Haying - Baling Hay with a John Deere 568 Baler - Our Wyoming Life

Today we take the last step in making a bale this haying season. With our John Deere 568 baler we get to baling the 1400 lb round bales that will feed the cows all winter long. We take a look a the baler, its procedure and the production of hay and how it sits now and how that can affect the ranch.
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Join us on our journey as we leave a life in corporate america to come back to Wyoming and help on the family ranch.
Our Wyoming Life features our Wyoming ranch and our ranch family. Giving you a look into the workings of ranching from raising cattle to raising and harvesting crops. Erin will join you weekly out of the garden, showing you how she helps provide for our family through growing produce and selling at local farmers markets, and Mike will take you along as he tends to the animals and land of ranch, from calving to fencing to planting and harvesting hay.

[@denisedenomme361]

Your videos should be use in school for teaching purpose ,you explain everything so well.🇨🇦👍

[@GutsBerserk832]

The more I watch these the more I wanna be raising animals on a farm. great job

[@drewwilke1733]

Great video. One thing I noticed that you need to change is the fire extinguisher. You need to move it to the cab if the tractor. If that baler catches fire you are not going to want to get near it to grab the extinguisher. With having the extinguisher in the cab it gives you a better chance of putting the fire out or at least controlling the fire enough to unhook the tractor from the baler so that you don't lose the tractor as well.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thats a good point, I always wondered why they put them on the baler. lol Thanks - Mike

[@GrantTravels23]

We also carried a half gallon jug of ice frozen in the freezer and topped off with water for the day. Nice ice water to drink and then you also have another option in case of a fire.

[@hamishkay3010]

Great video Mike, I've never done any haymaking before and it's something that I'd love to go and do. The hay series videos are really informative and will help me a ton

[@larrymoore6640]

I watched my cousin bale hay from a distance but never got a chance to see it from a driver's view point. Thanks Mike.

[@richsmith4207]

I have farming relatives in Indiana, I've always envied that lifestyle. It's hard work, but what better job than growing food for population including critters. My hat's off to you folks. I miss the old school films we were shown, illustrating the work involved in many things we take for granted in our cities.

[@swift4311]

thank you for being a farmer

[@jaemcdonald6555]

So interesting. Thank you for showing us your life doing the important work of feeding the country.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much for watching - Mike

[@WildBillHabiki]

wow this vid is amazing. thank you Wyoming Bro. Just literally one of the best farming vids I have ever seen

[@markmortensen4341]

So glad you at least have some hay. Buying is very expensive like you said. I was just watching the news and here in Oregon we've had another fire in the northern part of the state that burnt thousands of acres of wheat. It was going to be one of the best yeilds in years for many farmers and now it's all burnt up because of someone who decided to start a fire!!!!! It's always rough and you never know what they say will bring!!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and video.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Oh I'm sorry to hear that, thats just a bad situation for many people. Thank you for sharing Mark and thanks for watching - Mike

[@johnkoopman1433]

I just came across your channel and this was the first video I've watched. I think you do a very good job of presenting yourself and your topic as well as giving the visual stimulus that helps those of us who know nothing about your day to day work/life. I look forward to more presentations as a subscriber. For now keep up the good work and God bless you and yours.

[@MrC9Oh3]

The part i dread most is moving it and stacking it once its all done.. Good work Mike

[@OurWyomingLife]

I hear ya there, last year I had Mitch and he spent weeks moving hay - Mike

[@marcel1016]

First time I watch your videos. Interesting to say the least. Even subscribed. Love the way you explain everything!! Waiting for the next video. Tks.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much. And thanks for watching -Mike

[@erickfuentes7276]

Hey brother nice channel am learning so much about ranches thanks to you god bless you and your family.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much Erick -Mike

[@oby-1607]

On our John Deere, we swap the output shaft with another to switch from 540 to 1000 pto output. We also never stop the tractor when the bale starts to wrap, just pull out of the windrow, drive around while wrapping, eject the bale. Then we pull back into the windrow where we left. This helps reduce clutch wear and keeps the baler cleaner in operation. Some people don't agree with this, but it has worked for us for years. Anything you can do to reduce wear on equipment is money saved.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thats really cool! Thank you - Mike

[@johnmurphy8259]

No problem Mike I do it to some of my grass hay and it makes a big difference.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Awesome! - Mike

[@Adzeoda]

Lol. I find you and your channel entertaining and relaxing. You are funny in an understated way. Thanks for your content

[@thesoundpainterbkny3465]

GREAT, GREAT VIDEO! LEARNED A LOT.

[@caolanmurphy8475]

Great video as per usual Mike. Thanks!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much - Mike

[@wranther]

Happy and productive hay making Mike! Your Tuesday slot is sounding very interesting. -Bob

[@OurWyomingLife]

It should be. Thanks - Mike

[@edwinlaing9834]

Awesome video very educative

[@shirleytwsw]

I know absolutely nothing about farming this is an excellent video narration was superb

[@codyd.1415]

Incredible editing and great voice and awesome info! You have a new subscriber

[@JamesOBrien2253]

Great video Mike

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you James - Mike

[@johnrhoton2094]

Glad to see you keep bees on the ranch , as we are beekeepers, something more for the farmers market.

[@purplerunner1715]

Good Morning all, I can only say one thing, you may have it a bit dry, but here in Denmark it has not rained all for nearly 3 months now, extremly dry and like a firebox. Keep up the good videos, always enjoy them. Hope you and the intire family will stay stafe and have a good time, even though it's hard work. BTW there was a video put up some days ago, but when I went to watch it, it was flagged for some copyrights issues.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much, thats dry, sorry to hear it. Yes it was a music video but the record company didnt give us the rights to release it outside of the us. So that why you got that message. Sorry - Mike

[@johnmurphy8259]

You guys are great.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks John - Mike

[@annagn100]

great video Mike! good to see you have some hay for this winter. fingers crossed you don't have to buy much. will be watching to find out :) High five from Down under.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Anna - Mike

[@atheanicholls2199]

The life of a 🐮 cowboy it's amazing, hi Erin hope you're having a great day today, hi Mackenzie how's Bambi? Keep having fun together with you're brother and sister 👌 OK. Enjoyed the haying till the next video have yourselves a great day today God bless everyone 👋 bye. 😍 love the 🎶 music. 🐂🐂🐂🐂🐂🐂

[@OurWyomingLife]

Kids are having a blast this time of year, Graces birthday is coming up, shes turning 5 and they are working on planning that out! Thanks you so much Athea - Mike

[@atheanicholls2199]

Our Wyoming Life That's great 🐂🐂🐂🐂

[@nashguy207]

Thanks for sharing Buddy. Makes a lot of sense when hay is this to combine rows with the rake so the baler has to do less work I would think it might save fuel as well I may be wrong but I would think it takes more fuel to run the bailer than it does to pull the rake. What does surprise me is how dry your hay is compared to here We will get 2 to 3 cutting a year here depending on the weather and rainfall. Don't feel bad I get a headache doing math as well. LOL I hope everything is going good for you today while your haying. God Bless!!!

[@OurWyomingLife]

In a thin year the fuel does make a difference, pulling a smaller, lighter implement makes a big difference too. Lets get ready for math lol Thanks Bob - Mike

[@littlerougue]

Another great video hope the math works out on the extra hay needed and good point about being out in nature while working the fields

[@OurWyomingLife]

Probably the best part of it. I sat and watched a hawk today that picked off a rabbit, then couldnt get him off the ground. That was good for a few minutes of entertainment. :) - Mike

[@deanbrown4512]

I use a moisture monitor. On both my round and square balers. It pays for itself. Thanks for the video

[@OurWyomingLife]

Yes they do, thanks Dean - Mike

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

That was really interesting, Mike! I've lived in ranching country for a good chunk of my adult life, but I never gave much thought to how the cows' dinner gets prepared. Love those bull (aka gopher) snakes! I have them on my property, which is also an unintentional refuge for gophers and ground squirrels. Every time I see one of those slithery guys, I tell him (or her), "Eat up, buddy!"

[@OurWyomingLife]

I know right! I gave him a pep talk and showed him where the gophers are! - Mike

[@brentfarrow8125]

Morning Mike,not much hay but still good looking hay. Have a great day 😎

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Brent! - Mike

[@wagner5952]

Hello Mike & Erin Great videos! Great Ranch Having great time with your stories God bless you all Jul 22, 2018 Sunday 2pm here in Brazil

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much - Mike

[@Danny-zg5mw]

Learn a lot from you

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much - Mike

[@ProfessorKitchen]

That bailer is pretty cool. You should do a video on the bees. My family used to raise them. It is quite fascinating what you have to go through to get the honey.

[@OurWyomingLife]

I am hoping too. I wanted to do one last year but we didnt have much honey. Not sure how its going to look this year. Our beekeeper is a good guy that brings bees out and I'm sure we can figure something out. Thanks - Mike

[@danmaple2578]

Another great video thank you 👍

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Dan - Mike

[@caseih-pz9vp]

I have found as long as my tractor can drive over a wind row my 568 will eat it but I have to carful the hay dose not get hung up at the hitch I totally agree keep racking and take advantage of less time that the baler is in operation. Rakes are simple to fix but balers can sometimes be a pain.

[@OurWyomingLife]

I have had the hitch issue too if my windrows are too big. Thank you very much - Mike

[@janeemiller66]

Great video 😄😄

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much - Mike

[@karljacobson1575]

That is the best baler imo!! I have one also. It fun baling unless it's real rough ground!!! Then not so much......

[@OurWyomingLife]

Oh yea, they do get bouncy and jerky Thanks Karl - Mike

[@agriman86]

I always bale with a little dew on the hay in the morning . I usually bale until 12:30pm . It gets too dry at that time. I will then start baling at night when it's cooler and stop when the dew comes out.

[@OurWyomingLife]

That makes sense. Thanks - Mike

[@maximood-tired]

Please do more about the bee field, btw your videos are amazing!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much, I have to work with our Beekeeper to do something about them and he is hard to nail down but I am working on it. Thanks - Mike

[@loriehabel1552]

Gotter done👍 now its time for a drink before the math comes in. This is the point of cows going or staying. Have a good week.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Yes it is. Thanks Lorie - Mike

[@jonobmxjohn6235]

hello love your vids keep up the good work from australia

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much - Mike

[@ResidentEngineer1]

Hay Mike another great video. Very informative and enjoyable to watch. Really enjoying your podcast Beyond the Ranch on the Anchor app. and the Herd Report emailed directly to me. These and other social media really make me feel part of the Our Wyoming Life family. I tell everyone about your channel in hopes that they to will subscribe and enjoy ranching as I have since I found your awesome channel. Keep up the good work and stay safe out there. 🐂🌾

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you so much. We love the support, keeps us going! - Mike

[@noelmartyn9034]

Good video

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks Noel - Mike

[@gareththomas4131]

great vidio ,,, just a note from scotland ,,, we make round bales and wrap them in cling film ,,,, it is very important that the bales are round bales and not EGG shape }egg shapes are very dificult to wrap},,, we make the wind rows as big as posable ... keep the feed chamber of the baler full to the gunnels ,, the results are a heavy bale a round bale,, less carting and soil compaction saving fuel and time.. our farm is very differnt to your place . Scotland has 2 seasons june and the wet season .. keep it up really enjoy the vidoes gives me an insight to your way of life

[@sumanthababoolal4710]

Round and round u go

[@OurWyomingLife]

haha, Yup - Mike

[@KJMudge]

Hey Mike , You need to get Fallon Taylor ( champion barrel racer ) I was watching her the other day and she said no matter what places she has visited lately it pours with rain so you should get her on your ranch next growing season . LOL.😀 Anyway lets cross our fingers and hope that next spring and summer that you get sufficient rain to get the tonnage of hay you need . Peace and blessings to you all ❤

[@OurWyomingLife]

haha, I'm ready to try anything to get the rain :) - MIke

[@GDSTX]

K . J . Mudge I saw that also- I subscribe to Fallon Taylor also

[@dbruns9340]

Wish I could have sent you some of our rain in June, we had around 18" for the month 6" so far in july in northern IA hay and corn crop kind of suffering not going to be a profit maker here this year great video look forward to them every week

[@OurWyomingLife]

The rain can also be a killer. The whole process is so fickle sometimes. Thanks - Mike

[@johnhatt1219]

Hey good job

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks John - Mike

[@paymaker11]

Morning!😎

[@OurWyomingLife]

Good morning, thanks for watching - Mike

[@goldfire1676]

Super super stuff

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thankyou very much - Mike

[@charlessmith6368]

Mike I was praying for a heavier hay crop..but I guess it wasn't meant to be...Thanks for yet another informative video...Now grab a lemonade break and get back to work!

[@OurWyomingLife]

As was I but we deal with what we have and move forward. Thanks - Mike

[@timkd5vmv583]

Round bales sure make haying easier. Growing up the entire family had to help pick up bales and once the wagon was loaded we had to unload it into the barn.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Oh yea, small bales can be a lot of work. Thanks Tim - Mike

[@grantdubridge7995]

For those who don't know, as a water restoration specialist in homes, when we get your wall under 10% moisture we are done drying your home.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Never thought of that. Thanks Grant - Mike

[@charleenjones2693]

Nice

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks for watching- Mike

[@bodhixxx1]

Mike family I compare you to a great "comedian" what I mean is you present the material so many many people "get it" That is not near as easy as it looks. I been ranching since basically birth "41" years in the game but you and Erin's outlook and take on things really put ranching into a new light for lifer ranchers as well as people from the city that really have no idea what AG is all about that takes talent!!!!!! hats off to you Wyoming Mike and Erin

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much Matt - Comedian Mike :)

[@keithjones6862]

My hay is going to run short nest winter. I have bought some already but affordable hay is scarce in my area (southern Indiana) so I have put 17 young cows on the list to sell and have to find another 17 cows or heifers to reduce my herd by a third.

[@OurWyomingLife]

I hear ya there, probably the same boat we will be in. Thanks Keith - Mike

[@petermemmelaar6236]

good morning all

[@OurWyomingLife]

Good morning Peter! - Mike

[@mitchellfitzgerald6870]

In one of my 6 acre paddocks we got 27 bales. All 58 inches

[@kmilton1593]

Good vlog, Mike: what amused me was how similar our equipment/procedures/drought are: I live north of you in s.w. Alberta, Canada. Your baler is a 568, mine a 567. Your rake is 7x7 wheels, mine 6x6 wheels. Both have a John Deere tractor. Both use the identical net wrap ("over the edge", made in Israel). Up here we too have had semi-arid drought conditions for four years. You got 2 inches of rain this spring, we got 1.8 inches at my farm. Your hay purchases are cheaper per ton. Am guessing that your fuel is a lot cheaper, because our gov't (believe it or not) is more incompetent and adds more fuel tax on. One thing i do differently is i only rake with the dew, or early in the morning to keep from loosing dry nutritional bits and pieces off the hay. Cheers.

[@rashke19]

Hello OWL, If you have time, google this "Sorghum sudanense" and maybe try couple of Ha as an experiment as it can be cut 2 to 4 times per season. Maybe your cows would like it. in our region this one is mainly used to produce hay "Medicago sativa" it can yield as much as 16t/ha . I'm really amazed how low yield you guys are having, I was driving today trough an area on 1100m altitude, and on area of around 10 ha, there was at least 500 round bales, should have taken some pictures, but was busy driving.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much. We will look into it. One issue we have here is really sandy soil and almost no topsoil but it may work Thanks again - Mike

[@craigmonteforte1478]

excellent video thanks for all the education lots of respect to your lifestyle it’s not a easy one for sure one thing i’ll always remember my Dad telling me when i was growing up when he was in the Navy he got to meet a lot of characters and he told me to never challenge a farmer to any kind of physical dispute as they are used to doing physical labor all day long for every day of the week he said even if the guy didn’t look big and strong with bulging muscles he could pick up many over hundreds of pounds bales of straw and throw them like they were nothing just to get his daily chores done he told me in the Navy he watched many guys get their asses whipped by the so called dumb Hillbilly another thing i learned on my own living in maryland for 20 years was that Tobacco farmers in general acted like they didn’t have much money or interest in government but they were one of the first people to go out and buy a hundred thousand dollar tractor or equipment for cash and if they needed to they wouldn’t hesitate to put ona nice suit and drive their Cadillac car to the United States Capitol and voice their opinion on a governments decision or to get something changed to the way they wanted it and continue to always play that I’m just a poor old Farmer routine in a thousand dollar suit with cowboy boots on routine i kept a boat on the chesapeake Bay for many years and the marina i docked at was owned and run by a 3rd generation son of the Tobacco farm that surrounded the marina i think it was in exces of 500 acres of waterfront land he called home hi whole life while i was at my boat as much as possible i had a teenage son that was usually with me and my son did odd jobs for the owner for cash pay and a slip for his boat he bought with his money so he and the old guy worked out a gentleman’s deal for the docking that i was quite proud of my son doing on his own with a 80 year old guy that wasn’t any dummy

[@lanksterprice]

I know you have not talked about the gas pumps yet? I keep seeing them.... Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good evening... Whatever time it is when your see thiss..

[@OurWyomingLife]

Well theres not much too them but we do keep fuel on the ranch. Thanks - Mike

[@Okiefarmer]

Your raker makes or breaks your bale formation. Either have the windrow half the width of the baler pickup or full width. It looked really thin and you were “chasing” as I call it to make a bale. Love your videos ... Keep up the good work ... Hang Tuff

[@peteparks3566]

nice the Baler the old Baler that we had was yellow Vermeer baler the billing twine was on the outside behind a door the twine fit through a arm a switch inside the cab work the arm wrapped around the Bell moved it three times across the Bell then you have to watch a bell the height of the Bell 3 feet 4 feet 5 feet or 6 i like your bella looked a lot more easier to use

[@OurWyomingLife]

Our neighbor had one like that. Was a trick to get used to. Thanks - Mike

[@TwoFarmBoys]

We do some small square bales and some round. We have a round baler from the 80s and a square baler from the 60s! But they are a lot of maintenance! They break down in some way every time we use them! And I'm not exaggerating! About two years ago the square baler broke down and we used a piece of carpet felt to fix it! Don't ask how.

[@OurWyomingLife]

haha, wouldnt surprise me. You can fix anything with anything :) - Mike

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

Yup same here.

[@aCycloneSteve]

Have you ever compared what you make per animal with your truck weaned calves vs. the calves you hold back, feed to fat and sell to your farmers' market customers?

[@OurWyomingLife]

Oh yea, we can make more with finishing our own for sure. No middle man. We are looking at expanding our own feedlot situation but that may take time ( and money lol ) Thanks - Mike

[@warrencorcoran9824]

Hi Mike, I worked in the entertainment industry as an agent since I was little, You have a a very interesting voice, you could supplement your income doing voice overs in the agriculture business, even doing what your doing which is shooting video, doing the voice overs, or actually the voice, narration, Look up a guy named Mike less in agriculture, he goes every where. work on them phonetics and vernacular, you got a potential million dollar sound, your voice good luck

[@danielthomason5685]

I would recommend you keep the bale a lirtle more even at all times...running one side up all the way before bringing other side up is extremely hard on bearings and belts....but keep up the good work

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much - Mike

[@salmonhunter7414]

I would have thought you would have lots of hay with all the rain this year? I guess it was to late. Well there is always next year, as they say. Hope you get great prices for your calfs this year?

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thankyou very much - Mike

[@camerongaming889]

Like I’ve said before hope hay goes well hope you don’t have to bye a bunch of hay and tell the cows hi and I don’t know if I told you but I got 4 500 pound steers on my farm bye

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much! - Mike

[@mattphillips4260]

hey mike when you showed changeing from 540 to 1000 on the pto have a look at the book on your tractor to me from this end that shaft looked like it may need greased i am also compareing case ih to john deere here also on the case ih i worked with case ih if that shaft got to dry lacking grease it would get hard to get in and out

[@brianjonker510]

I noticed that too. I was wondering about blowing it clean with the air compressor and sliming it up with 80W gear oil. But I am more guessing than know about this.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Some tractors have wet sockets and some have dry. The 4055 is a wet socket that actually ties into the transmission fluid. You have to change it out on a bit of a downhill slope so that the fluid doesnt run out when you pull the shaft. The 6400 series are dry sockets as all the lubrication is on the outside of the inner shaft. Thanks Matt - Mike

[@haycoortega9186]

Good Job , considering the conditions we make the most of our ground and we keep our heads up and just keep haying . One ? What type of pliers do you use to flip your PTO shaft ?

[@OurWyomingLife]

They are just standard snap ring pliers. Kinda like these a.co/hHJlapB Thanks for watching - Mike

[@DennysCountryLife]

Sorry it's been another rough hay year for you guys. Do you guys have any chicken or dairy ranches you can contract with to get manure for the fields? Aside from mother nature I would guess that's the only thing you can do to help. I wish you all the best!

[@OurWyomingLife]

I'm gonna have to do something. I will let the cows move through hay fields and get some of their natural fertilizer down. Might have to figure something else out too. Thanks - Mike

[@TardyTardigrade]

Just checking 2 years later lol. How has the rainfall been the last 2 years? Better or worse than the previous 2 years?

[@sammypatton8726]

Over here we have to turn the hay 4 or 5 times so it makes the haying nearly a week before it gets to be baled

[@OurWyomingLife]

Just to dry out?- Mike

[@sammypatton8726]

Our Wyoming Life yes we have because everything is so wet

[@ryancoleashford6848]

Have you thought about applying fertiliser in April and may ?

[@terrybruce5923]

Hi Mike...that was interesting...an actual ride along. Your hat is really gaining in character...looks like something Bruce Dern might have worn in an old Western :) So I missed how the bales get net wrapped...when it beeps, does it dispense and cut the wrap? Is 10% moisture the target? By the way, I think it may be illegal to burn a Stetson :) Terry Justin - Texas @ 114 degrees today.

[@OurWyomingLife]

This hat is getting hammered. I had to get a new one just for farmers markets cause Erin wont let me wear it in public (even though thousands see it every week) I was hoping to get some of the wrapping process in the video but I realized its a pain to film by yourself. but yes, when it beeps the wrapper kicks in and wraps each bale twice then cuts it. My ideal moisture is between 14%-16% but its drying out so fast that I cant keep up with it. Thanks - Mike

[@drewkuntz2174]

Good info as I’m in the process of buying my first 568 and getting into custom work. This must be south of Gillette?

[@brandeissports3436]

Wow! How much hating has changed in 50 years. Daddy had a John Deere Baler, rectangle small bales. Tension had to be set for different types of bales. Straw, Alfalfa or another...God help us bucking bales where it wasn’t changed from Straw to alfalfa. . Too heavy!

[@Cc87812]

in ireland if we baled 70 acers if round bales we would get 10 bales to the acre so we would get 700 bales

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thats cool Thanks for watching - Mike

[@chadhazekamp6952]

Good one Mike . Why r u not using the 4055 to bale it looks like a nice tractor

[@OurWyomingLife]

It is. I used it to rake and just didnt feel like switching everything around :) - Mike

[@calumanderson5617]

Great video Mike 👍I wished about a warning about ( contains snakes ) I really hate them ! 😖. I like your thinking about reducing wear on the baler too ! I must admit of enjoying baling and find it relaxing too, 🙂 even square one's too although I hate netter problems and knoter problems, talking of problems I heard Blake's is experiencing problems again 😁 do you sell any Our Wyoming Life lucky charms 😁 better make that two please I need one, you'll make a fortune !!!, lol 😂

[@OurWyomingLife]

I hear ya, I'm not a big fan of snakes either. As for lucky charms....hmm. Might have to look into that and get Blake one too - Mike

[@rockett725]

does raking the hay multiple times damage the grass or change the nutritional content?

[@stureid5928]

Mike: Just wondering if you have a hay loss by doing additional raking? The field looks pretty clean from the drone shots.....Stu

[@OurWyomingLife]

Some but not a lot. most of the loss is from smaller stuff that the rake cant move. Thanks Stu - Mike

[@bcpfarmandtrucking6560]

Hey Mike how is that grass doing that you seeded in the spring??

[@OurWyomingLife]

It did pretty good. It came up nicely, then the cows got on it :( so it didnt get alot of length to it Thanks - Mike

[@johanneshall2840]

In sweden we take 75Dollars for a 350-400kg hay ball

[@younggunfarmer416]

how do you find the bale kicker vs the automatic ramps? I have hills and i wonder sometimes if the kicker might work better to insure the bale is far enough away before closing the door. You can see much back their when your bailing.

[@OurWyomingLife]

It does help if you are facing downhill. If uphill then the bales can get away from you, You have to pay attention. Thanks - Mike

[@sunshaker01]

How easy would it be for you to increase the size of your hay fields? With less hay/acre than you need would it make sense to increase the number of acres you have in hay next year?

[@OurWyomingLife]

Any land we move from pasture to hay field will cause the reduction of pasture, which then takes away from summer forage for the cows. Its a tricky balancing act. Thanks - Mike

[@Tagout10593]

Do people that bale hay and sell it typically make a profit? Im thinking of trying to start baling hay.

[@sadie1333]

Do cows just eat hay in winter and great video

[@OurWyomingLife]

We only have to feed them in the winter, they eat grass all summer long. Thanks Sadie - Mike

[@jacobbraybrook6306]

Hi mike how are you today

[@OurWyomingLife]

Doing well Jacob, hope all is good for you - Mike

[@mikelewis5650]

Hey friend could you make some hay with some of your other range? Might not be as good but would it help?

[@OurWyomingLife]

Any land we move from pasture to hay field will cause the reduction of pasture, which then takes away from summer forage for the cows. Its a tricky balancing act. Thanks - Mike

[@dannylamb9041]

Ok, I get your logic on additional raking to save run time on the baler. my question is what do you sacrifice in hay quality? We usually handle our hay as little as possible, especially the alfalfa. Additional handling usually results in loss of leaves which reduces nutrional quality. Where does that loss figure compared to baler upkeep?

[@OurWyomingLife]

Good question. Here's the way I look at it. With the thin hay and smaller wind rows it takes much longer to make a bale. That hay is rolling around in the baler. And losing leaves in there too. Our grass hay only runs between 8 to 12% protein anyway and we still have to feed supplements anyway. We are just trying to do the best with what we have. If we combine wind rows right after it's cut it's still got some moisture to it and it holds together better too. Thank you very much -Mike

[@dannylamb9041]

Our Wyoming Life That makes sense to me as far as retention time in the baler, didn't put that into the equation. First cutting here is generally 2.5-3 bales/acre, ~half that for second cutting. Compared to you we have little retention time per bale inside the baler. Not second guessing you in the least, one thing I have learned since my wife and I began this journey is making the best with the resources available. Thanks!

[@OurWyomingLife]

No problem, its always something lol

[@jamesajoachim3]

Mike thanks for the video just a few questions how much does bale wrap weigh and cost , how many bales does it make per roll , how do you load the wrap//jim from Torrance CA

[@OurWyomingLife]

I was hoping to run out while baling and have the chance to show you but I guess it will have to wait for another video. Netwrap is pretty pricey, for us the cost comes out at about $3 per bale. The rolls weighs about 80 lbs. Thanks Jim - Mike

[@ignaciovega8089]

Hey Mike how much $ is one round bale of hay in Wyoming i paid here in North Texas about 40 dollars

[@arkscattle4840]

Have you ever considered a rotary rake we love ours doesn't pick up sticks or other trash.

[@OurWyomingLife]

I've never actually used one. Thanks - Mike

[@arkscattle4840]

Our Wyoming Life if you ever get the opportunity I encourage you to try one.