Baling Second Cut Hay That May As Well Be Third (2023)

A penultimate batch of hay in later September of this year - second cut that had only been regrowing since the first week of August, and was technically second growth at that point. No additional fertility because I never thought I would make it back. And because I did, seeing what I could make of it.
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(We are a 53-acre haying operation in Conway, MA - making all small square bales for the local food, fiber, and livestock community. Learn more about our farm at windrowfarmconway.com, or follow us on instagram @windrow.farm)
Equipment List:
Massey Ferguson 275 Tractor
Massey Ferguson 165 Tractor
Massey Ferguson 135 Tractor
Vermeer TM610 disc mower
Vicon RS410T Tedder
New Holland 256 hay rake
Massey Ferguson 124 baler (with New Holland 70 bale thrower)
Four kicker wagons
Delmhorst FX-2000 Hay Moisture Meter
Sundown Fertilizer Spreader

[@HumbleHaymakers]

That’s some nice looking hay...👍

[@windrowfarm]

Thanks!!

[@andyrobinson339]

Monadnock is the most climbed mountain in the country...go figure. The way I see it, you have to drive around the field the same number of times whether the grass is light or heavy. That's why I don't like haying too late into September! I have done it but it never seems as satisfying in terms of yield. All my stuff is cleaned, greased and under cover long ago. Hope you post one more video and a final tally. And how it compares to a more typical season.

[@windrowfarm]

Sorry I missed this! Yeah, late hay is such diminishing returns, but also *almost* 100% profit if you pull it off (which I know is not totally accurate - equip wear and tear, time... though both can be hard to quantify, I always count it as a win if it comes out as good stuff and I don't break something, at which point 100 bales is $800 I wouldn't otherwise have. At that point in the season I'm also continuing because I love it). I definitely have a final video in the wings, just haven't had any time to edit it together yet. I hope to soon! Thanks so much for tuning in!

[@minty0615]

Just discovered your channel, great stuff. You mention elsewhere that you and others in your area do mostly grass. I’m curious, are any of your customers dairy farmers, and in general would dairy farmers in your area prefer more alfalfa legumes in their hay?

[@windrowfarm]

Thanks so much! Where abouts are you? Only dairy folks I have are dairy goats or occasionally a homesteader with a family cow. Even then, not a lot of alfalfa grown grown around here except by a few dairies that chop it. It's just hard to keep established in New England between cold winters and a lot of grass competition, and (though I've never tried it), I imagine really difficult to cure for dry hay with this climate, since we really have no choice but to work hay more than other regions with the heavy dews and often wet ground. Just my take, anyhow. Some folks do buy in alfalfa bales or pellets, but otherwise we try to encourage what clover we can and just good, well fertilized grasses. Hope that helps!