First Cut, Second Cut, and Sink Holes (Oh My) (2023)

[@andyrobinson339]

What a year....and that sink hole was absolutely nuts!! Do you have any follow-up on that? After 26 inches of rain here from June through August, September started out great. Got in 1000 bales last week and this before rain started again Thursday. Drying conditions were superb and haying was actually fun! One of the fields was just like the one you showed...dead first growth with very good second growth underneath. It made surprisingly good hay! People up here are really clamoring for hay. Horse hay is selling for $10 or more which is crazy for Vermont!

[@windrowfarm]

Hey there, so glad to hear it! Same here with that amazing stretch last week, it felt so good to make some solid progress. And yes, actually fun, who would have thought?? No further info on that hole - I've been too "gogogo" to ask people or connect further with the landowner on it. The old elementary school is just next door to that field, and very close to the hole, so I'm wondering if it's some sort of old drainage, or even underground erosion from drainage, or some such. No sign of anything artificial down there, or stonework, or anything. Landowner is the nicest person, so we'll figure something out. But wow, what a surprise, I've done that field for 12 years! Thanks for following along! Eager to see any of your operation if you ever feel like sharing.

[@HumbleHaymakers]

Great video! Good to see someone else put a bale over the side...😚😚😚

[@windrowfarm]

😆

[@russellkeirstead-qi2jr]

Glad to see you getting some hay done with the sunny days

[@windrowfarm]

Thanks!! It’s been a relief

[@hillcresthayfarms9664]

I put preservative on anything over 17% and have had good luck up to 25% it gets iffy above that but i had to try some just for giggles

[@windrowfarm]

I appreciate that! Starting to think more and more about trying it myself with these years we’re having. Which preservative do you use?

[@hillcresthayfarms9664]

buffered propionic acid I have been using it as needed for 4 years with good results and no complaints. It does stink so the bales need to sit for a bit before i sell them, my application rate is 4 lbs per ton and it weighs 9lbs per gallon so you dont need allot. Im located in western ny so our weather is very close to yours I make and sell between 18000 and 23000 bales a year and in 2021 our weather was like yours this year I had to put acid on half of what i made that year. Some folks are scared of it but they shouldnt be I wore it when filling the tank when the hose came out i was soaked clean through my underware and nothing got iritated if ya know what i mean. the brand I use is keenan fresh cut plus it doesnt smell as strong as nh crop saver I run a kuhn accumulator and skidsteer grapple system love the channel keep up the good work@@windrowfarm

[@windrowfarm]

Thanks so much! That’s really helpful. And wow, that’s impressive! Hope the rest of your season goes well!