Very happy got my hay tonight to cover next 6 months

[Eve]

With the awful weather been worrying about hay as my usual supplier had none left and not able to cut any yet.

Someone had the yard had a delivery and I asked if I could have some as well, so got 6 big bales plus the 10 small bales of haylage I have, means I'm sorted for a while.

Phew!!!

Though saw a baler on the road so reckon lots of hay cut today.

[Eve]

Ps ..l. I have a we forest and a cob.., so last years quality is good for me.

[Mirage2012Olympics]

What a relief for you! We haven't started yet.I've got 20 bales of last years left,but the chap we buy off the field from hasn't mown yet and neither has my dad.However,the forecast for the weekend onwards is good,so we may get going soon.

[Butkin]

We've got a dozen bales left and no way anybody can cut hay round here for another week - wouldn't get the machines onto the sodden fields.

We were discussing this last night and our plan is to buy haylage if we have to. They are getting that in and whilst it comes in big bales (which isn't helpful if we only have 3/4 in) at least it is good value and they will like it.

[Amieesmum]

We've got a few big bales left. But DP hasn't started to cut this years yet. He's crossing his fingers for next week & doing the rape inbetween. On the down side.... sunny weather = me not seeing him again untill harvest is finished! Whhhy did i think it would be a good idea to date a farmer?!

[Mirage2012Olympics]

Aimeesmum I'm a farmer's daughter and swore I'd never marry a farmer.

Dpony doesn't like newfangled stuff like hayledge.

[roadkillbunny]

Having the same issue around here, at one of the yards I work at normal supplier has nothing left, best he could do was 3 large bales last week (but large bales don't work well for us at all) and this week have managed to get small bales but rubbish quality to the point we are having to supplement with hard feed for all 20 horses and ponies! Other yard I work at and where dpony is managed to get a large delivery of small bales that will last us a good long time (thankfully) but at the eye watering cost of £6 a bale!

[Mirage2012Olympics]

£6!! Last year I whinged about paying £2.80 a bale.

[Prays for a mild winter.]

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Im not worrying yet. Although the hay isnt in yet, there is tonnes of it in the fields, and when it does get cut, there will be plenty. People need to stop panicking, it just drives the prices up.

[Amieesmum]

Should be a good stuff this year when it does finally get cut. It's straw we're worried about. Think we've only got about 10 big bales left. But thats got to do the cows too. The Devil pony is still bloody in at night too (admittedly only because the 2 other ponys in the pony paddock are poorly and she doesn't like being out on her own! Had to put a rug on her today.... an actual rug! It's sodding July!

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

My yearling Wels A has had a medium fill rug on for a week or more. He is heartily miserable at the moment, has run down, looks depressed and spends most of his time shivering!
If the crops get damp and mouldy are they actually ok to use? not the straw, but the actual grain? Im thinking about ergot type stuff here, but I dont know much about it! Is the price of wheat going through the roof again?

[roadkillbunny]

I know £6, it's enough to make you weep, I am just glad it isn't my pocket it is coming out of! I do think that a better price could have been found but I guess it was needed, the barn was empty, haven't been able to cut own field yet and that normally gives enough hey to cover late summer and autumn, it isn't great quality but tends to work well for the time of year but, not been able to cut yet.
I know when normal suppliers can get a cut the quality should be good but I think (in these parts anyway) there are normally two cuts, an early one and a late one from the same fields, the fact no cut has happened yet will effect how much is available as will only be one cut? I am not of hey producing background so could be missing something here, can anyone enlighten me?

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

We buy round bales. Much more economical. Mini hestons as well if the supplier is reputable! blanks out memories of bad dealings with Essex Hay And Straw

[Amieesmum]

Ummm in short if it turns (goes off) crop wise nope, can so naff all with it, and will go to waste (i think). Should be alright for a few weeks yet tho, main thing is getting the Hay & the rape done atm, as everyone has let the rape die natrually rather than spray it, then the wheat & everything else will go afterwards.I know the wheat is starting to ripen now, so needs to be cut soonish (according to DP who's all a fluster atm about sitting around doing nothing when he should be harvesting for 18 hours a day lol)
Not sure about a second crop of hay tho, think we only do the one lot at ours.... If we get a late summer might just get enough growth? Will ask DP :D lol
There's going to busy some very very busy farmers the minute we get a break in the weather. I know he's hoping to start cutting Hay monday.

[Amieesmum]

And yes my welshie is miserable too atm, who'd have thought a welsh mountain pony that shivvers the minute we have a bit of rain aye?

[rogersmellyonthetelly]

Let's just all pray that this good(ish) weather holds and they can get the hay and harvest in!

[Mirage2012Olympics]

The farmer we buy from is apparently cutting his hay for silage and hoping for a 2nd cut of hay later.My aunt says that we are only a week behind as we'd normally have cut last week.If it isn't full of rubbish,they'll be mowing tomorrow.

[Amieesmum]

well we've sprayed the rape this morning - so we'll be harvesting that next week i think.... Going to have a look at the fields again this evening to see if they've dryed out anymore, as was still too boggy to cut hay this morning. Maybe tomorrow? Tho it's set to rain again friday & saturday so he's really not sure. Think we're going to give in & just have haylage this year instead pmsl

[Eviepeevy]

Any more hay updates anyone? I managed to but 22 bales yesterday (squashed into an Ifor 401), just cut so pref not to be used for a while ... at £3 a bale. I am hoping that I won't need to start feeding until late September at the earliest as mine are out with plenty of grass (apart from a small amount for pony club camp, unexpected stays in the stable). I think that I can makedo until early December. Our regular suppliers won't even give us a price for hay & straw this year yet, but last year we were paying £5 and £2. xx

[Mirage2012Olympics]

My family were bale carting all day yesterday,[big bales] and it looked and smelt lovely.The yield is amazing,59 bales off so far and not even halfway across the field.I don't usually buy big bales,but have said I'll buy some from my dad if he has any going spare.I don't know how much it'll be-last year I bought small bales at £2.80 each and have 20 left,as we didn't need to feed hay until after Christmas last year.

Our gateways are still muddy after 8 days with no rain.One tractor had smoke coming out of it last night after trying to pull a laden trailer through.It was parked well away from any buildings last night,just in case.We've already lost a tractor to fire this year and can't afford to lose another.

[Eviepeevy]

Sounds hard work Mirage !! But worth it to get the hay !! So there is more than last year then you think ? Isn't it silly how we worry , but we have two to feed and find it costly enough as it is . xx

[Mirage2012Olympics]

Yes Evie Anecdotally everyone is saying how good the yield is compared to last year [check out the Horse and Hound forum,plenty of folk on there saying how much more hay there is].We only cut a week behind when we'd normally do it,so our quality hopefully won't have suffered and I have natives so they don't need very good stuff anyway.

I know what you mean about worrying how they'll be fed though-We bought a 2nd pony a few weeks back when the weather was still showing no signs of improvement and I started to worry too.I'm not now though,and unless I needed hay right at this minute,I'd hold off buying.As far as I can see,suppliers kept last years higher prices up because the awful weather and rumours of a ruined crop were making people panic buy,and who can blame the suppliers for selling at a high price while they can still get it? In a few weeks time the realisation that there is plenty to go around will stop panic buying and silly prices.

[Amieesmum]

We Finally baled ours yesterday/ Friday & were carting it yesterday :D Its niiice. DP is having a day off today before finishing the rape tomorrow - I know he's selling ours at £40 per bale (big square bales)