Crops & Gardening - Making Your Own Hay
Learn about making your own hay. If you have access to a patch of hay land, the equipment and you'd like to produce the best possible forage for you pets and livestock, do-it-yourself haymaking can still spell dollars and sense.

By Sue Weaver
About the Author:
Sue Weaver is a hobby farmer and freelance writer based in Arkansas.

Here are some reasons for making your own hay.

According to the University of Missouri, most forages lose 20 percent of their total digestible nutrients and 40 percent protein just 10 days after their optimal harvest stages.

One reason stock keepers make they own hay is because later cuttings spell higher yields, many commercial haymakers choose volume over quality.

Others get involve in making their own hay because the land is waiting—instead of mowing or bush hogging fallow land to push back encroaching woodland, they fertilize and seed it to hay.

And some folks make their own hay just savor the satisfaction of working the land with equipment. Anyone can put up enough hay by hand for a hutch of bunnies or a pet lamb.

A mechanically minded hobby farmer can easily bale plenty for a beef steer or a pair of horses using inexpensive, vintage haying machinery.

Even investing in secondhand modern equipment makes sense if you want control of how and when your own hay is made.

How To
These pictures show a few of the numerous things to consider in the equipment you use or purchase to make your own hay.

An old-style haybine should be checked for bent, worn or missing crimper rollers.

Hydraulic hoses should be inspected and tested to make certain they stay up.

Carefully check pickup bearings and tires--front and rear--for signs of excessive wear.

Check that the PTO drive shart is completely encased in guards. If not, you'll need to install them immediately.

A more modern balers should have its belts, bearings and chains checked for workability.

Make Your Own Maple Syrup!

Homemade Maple Syrup
Yes, if you have only a few sugar maple trees, you can make your own maple syrup and sugar. The basic method has not changed from the time of the Indians. You boil off the water in the sap to get the sweet syrup. It's work! But it is fun and rewarding.

What Will You Need?

1. A bitstock and a bit (any 7/16 inch bit will do) to bore the hole.

2. Spouts -(one for each hole) - manufactured spouts can be purchased from a maple equipment dealer or you can make them yourself. To make a wooden spout, select an elderberry stem a little larger than the hole to be filled. Cut it off four or five inches long. Sharpen one end to go into the tap hole. Use a slender rod to push the pith or heart wood out of the center and you have your spout.

elderberry spout


3. One container per tap hole to catch the sap such as a bucket or wooden, metal, or plastic pail. Rusty cans or pails may be used by placing a plastic liner or polyfilm bag inside the container. Very serviceable containers can be made from plastic gallon milk or cider jugs. These work well in combination with a wood, metal, or plastic spout. Use a small electric drill or other cutting implement to make a hole in the top of the flat side of the jug. Enlarge the hole so that it can be slipped over the spout.



4. For storing freshly gathered sap use clean galvanized or plastic trash cans, large pails or the like.

5. Any deep metal pan like a canner or wash tub that will hold five gallons or more will serve as an evaporator pan for boiling the sap.

6. A fireplace or picnic arch in the back yard, even one temporarily made from brick, stone or cinder blocks to fit your boiling pan is adequate. A wood stove set up out of doors is also suitable. Don't use your kitchen stove indoors or you are sure to have trouble and a very high fuel bill.

7. Dry, fast-burning wood is essential to provide the heat necessary for boiling. Slab wood, dead trees, etc. are suitable, if dry.

8. For testing to see when the syrup is done you need a syrup or candy thermometer.

9. Finished syrup should be stored in clean metal containers or glass jars that will seal - canning jars are ideal.

10. Caution - Be sure all collecting, boiling, and storing containers are clean to avoid off-flavor and other problems.

How to Do It

1. Be sure your trees are sugar maples. Hard maple and rock maple are other names for the same tree. We do not use soft or red maple in Massachusetts for sugaring. A tree should be at least 10" in diameter for one tap hole and bucket. For every additional 8" in diameter another tap hole and bucket may be added. A tree 26" in diameter could have a setting of three buckets. Usually trees with lots of branches are better producers than those with small tops.

2. Drill the 7/16" hole 3" deep at a convenient height. Look for unblemished bark and do not bore directly over or under a former tap hole or closer than 4" from the side of an old tap hole. The hole does not have to be slanted.

3. Drive the spout in so that it is tight and can not be pulled out by hand, but don't over drive and split the tree.

4. Hang your bucket or container on the hook of the spout if it is a purchased one: or, if you have made your own, fashion a length of wire to serve as a hanger. Be sure to cover the bucket to keep out rain, snow and foreign material.

5. Make sure your fireplace is ready, wood at hand, and pan ready for the sap.

6. Sap has started to run. You have enough in your buckets to fill your pan for boiling - you are ready for the fire. Do not fill your pan to the top as it will boil over. A bit of butter or margarine rubbed at the top rim of the boiling pan will often keep it from boiling over. As the water boils away keep adding more sap to the pan. Do not have less than an inch in the pan or it may burn down. You can pour the cold sap right into the boiling sap. It will take a lot of boiling to get it to syrup as it takes about 10 gallons of sap to make one quart of maple syrup. A chimney of brick or stove pipe (4 to 6 feet long) on your arch or fireplace will be helpful in keeping the smoke away from the boiling sap so that the syrup will not darken or have an off-taste from the smoke.

7. Do not leave an accumulation of sap in the collecting buckets -especially in warm weather. Sap is like milk and will sour if left in the sun. Try to keep the sap in storage as cold as possible. Boil it as soon as you can.

8. Finished maple syrup will be 7 degrees F. above the temperature of boiling water at your elevation. Your syrup or candy thermometer will tell you this. If you have a larger operation you may get a syrup hydrometer and testing cup which will tell you when the syrup is done. The cup will require two or three cupfuls of syrup in order to make the test. Proper syrup will weigh at least 11 pounds per gallon. Do not get it beyond 11 1/4 pounds per gallon or it may form crystals in the bottom of the storage container.

9. Pour the hot syrup through a felt syrup filter or a special strainer as carried by equipment dealers. If you have neither one, a double layer of outing flannel may be used or, you may put the syrup in a container and let it cool for 12 hours or more. Sediment will settle to the bottom of the container and the clearer syrup may be carefully poured off. This syrup should then be reheated to at least 180 degrees or almost to boiling before it is poured into containers for final storage.

10. Pour the hot syrup into the clean, sterile canning jars and seal. Fill them full so that very little air will be in the jar. If laid on the side while cooling a better seal will result.

11.Store syrup in a cool place. A freezer is ideal. Properly prepared syrup will not freeze and a poor seal will not be as important when stored in a freezer.

12.You may also want to visit a commercial maple producer to pick up tips on how to make syrup. Most producers are friendly and will welcome your questions. Locations of producers can be obtained from your local Extension Service office.

Farmland Protection Issues



Approximately half of the two billion acres of land in America is working agricultural land. This productive farm and ranch land is a finite resource as fertile soils take thousands of years to develop and are irreplaceable. The focus of AFT's work revolves around protecting this precious resource—America's best farm and ranch land.

America's Agricultural Land Is at Risk
Every minute of every day, we lose two acres of agricultural land to development. Why? Farm and ranch land is desirable for building because it tends to be flat, well drained and affordable. And the rapid rate of agricultural land converted to development is unnecessary—over the past 20 years, the average acreage per person for new housing almost doubled—with our best agricultural soils being developed the fastest.

Why save Farmland?

National Economy and World Food Security
The U.S. food and farming system contributes nearly $1 trillion to our national economy—more than 13 percent of the gross domestic product—and employs 17 percent of the labor force. World consumers of U.S. agricultural exports are expected to increase their purchases in the future. With a rapidly increasing world population and expanding global markets, saving American farmland is a prudent investment in the world food supply and an economic opportunity.

Protection of the Environment
Well-managed agricultural land supplies important non-market goods and services for our environment. Farm and ranch lands provide food and cover for wildlife, help control flooding, protect wetlands and watersheds and maintain air quality. They can absorb and filter wastewater and provide groundwater recharge. New energy crops even have the potential to replace fossil fuels.

Fresh, Healthy Food and Strong Communities
Farms closest to our cities, and directly in the path of development, produce much of our fresh food—63 percent of our dairy products and 86 percent of fruits and vegetables. And for many Americans, compelling reasons for saving farmland have to do with protecting the quality of life in their communities—scenic and cultural landscapes, farmers' markets, recreational opportunities, local jobs and community businesses.

Fiscal Stability for Local Governments
New development requires services such as schools, roads and fire/police protection, whereas privately owned and managed agricultural land requires very few services. Cost of Community Services (COCS) studies show that, nationwide, farm, forest and open lands more than pay for the municipal services they require, while taxes on residential uses, on average, fail to cover costs.



Better planning for community growth

American Farmland Trust is a member of the Smart Growth Network, an initiative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and several non-profit and government organizations. The Network was formed in response to the need for new ways to grow that boost the economy, protect the environment, and enhance community vitality.

Dude, if I'd very publicly backed both George Bush and Charlie Frye, I would've become a reclusive farmer, too. I'm not even kidding.

Totally the right thing to do.

You infer we're reclusive. Actually, quite the opposite.

I would hide from reality and be a writer in Hollywood, too, if I supported Gore and Kerry and Alex Smith....

No boondocks here, Hollywood. Got a few million to equal out the wealth?

I want a John Deere, about 45-50 HP. 3 pt hitch, maybe a small cab, or maybe just a roll bar. But you are filthy rich, you don't deserve or need all your cash...

This land is Cal's land... this land is my land...

quote:

Originally posted by shepwrite:
This land is Cal's land... this land is my land...

Charlie Frye has nothing WHATSOEVER to do with any tractor.

Cal pointed this out to me in his Little Guy (with the money to buy 300 acres) Defeats Big Bad Developer Thread about a month ago.


I am all about the land even though I live in a city. Trees, Man. Dig it.

The question is:

Diesel... or Gas ?

I think diesel, if it will run on bio-diesel fuel. That would be very cool.

First thing in spring is to plant a group of carefully chosen fruit trees. Then later, to put in a little fishing lake.

You had probably better take down the maple syrup post. You would be hurting a tree, and trees have feelings, too, you know.

That and you condone burning wood - not only are you deforesting, but you are also contributing to worldwide global warming with you willy-nilly unscrubbed carbon emissions.

Cal, you global warmer you.

(why doesn't somebody send some of that global warming my way - I LIKE the idea of 60 degree winters in Ohio).

quote:

Originally posted by calfoxwc:
The question is:

Diesel... or Gas ?

I think diesel, if it will run on bio-diesel fuel. That would be very cool.

.

Depends on how new you want your tractor. If you want a tractor from the early 60's or older, go gas. (Older diesels can be a bitch to start) If you want a diesel tractor, look for something in the 70's or newer. With a "hobby" farm, you'd be hard pressed to justify gas or diesal based on fuel consumption.

ah. I don't want an older than 70's tractor. I already have a little Case VA 1950-51 to restore.

I think, then, I will go diesel. I justify the fuel used by the ability to farm properly, and get chores done to build the soil, grow hay/corn... I hear soybeans aren't getting the farmer the price they should, and that the market may taper off in 09.

Diversify. Hay, corn/soybeans, fruit trees, pumpkins, grapes...
I can sell the grapes to Steve and he can market his own wine...

quote:

Originally posted by calfoxwc:
ah. I don't want an older than 70's tractor. I already have a little Case VA 1950-51 to restore.

I think, then, I will go diesel. I justify the fuel used by the ability to farm properly, and get chores done to build the soil, grow hay/corn... I hear soybeans aren't getting the farmer the price they should, and that the market may taper off in 09.

Diversify. Hay, corn/soybeans, fruit trees, pumpkins, grapes...
I can sell the grapes to Steve and he can market his own wine...

Possibly with all the subsidies for Corn (Ethanol), Corn will be more attractive. I was hearing this morning that Soy is cheaper per acre and yields as many bushels at a higher price.

My stepdad's dad still farms even though he is retired and rotates corn and soy every other year.

What the hoo-haa, dumbass?

quote:

Possibly with all the subsidies for Corn (Ethanol), Corn will be more attractive. I was hearing this morning that Soy is cheaper per acre and yields as many bushels at a higher price.

My stepdad's dad still farms even though he is retired and rotates corn and soy every other year.

Lemo
**************************************************
I've read that the soybeans aren't getting the farmers the price they should be getting - seems like the processing middlemen are getting greedy.
And the farmer down the road told me that soybeans get about 30-35 bushels an acre but corn gets more than twice as many bushels per acre.
we may plant both, but I'd have to check around for help with harvesting equipment help...

Meanwhile, ... we went to a huge farm equipment auction. It's amazing, one really huge combine went for $300,000 bucks.

We did buy a nice disc outfit. Heavy duty to the max, great shape. For 320 bucks. Well, the flimsy rusted one next to ours went for 300. We got a great deal.

Then, we had our eyes on a John Deere 336 hay baler. Now, just up the row about 6 pieces of big equipment, the same model, but rusted, taken apart and missing belts with the kicker laying across the back of it went for $1000.

We were concerned the price would go crazy over the one we wanted.
So, we aggressively bid for it, and the big spender who bought the other one surely was amazed, when we got our excellent hardly a scratch on same exact model, for $1400.

Well, you have to be in the right crowd and know the right deal for the right equipment.

So, Friday night, our nephew left a message on our answering machine saying he decided he couldn't help us because he thinks he'd get stuck in the mud and the baler wouldn't fit on his trailer and he didn't want to get his truck all scratched up with a big disc thing. And, he needed to stay home and work on his house.

Now, we already had researched and found out that the baler was 9' wide and wouldn't fit on any regular trailer.

But, even though we joked that "paybacks are a Higgardly Clinton", we just figured out another way to solve the problem.

We sent out Sat morning (which btw, was the only day we'd be able to get our stuff this weekend) to rent a trailer and pull it with the van, get the disc, and maybe they could load the baler on it sideways.

Well, we found out that the tongue weight was way too much for a Dodge van, the trailers were way too front heavy.

So, we had to adjust. We went back home, and and arranged to rent a Home Depot big truck.
But, it wasn't available yet til later on in the day, so... we drove the van to Tractor Supply and I bought a hitch adapter to pull the baler home with the van.

Which we did, driving mostly 5-20 mph down 15 miles of almost one lane back-country roads.

On the major roads, I actually could go faster than that...

The only problem was, about 7 miles out, I saw my wonderful Cute Wife's suv right blinker blinking, and since she's worked on getting me to be more observant, I proudly turned right at the next branch off road.

So, pretty soon after that, she called me on the phone.
"Do you know where you're going...?" she said.
I proudly answered "No, but I saw your right blinker on and got the message to turn right. I am finally observant to the max"

However, she sighed. "Hon, I have my emergency flashers on. You probably can't see the left blinker because of the kicker being bigger....."

oops.

So, I stop. She meets me halfway, about even with the kicker, and grins and gives me a big hug.
"I can turn it around, I can just back up and..."
"NO. Keep going down this road. We need to look at our map." she said.
"dammit." I said, looking at a definately one lane road that goes down a big hill about a hundred yards out and back up again.
"No, we're fine. Look, we'll just take this road way out to King Rd, then we'll go N. all the way up to Georgetown Rd and take that all the way to our -intended- route."
"dammit." I said.

So, we drove the rest of the 7 miles plus 3 miles because I am so observant down roads that a fat bull couldn't pass us on.

And, because I am an excellent driver, we made it 35 miles all the way back home to our new farm ! With no problem.

I did wonder - we only have a 318 big six and the temp was higher than usual, but it never got to halfway to red, so we were fine, and it cooled back down on the "main" road with no more hills.

Next, I drove the van out into the field and unhooked out baler and parked the van in the garage.

Then, we rented the big truck from Home Depot, and went back and got our disc, which fit neatly in the back. But it's a good thing the trucks sides fold down on the sides.

Well, my sister and my Dad had gone to another auction, so we left the field where our disc had been, and drove way out across several miles to another auction where they bought a brand new 7' wide 3 pt hitch heavy duty snow plow to pick it up for them.

So, they got it for 175 bucks. That's a steal. So, we decided we wanted one too. There were 6 of them setting in the next row.

But, they sold bigger used equipment around them and didn't sell off the snowblades.

"Say, I said to the guy. "When will the snowblades sell?"...

"Oh, man, we decided not to sell any more of those, we've given three of em away for free already - earlier.

So, I said, "Well, I only need one." He says "I'm sorry, but do you know those things cost ME $250 bucks? I can't just keep giving em away..."...

So, my wife grins and says "We came an hour away from picking up our other equipment to come here and get one... we just got here a few minutes ago... we'll take a 6' instead of a 7' for 175."

So, he turns and calls out to hold on, mark a new 6' snowblade down for us at 175.

My sister grins and says "Boy, she's really good at this stuff !"

So, Dad and I tracked down the Bobcat loader guy, and he skillfully loaded both snowblades on the truck and off we went, back home, the farmer met us and unloaded the stuff, and we drove the big truck back to the store.

Inside, the store guy went and checked the gas and complimented on what clean shape we brought it back in.

"We took good care of it. We appreciate it very much", my wonderful cute Wife said.

"Yep. And btw, that truck is really great, we had it in a big mud pit, with mud up halfway up the windows, but it pulled right out of it. Nice truck..." I said.

So, after a little girly jab in the ribs, she said "He's only kidding."

And the store guy, who stoically thought maybe I was serious, finally grinned way too late.

"He isn't too bright. He must be a Steeler fan" I whispered to my Wife. Which brought a "shhhhh" which means for me to shut up with kidding around...

Of course, we still don't have a tractor, but that takes more research and more kidding around before the right one for the right deal jumps out at us.

Stay tuned... maybe Big Gay Ben will ride his motorcycle into a farm tractor and retroactively get an excuse for BLOWING THEIR PLAYOFF GAME !

Not that you'd ever notice it

(this joke is a bit lengthy, but well worth the time)

A young bachelor farmer from the Eastern Shore of Maryland had developed a reputation for being a perfectionist. When planting corn, the rows had to be exactly 16 and a half inches apart . . . . not 16 and a quarter, not 16 and three quarters . . . . but exactly 16 and a half inches. When he built a new wooden fence for his horses, the top rail of the fence had to be exactly 48 inches from ground level at all points. Neighbors would drive by and see him out in the field several time a week measuring the top rail of the fence with a laser device and they would just shake their heads. Make no mistake about it, this bachelor farmer was a perfectionist.

When he turned 23 years old, he decided there were no suitable young ladies for him anywhere on the Eastern Shore. He dated dozens of young women from Pocomoke City to Dover and never seemed to find that one perfect woman. There was always something that disqualified a girl from being his perfect mate.

So he decided to travel out to the corn belt and see if he could find the ideal farm girl, the one that was perfect in every way. He drove the back roads of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana where he scouted for the perfect woman. While traveling through southern Nebraska one afternoon, he came upon a quaint, well-kept little farmstead where three young ladies were outside enjoying the brilliant, sunny day. He stopped and discovered the three young ladies were all sisters . . . and all were single. They were beautiful, intelligent, feminine in some respects and tom-boyish in other respects. They were knowledgeable about life on the farm and seemed to be fine, outstanding young ladies. So he decided to ask the girl's father if he could date them . . . one at a time of course. He told the father he was looking for his perfect bride and the father responded that all three girls were indeed available.

So he took the first sister out and had the time of his life. She was bright, witty, and fun to be with. But when he returned the girl home, he told the girl's father that, although she was very close to perfection, she was just a wee bit . . . not that you'd ever notice it . . . pigeon-toed.

He then took the second sister out on a date and the two had a great time, talking into the wee hours of the morning and hitting it off wonderfully. But when he returned this sister home, he told the girl's father that, she also was very close to perfection, but she was just a wee bit . . . not that you'd ever notice it . . . cross-eyed.

So finally he took the third sister out and knew immediately that he had found the perfect woman. In every way, she was the bride of his dreams.

So they got married a few weeks later and moved back to the Eastern Shore of Maryland where they established their home. Life was good. The corn harvest was huge that fall and prices were better than anyone had seen for several years. Everything seemed to be going perfect, especially when the couple found out they were expecting their first child. The pregnancy went well, and the following summer, the couple gave birth to a healthy baby. But when the new father looked at his child for the first time, he determined this was the ugliest baby he had ever seen. "How could this happen? I went to all that trouble to find the perfect wife and now she gives me this baby that has to be the ugliest child on the planet." The young man was clearly upset.

He immediately got into his truck and drove all the way to the Nebraska farmhouse where he confronted the girl's father and demanded an explanation.

The father responded "Well, you may not have noticed it . . . it was ever so slight . . . . but when you married her, she was just a wee bit . . . not that you'd ever notice it . . . pregnant."

Good one Cal.