Haying

Hay season is about here and it looks like the first cutting will be good, but not as good as last year’s. Fertilizer price is hurting everyone and allot of producer are not fertilizing as heavy as they have in the past. Cool nights have not been that good for Bermuda growth, hopefully are weather will get closer to normal soon.
Price of diesel and twine and other costs have caused baling rates to go up. I am hearing 22.50 to 25 dollars a bale for 5.5 X 5 bales and 1.75 to 2.00 for square bales. I remember not too long ago buying hay for 1.50 a bale, never see those prices again.
I am anxious to get started baling, seems the most problems I have is the first few days of cutting and baling hay so want to get those over with. Everything seems ready to go, but I know there will be something break before the first 100 rolls are out.
Best of luck t everyone and hope your hay is good this year

Spring Time Calving time and price of diesel

Have you noticed sometimes a cow will start fighting other cows right before she calve. Have seen this several times and never understood why. Cows get along just fine but a week or 2 before they calve they sometimes have knock down fights with other cows. Once they clave they seem to be ok. You sure do not want to get to close to them when they do this. Lucky my cow calved a couple days later and now seems to be back to normal with other cows.
Feeding hay is slowing down some, rye and clover is coming on good. Hopefully hay feeding is about over with. I should have almost of enough hay for next year left over, sure feels good going into spring and summer not having to worry to much about hay for next winter.
With the price of fuel no telling what custom rates are going to be for hay baling. I was charging 20 a bale last year, looks like 22.50 to 25 is going to be the rate this year. With road diesel hitting close to 4.00 dollars and still going up, we could see 4.00 a gallon for dyed diesel before long. Sure wish I had filled my tanks back at first of year or last year. Not only will this effect running of tractor but also things like twine for baling will be going up. 2008 may be a trying year for hay balers and cattle people as prices for cattle are coming down due to increase cost of corn. Best of luck to everyone

Feeding time/winter time

Feeding hay now, they started out eating pretty heavy. I had blocked them off half the pasture since first of November. Ryegrass and clover are growing in pasture, did not look like allot out there, but turned cows out first of January and hay consumption has dropped over half.
Calving will start around February 21. I will bring cows up close so consumption will go up then, but hopefully pastures will start to grow pretty good about that time.
Working on equipment, trying to get everything in good shape for next year. Also been enjoying some time off from the rush of hay baling and other chores. Been creating databases for cattle and equipment, hopefully this will help in better record keeping. Really trying to get a cost per hour/per bale etc to run. I hope this will help.