If haying got any easier…

I adopted this wet lands haying idea 11 years ago before Memorial day weekend. Bro’ destined to be in hospital for months over leg loss I had to hold this operation together until He could come back. At that time the problem was getting the haying a jump start to get all the hay in within the season, accounting for all the expected breakdowns what come along with farming. Neither of us was backup to the other for some four years at that time. I was it. Time management was my key to keeping this operation upon an even forward going keel.
What I had done, getting reasonably good weather reports for required drying times early into the season I started making hay up to three weeks ahead of all (allele) my Michigan neighbors even those cutting and blowing haylage into silos. The hay downed I had just completed rebuilding my beloved AC hay rake. What an allied machine. I’ve yet to see anything what might even think it could come close to its astounding flexibility. Slower maybe than newer machines but still a wonder in its own mechanical right.
Fields Spring wet those days, I found that AC rake logically teamed with the WD45 AC tractor. I could lift the windrowed hay just up off the wet ground were it laid, put it up on edge for full flow air circulating thru those on edged windrows. The windrows on edge didn’t lay or flop over upon the very ground what was wet I wanted to avoid the last pass. 11yrs ago I had 60 tons hay up before Memorial day. 10yrs ago I had done even better having 80 tons hay rolled and readied for the next winter’s feeding.
Might I add those earlier starts had me using the 1400 Hesston mower-conditioner in the windrowing mode. Life saver mode if ever one on wet ground. The crops cut the ground between the windrow could openly dry. That ground dried I had a place to just tip my windrows up on a dry edged strips of dried ground.
Those years after Memorial day I had to put the broadcaster on the Hesston. Going for three days drying time was a miracle those two seasons. I never saw a sure fired fourth hay drying day in a row. I was so long in the tractor saddle calluses on my arse gave me that taller look.
Here it is mid to latening June and I’ve gone back to those pre-Memorial day practices of old. Yes fans, History does repeat itself in a away.
If haying got any easier… …all the fun would be taken out of it! {;^))_
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Sum of a gun… I had to drop three gears to cut the hayfield in an adjacent township this morning. Winter seeding that field winter before last Mr. Roger‘s clover seed, holy cows those seeds have magically turned into mini Jack red clover blossomed stalks. So tough I had to, that’s right, I had to drop three Oliver gears to repeatedly mow my way over that field a line cut again and again. Wonder of wonders the clover seeding‘s growth is generating nitrogen into the soil what miraculously feeds the grasses (orchard, timothy, brome, quack, crab, and others the nitrogen they all needs to grow lush and deep (higher than a 34 x18.4 tractor driver tire).
Tractor over heating I took it to Mr. Roger’s elevator service department for a good cooling off. It was Mr. Roger’s seed causing me all the tough cutting after all anyway. And I told him when I saw him. ….I get no respect…. The man laughed at me. Offered me his air hose to blow off my hay seed and water at the fountain to wet my pipes.
Raked hay from under a hard top, mowed hay from under a window and door-less tractor cap. Late this afternoon I’ll be going under more serious coverage my neck getting sunburned raw. The coverage may help me protect my good looks from so many ladies havin’ taken to following me around lately.
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Taken a quick squint at my latest PB subscription, there weren’t nothing within its pages what matched the likes I saw coming out of the super market yesterday. Whew. First time I’ve ever had a PB magazine lay around for five days and never freshened.
Five acres raked, ten acres cut, a cold lunch, a couple iced teas another four to six acres to cut dependent upon when I hit water, and the first five acres baled made for me a full day. Had help bringing up equipment, loading out dry pasturage for other end.
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Caught up for a moment I tied enlisting a hand with movin’ in my new chair in, my old chair out. Impatient I was, I drug the old one on its side through the door ways. Having worked out a method for moving a chair through the doorways I reversed the process bringing in the new one. It were a good time to I test the material the new chair was made of. Tough enough nowhere did the new chair leave a mark on the wood work nor household floor. The chair in, my sitting in it, the old one could sit a few moments before I wrestle it out to the road. It was tea time again, anyway. I mustn’t miss my tea.
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Saw deer yesterday, even more dear today. Had a doe not only cross my path, but it stood and walked in circles watching me, and jumped two fawn what had the sense to run. The first one was a real gas running so hard it plowed its snout against the ground every few yards. Poor thing couldn’t even keep its sea legs and we’re no where near a sea. The second on one to big for fawn, grass so deep I had assumed. It were likely another doe.
Baby daughter had foot surgery for cist removal. She’s to be off work six weeks ain’t got much in house to eat. Got to be her blond hair she ain’t totally organized. Dead on my feet I gave her a close half gallon ice-cream for her supper. She’s got to be thirty something and ain’t got this looking/planning ahead figured out yet? Kids!?!?!?!?
Myself in during the twilight zone, I don’t care if I make sense. I’m good well done for the day, and bushed for it. BGKC.
Fernan