Posted by Don-Wi on June 05, 2010 at 17:51:42 from (75.232.164.187):
Been a trying year so far. March was extremely dry, so we plowed under 1 hay field that is going to corn this year. Then April was fairly dry to start and we got our oats in pretty early. Could put our corn in, but April is just too early around here. Other farmer planted theirs, but we thought they were nuts.
After that, it got really cold & wet, and the other farmers corn was in the ground for a good 2 weeks before coming up. As soon as it did, it got hot & dry, and the corn that was yellow came out of it really quick. Dad hauled some manure, and we managed to get some of the ground worked up the weekend of the 22nd of May. (working around rain showers and a broken spreader) I had to work & Dad wanted to haul more manure, so we let the ground sit. Shoulda just stuck the corn in the ground then when the sun was shining. Instead we got 1 1/2-2" of rain during the week that kept us out if the dirt last weekend.
After talking it over we decided to chop hay instead, although he wasn't sure if he wanted to bother renting a bagger or not, but I should just start cutting & we'd figure it out later. Manged to get the haybine ready and started cutting around 3 or 4 the Fri. before Memorial day. Cut till it was too wet with dew, then went home. Saturday, Dad decided it was going in the silo, but had me continue cutting (against my gut feeling) so we could chop all we could fit in the silos, and then we'd bale the rest. All told, we knocked down around 40-45 acres, which is all of our hay feilds and 16 acres we are buying from a neighbor.
Sunday, after finishing up working on the chopper and wagons, I wanted to start chopping while Dad finished fixing the last wagon. Had to open 2 gates to cross the cow path. As soon as I had driven the rig through, one particular heifer promptly found her exit and went all the way to another hay feild in the opposite direction. Had to call Mom and have her help us chase her back in. Finally got to start chopping around 2 P.M. Chopped 3 1/2 loads off that field, and the rest was a little too damp yet to go in the silo. Decided to pull the pipe off our 16x35 silo that needed some repairs on the hood. When I climbed up to unchain the pipe, it slipped down a little & hit me in the head. No blood, but a heck of a head ache and some hairs missing and stuck to the spout of the pipe where it hit me. Got the pipe down, and fixed the spout.
Monday, after pulling the pipe back up the silo with it's new rope, we were able to go back to the feild. Had to chop the neighbor's feild first, as that would never dry down to bale if it wasn't gonna fit (super thick clover/alfalfa mix) and developers were scraping some of it away to put in retention ponds after the holiday.
On load #5 for the day, I finished filling it in the bottom of a ravine. Turned around to head back to the end and get an empty wagon, when I got stuck. pulled the rope and dropped the wagon to rehook from a higher more solid spot. Decided not to hook to the more sturdy side pull hitch that was added by the prev. owners of the chopper, and promptly pulled the normal hitch off the chopper. Had to hook on it anyway, and in turn lost my quick release hitch on the chopper. My brother was hauling load with his F350 while Dad was unloading. Dad got load #5, and lo and behold, it suffered Gehl Beater Syndrome (GBS). This is the same wagon I had to repair the running gear on from last year, and this is the 3rd beater it's lost since we've owned it. Also was the newest one that was most recently replaced.
Managed to chop 16 loads off the field before coming home for supper (was running low on fuel anyway). Decided the hay was a tad too wet and Dad would finish chopping that feild tomorrow after chores. I had to go back to work.
Dad finished chopping that field, and the next day it rained. It's rained almost every day now, and rain in the forecast for the next week. Not to mention we haven't got any of our corn in yet.....
Lesson #1- RENT THE &^%$#*G BAGGER. It'll save a ton of time and we could have kept on chopping despite the hay being a little wet.
Lesson #2- Follow your gut and don't cut more than will fit in your tiny silos.
Lesson #3- Don't pull wagons stuck in a ravine from the semi-wimpy hitch on the chopper. Either call in another tractor, or hook to a stronger point.
Lesson #4- RENT THE &^%$#*G BAGGER!!!!!!!
Total list of broken implements or other problems needing attention:
-Tach cable on 1855.
-Chopper hitch
-Chopper tire slow leak
-Gehl Beater Syndrome
-Random nut appearing under neighbor's wagon while unloading. Still need to figure out where it came from.
-Window motor controling spout on chopper went T.U. again
-Smoked belt from auger on blower when it plugged up.
-Tin work on blower behind auger rotted apart and needed replacement before catastrophic failure
-Minor tinwork/welding needed on haybine forming sheilds prior to 2nd crop, provided we ever get 1st crop off.
-June 5th, and no corn in the ground.
Need to vent a little. Just gonna be one of those years.
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