In an ideal world, hay sales would always play out on the local level. Buyers would be able to inspect the bales before purchase, and transport costs would be minimal. Unfortunately, Mother Nature occasionally ruins the hay crop in whole states, so consumers must wander far afield to find a supplier. Conversely, ideal weather can create a hay glut, for which producers are hard-pressed to find enough buyers locally. Internet hay exchanges have been around … Continue reading “Internet Hay Exchanges: Buying and Selling Hay Online”

The temperature may be tropical and the summer hayfield may be a picture of abundance. But it’s time to think about winter — and the nutrition needs of your beef cattle. That means baling the right kind of hay, in the right amount, to ensure your herd keeps weight on during the lean months to come. A Few Summer Chores Take a hike through the hay pasture. Keep an eye out for toxic weeds, to … Continue reading “Baling Hay for Big, Beefy Cattle”

Theres nothing quite so frustrating for a farmer than belt failure in the midst of baling. At very least, the problem means down-time. Losing an opportunity to take advantage of sunny weather can also mean lost hay. At worst, belt problems can cause costly damage to other baler parts or pose a safety hazard. Problems requiring complete belt replacement or a repair like splicing result from diverse causes. A little investigation can help determine whether … Continue reading “Broken Baler Belts: Repairing or Replacing?”

Once the warm weather kicks in, forage grasses and legumes have a way of reaching prime cutting height a lot faster than even veteran haymakers can predict. Make sure your hay equipment is ready for deployment sooner rather than later. Clean Up Tasks Ideally, everything underwent a thorough cleaning before winter storage. If not, youll need to remove the old hay debris before the new season — by sweeping or using air pressure on balers, … Continue reading “Are You Ready? Prepping Hay Equipment for the Season”

  With even the best hay, a lot can go wrong between baling and feeding. Common-sense hay storage practices, however, will minimize spoilage. Hay Enemy Number One: Moisture UV rays often bleach nourishment from hay bales, and rodents destroy a certain percentage of stored hay by chowing down on the more delectable varieties or simply nesting in the bales. Such challenges, however, are preventable or manageable with the help of indoor hay storage, good housekeeping … Continue reading “A Guide to Hay Storage and Hay Spoilage”

Farmers, the ultimate high-stakes gamblers, walk a fine line — between too much and too little sun, too much and too little moisture. Nowhere is that fine line more evident than in the hayfield. Mother Nature gives no guarantees she will provide the optimum window of time for harvesting forage vegetation, whether for baling or ensiling. In humid, cool areas of the United States, the farmer may need four sunny days between cutting and baling. … Continue reading “How to Reduce Hay and Silage Drying Time in the Field”

Farming is hardly a precise science. Mother Nature can throw curves that even veteran haymakers cant handle. But learning from the mistakes of others can go a long way to ensuring a successful first-year hay harvest, even for the hobby farmer. Hay Making Mistake: Choosing the Wrong Kind of Hay Inexperienced farmers are often tempted to plant the wrong kind of hay for their soil or their climate, simply because that particular species brings a … Continue reading “Haymaking Mistakes Newbies and Hobby Farmers Should Avoid”

Having the space for large wind turbines and solar panel assemblies, farms can be ideal sites for renewable energy systems. As a major electricity consumer — to pump water through irrigation systems, dry grain, run barn fans, cool dairy produce, etc. — the farmer has considerable interest in reducing steep monthly utility payments. Increasingly, American farmers are investing in solar and wind power. Some want to go off the grid completely. Others want to power … Continue reading “Pros and Cons of Using Renewable Solar or Wind Energy on Your Farm”

For hay producers, is the large round bale more economical than the small square? Because of all the variables involved, theres no easy answer. Round Baler Belt Certinly, the big ton bales are increasingly popular among American hay farmers. The total equipment investment for producing round bales is typically less than for small bale production. When it comes to baling and stacking hay on comparable acreage, round bale producers may need only two thirds of … Continue reading “The Economics of Small Squares vs. Round Hay Bales”