[Michael Low]

We had a small hog (50lbs) get into a 1 acre pen with 5 beef this summer. I just got their in time to save the bacon. They were stomping, and chasing, and charging and lunging. It was dramatic and the pig was certainly not happy. Maybe it was all bluff, but it sure looked like he was in for it.

I would introduce them with a wire the pigs could escape under if the pressure is to high at first. Over time they would adjust to each other. I have seen pics, and read of this combo for grazing.

By the way that pig was changed from then on, sweet, loving and for some reason he no longer had the urge to go anywhere.

[Michael Low]

We make grain hay for our goats.

The limiting factor is that it takes a longer time to dry, because of the stem moisture.

We have thought it would be ideal to harvest at this stage or that, but around here we just have to settle for a good 4 day window to dry well. That window decides harvest time and there are probably benefits harvested at any stage.

Our mix has been Japanese millet, barley and oats all at the same time. Under seeded with pasture grass. After we cut, the grasses come in and they are perennial.

We use this technique to renovate old pasture.

Animals love it.

[Michael Low]

Thanks.

[Michael Low]

I think the portable moisture meters are a good thing.

I have seen them used quite poorly however, to make really bad, almost flammable hay. Like Tim says the hay in the field may be unevenly drying. The fellow I saw the meter poorly was averaging his moisture numbers to get the number he wanted. The moisture may even out to a degree between the dryer part of bales and the moist part, but as much as he wanted. That particular field of bales ended up very dusty and there were even some small ash pockets reported in the bales!

We have been making more loose hay on our farm and going for dry we don’t always get the best color, but our scent is great and where we used to rely on waste hay to build up our goats bedding pack we have absolutely no waste whatsoever and have had to buy straw this winter.

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[Michael Low]

Thanks, Here they are again

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[Michael Low]

This could be a whole other discussion:

The costs of equipment and the need for it on a farm. It can certainly make or break an operation.

I was talking to an older farmer in our town, now mostly retired he still trucks cattle and makes hay. I asked him where he got a group of heifers he had outside his barn. He said they came from an organic dairy that just shut down, 4 years after starting.
When I asked why they closed he said “Too many minuses, not enough pluses.”
“New truck, tractor and barn, too many minuses and not enough pluses.”

Pretty basic (and effective) version of accounting.

[Michael Low]

I had pioneer equipment fabricate a dump cart axle with 4′ steel wheels around 6 years ago. I like it a lot. I use it with a pole and a team of oxen. For the oxen you want the body balanced forward of center around 6″. This keeps the weight from pulling up on their yokes and choking them. Even with a 2000lb load their really isn’t too much weight on the pole, just enough to keep it pushing down.

Also I just bought a $250 poly dump from DR Power that is around the size of two wheelbarrows. It has a tractor hitch. I haven’t used it yet but it seems rugged. It is made by Ohio Steel.

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[Michael Low]

I wonder if people used to make hay at night when using animal power in Texas, to avoid the heat? I have heard of that in other areas of the south. It makes sense if the nights are cooler and there is not a heavy dew in your climate. I don’t know what if anything would change about the basics; cut, ted, rake, gather, other than that you would be wearing a headlamp.
Michael Low

[Michael Low]

Vince,

I use a pioneer forecart with a single fjord, albeit a large one: 14.2 hh 1100lbs. Yes he is a pure Fjord. We live on a hill farm and he is able to rake and ted hay with it. We use it to pull a New Holland 256 side delivery rake: up to 2 acres heavy hay is well within his capabilities. We have raked up to six acres medium light hay also fine (not lathered nor breathing hard). We pull a Grimm ground drive tedder which is more challenging for him. The key is to work only across contours and work the terrain to his advantage. We made hay on 12 acres last year and that was comfortable for him. Next year we will be making hay on 20+ acres and he will need a team mate. Your 5 acres should be doable with a single.

For note I mowed with a borrowed tractor and gathered using a restored hay loader pulled by a team of oxen. I will mow with a team in the future and it would be nice to have more animals to use with the hay loader, if not in combined hitches then at least one team one load, next team next load because of our hills.

I don’t know of a lighter fore-cart than the pioneer except some home made ones I have seen.

Michael Low

[Michael Low]

Thanks, I’ll look them up.

Michael

[Michael Low]

I make all of my pulp wood, logged off our farm, into biochar. I have a 40- 50 cord per year capacity with my current set up.

http://www.vermontbiochar.com is my business web site

Michael Low

[Michael Low]

Nice tool.

I agree, tractors pale in comparison to hand tools for the construction of good water bars.

[Michael Low]

P&R mill, Wolcott VT
Dave’s Sawmill, Hardwick VT
Courier sawmill, Danville VT

Dave at least is a good resource having been in the milling and logging industry up here his whole life, maybe he would know.

[Michael Low]

Hey Carl, sorry but offline for a while there. The belt is 84″ long and 7/8th”wide.

[Michael Low]

Not sure, will measure…

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