Horray Hay

[CrealCritter]

Man the tractors are struggling. Have to creep trough the fields to prevent the mowers from straining. It's high and thick. I'm so glad it's being made into hay.

 

[CrealCritter]

CFO must know I need a tractor, She's been sending me links to used tractors. I didn't even have to talk to her about it either.

 

[Mini Horses]

Exactly WHY hay makers do not want to go into fields they don't know. I'm surprised they agreed to do more than just bushhog this year. That stuff is tough to cut. I know that my fields can bog the bushhog if they get very tall because they are so thick. Of course, I do have constant fertilizing going on from animals.

Sad to "waste" such good feed! I lament this fact as I cut my fields, each year. But haying takes a larger tractor than I have & the cost of the attachments to cut & bale is beyond my needs! Then maintenance & repairs. I thank them when I BUY the bales. 😁

 

[farmerjan]

So, why not get a couple of rolls of electronet and a couple of 5-6 wt calves to feed for a few months???? Move the netting every few days or week.... let them eat down all that hasn't been cut. The gain will probably not make you much money as the heavier they get the less per pound they bring.... but it would still make you something....Or better yet, get a couple of 8-9 weights and graze for a couple months and then sell one and eat the other.... You will get about the same price per pound at 7-8 wts as at 9-1100 lbs.... so it would be a gain that would help if you sold one and ate the other.... Just find a place to butcher it first as the wait time here is unbelieveable. You do not have to go usda... just for the meat for yourself.... if you kill deer, and dress them out, then you could do your own... just bigger. Heifers are cheaper than steers to buy and often don't discount as much as they get bigger.... Or get a few that have had "pinkeye" so have white spots or even being blind on one side... they are often discounted heavily at the stock yards... he//, you don't eat their eyes.. so unless they are totally blind, they will still see fine to get around and eat in an enclosed area that they are not being harrassed by other animals so not pushed to try to get loose to get away from other bullies.

 

[baymule]

You are speaking to the expert. This is what @farmerjan has done all her life and she knows her stuff.

This is Goldie, our steer and future steaks.

Our Steer is Here!

Our steer was delivered today. He was born last October, 2019. He has a slaughter date in March 2021. He is half Charolais and half Hereford. We named him Goldie.

www.backyardherds.com

 

[CrealCritter]

I took a better look today they actually cut more than I thought. The tall grass in the feilds is weighing heavy on my heart... Such a shame, it could feed a lot of cows.

 

[baymule]

I like the big bolder idea

But if you visit illinois and if you see the top of a fence post painted purple, it means no trespassing and no hunting. I kid you not it's the law here in Illinois. Why purple you ask? Well I guess if your color blind you can still make it out. This law was put into place because people got tired of replacing old crappy wind torn and faded no trespassing and no hunting signs. They even sell no hunting purple spray paint in the store. Crazy hu?

Not crazy. Same purple paint on a tree or fence post here in Texas.

On the pig pen, I think a bull dozer is a good idea. Level it off, fill in the low spots and clean it up.

 

[CrealCritter]

@CrealCritter I have been quietly reading and enjoying this thread. My only suggestion is perhaps to contact the local ag office? Who knows, there might be a program available to help you?

I most definitely will be checking into that this winter. The property is registered as a Farm already.

 

[CrealCritter]

Exactly WHY hay makers do not want to go into fields they don't know. I'm surprised they agreed to do more than just bushhog this year. That stuff is tough to cut. I know that my fields can bog the bushhog if they get very tall because they are so thick. Of course, I do have constant fertilizing going on from animals.

Sad to "waste" such good feed! I lament this fact as I cut my fields, each year. But haying takes a larger tractor than I have & the cost of the attachments to cut & bale is beyond my needs! Then maintenance & repairs. I thank them when I BUY the bales. 😁

It's sad to me that all this good grass is going to have to be bush hogged. Oh well what can a guy do? Hopefully next year will be different and I'll have some animals, garden and expanded orchard on some of it. I know, It's a slow but steady process.

 

[Mini Horses]

Looks like there is "some" fence up??? I at least see a wood and a T-post in one pic. Some electric insulators on T....maybe no fence.