Farmers Weekly Review

This week, I shall write about a topic I know better than most of the population: making hay.

Our recent wet spring appears to be continuing with no end in sight. That does not bode well for planting row crops; however, it may very well be a good thing for hay producers. Can you take a guess at what has been the #1 question I have been asked the last month during a serious hay shortage? Or what the # 2 question is?

For the first 35 years that I made hay in my farming career, I would delay the first cutting harvest well into June. I found that the yields would double on my alfalfa/timothy hay fields if I waited until Father’s Day or later, versus cutting hay around Memorial Day. I even had a saying, “Do not make hay in May.” The weather is much more conducive for adequate drying of the hay in June with temperatures in the 80s-90s and longer daylight versus May.

Last year, a dry spring ended with incredible warmth and a beautiful stretch of hot and dry weather for making hay in May. The result was pitiful yields and a major shortage of hay for the rest of the year. Therefore, it is my belief that this year should produce higher yields with the current excess of moisture and some patience in waiting to cut hay until Mother Nature turns off the rains in June. When, or if, she turns off the rains, I believe that many people will be very pleased with the yields when they cut, rake and bale their hay.

Now to answer the riddle, several people ask me every day, “When are you going to make hay?” My simple answer is when the weather forecast has 5 days without rain and temperatures above 80 degrees. As of now such a forecast does not exist thru May. A second question usually follows, “How much will it cost?” Now it is time to vent a little.

I love it when a customer with an $80,000-$100,000 truck/trailer combo insinuates that I am getting rich from them buying hay. I always think it’s great when they have two bags of garbage, dozens of spent liquor containers, a flat spare tire, and broken pallets in the bed of the truck, and then expect to stack hay on top of it all. I truly appreciate loading a truck; then after 50 bales are stacked, they announce they covered the straps with the hay. My all-time favorite, of course, is when they arrive 2 hours late after begging you for an early appointment. Let’s not forget the few inconsiderate customers who show up drinking alcohol and throw their empties out at the farm.

Have you noticed that I never answered the question about price? The price is a tough one to pin down now. In the previous 2 years, it was more profitable to grow corn and soybeans per acre than hay. That probably means that the price of a bale of hay should rise as well, otherwise I should plant those hay fields into corn and soybeans.

Well, until the weather improves, there will be no planting or hay harvesting. In the meantime, I think I will go shopping for an $80,000 truck. Just kidding; my 2008 Chevy is just broken in.

Rust? What rust? That is patina; that dent will buff right out.