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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2014 23:10:46 GMT -5
Looking at a high of 58 here in Northern WI tomorrow. I am not minding the cool spell. Our cattle are enjoying it too. We have one field left to bale, we bale small squares and should have about 500 in the barn when we are done. It's been harder getting it baled with all the rain here. So we take down what we can handle.
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Post by Fran on Jul 14, 2014 7:28:20 GMT -5
Last year we had all the rain. Seemed like it rained every day almost. Pastures and yards looked wonderful. I think it was too much rain.... This year our pastures have never looked this bad -- even a few years ago when we were in that horrible drought. I think all of the rain caused our grass to get some sort of fungus and this year it's a lot of bare spots. The hay that I bought is top quality fescue from a guy in NC that does it mainly for horses. We got a few bales of his last year's hay to see how it was and there is absolutely NO mold in it and it still smells very sweet. So far, I'm very pleased. I hope it works out as I have planned....
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Post by wvdexters on Jul 15, 2014 8:27:57 GMT -5
Ahh...the cooler temps are finally getting here. Looking forward to some high 70s low 80s for a few days. Much better than the humid high 90s we've been having. No rain to speak of though. They keep promising it, and we're hoping. But so far the storms have been all high winds and very little rain. Fingers crossed for today, and hopefully no more big trees coming down.
Looks like it's going to be another tough yr for hay. The fields are just too dry, everyone is coming up short. We found some good quality but it's going to cost us about twice as much as last yr. We're getting it in now while we can and a little extra too.
And Pine Valley our cattle are enjoying the cool temps here too. Had to laugh outloud when I saw our Very pregnant little shorty out running around through the field and playing King of the Hill with our yearling steer. That girl can really cover some ground when she wants too. I tell you, you could see their smiles.
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Post by stephanie on Jul 15, 2014 14:12:23 GMT -5
Earlier in this thread there was chatter about why a haylage bale would go off after a few months. The answer is because it wasn't baled tight enough. The person doing the baling probably wasn't experienced enough and the middle of the bales was too soft and spongy, so too much air is trapped amongst the forage.
Haylage should keep as well as silage if it is made properly unless air has got in somehow, birds do like to sit on the bales for warmth and can peck very tiny holes, this is all it takes, so they need checking and if need be covering in a net.
Stephanie
P.S. Here in the UK we make silage bales which are wrapped after 12 to 48 hours, depending on type of grass and the weather conditions to get the correct wilt, we usually use a haybob to row 2 rows of cut grass into one before baling which helps the person baling to get a tight bale. We make haylage bales which are wrapped after 48 hours to 4 days, again depends on type of grass, weather conditions and also how heavy the crop and we make hay, this usually requires 5 to 6 days of good weather here including the day it was cut and is not wrapped.....it doesn't get that hot here in Wales! We row 2 rows together for the hay and haylage as well as it makes it easier to get a tight bale, if the forage is too light and fluffy, not rowed up right, in small rows or spread about, it is harder for the driver of the baler to get the bales firm....so I have always been told. The equipment may be different with you. S
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Post by Olga on Jul 15, 2014 16:26:43 GMT -5
A high of 80° today and tomorrow, a high of 70° Thursday and Friday. Wow, what a summer!
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Post by lakeportfarms on Jul 15, 2014 20:54:29 GMT -5
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Post by lakeportfarms on Jul 16, 2014 6:07:02 GMT -5
Not here Gene, the forecast tonight is a low of 45 or so, but the Great Lakes have warmed up enough now that it moderates our temperatures a lot. I looked at the weather and it shows a gradual warming later in the week to the 70's for highs. Since we're surrounded by water on all sides it actually delays our first frosts in the fall compared to places like Minnesota and Wisconsin. The same happens in the winter. Our spring is usually cool and cloudy though compared to other areas. We have no water to our Southwest however, so when the winds blow from Missouri and Texas it gets pretty hot and humid, yuk.
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Post by cddexter on Jul 16, 2014 8:56:06 GMT -5
Thanks, Steph. I don't have the equipment, so have to go by what the contractor tells me. You put it much better than I. cheers, c. PS: Here the weather is usually tempered by the ocean, but lately, and just over the last few days, it's been in the 90's. Glad I'm moving from mid-island to the south end where the weather is cooler. Was on the new property yesterday, sitting in the shade of some big maples, sipping prosecco with a friend; lovely.
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Post by lakeportfarms on Jul 16, 2014 18:45:48 GMT -5
Gene, I haven't had much of a chance to watch the Tour this year. By the time I get home I'm exhausted and fall right asleep. Many projects to complete and the summer is short. But I'm happy for the cool weather. Thought you'd like to see a video that was just posted on YouTube though, me and Nelson Vails in the semis at the 84 Nationals, just a few days after he won the silver medal at the Olympics. I think my races were closer than all of his rides (other than Mark Gorski) in L.A.! I never thought I'd have a chance to see them. The other riders in the other two races are Les and Tom Finklea. Les lost to Nelson in the finals and I beat Tom in two straight, but no video of that unfortunately... www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yFTFDkQswASorry to go off topic from the original post, but since I started it anyway I think I'm allowed.
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Post by legendrockranch on Jul 16, 2014 20:17:02 GMT -5
No Grandson of Polar Vortex here in south central Texas. Highs are in the upper 90's and the humidity can be cut with a knife. Sweltering. Any rain that you hear about in Texas always misses us. Glad to hear that some of you are getting a little relief.
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