How to Grade Hay

Have you ever wondered how we grade all of the hay here at Bales Hay Sales? What makes the cut for premium? This video is for you!
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Edited by Aidan Morgan & Nicole Bales
Aerial footage provided by Slaven Gujic
www.slavog.com

[@dennislaughton1676]

As an agronomist, I worked for a few year for the Canadian Hay Ass'n. in Alberta. Our main product was timothy hay. Regular small bale were compressed to one third normal size and shipped in containers mainly to the dairy market in Japan and more interesting was the racing camel market in Saudi Arabia. Now retired your product has tweeked my interest.

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Lol racing camels?!! Ive got to see this!!!

[@jonathangonzalez4003]

I’ve been there before. Cool place. Wish I owned something like bales and hay! It’s a dream.

[@loritorrance6417]

Awesome video. Nice music. Get home from work, sit down to supper and see what’s going on at Bales Hay today. Doesn’t get better than that!

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

You are one of the best!! Thanks for always watching.

[@7pdude]

oh yes, the intro keeps gettin better and better. love it!

[@modsquad8817]

I appreciate you teaching me. I ain't the kind of person you wanna try fooling and I don't like buying what I don't know. So thank you so much.

[@chesterraybon3442]

Those people that threw the couch out are considered TRASH themselves where I come from. Another great video. 😎👍👌

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

I agree!

[@ollie-lk5dx]

Back in the day when we had dairy My Dad would cut the hay with a 14' swather and after 4 or 5 days we would rake just enough to flip it over , and the next morning depending on how much dew we got we would bale, Basically it would over dry and with the dew it would gain moisture , then when it some of the dew dried off we would bale all small squares and it would get put in a hay loft in dairy barn. I should tell you we are in SE ND and we have dew almost every morning , sometime it's heavy enough to drip off the roof's. I bet that's something that rarely happens in Buckeye.

[@ryanc8188]

Man watching you load those trucks so fast makes me think your some kind of professional or something 😉 👍

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

I try to tell my dad that.

[@ryanc8188]

He probably said time lapse doesn't count 😂

[@brandonmckinney2648]

Do not lie. It was his first day. Just remember no matter how bad your day gets it is your first day. Helped me threw a lot of bad projects.

[@modsquad8817]

Lmao the couch threw me off. I was focusing on it more then you 💯😂😂

[@charleslynch7274]

Wow thats a lot of bales moved ur line of work is definitely interesting I always enjoy ur videos I learn something new everytime

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Good, I hope every video shows something now. But we do the same thing over and over and over. So it might get boring

[@charleslynch7274]

@@BalesHayFarmandRanch sure every job u do the same thing over and over but I don't bore very easily

[@deerezilla7013]

I wish I could sell my hay like that. I have to do the rfv tdn then get docked if I have 10 bales that are on the dry side of 3000 ton. Great way to get your hay sold keep it up

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Ohhhhh trust me, some days I think your way is better. We have hundreds of customers, which means hundreds of complaints. It’s not the best way, but it’s the way we do it.

[@paulprigge1209]

You handle criticism well young man. Keep it up you're doing a good job.

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

I figure, if I’m the same person on camera as off camera, then I never have to act differently! Lol. This is me!

[@paulprigge1209]

That is way it should be not Too Faced. So many people are unfortunately. Veteran school teacher 18-wheeler driver and disabled country dude

[@lstan444]

I like the detail that you provide. thx

[@kevinbrookhart1050]

It’s nice but not nice to see that the garbage disposal problem isn’t limited to one area of the country, I have it in PA, Welkers get it, you get it. Yikes. Great video thanks for the info on grading your hay! Neat to see how good the quality can really get with the conditions you have!

[@Homesy01]

So envious. Here in the UK we can only dream about that kind of quality hay.

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

It really is a blessing over here.

[@hayballer5608]

Love the grade sheet. Will have to do that here in Oregon👍🏻

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

It helps a lot. It helps when the same person always grades. However, having a grade sheet means of someone else does it too, you might chose different numbers, however they will only be off by 1 or 2 numbers.

[@robertsimons8643]

I really enjoy the videos..... love the explanations... as to that anti music guy..... I see that 1000+ liked the video..... but he complained... I'm sure in the Buckeye State there is a simple way to say ......UP YOURS !!

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Thank you. It’s ok, I understand what he is saying. Unfortunately I am trying to make it an enjoyable video for everyone. You can’t keep everyone happy. Thanks for the view and comment!!

[@henrikwoll215]

Hi from Sweden 🙋‍♂️

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Hay!!

[@josephmelson7591]

Awesome video . the guy here when he spill's a stack like that he calls me he almost 80 I clean up his mess and save my self 3 bucks a bale ..that's awesome looking hay you out on the semi's .. Have you seen any more rattle snakes ???

[@wildedog2204]

I would love to get some land and start bailing and selling hay down here in Florida. Not sure if I could turn a profit though. Seems expensive to get started. Love your videos!

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

We send a lot of hay to Florida. You would have a difficult time getting it to dry down. That’s for sure.

[@spideybrent]

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways."

[@stevenicoson6670]

Thanks for the interesting video. I found the part about grading hay very interesting. Back in my day we just baled it and put it in the barn. The way you look at the hay is interesting. Looking for that premium hay I assume. The long trucks you loaded. Two things. Are those yours and where does that hay go to??? Trying to get my mind around your operation. You stacker tractor is neat. You run the controls without looking. Must have done this a few days/ha!! Appreciate your time for doing the video. You take care and be safe. Thanks. Iowa farm boy from years ago.

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Yes, we are looking for premium. But more importantly, just categorizing all the hay, and the storing and inventorying it properly. We’re hauling this hay to the hay barns!

[@altonjumba9416]

I wish to work on those fields

[@davidraaf3865]

Do you think your trucks have a drinking problem? They are always getting loaded!!! Lol

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Lol

[@farmboy5622]

To make your channel better Trevor,.....we need to see more videos of your sister Mackenzie giving you a hard time!!! (Ha!Ha!)

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Lol. I’ll be sure to tell her. She’ll be around more.

[@jake2213b]

In my area we buy from the farmers. One big problem is they are stopping small bales and doing round. If you find the small bales this year they wanted $5 a bale and you have to get it. It has been a few year the last time i bought hay. So a friend of mine we bought round bales and made small bales for our horses and lambs.

[@brandonthomas5277]

I assume you just ignore the leaf section on you grass/rye mixes? Thanks for the graded info.

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Kinda. If it’s hot warm weather. 90+ you can make some super nice leafy mix. But when it’s cool, it isn’t as nice.

[@benburns5995]

In the Squeeze machine do you have a backup mirror? With all those polls in the barns it would be a disaster if you can't see well backing up. Also what do you do with the hay from the stacks that fall apart? Seems like a tough business as there are so may variables that affect your production.

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

A small one. You remember where the poles are. Lol. We re stack it back up and sale it! There are a lot of moving parts.

[@rickcampbell4920]

I hope that couch didn't have bed bugs, you would be taking some home!

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Right, wish I had thought of that before I sat on it.

[@danielthomason5685]

Dam crabs are itchy as hell....

[@craigcupitt5656]

How do you fertilizer the crops that you flood irrigate

[@markrandall1969]

Sending me 30 tonne to the UK :-)

[@trentw3614]

Pool or pull out?

[@celli2191]

Show us a full scale equipment tour please

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Soon. Sooooon. Some new things showing up soon.

[@xijinpig4211]

I would like you to deliver 4 bales to Las Vegas please 😀

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

On my way!!

[@Dodge4x4]

Living in Buckeye too! I remember about a year or so ago a hay stack had caught fire off Yuma rd by the middle school. what causes stacks of hay to spontaneously combust? what can you do to prevent it? also Hi!

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

High moisture. Don’t bale them with too much moisture. And if you do, don’t put them in a stack. Leave them out to air out.

[@ollie-lk5dx]

Could you please explain your irrigation systems , where does the water come from so on and so forth Please and thanks.

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

So, if you look back to last year. I have a video all about it. This summer I will make another one.

[@ollie-lk5dx]

I checked it out interesting I assumed it came from the Colorado river . Good to know the facts.

[@Michael-8903]

2:35 Bad day at work😂

[@lucascallen1]

What weight do your bales run? I have ran a squeeze chopping big bales and you make it look way too easy

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

The small bales average 95 lbs I would say. I’ve spent many hours in a squeeze.

[@colinburdenmc]

Ayy he wants to farm te potato !

[@josephmelson7591]

Goats are bringing 4-5 dollars a lbs all over the USA if you Gert some With lots weeds or son old stuff from previous 2 years should get you a few and make some money that way or god for bid if any hay gets rained on ..

[@flatbedtruckergaming2974]

Why do you stack the two rows on their side?

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

I like the bottoms that way. It makes a better base for the squeeze to grab them. Then you add another row like it somewhere to make it the right height for on a trailer.

[@Melting_Fireman]

You're not allowed to move out of AZ! I'm coming down there to help you put out fires on my days off! 🤷 Although I may regret that decision at a later time! 🤣

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Lol. Come one over!!

[@Melting_Fireman]

@@BalesHayFarmandRanch You may also regret that 🤣

[@danielthomason5685]

Is too much moisture why stacks falling apart?

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Yes! Moisture and softness

[@danielthomason5685]

Not baled tight enough?...or just soft from moisture...ive just never had a stack get that bad

[@didierfertil6334]

For a french breeder what would be your Best price Exwork for 40"container Of alfafa..

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Please call our office for that. Prices change weekly depending on the time of year. 623-386-2988 ask for Lisa

[@muskegsmith3388]

I am a bit confused. Everything about the hay checks out near perfect. So why does the stack start to bulge?

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

That was not the same hay. That was some rye grass alfalfa mix. It was nice. Just too soft. We needed it to be warmer when it was baled.

[@koryleague8833]

Got any reletive in nebraska?

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

🤷🏻‍♂️ not sure. I doubt it. But maybe.

[@judyengland2615]

Yes I like your vidios. I was surprised to see you on a sofa for a farm vidio, until I saw it was just trash left by a MOST inconsiderate hunk of humanity! We get that here in northern Michigan too. Low class people everywhere. What do they think? Or do they think?

[@benhill8384]

Do you have wild pigs on the land?

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

No. We do not.

[@gejrhovbrender308]

Is the hay rating according to any standard, or is it 100% subjective like shown?

[@MrPaw45]

100% Bales Hay subjective standard.

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

It’s allllll meeeeeeeeee.

[@chrismusix5669]

Hay! :3

[@grassylakefarm890]

What is the moisture you like to have your hay?

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Oh man. I like it low. 10, 12. But sometimes we have to go lower and or higher. We’ll his 18 to 20 sometimes. It’s not preferred. But it happens.

[@grassylakefarm890]

@@BalesHayFarmandRanch Do you sell mainly to horse clients? Because i like to bale around 15-20 % for cattle customers, It is in round bales. So that is a factor

[@didierfertil6334]

Hi guys, why don't you have a Joy stick and some electro valves on your skacker

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

I don’t know 🤷🏻‍♂️. We don’t build them.

[@harolddyck4310]

Was that the first cut from the new crop?

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

No. 3rd and 4th

[@hairlesscat6458]

On average, how many bales do you move a year?

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Maybe half a million. Ish

[@rickharper1497]

I'm looking at the single stacks, no way I would even double stack!!

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Lol.

[@zcole6612]

Hope the couch didn't have fleas or lice . Funny as always.

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Ha!! Me too!

[@magnuskarlsson3116]

How much does one stack weigh?

[@bobwest2807]

Around 6000lbs I think

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Depends on the stack. Average bale weight is 95 lbs. stacks are 64 bales. 84 bales. 72 bales. 92 bales.

[@jimpolk]

Trevor - looks like you've done that before. 😁😁

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Lots and lots and lots.

[@jimpolk]

@@BalesHayFarmandRanch 😁😁

[@ajskab99]

Bet there would never be any bed bugs on that coach.

[@austinhice3863]

second Hi

[@theDougAngle]

First.

[@Matt-W89]

Please clean windows hehe

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

I know. I know.

[@lukeprince7690]

OK so I've got a few questions you probably won't answer unless this probably one answer I'm just as videos a year old, As far as the grating goes and the use for the hay see we've been raising hay on our place forever 500 pound round bales and the grass we have everybody's that bought it from us that said it's great for their horses cause this behavior will be a Johnson grass, My thing is is what's the difference between the alfalfa and just the straight mixed grass that the horses would probably graze on out in the field anyway Same with the cows wouldn't it be easier to grade the hay a lot simpler and just raise mixed grasses Because ourselves we have a few horses we've gotten from the blm Mustang auction That rolls through Alabama every now and then And a lot of these horses are in great shape and they're coming straight off the range off of eating just whatever they can find So my question is wouldn't it be easier to just do the mixed grass and the horses just adapt to what you're feeding them same with the cows be easier unless the people making the hay to grow the mixed grass or the native grass Also how-do-you-do the grating system like that because the way we grade ours is how long it's been sitting and we go ABCD and F Like F is been sitting almost 2 yealmost 2 years uncovered it's really just betting Hey And Gray day would be 1st cutting of the year undercover or fresh out of field

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Hi. I do my best to respond. I agree with you. I would rather not spend a ton of money killing grasses. However we’re making with the customer wants. People want high quality alfalfa, so that’s what we make. And for us, quality is all visual.

[@lukeprince7690]

@@BalesHayFarmandRanch Hey thanks for getting back to me I'm sorry if there were some typos on the tractor and using talk to text, I just think personally that alfalfa is overheight because some of the native grasses and some of the weeds everybody wants gone actually have a lot of nutritional value and And speaking from personal experience with us using mixed grass Here and just make sure it gets plenty of water and just that ever so slight amount of fertilizer seems we get twice as much yield as we would out of alfalfa at least down here in Alabama,. That and I'm kind of my grandfather's opinion he said if you have to feed the animal anything special just to get peak performance That and I'm kind of my grandfather's opinion he said if you have to feed the animal anything special just to get peak performance That it aint worth having And you need to switch to harder your stock Because you're making more work for yourself and who ever you're buying your feed from. I'd like to know your opinion on whether or not you think alfalfa's benefits have been overheight and is it possible to have high quality Hey out of a mixed grass field Because on our little property we've had a lot of people tell us that our stuff is really high quality and we're not even really doing anything special.

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

@@lukeprince7690 yes, I pretty much agree on everything you said. Unfortunately, the customers don’t want that. We have to make what the customers, what the market calls for. If the marker changes, then we will change.

[@lukeprince7690]

@@BalesHayFarmandRanch I hear thanks for answering my questions now I've got one more thing and then I promise I'm quit bugging You Do you think there's any money to be Had in shipping Hey right now I don't know what's going on in your Neck of the woodsBut I've heard stories of Texas and Colorado in California hav inhaled shortages and massive livestock sell offs Because people can't get Hey, But I know downtown Alabama and and from my friends in Florida and Mississippi South Louisiana And my cousin over in Georgia Most of us are sitting on surpluses And when I say surplus Hey Barnes are full Trying to sell off the extra plus I mean I've seen prices as low as $20 for a 6' 500 pound round bale 1st in 2nd cutting And I personally know lay down the road from us that planted 500 acres of falfalfa And she's only getting $2 a bail For 75 pounds square bales

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

@@lukeprince7690 if you had clean and visually pretty alfalfa, you could send it anywhere in the US. The big money pays for alfalfa, all day every day. We’re selling hay $390 a ton right now, getting shipped to other states. Like I said earlier. I agreed with animals not needing only alfalfa, unfortunately, horse owners with money only want clean alfalfa. You have to follow the market.

[@michaellee695]

Thumbs down for the annoying music. I don’t want to hear music. I want to hear the machinery, trucks and the talking from the people working there. If I wanted to hear music, I’d turn on the radio.

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Man, so you gave the whole video a thumbs down just because of the music? The music out weighed the video footage? ok. We’ll do less music next time.

[@FarmandRanchHacks]

Yikes... that couch could probably have a few diseases you don’t want.

[@BalesHayFarmandRanch]

Probably. But I like to live on the edge.