The Official Farming Thread...

[Mastermind]

Not familiar with them either, however as Jake mentioned for seasoned hay, oats, corn stalks, 99% of this was left uncovered. Just put in rows with bales butted up to each other. In west central Illinois, I think most farmers on tight enough budget and didn't see much difference with product versus time and money invested. Also, the guys that I custom hay baled for knew what they wanted for winter bale numbers and if they had extra over that...it would be sold. Most never had anything to old that they would be feeding then either.

I've got an old 400' long poultry barn I keep my hay in. Plenty of room. I was just thinking of wrapping some green wheat.

 

[kingOFgEEEks]

I've got an old 400' long poultry barn I keep my hay in. Plenty of room. I was just thinking of wrapping some green wheat.

I'm going to counterpoint a little bit, and say that when you ensile hay like that, it make EXCELLENT fodder. But, it is harder on the equipment to make, and the cattle will get lazy and fat on it, which can be a problem when you are just trying to supplement pasture.

I guess a lot of it depends on what your end goal is - is this a supplement, or is this going to be their main source of calories and protein?

 

[Mastermind]

I'm going to counterpoint a little bit, and say that when you ensile hay like that, it make EXCELLENT fodder. But, it is harder on the equipment to make, and the cattle will get lazy and fat on it, which can be a problem when you are just trying to supplement pasture.

I guess a lot of it depends on what your end goal is - is this a supplement, or is this going to be their main source of calories and protein?

Main source of feed thru the winter.

 

[kingOFgEEEks]

Main source of feed thru the winter.

We always chopped and put in silos, since we didn't have a bale wrapper, but silage in any form is good nutrition.

 

[amberg]

We always chopped and put in silos, since we didn't have a bale wrapper, but silage in any form is good nutrition.

We done the silage piles on top of the ground back in the late 60's and early 70's . Also had one cement bunker in the ground back then.

 

[Steve]

We done the silage piles on top of the ground back in the late 60's and early 70's . Also had one cement bunker in the ground back then.

We still have a pit silo on our property from when this was a dairy farm years ago.

 

[kingOFgEEEks]

I'll make anyone a heck of a deal on two 12x60 ribstone concrete silos. Free! You just have to come take them down.

 

[exSW]

I'll make anyone a heck of a deal on two 12x60 ribstone concrete silos. Free! You just have to come take them down.

There used to be a guy out in Ohio (Keim?) that dealt in those concrete stave silos. But that's been a while.

 

[Tbrown]

I'll make anyone a heck of a deal on two 12x60 ribstone concrete silos. Free! You just have to come take them down.

This was about 12 years ago. I think they were 18 or 20 x 60, two of them. I don't remember now. Was definitely an experience.

 

[kingOFgEEEks]

This was about 12 years ago. I think they were 18 or 20 x 60, two of them. I don't remember now. Was definitely an experience.

How bad was it to clean up?

 

[exSW]

This makes 49 new rake teeth.

 

[Tbrown]

How bad was it to clean up?

90% of the staves broke, silo was not in great condition. Dozer made short work of cleanup.

 

[amberg]

 

[amberg]

View attachment 239887

Couple pics. for the boss! Doing silage hay today. they will put it in the wrap tomorrow. More coming I hope.

 

[amberg]

Green hay!

 

[legdelimber]

Cityfied now but was a rural raised kid.
Pardon me for butting in.
Just looking at these images and wondering if I have the right hay scent in my memory bank.
Was mid 70's. Was getting late in the day and rain was predicted to be there by sometime in the morning.
A flatbed load of us teen aged boys ( and the grownups) were unloaded on a farm and told we would be there until the last (square) bail was in the hay barn.
If memory serves me, was a little more than 400 bails strung out across the fields.
Grab the twines and heave it up to the guys on the truck. Someone following in a pickup behind us to shine headlights on us.
Lower back, shoulders & forearms (yep and fingers) were whipped when we rolled back home.

I'd love to be in that good of shape again.
Anyone got a time machine? I'd be glad to sling some hay in exchange for some time in my young body.
..cause I got a bucket list of concerts and 4~5 girls I'd love to go back and see.

 

[N8TE]

Kinda excited to have found myself a new/old tractor. Really clean, low hour 4450! Putting up hay and wood will be a bit more enjoyable this year.

 

[exSW]

Rarely do I covet another mans tractor(especially a Deere) but that's a good one!

 

[Tbrown]

Dad seeding

 

[Bilge Rat]

I still have and use an old JD grain drill like that.