price of a 50# bag of bahia seed at the local TSC or farm store and you'll see why it's profitable to grow it!

James,

Thanks for the reply. You certainly have a nice stable of tractors around your place. Do you farm for a living or just enjoy doing it as a hobby?

Stan

I respectfully disagree. With the right amount of rainfall bahia can make decent hay. THat is all I produce, and sell to horse people. Cut it before 7 weeks, and it should be palatable. The older it gets, yes the worse it gets. Of course rain is the key to getting things done, dry areas probably wouldn't let the bahia grass shine. In the summer heat I also try to bale within a day of cutting because the sun seems to cook the heck out of it. If I can retain the silver green color, look out, their gonna eat it.

Thanks for the information on baling within a day of cutting.

Last thing I want is a 'green wet' bale catching on fire in the pasture.

Your right about the summer heat; doesn't take long to cure in 100+ degree weather.

Thank you for this information.

Most of us know the total acreage of a tract of land that we own.

Most of us can also remember the name of the previous owner of a tract of land.

Most of us also know the physical boundaries of a tract of land that we own whether a fence exists or not.

It is another matter of knowing the legal description measured in varas with such precise landmarks as 'the large Hickory tree marked with an X' or 'the 1" metal rod next to the large rock' or 'the NW corner line post of H.V. Evans farm'.

Good thing is all my adjoining neighbors have been living here for a minimum of 60-70 years on property sold to them by my dad or granddaddy.

This weekend we will be baling hay down in the 'Bottom', not to be confused with the adjoining 'Ragan Bottom'.

Thanks for the compliment on the tractors.

At last count we have 10: 39B, 40B, 43B, 46A, 48A, 51M, 52A, 53 70 gas, 55 70 diesel, and 46 70 gas.

Eight of them are 'working' tractors.

Both 'Uncle Earl' the 39B

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and 'Lazarus' the 40B are projects.

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If I had to do this for a living, I would starve to death.

There is way too much work involved for this to be a hobby.

Nancy and I just enjoy working on the farm every weekend.

Two years ago, bahaia seed was selling for $9.00/lb. Giant common bermuda seed was selling for $7.00/lb. If we had any way to combine it we probably would. Since there"s no grain crops grown in the area, I doubt we could even find anyone to combine it for us. It bears checking out, though.

After reading my post I realize that I wasn't clear at all on the rain thing. It wasn't really in reference to getting rained on in the drying process, but in the growing stage. I truly believe bahia makes decent hay with sufficient rainfall. Around here the last 2.5 years have been dry, and yes bahia bounces back well. However, the blades haven't been filling out well in those periods. Really, I think any grass needs plenty of moisture for best results.
I have baled bahia in small squares from as few as 1 day after cutting in the hot summer, to 3 days in mid October when the heat starts turning off. I think the late cut October stuff seems better. I just can't convey how tough that deep south sun is on drying hay.