Hay 2024

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122265337#Comment_122265337

Forget the weather forecast on rte, have look at the weather daily weather forecast on the weather section on boards from MT Cranium and also start looking at 2 major weather models the ECM and GFS

Silverdream

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122265353#Comment_122265353

Thanks, going by them forecasts the next 2 weeks are going to warm up significantly,

heres the links

https://www.theweatheroutlook.com/twodata/gfs.aspx

https://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts

mr.stonewall

The ECM has 2 major runs a day about 7am and 7pm. The gfs has 4 major runs at 5am, 11am , 5pm and 11pm, Every run has subtle differences after 5 days but it's the trend across both models and lots of runs that is key. The 2 models also to rainfall predictions as well

emaherx

The mid week rain (here anyway) looks to have disappeared but with the days after I think I'll still chance cutting some now. If the weather holds I'll knock more after midweek. I'm under stocked so will have plenty to sell this year.

kk.man

Not going to chance it back end of week is too dodge for me thus far.

Silverdream

After leveling 12 acres of jungle. I waited for the 1pm forecast but yourone was talking out of both sides of her mouth, she couldn't even say today was going to stay dry.

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122266386#Comment_122266386

The hardest bit is done. Best of luck with it

limo_100

Hopefully the weather holds up for another week and gets sunnier and I'll try and get 8 acres of hay, I just don't have time this week unfortunately but there is not much sun this week anyway.

tractorporn

We have gotten washed out of it here in the last hour. It was threatening to come for half the day before that. I'm bot gonna chance it this week but hope to mow 30 acres this day next week if the forecast is anyway good

Reggie.

Got rain this evening too

limo_100

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122266700#Comment_122266700

Weather is shocking it has being so difficult to get anything done last year everything only seems to get done by the skin of our teeth lately getting sick of it tbh its very frustrasting

fits

just knocked a couple of fields here. Hedging bets. In south east.

Silverdream

Week is promised ok up to Friday, not a lot of Sun but a good breeze most days. I find its easy to dry the hay out with the breeze but I'd like a strong day or two of sun to bleech the hay too.

Anyways it cut now and its nice to get started rather than looking out at it.

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122266925#Comment_122266925

Was tight, but managed to make hay twice last year, in June and September. Already made a few bales this year and knocked 16 acres today, sometimes you just have to go for it but at least the wrapper is on standby as a safety net.

emaherx

No rain here, but was talking with a friend who's 5 min down the road who said it lashed as soon as he hooked up the mower, so he pulled the plug for today.

StevenToast

Can someone explain the economics of buying in straw bales for bedding vs baling up a good few bales of hay?

Why would i bed cattle on expensive straw when i can just land them on some dry hay i make myself?

I have just converted to organic....

cap.in.hand.

Pity unsettled weather moving in from Saturday

Silverdream

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122267548#Comment_122267548

With straw you are importing neutrients onto the land, hay doesn't have the same soakage as straw, it's harder to get it to rot in the dung heap. I've had hay in the dung heap still failing to break down after 12 months;

but yes the economics of buying straw at last years prices is not on.

Castlekeeper

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122267548#Comment_122267548

If you had a few rushy coarse meadows better than any straw, beaks down very quick after too. Pure hay tends to form a wet mat under the stock.

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122267624#Comment_122267624

Would be typical that after years of clearing out farms of rushes that they could potentially be worth something.🤣

limo_100

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122267510#Comment_122267510

Got it twice last year in June myself, but there is notting more hateful than baling fit hay after a shower 😂 I don't think it makes the nicest stuff wrapped when its that far gone

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122267747#Comment_122267747

Yea, I think if it's going to be wrapped it's better to wrap early, but that still gives me a few extra days to call it.

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122267548#Comment_122267548

Are you allowed wood chip or sand. Can you use a scraper to keep muck away from the bedding area.

Few local organic folks make hay from rush ground. Feed the bales to dry cows and what ever is left over is grabbed up and used as bedding. They will sort it quickly. These lads have moved to making very dry fodder and putting a serous fall in the floor of the lie back to keep it dry. One chap has a bit of a gravel pit on farm and tips a load of sand gravel into the bedding area and covers it. All mixed in the compost and spread.

mr.stonewall

Got hay twice last year in June and the year before on 4 separate occasions in 22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122267571#Comment_122267571

The rain on friday and Saturday is moving around and wracking on each on the model runs. The warm air pushing up, I think will keep it well away. Tuesday and Wednesday will be good hay days, sunshine and wind.

Tip is always turn for the weather, if it's starting to blow up into a good day, get turning it early at lunchtime. Very little point turning stuff after 4 or 5pm, the power is going out of the day unless it's a small bit of ground

Next one is take it very handy tomorrow, slower forward speed on the tedders 4-5km/h max. You want to get all the crop.

emaherx

Yea, but amounts showing here are low, changing between Saturday afternoon and Friday evening, but set to improve after too.

Think I'll bale/wrap one damp paddock and all of the headlands to speed things up a bit.

kk.man

The last number of years in this country has been terrible to predict hay. Good hay should be minimal 50e a bale with all the poker that goes with it.

Silverdream

Just gave it a run of the haybob, Slow start to the day, I thought it would be still fresh but it is surprising how it has progressed. I'll make a call on it tomorrow, it will need until Friday but if the weather isn't going to play ball I will bale it up tomorrow evening instead of letteing it go too far

dryan

5 acres knocked Saturday. Its heavy enough crop.
Shook it out Sunday.
Got the tail end of a shower last night.
Went through it again at 4pm today and it got a good evening.

Looking at Met, rain forecast for Friday although the GFS 12Z model run is showing less rain.
Tuesday and Wednesday look to be good days so i might have a chance to bale it up late Thursday evening.

fits

met Éireann forecasting fairly heavy rain here on Friday night in south east. We cut Sunday night. Will toss it this morning. One field heavy and one light enough. May need to wrap it.

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122272610#Comment_122272610

I've been watching that forecast here (for north east), and rain amounts keep changing considerably, not showing much now, but was showing a washout this morning, definitly worth watching. I'm wrapping headlands and damp spots this evening but still hopeful for some hay. Next week looks a better week and I've another 5 acres to knock.