Making hay while the sun shines.
This weekend we had the opportunity to help out our local hay farmer. He is Golden Spike Farm’s hay guy and we found out that he owns and runs his production with his 3 sisters. I learned the value of my hay, what it takes to produce it and enjoyed the good honest work (even though my muscles are screaming this morning).
The first step is to cut the grass. He uses a Discbine. Didn’t get to see this piece of machinery in action as the hay was cut and laying on the fields by the time we got there.
Next he uses the tedder. “A tedder (also called hay tedder) is a machine used in haymaking. It is used after cutting and before windrowing, and uses moving forks to aerate or “fluff up” the hay and thus speed-up the process of hay-making. The use of a tedder allows the hay to dry (“cure”) better, which results in improved aroma and color.” (Thanks Wiki)
The machine called the hay rake then rakes the hay into windrows (a row of cut or mowed hay).
The next step is the baler. It is driving over the windrows and puts together the bales of hay.
The baler shoots out the bales of hay into the hay cart were we were waiting to catch and stack them. This is the fun part, watching the farm boys catch 50lb bails of hay coming straight at them. It is also considered down time compared to what is next.
The last step is unloading the wagon, putting the hay on the elevator and then stacking them for storage. I have to say this is the exhausting part. I was out on the wagon moving the bales to the elevator, which then went into the barn and dropped the hay for the stackers. It is a lot hotter in the barn and hard work moving those bales.
This weekend the farm family helped with 2600 Bales of hay @ approx 50lbs/bale = 130,000 lbs or 65 tons. AND we still had time to enjoy the beautiful scenery while posing for pics.
Golden Spike Farm's Plog 
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