[AT] OT Hay question

[Grant Brians]

Tom, here in the flats we start baling at night now mostly. This allows a 
little more baling to take place. But that means that you have to have 
working lights.... Sometimes that is a problem. No problem on NOT borrowing 
my meter, just an offer for what is an indespensible tool to me when baling 
as I would often bale too dry before and lose some needed leaves. 
Interestingly I tended to have fewer problems with too wet unless it was 
getting moister during the baling time in the day. But that came about from 
losing too wet hay before.
    In answer to the New York question, a swather is a self-propelled 
mower-conditioner that either has no crimper or a limited crimper of up to 4 
feet wide. They range from 14-18 feet of cut and are the tool used for most 
western hay cutting because of their speed and air-conditioned cabs. They 
were first used in the 1950's or thereabouts. They are not to be confused 
with the windrowers used in the plains for swathing huge widths of grain for 
faster drying (30' to 50' wide). As far as I know the windrowers were nearly 
always pulled?
        Grant Brians
        Hollister CA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "toma" <toma at risingnet.net>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2006 10:07 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] OT Hay question


>
>
> On Sun, 9 Jul 2006, Grant Brians wrote:
>
>> Tom, you live in an area that it makes sense to make your own hay. I 
>> would second Walt's suggestion of getting a hay moisture meter. Would you 
>> like to borrow mine? It works very well and takes the guesswork out of 
>> the process.
>
> Thanks for the offer Grant but I think I will hold off at least until next 
> year. I am going to try the twisting method.
>
> The biggest problem we have here is getting wet fogs before raking or 
> after raking and before baling. This makes the hay turn black and it gets 
> brittle when it dries out. This is why it makes sense to rake up big 
> windrows. I used to shock my hay years ago and the former owners of the 
> 55W used to shock their hay and buck it to the baler and bale stationary.
>
> Oat Hay is usually ready to cut the middle of June here, for the last 10 
> years or so it seems like we get a rain, last year we got about an inch 
> and everyone had to turn their windrows.
>
> Based on what Cecil said I am going to try putting up hay on the sappy 
> side next time. Have you ever made hay from Harding Grass?
>
> It all depends on how the baling goes starting tomorrow, if all goes well 
> I may try cutting some.
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> Remembering Our Friend Cecil Monson 11-4-2005
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